As soon as man discovered stone, a new tradition was born. The art of knife and spear making dates back perhaps as much as 5 million years. It is likely to be one of the oldest hobbies or occupations known to humans. A sharp piece of stone is believed to be the first and most widely used tools on earth. At first these sharp stones were only used for eating, cutting, poking, and prying. The stones were also used to sharpen sticks or attached directly to the end of a wooden shaft. This widely used tool could be used for hunting, fishing, attacking, and defending.
This opened the door for more handy materials for the custom knife makers. Hunters and fisherman began to harvest teeth, claws, bone, horn, and shells, for custom knife makers. I believe that these exotic blade and handle materials that inspired the desire to collect. This was a tradition among all cultures of the world. Even today, (millions of years later) countless collectors continue to appreciate this fine art of craftsmanship. Artist took pride in these spiritual and valuable tools.
The discovery of soft metals, approximately 12,000 years ago, rapidly advanced the design and durability of these edged tools and weapons. Using fire to liquefy the metals, blacksmith’s would poor liquid bronze and copper into molds made out of stone. This process enabled them to produce larger, more useful tools and weapons such as axes, swords, and armor. The blades were heated, hammered into shape, and soon they were even sharpened. This replaced countless hours of chipping, filing, and sanding required by making blades from stone or bone.
These soft metal blades were shortly replaced by the discovery of forged iron. This material produced a stronger, more durable blade that could be used for thrusting or chopping. Techniques such as spring tempering improved the tapering abilities for blades of all types. Guttering or grooving of the blades was incorporated to lighten the tools or weapons without sacrificing strength. The earliest known folding knives also date back to the early Iron Age. A folding pocket knife with a bone handle was found at Hallstatt, Austria. The estimated age of the folder was nearly 2600 years.
The tradition of knife and edged weapon making has held a certain spiritual value across the Middle America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. These fine tools have been a symbol of power, bravery, and courage for an unknown number of years.
BUCK. INGENUITY RUNS IN THE FAMILY.
A young Kansas blacksmith apprentice named Hoyt Buck was looking for a better way to temper steel so it would hold an edge longer. His unique approach produced the first Buck Knife in 1902. Hoyt made each knife by hand, using worn-out file blades as raw material. His handy work was greatly appreciated during World War II. After the war, Hoyt and his son Al moved to San Diego and set up shop as H.H. Buck & Son in 1947. Al Buck revolutionized the knife industry in 1964 with the Model 110 Folding Hunter. The folding “lockblade” knife made Buck a leader. A position we proudly hold today. Hoyt and Al Buck’s ingenuity may have put the company on the map. But it is our ongoing commitment to developing innovative new products and improving what we have by third and fourth generation Buck family members that have made Buck the successful knife maker it is today. Frankly, it’s what our customers expect from a Buck.
Gerber Legendary Blades
Savvy. Ingenuity. Craftsmanship. Attention to detail. These are just a few of the company traits that contributed to our emergence as a world leader in outdoor gear. But then there’s the issue of toughness. And frankly, nothing could be tougher than living down the first career of founder Joseph Gerber as…that’s right…an advertising man. You could call it the “Boy Named Sue” syndrome. And live it down we have.
Joseph Gerber started Portland, Oregon’s Gerber Advertising back in 1910. One Christmas, he hired a local knifemaker to craft 25 sets of kitchen cutlery as client gifts. The knives were so popular, Mr. Gerber ultimately left his agency to launch Gerber Legendary Blades in 1939.
How KA-BAR Got Its Name
Soon after its introduction in the mid-1920’s, the KA-BAR trademark became widely known and respected. There have been many versions of how the KA-BAR name came to be, but all evidence points to a letter received from a fur trapper. This particular fur trapper’s testimonial turned out to be the most significant ever received by the company.
He wrote, in very rough English, that his gun had jammed and that he had therefore relied on his knife to kill a wounded bear that was attacking him. In thanking the company for their quality product the trapper described using his knife to kill the bear. All that was legible of his scrawled writing was “k a bar”. The company was so honored by this testimonial that they adopted this phrase and used it as their trademark, KA-BAR.
Marbles Outdoors
Webster L. Marble came to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the early 1890’s and quickly gained the reputation of being one of the regions finest “timber cruisers”. His uncanny ability to look at a specific forested acreage and predict the board foot yield made him very popular with the many logging companies in the area. Marble loved the outdoors and the vast Upper Peninsula offered innumerable opportunities to hunt, fish, camp and explore the environment. An inventor by nature he was continually seeking to create useful tools and equipment that would be both practical and durable in the outdoors.
By 1898 Mr. Marble had designed and patented his now famous “Safety Axe”. A modest one room manufacturing facility located behind his home became the “Marble Safety Axe Company” and the dedicated entrepreneur was on his way. Over the next quarter century Marble designed and patented axes, sporting knives, guns and numerous other hunting and outdoor related products. In 1911 the company was renamed “Marble Arms and Manufacturing Company”, the first of several name changes over the years.
The Marble’s legacy lives on today. Within the pages of this website you will find abundant examples of our commitment to “Blend Time Tested Tradition with Modern Technology”. Still based in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the owners and employees of Marble’s are now, more than ever, committed to Webster Marble’s vision of making quality, durable, and practical outdoor equipment for serious sportsmen the world over.
Ontario Knife Company
The Ontario Knife Company was founded in Naples, New York in 1889. Naples is located in upstate New York, in Ontario County, southeast of Rochester. Ontario Knife is named after Ontario County.
Ontario Knife is located in Franklinville, New York, about one hour south of Buffalo. All products are made at, and shipped from, the Franklinville factory.
In addition to sporting/outdoor knives, Ontario makes a number of other product lines including Old Hickory® Kitchen Cutlery, Industrial and Agricultural Products, and Sci-Med Scientific Tools and Instruments.
Ontario’s sister company, Queen Cutlery, is a well known maker of finely crafted pocketknives. Also, Ontario Knife is a major supplier of private label blades and knives.
PUMA® Knife Company USA
Since it was formed on the Wupper River in 1769, PUMA has set the standard that established Solingen, Germany as the premier knife manufacturing center in the world. PUMA is in fact the 8th oldest trademark in Germany. PUMA has been distributed in the United States for over 50 years and has established a strong reputation for sharp, high-quality hunting knives that hold their edge. You will be delighted with our knives.
Queen Cutlery
Queen Cutlery is a well-known maker of finely crafted pocketknives. Queen Cutlery’s factory is located in Titusville, PA, about two hours northeast of Pittsburgh. While all manufacturing is done in the Titusville factory, most other functions, including sales, accounting and customer service, are handled in Franklinville, NY at the site of Queen’s sister company, Ontario Knife Company.
Queen Cutlery’s roots go back to the Schatt and Morgan Cutlery Company, which was founded in Gowanda, NY in 1890 and moved to Titusville in 1895. Queen Cutlery is still housed in the original Schatt and Morgan factory and many of the delicate hand processes and operations employed by Schatt and Morgan are still being used by Queen. Skilled craftsmen are essential to build a “factory knife” by hand and, while it doesn’t lead to mass production or extremely low prices, the results are beautiful, functional knives. Our many awards are a testament to the skill of the Queen craftsmen.
Taylor Brands, LLC
Taylor Brands, LLC is the official manufacturer and wholesale distributor of Smith & Wesson and Schrade Knives. Founded by Stewart Taylor in 1975, Taylor Brands has been manufacturing, designing and distributing high-quality stainless steel knives and accessories since its inception. Our new 163,000 square foot Distribution Center is located directly off Interstate 26 in Kingsport, TN, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains – just 20 miles southwest of the TN / VA border.
The history of Heinr. Böker Baumwerk GmbH
A giant chestnut tree, shading the small Boeker tool factory in Remscheid in the 17th century, is the oldest traceable symbol connected with the Boeker name. Apparently, Boeker tools were very successful, since they were among the leading products in Germany and neighboring countries 100 years later.
Due to the increasing demand in a restless political era, Hermann and Robert Boeker decided in 1829 to begin with the production of sabers. As early as September 1830, the accounting records indicate a weekly production of 2,000 items, made by 64 smiths, 47 grinders and a large number of unskilled laborers. In view of the constantly increasing variety of tools and cutting instruments and the good opportunities for worldwide sales, the family realized that the individual steps in the manufacturing process had to be spread out for optimal realization of its interests. As a result, Hermann Boeker emigrated and founded H. Boeker & Co. in New York. Young Robert developed his enterprise in Canada, founding a branch in Mexico later in 1865. This branch is still a market leader in its country under the name of Casa Boeker.
Heinrich crossed the nearby Wupper river and went to Solingen, where the German industry of cutting tools was growing by leaps and bounds at that time. In 1869, he founded Heinr. Boeker & Co. with Hermann Heuser, a well-known specialist in the field of cutting tools. The Boeker family in Remscheid and their overseas cousins had a lot of interest in and a great demand for shaving blades, scissors and pocket knives from Heinrich’s new enterprise. They had to identify their products for the overseas markets in a simple way, since many customers and consumers had problems with the German name Boeker – not considering the fact that illiteracy was widely spread. In Heinrich’s opinion, the chestnut tree near the Remscheid facility represented an ideal, easy-to-remember symbol. This brand symbol was owned by the Remscheid company, together with a second logo, the arrow. One of the few valuable documents that survived the total destruction of WWII is an ad by Boeker, Remscheid, from the year 1874, showing both logos.
The relationship between the two Boeker companies had always been extremely friendly. Therefore, Heinrich was allowed to take the tree symbol across the river with him – without any big fight or cost. Since then, not a single Boeker article has left the Solingen factory without being identified by the tree symbol. After more than 100 years of existence the old chestnut tree was the victim of lightening. In 1925 a talented artist carved a copy of the majestic tree on a piece of the trunk. This original piece of art decorates the boss’ office in the Boeker plant.
As early as 1900, the majority of articles produced by Boeker were distributed in the US market. H. Boker & Co. in New York concentrated primarily on cutting tools from Solingen. Soon pocket knives became more important than scissors, shaving blades and eating utensils. The demand increased even more rapidly than Solingen was able to supply, so that the Americans in New York began their own production of pocket knives. A little later, pliers were included as well. Since the tree symbol had become well known by then and the various branches of the international Boeker family enjoyed an excellent relationship among each other, it was not difficult to receive permission from the Solingen relatives to use the tree symbol also for the American products. Since that time, two different lines of Boeker knives have been on the American market with the same brand symbol, sometimes even with the same article numbers, but one line was made in the USA and the other in Solingen. Only the declaration of marketability clarified that one line was from Boker USA and the other from H. Boker Improved Cutlery Solingen.
The relationship was interrupted during WWII. The Solingen factory burned down completely. None of the equipment, tools, catalog materials or samples was spared. Those few originals from the past we have today survived the war in private homes and were made available to the company. The firm lost one of its most valuable assets: the registration of the tree symbol for the American market was confiscated pursuant to American law. John Boker Jr. acquired it in New York, in order to secure it for the distribution of the American and German products. Soon after the war, the destroyed factory was rebuilt. Those loyal skilled workers who had survived the war, returned and helped with the reconstruction of the building as well as the production, gradually regaining the previous high standard of quality.
The American cousins renewed their business contact with Solingen and started to place orders. Within a few years Boker, New York, had again become the principal customer. Models like the 7588 and 7474 and the most expensive item, the sports knife Flagship Model 182 could not cross the ocean fast enough to reach Boker friends all over the country.
In the early 60s, Boker USA was sold and eventually acquired by the well-known scissors manufacturer Wiss & Sons. Wiss retained the manufacture of Boeker knives and sold them together with Solingen products. Of course, this meant that the Boeker scissors ceased to be competitors of the Wiss line in the American market. In the early 70s, Wiss sold to Cooper Industries, a multinational company. This new change in America proved to be advantageous for Boker.
A very close business, as well as personal relationship developed with this industrial giant. Due to its strength on the market, Cooper was able to restore the original magnitude of the Boeker name. Thanks to the very lively business activities with Cooper for eight years, the Solingen facility could streamline its production and develop new, modern products. Without exaggeration, Boker manufactures the largest assortment of high-quality knives for sportsmen and collectors with an unsurpassed variety of materials for blades and handles. Today, Boeker knives range from 320-layer Damascus steel to very modern ceramics, with handles ranging from high-quality mother-of-pearl to Thuya root wood and state-of-the-art synthetics…
In 1983 Cooper discontinued its own knife production. Models still in demand are being manufactured in Solingen today. As a result of friendly negotiations, Cooper restored the American trademark rights three years later, providing Solingen with the opportunity to become self-reliant in the huge American market. Thus, in 1986, Boker USA, Inc. was created in Denver, Colorado. Dan Weidner, who has been part of Boker USA almost since its inception, is now the president of the company, working with a young, energetic team. The great importance of Boeker in the South American markets (Argentina and Chile) and in Mexico is due to the efficient men of the Boeker family, who were active for us in these countries in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today’s trademark includes the terms TREEBRAND and ARBOLITO. Since the Argentinian market in particular is subject to extreme economic and political fluctuations, the good name ARBOLITO was in danger of being forgotten. In 1983, Boeker Arbolito S. A. was founded jointly with the Salzmann family primarily to manufacture household and work knives in Argentina. Thanks to the constant modernization and expansion of product lines the company in Buenos Aires is able to compete worldwide with selected products today.
The History of the ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS Brand
What exists today as the most exclusive, best performing brand in the kitchen, the company’s roots are steeped in 275 years of tradition.
The history of the ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS brand begins on June 13, 1731 (under the Gemini star sign). It was on that day that knife-maker Peter Henckels from Solingen registered the “TWIN” symbol as his trademark with the Cutlers´ Guild of Solingen. This symbol, which is now well-known all over the world, is thus one of the oldest trademarks in the world. Today´s name – ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS – was given to the Company by a descendant of Peter Henckels, Johann Abraham Henckels.
Today, products by ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS are recognized globally as the symbol for the highest possible quality and function. If you are considering a J.A. Henckels Purchase or Registry Request, we urge you to view the brand’s history presentation.
The SOG Story
SOG originally stood for Studies and Observation Group, an elite joint services military group designed for covert operations in the Vietnam War. Sanctioned to develop and purchase their own equipment, SOG created a knife for use in one of the harshest environments in the world. It is in the spirit of this elite group that SOG Specialty Knives was founded.
Totally committed to creating the world’s finest specialized knives and tools, SOG became the first knife manufacturer to expand its line to include a broad scope of fixed blades, folding knives and multipurpose tools. Each product is created by Founder and Chief Engineer, Spencer Frazer. His patented inventions and unique, futuristic style have earned SOG many awards and Frazer the recognition as an industry innovator and premier designer. Today, SOG products are distributed around the world and renowned for their uncompromising style and performance.
