Battle Axe Brand History/Information

by Jim Morgan

Sep 4, 2016

I would like to know more about the Battle Axe Brand history and products. From what little I know, there are connections to the names JW Hickey & Sons, Hickey & Shouse, and Souse & Hardin which are stamped on some of the knives. There is also an older "Battle Axe Cutlery Co." in the mix. So far I have found very little mention of any of these but I have acquired a couple of the knives and they seem to be of very good quality and design.If you can add to my knowledge I would be grateful.

Thanks,

Jim

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    Jim Morgan

    Thanks for the reply. Thanks to you I know more today than I knew yesterday

    In this period of time (1975-1990) it seems that there was a lot of creative work going on in the cutlery world. Bulldog, and Fight'n Rooster,were producing items that were high in quality, great in design, and sold in short runs.

    Battle Axe was doing the same thing but they are not as well known. Since their history is recent and some of the main players may still be around we may hope for a history and/or catalog some day.

    Jim

    John McCain said:

    Jim-They were 2 different companies.The older Battle Axe Cutlery co. were either made for or by A.R. Justice, (Alfred Rudolph Justice), a Philadelphia hardware wholesaler circa 1877-1937, who  turned to cutlery and silverplating. You can find examples of  pocket knives as well as tableware of his with the Battle Axe stamp.

     The newer Battle Axe Brand, circa 1975-1990 was used by a group of men whose speciality was importing & selling good quality commemorative knives and a few production knives.These were small batch limited edition knives and usually serialized. They would come up with the design, and a factory in Solingen, Germany manufactured them. They are thought to have been made by the Frederich Olbertz factory in Solingen. The knives used 1095 carbon steel and good quality handle materials.

     Apparently, different members of the group designed & bought different knives, hence the many different collaborations of names on the knives.

    J.W. Hickey of Winston-Salem NC, Tommy Shouse of Winston-Salem, & George Smith of Hardin Wholesale who later became a partner in Blue Grass Cutlery.

    Sep 5, 2016

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    In Memoriam

    John McCain

    Jim-Funny you should mention Bulldog and Fight'n Rooster- I have read (not confirmed) that all three brands were produced at the same factory in Solingen. Bernard Levine thought that Frederich Olbertz made Battle Axe, so perhaps they made all 3 brands. Sterling Buster is an IKC member, and can probably confirm the Fight'n  Rooster aspect.  Buzz Parker could probably confirm the Bulldog Brand story.

    Sep 5, 2016

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    Jim Morgan

    Thanks for the additional information and the leads to follow

    Jim

    Sep 5, 2016