Shapleigh Hardware was founded in 1843. A.F. Shapleigh, then a junior partner of Rogers Brothers & Company of Philadelphia, brought stock to open a new branch in St. Louis. This branch was named Rogers, Shapleigh & Company. In 1847, the company became Shapleigh, Day & Company. This name was used until 1863 when the firm became A.F. Shapleigh & Company. Diamond Edge was adopted as the trademark for their tools and cutlery in 1864. The exact marking on these earlier knives is unknown at this time.
In 1880, the name was A.F. Shapleigh and Cantwell Hardware Company. The knives sold during this period were marked “A.F.S. & Co.” This name was used until 1888, when it became the A.F. Shapleigh Hardware Company.
The next change in the company name occurred in 1902. At that time, the company became the Norvell-Shapleigh Hardware Company. Saunders Norvell began as a clerk with the E.C. Simmons Hardware in the late 1800s. He was still a clerk in 1898, but by 1900 was a vice president of the Simmons firm.
In 1902, he began working for Shapleigh, by 1907 he was president of the Norvell-Shapleigh Hardware Company. The name once again reverted to A.F. Shapleigh Hardware Company about 1915.
On July 1, 1940 Shapleigh purchased the E.C. Simmons Hardware. From this time until 1960, they used the old Simmons trademarks as a second line to the Diamond Edge trademark. They continued to do business until 1960, when the firm was sold.
The knives produced were marked on all blades up until the middle 1940s. After this, they were marked on the master blade only. Some of the markings sold by Shapleigh were: Berkshire, Bridge Cutlery Co., Enders Oak Leaf, Diamond Edge (c 1864-1960), Keen Kutter (c 1940-1960), Empire, Norshap, Norvell-Shapleigh, S. Norvell, Norvell’s Best, G.W. Putman & Co. Germany, Enterprise Cutlery Co., Simmons Hardware Co., Simmons Sonny, and J. Koester’s Sons Germany.
(Featured image) Shapleigh box label, c 1900
c 1843-1960