survivors

[Edgewise]

I'm trying to find american cutlery companies which have survived at least 100 years and which continue
to produce any of their original knife patterns today in the US.
Buck is a very american family business which still makes quality american knives, but the 110 only
goes back to 1963 and I don't know which patterns started the company off in 1902.
I suppose I'm thinking of an american version of Opinel.

[trail]

Dexter-Russell. It's been through a few corporate incarnations over the years, but this company traces its lineage back to 1818. From the company website:

"Dexter-Russell, Inc. is the largest manufacturer of professional cutlery in the United States. Throughout our long and rich history, we have maintained a tradition of excellence in both materials and workmanship. Our company is the proud successor to the two oldest American cutlery manufacturers: The Harrington Cutlery Company and the John Russell Cutlery Company.

"Henry Harrington, a New England craftsman and inventor, established the first cutlery company in the United States on June 18, 1818 in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Harrington manufactured surgical equipment and shoe knives, as well as well crafted firearms. As his cutlery line expanded, he gradually discontinued his firearm business. In 1884, Harrington introduced the Dexter trade name. The Dexter line of fine kitchen and table cutlery soon gained a reputation for quality in America's homes and restaurants.

"Another New Englander, John Russell, founded his Green River Works on March 1, 1834. After having made his fortune in the cotton industry, Russell, at age 37, turned his energies to the manufacturing of quality cutlery. He built his water powered factory on the banks of the Green River near Greenfield Massachusetts. His first products, chisels and axe heads, were made from fine English steel of the type normally reserved for tableware. As the Green River works expanded its line to include knives, the company continued to use only the finest materials.

"By paying much higher wages than English cutlers, Russell was able to attract skilled European craftsmen to his factory. With all the manufacturing operations consolidated under one roof, these skilled craftsmen were able to produce large quantities of high quality hunting knives to supply the needs of America’s western frontier.

"On May 1, 1933, the Harrington Cutlery Company and the John Russell Cutlery Company merged, bringing together the two most respected names in cutlery: Dexter and Russell. The new company, Russell Harrington Cutlery Company, offered a broad range of quality cutlery products from the famous knives that "won the west" to innovative cutlery for the professional and industrial markets. In 2001, the company changed its name to Dexter-Russell, Inc. to reflect its long history of product brand identity.

"Today, the same tradition of quality and variety is carried on in Southbridge, Massachusetts, where Dexter-Russell produces the broadest line of professional cutlery made by any single manufacturer in the world."

Now granted, they don't make the famous old Barlow knife anymore, but they do make a wide variety of fixed blade knives for all kinds of trades. Many of these knives carry on the general pattern of knives made for the Indian trade back in the 1800s, so I think they qualify as an American knife company which continues to produce their original patterns here in the USA.

[trail]

Ontario Knife Company. Incorporated in 1889. Their standard 7" kitchen knife has been in the catalog for a long time - maybe 100 years. Here is an old one and a new.

[FRJ]

trail,
good post on Dexter-Russell. Thank you.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Utica?

[trail]

You bet! My book says Utica was formed in 1910 by former Camillus workers and a group of investors. I wouldn't be surprised if some of their patterns have been in the catalog for 100 years - especially the Barlow.

[trail]

Christy Knife Company of Fremont OH has been in business continuously since 1889, and is still in the hands of the founding family! While they don't make any patterns from 100 years ago, their one remaining pattern of retractable sliding blade knife has been made since before the Great Depression. The knives are made to this day in Fremont by Hal R. Christy, 4th generation of the Christy family. I just ordered two and will post pictures when they come in. In the meantime, here is a link to the website of this truly American company:

http://www.christycompany.net/

[trail]

Lamson & Goodnow is an American cutlery company that has been in business for 177 years. They make kitchen cutlery and tools in Shelbourne Falls, MA.

http://www.lamsonsharp.com/

[Edgewise]

.. their one remaining pattern of retractable sliding blade knife has been made since before the Great Depression. The knives are made to this day in Fremont by Hal R. Christy, 4th generation of the Christy family...

Didn't know this, Trail. Looking forward to your pics and hopefully, review.
I admire and support family companies which survive on their own. I was surprised to learn that a big name like Buck is a family name and family controlled.
I wish Christy the best.