Introduction utlery manufacturing in the United States was once centered in New England where hundreds of factories, small shops, and individual cutlers crafted knives of every size and description. Though not as prolific as its New England-based counterparts, the state of New Jersey, too, can be proud of its contributions to the cutlery industry. The bulk of New Jersey cutlery activity was initiated by German and English immigrants who came to the State from the industrialized cities of Solingen, Germany and Sheffield, England. These immigrants brought with them the cutlery-making skills they have learned in their European homelands. For many reasons, the city of Newark became the center for most of this activity and Newark eventually evolved into what could be best described as the ‘Scissor and Shear Capitol of the United States’. The firms of Rochus Heinisch and Jacob Wiss in particular would over the years provide quality scissors,shears, razors, knives and other edged tools for countries worldwide. H.Boker of Solingen, Germany also established their own Newark factory and added their products to the list. Newark can also boast of having several important pocketknife manufacturers. Notable among these were the aforementioned H.Boker & Co., the A.F.Bannister & Co., Valley Forge Cutlery Company, and the Booth Brothers. There were also countless smaller shops that produced farrier’s knives, shoe knives, oyster knives and various edged tools for the growing industrialized city. New Jersey also had at least two major sword making firms that provided weapons for the Civil War efforts. These were the Emerson & Silver Company based in Trenton, NJ, and Henry Sauerbier & Sons of Newark. And finally, there was Alfred Hunter who made exceptional table cutlery and some of the finest Bowie knives. This book begins to organize the history of New Jersey’s cutlery industry. Much of the information was initially obtained from library research. Another goodly portion came from internet correspondence with knife collectors and historians across the United States. Cutlery manufacturers are listed alphabetically and descriptions of the businesses and products are shown when available. Many cutlery patents that were granted to individual New Jersey residents are also included. For answers to questions about knives and their values, readers are directed to two recommended books. These are: Bernard Levine’s ‘Guide to Knives and their Values’ (see also his website www.knife-expert.com), and ‘The Official Price Guide to Collector Knives’ by Price & Zalesky that is available through www.knifeworld.com.
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