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Northampton Cutlery Company

Bay State Cutlery Company was founded in

Northampton, Massachusetts in 1863. The

firm

went bankrupt in 1870 and H. R. Hinckley

bought the firm and incorporated it as The

Northampton Cutlery Company in that year.

The

factory was located on the Mill River. Silver-

Plated knives and forks as well as fixed blade

knives were the main product lines of the

company in the early years. In later years they

produced knife blades for various other companies. The company closed in 1987.

Northampton Cutlery did produce one corkscrew. When the late Bob Nugent acquired

one, he wrote

―

I bought this piece from a gentleman who used to work for the

Northampton Cutlery Co. His description is as follows

‖

:

This piece was designed by Harvey Finison, the late owner of the Northampton Cutlery

Co., Northampton, Massachusetts. Only about 50 were made between 1985 and 1986

when the cutlery was closed.

The handle was dropped forged from 410 stainless steel. The screw was handmade in a

special jig with a Bridgeport machine. The bell was also handmade on two lathes and a

Bridgeport machine involving about 7 separate operations. I remember on a good day 3

bells could be made.

The corkscrews were being sold in

New York at Tiffany's, I believe.

‖

Corkscrew marked Northampton Cutlery

U S