Keen Kutter first appeared as a brand of the Simmons Hardware Company, St. Louis, MO, in 1866. They reserved the Keen Kutter label for their very best axes and cutlery. In 1940, Simmons Hardware went bankrupt and was purchased by rival toolmaker Shapleigh Hardware who replaced the Simmons name with Shapleigh while keeping the overall designs the same. In 1960, The Keen Kutter trademark was purchased by Val-Test Distributors who dropped the Shapleigh name, but continued to use the Keen Kutter logo until the 1990's.
E.C. Simmons Hardware
1871 - E.C. Simmons and Company founded.
1874 - Company incorporated as Simmons Hardware Company.
1880 - Simmons publishes one of the first fully illustrated hardware catalogs.
1989 - E.C. Simmons retires from active participation in the business.
1920 - E.C. Simmons dies.
1922 - Firm sold to Winchester Repeating Arms.
1934 - Great Depression causes Winchester to file for bankruptcy.
1935 - After reorganization, focus shifts from tools to housewares, Keen Kutter pocket knives retained.
1940 - Simmons assets sold to Shapleigh Hardware Co.
1959 - Shapleigh goes out of business.
Sold “as-is” -- see photos for more details.
Your order will be processed quickly and professionally packed and shipped using quality materials and sent via major US carriers to ensure a quality experience.
01221-SHELF72 / DNY423 & 424