Shapleigh Hardware Company Large Jack Diamond Shield Used 4\" 1860s-1920s RARE For Sale

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Shapleigh Hardware Company Large Jack Diamond Shield Used 4\" 1860s-1920s RARE:
$259.00

This vintage pocketknife from the Shapleigh Hardware Company is a rare find. Made in the late 1800s to early 1900s, this knife features a blade made of carbon steel. The handle is made of bone and features a diamond shield. The knife is a slipjoint with a plain edge and opening mechanism is manual. The knife was made in the United States and is an original from the time period. It is a one-bladed knife and is considered a collectible folding knife.

Blade snap is very strong with no Wobble. Locks up tight.

Brief History of The Shapleigh Hardware Company

Headquarters of Shapleigh Hardware Company, St. Louis

Born January 10, 1810 in New Hampshire, Augustus F. Shapleigh made his first excursion into the hardware business at the age of 15 in order to contribute to the support of his family after his father\'s death. A brief bout of wanderlust sent him to sea for the next three years.

In 1829, he took up a position as a hardware clerk with Rodger Brothers and Company of Philadelphia, PA. In response to the great westward expansion, this company opened a branch in St. Louis, MO. This hardware house, known as Rodger, Shapleigh and Company opened in 1843.

St. Louis was not only the gateway to the west, it was also the hub of the wheels of industry and progress for the nation during these years and well past 1900. The first traveling salesman went out from Shapleigh House in 1848. In 1852, the first steam railroad west of the Mississippi left from St. Louis. The first Shapleigh catalog was published in 1853, basically as a salesman\'s pricing book.

At Mr. Day\'s retirement in 1863, the name of the company became A.F. Shapleigh and Co. The famous Diamond Edge trademark was adopted in 1864.

The slogan, \"Diamond Edge is a Quality Pledge\", is said to have first been used in 1909. Diamond Edge tools were the first line of edge tools (knives, razors, axes, cutlery, etc.) in the United States to be covered by a jobbers trademark.

By the late 1800\'s, Shapleigh Hardware was a well-established, healthy and successful enterprise. It incorporated under the name of A.F. Shapleigh and Cantwell Hardware Company, with A.F. as the president. It published its first general catalog featuring over 200 different items in 1880. Upon the retirement of Mr. Cantwell in 1886, the firm became A.F. Shapleigh’s company again.

Augustus Shapleigh took his retirement in 1900 and the company reorganized in 1901. Another name change occurred. The new name was Norvell-Shapleigh Hardware Company. Saunders Norvell was its president for the next ten years. he was an extremely astute businessman, salesman and knowledgeable hardware man.

Mr. Norvell had been part of Simmons Hardware for many years. It is believed that his expertise and influence on that company was greatly responsible for its success. With his less than cordial leave-taking, Simmons Hardware started a downward slide from which it never recovered.

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