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THE CHRISTY KNIFE COMPANY

     All businesses take on a life of their own. They face everyday challenges, experiencing ups and downs. They grow and mature. Some die young, and some enjoy long lives. The Christy Company of Fremont, Ohio has lived a very long and interesting life, and continues to live today.

     With a life history that began in 1889, the Christy Company is one of the oldest continuous businesses in Ohio. The fourth generation of the Christy family is now at the helm of the business.

   Russ J. Christy designed and patented a nickel-plated, serrated, bread knife. The production of Christy’s invention was the birth of The Christy Knife Company, formed in 1889.

     Local investors purchased stock in the new company, and the  Christy Knife Company was born. The business was originally located on Arch Street. Just five years into its existence, in 1894, the company needed to expand the building. Again, local investors raised the funds to insure The Christy Knife Company remained in Fremont. At this time, 60 people were employed by the company, and they were distributing cutlery nationwide, and worldwide through an office in London, England.

     In 1902, and again in 1910, the company experienced devastating fires. Each time, the Christy Knife Company rebuilt and expanded.

     The company began production of a single-edge safety razor in 1906. The addition of the safety razor to the company’s line enabled them to actually grow at a time of material shortages during World War I.

     In 1917, the need for more production room was, once again, a concern, and the building at the corner of Dickinson and State Streets became the new home of The Christy Knife Company. At this time the company employed 100 workers, producing a complete line of cutlery.

     R.J. Christy retired in 1920, and his son, D. Lamar Christy took over the business management responsibilities. It was during the tenure of D. Lamar Christy that the Christy Knife was developed. Evidently, even in retirement, R.J. Christy couldn’t keep cutlery off of his mind. The retractable-blade “Christy Knife” idea came to him in a dream. He awoke from his dream and sketched the idea on a bedside pad. The next day, he made a wooden prototype and sent it to his son. They began tooling for the knife in 1936.

     The handy knife features a unique sliding blade, easily operated with one hand. The blade also locks in three positions, and its slim size makes it very convenient to carry.

     During World War II, military post exchanges around the world sold Christy Knives to service personnel. At one point, the United States Customs agent training school issued the Christy Knife to their graduates. Many police and firemen, order the Christy Knife through their supply catalog. The Christy Knife is sold all over the world. “The handiest pocket knife ever designed” has been a keep-sake item handed down from generation to generation for many years.

     D. Lamar Christy managed the company from 1920—1955. Upon his retirement, third-generation, Earl B. Christy began his tenure overseeing the operations of the plant. At this time, nearly 80% of the company’s business was manufacturing surgical steel blades for a Cincinnati surgical instrument company. In 1961, The Christy Knife Company lost the contract with the Cincinnati firm, and nearly collapsed. The drastically reduced work-force was able to continue on by manufacturing their famous Christy Knife.

     Earl Christy passed away in November of 2006. Fourth generation, Randy “Hal” Christy, and his wife, Donna, continue to carefully maintain the high quality of standards established more than 100 years manufacturing excellence. The Christy Knife is still manufactured in Fremont, Ohio, on the same 1936 equipment.

THE FAME OF THE CHRISTY KNIFE

     Over the years, The Christy Knife Company has been privileged to hear real-life drama stories that have helped to earn the title: “The Handiest Pocket Knife Ever Designed.”

     “The Christy Knife saved the life of a Navy pilot in the South Pacific during WWII. Injured and without the use of one hand, the pilot removed his Christy Knife from his sleeve pocket, opened it with one hand, cut his shoulder harness, replaced the knife in the sleeve pocket, opened the canopy, bailed out and parachuted to safety.”

     “Coming upon a bad accident on the turnpike, a doctor saved a man’s life. The injured man couldn’t breathe because of facial injuries. The doctor used his Christy Knife to perform a tracheotomy, inserted a tube in the throat incision, thus allowing the man to breathe and saved his life.”