Inox?

[J-sews]

I see the suffix "inox" often when looking at knives and tools. New tools and old tools.
Sometimes it seems as if it is a French or German word that might refer to the tool being made from stainless steel. (rostfrei inoxidable)
Other times only the word INOX will be stamped on a knife, as if it is the manufacturer's name.
And then of course, there is Victorinox 

Is there any connection between the various ways I see the term inox being used?

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yes... and no.

Victorinox is an almagamation of "Victoria" and Inoxydable.  You have already identified that Inoxydable is French for (get this!) Inoxydable, or something that is oxidization (or rust) resistant.  Victoria was the mother of Karl Elsener, the founder of what eventually became Victorinox, and she sold his knives in her hat shop, helping him get started.

INOX is a cool word and so lots of companies have used it.  There is a lubricant called INOX, which is quite popular, and is a mixture of regular every day mineral oil and a penetrating compound.  There is also a tool company called INOX, but I don;t know much about them at all.

It all boils down to the root of the word, which you mentioned, basically translating as stainless.  Any time you get something that's made from, or could benefit from stainless steel, you open the door for someone to pummel the word yet again.  It's somewhat overused, like "gourmet" is.  Does anyone really think that $1,000/plate chefs really just open a bag full of mixed crap from the local grocer's freezer?

So while they may all have different slants now, they are pretty much all sprung from the same place.

Def