PA knife companies

[cbach8tw]

I was recently in Bethlehem and Allentown PA area for a wedding, i was wondering what old cutlery firms were in the Lehigh Valley area. I am not looking for an exhaustive list but just ones that produced in the late 1800s to the early and middle 20th century. We stayed at the Sayer Mansion, and one can see the old steel mill along the river, so just got to wondering. We checked out a few antique shops and I looked in the cases, but nothing stood out. So just curious as I was there.

 

[buckthorn]

My wife is from the Lehigh Valley and I recall seeing a pocket knife that had been made in Allentown. Sorry to be of only little help but at least know that at one manufacturer existed. Good luck searching!

 

[Arathol]

Wolfertz was in Allentown from the time of the Civil War through the end of WW2......

 

[buckthorn]

That’s the company I was trying to remember.

 

[danno50]

Here is a C.F. Wolfertz knife

 

[cbach8tw]

Thanks, that is one company I found just trolling online for companies. Not that I was looking for custom, I heard that Creely knives was in Macungie. Found Cutco listing, but still looking at the old firms or if any still around. Thanks for your help.

 

[ea42]

The only knifemaking companies I can think of from that general area other than Wolfertz are Coquanoc Works of Philadelphia and Lackawana Cut Co (a bit farther north in the Pocono region).

Eric

 

[PointyThings]

Wolfertz contracted some of their knives from Schrade and Ulster, which you can tell from some of the patterns sold. There are claims in knife books that Wolfertz originally made some of their own knives. I once spoke with the grandson of C.F. Wolfertz in the 1990s, who was in his 90s at the time. I asked him who made knives for Wolfertz and he wouldn't tell me, as if it was still a trade secret. At that time Wolfertz only sold baskets.

 

[cbach8tw]

Thanks.