Collection: John Primble Belknap

The Belknap Hardware Company was originally founded by William Burke Belknap in 1840 in Louisville, Kentucky. The company started out producing iron products such as horse shoes, nails, spikes and such. Lets establish a little historic perspective; Mr. Belknaps contemporaries were the likes of E.C. Simmons and A. F. Shapleigh whose respective companies achieved remarkable success. Mr. Belknap ran the company for 40 years and, arguably, can be considered an inspiring example of American entrepreneurial spirit! The Belknap Hardware Company's catalog eventually consisted of more than 117,000 items. The Belknap was an  American company that closed in 1986. During its existence, it sold a variety of trademarked brands of product. One such brand was the John Primble offering of traditional pocket knives (initially started in 1931). Interestingly, it is the longest continuous line of cutlery in America!