waynorth
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2005
- Messages
- 32,744
[Quote: Email from my friend Tom, March 2008]
Hello Charlie,
I am glad you got the knives. You can take all the time you need to decide if you want them.
The WeXL KNIFE story..
When you read the speech that Alvord wrote that I gave you, you will read that an Empire employee from Sheffield that had worked for IXL told the owners of EMPIRE "Why are you not using WARDLOW steel? It is the best, and that was what we used when I worked at IXL".
Empire started to use the Wardlow steel and advertised that the EMPIRE knives used the same steel as IXL used. This statement boosted Empire sales
in the U.S.
IXL was very upset and asked Empire to stop using this steel. Empire did not stop. It was a winning steel for them and sales were skyrocketing. I have even heard stories that IXL made EMPIRE knives and RUSSEL barlow knives of poor quality and soft steel, and distributed them to discourage customers from buying both these brands. The feud was on.
The purchasing of RUSSEL barlows and EMPIRE knives was cutting into the profit and sales of the IXL line.
EMPIRE then went on to make this Gunstock pattern with the WEXL stamped on the bolster to send back a dig to IXL company. The WEXL either stands for WINSTED EMPIRE XL or; that WE as a company XL and not I XL. No-one currently knows for sure. It is a very interesting story.
In (25) years of collecting and searching for Empire brand knives, this is the only one I have seen.
It is very rare.
See you soon.
Tom
[end Email; Quote]
I think it is safe to say that pocket cutlery was much more important in the lives of all Americans back in those days. We knife users and collectors are more of a minority in current times.
This rare knife, remains in remarkable condition, despite a lot of pocket wear, and some ill-advised sharpening.
Hello Charlie,
I am glad you got the knives. You can take all the time you need to decide if you want them.
The WeXL KNIFE story..
When you read the speech that Alvord wrote that I gave you, you will read that an Empire employee from Sheffield that had worked for IXL told the owners of EMPIRE "Why are you not using WARDLOW steel? It is the best, and that was what we used when I worked at IXL".
Empire started to use the Wardlow steel and advertised that the EMPIRE knives used the same steel as IXL used. This statement boosted Empire sales
in the U.S.
IXL was very upset and asked Empire to stop using this steel. Empire did not stop. It was a winning steel for them and sales were skyrocketing. I have even heard stories that IXL made EMPIRE knives and RUSSEL barlow knives of poor quality and soft steel, and distributed them to discourage customers from buying both these brands. The feud was on.
The purchasing of RUSSEL barlows and EMPIRE knives was cutting into the profit and sales of the IXL line.
EMPIRE then went on to make this Gunstock pattern with the WEXL stamped on the bolster to send back a dig to IXL company. The WEXL either stands for WINSTED EMPIRE XL or; that WE as a company XL and not I XL. No-one currently knows for sure. It is a very interesting story.
In (25) years of collecting and searching for Empire brand knives, this is the only one I have seen.
It is very rare.
See you soon.
Tom
[end Email; Quote]
I think it is safe to say that pocket cutlery was much more important in the lives of all Americans back in those days. We knife users and collectors are more of a minority in current times.
This rare knife, remains in remarkable condition, despite a lot of pocket wear, and some ill-advised sharpening.
