Knife Company History- Napanoch Knife Company
Friday, April 18th, 2008
Napanoch Cutlery Co. 1900 - 1919 Napanoch, NY
Napanoch is one of the brands that ranks up near the top in my book. The most information I have found so far is a fantastic little book called Napanoch- A White Man’s Knife with A Red Man’s Name by Mr. Rhett Stidham. 
Written and complied by Mr. Stedham in cooperation with Mrs. John Cushner and her daughters. Mr. Cushner began working for Napanoch in 1903 up to 1920.
Brothers Irving and William Carmen and William Hoornberg leased the former DuVall Rake Manufactory building in June 1900 and by August the company was in operation. Mr. Stidham reports the knife company became known as Napanoch Knife Company in 1905 and then in 1909 it incorporated.
Winchester Repeating Arms Company of New Haven, Connecticut bought the firm in 1919 and moved the operations to New Haven. Mr. Stidham writes the Napanoch brand continued to exist until 1921 or possibly later.
Many of the employees of Napanoch, including Mr. Cushner, founded Honk Falls Knife Co. in the old Napanoch factory in Napanoch, NY. The factory burned in 1929 and that firm never recovered. However in 1931 Mr. Cusnher converted his barn to a knife shop and made knives under the Napanoch Knife Company name until his death in 1938. His daughters continued to fill his orders and terminated the business in Spring of 1939.
Acccording to Marion Dumond former Town of Wawarsing Historian & Ellenville Public Library Director in Forward into the Past in Wawarsing.Net Magazine Sept. 2004, the Carmen brothers worked under Dwight Divine founder of Ulster Knife Co. (formed in 1875).
In his book, Mr. Stidham writes Napanoch made contract knives for many firms. I have listed the ones that have toenails.Wilbert Cutlery Co. of Chicago, Il (sears brand)
Hibbard, Spencer and Bartlett, Chicago, Il
Challenge Cutlery Co. Bridgeport, CT
Henry Sears No. 1865 St. Paul, MN
It is also believed Napanoch made W R Case & Son contract toenails.
In the Oct 18th, 1906 edition of Youth’s Companion, the Jumbo Pocket Knife is shown in an advertisement illustrating the Napanoch Knife Co. toenail. The caption reads, “Designed especially for that large class who require a knife for heavy work, such as leather or rope cutting, or other similar material requiring great strength.” ….how cool is that?!
Napanoch is as one of the brands ranked Very High in the 2008 Vintage Toenail Price Guide.
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