All About Pocket Knives

There is a question in my mind that I guess most of you out there know the answer to so I'll really be showing off my stupidity here but what the heck I'll ask it anyways. I keep seeing knife brands from NY. So was NY the Solingen or Sheffield from the U.S.? Was there a main centralized city or was it spread out over the whole state? And were there steel makers in NY or did the steel come from PA? Just curious about that. Thanks for the Info! Appreciate it!

One more question. Are there any other places like Solingen or Sheffield that a knifer should know about?

Pretty sure upstate NY and western Mass were the places that lots of things were made. Lots of foundries mills and machine shops. To get the machines and equipment needed to make knives.

Lots of water power, plenty of coal and iron. Being the oldest part of the nation it was very industrial.

Once the European knife makers started making knives in New York state It was only natural that similar businesses would grow near each other. To utilize the same resources and skilled labor pool.

This explains how Adollh Kastor had to start making knives in the US and what led him to Camillus NY.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camillu ... ry_Company

TPK wrote: ↑Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:00 am One more question. Are there any other places like Solingen or Sheffield that a knifer should know about?

Yes, Seki Japan.

Tom, yes another place to know about is Thiers France. I mentioned it and showed some pictures in this post from a couple of years ago: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/k ... rs#p810024.

Dennis

TPK wrote: ↑Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:00 am One more question. Are there any other places like Solingen or Sheffield that a knifer should know about?

Maniago in Italy, Thiers in France, Toledo in Spain, Mikulášovice (Nixdorf) in Czechia, Vorsma in Russia, Eskilstuna in Sweden, Bursa in Turkey, Gabrovo in Bulgaria

Good coverage, Eustace.

Seems like the cutlery industry in the US started in Connecticut and to a lesser extent upstate NY and western MA. Then gradually the older CT firms went under as more cutlery firms located within about a 100-mile radius in upstate NY and PA.

Walden, NY And Little Valley, NY were two small towns that were high profile cutlery towns.

Steve beat me to it. New York produced some of the finest knives ever, but Connecticut was the "cradle", beginning in the late 1700's. Levine lists some 32 knife makers in that small state. New England was blessed with abundant water for driving mills in all industry and a local source of hematite ore for iron production. Watertown, Naugatuck, New Britain, Meriden, Waterbury, Southington, Bridgeport, Winsted, Torrington, and more, all within a 50 mile radius. When those British cutlers emigrated from England they probably slipped right into the local industry and culture like an old pair of shoes. Sadly, it's all in the past now.
What a great hobby we all share here! J.O'.

Walden NY had Schrade Cut Co, New York Knife Co, and Walden Knife Co/Keen Kutter all within a mile of each other. It was known as Little Sheffield. Nearby (within about twenty miles) were Ulster knife Co, Napanoch Knife Co, Grahamsville Knife Co, and Warwick Knife Co. along with a number of lesser known concerns such as Kipsi Kut.

Up in Western NY you had Cattaraugus Cut Co, Kabar, and Case Brothers among others.

To a lesser extent a lot of importers were based in New York City so some knives from these companies were stamped with their name and headquarters address rather than the country of origin. In general they didn't include a town on the stamp as most of the American cutleries did so they can usually be spotted fairly easily. Coles NY is an example, most of them were made in Germany.

Eric

Lot of great information! Thanks for the replies everyone! Appreciate it!

TPK wrote: ↑Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:00 am One more question. Are there any other places like Solingen or Sheffield that a knifer should know about?

Although more modern, let's not forget Oregon, the home of Gerber, Kershaw, Lone Wolf, Benchmade, and CRKT, and I'm sure Dale (Orvet) could name a few others.
https://blog.knife-depot.com/portland-b ... apital-us/

There are those who would not like to see Titusville left out. In terms of sheer volume, variety and longevity, Walden, NY was the standout in the U.S.

Great topic. I love seeing all this info condensed down like this. Makes it much easier to follow!

Reverand wrote: ↑Mon Sep 19, 2022 12:44 am Great topic. I love seeing all this info condensed down like this. Makes it much easier to follow!

I agree Reverand, or Amen. I'm going to write down the names of all these places in my "knifer's notes", they will be good search words to use on the bay. Stoked about all the good replies. I'm sure they will come in handy.

Eustace wrote: ↑Sun Sep 18, 2022 12:41 pm

TPK wrote: ↑Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:00 am One more question. Are there any other places like Solingen or Sheffield that a knifer should know about?

Maniago in Italy, Thiers in France, Toledo in Spain, Mikulášovice (Nixdorf) in Czechia, Vorsma in Russia, Eskilstuna in Sweden, Bursa in Turkey, Gabrovo in Bulgaria

You covered a lot of bases in Europe. Thanks Buddy! These will be very useful search words for eBay Germany. I have heard of Thiers & Eskilstuna but the rest are new to me. Good deal!