Un-x-ld

B

banksy

Joined
Oct 21, 2009
Messages
363
I have been looking at Northfields knives lately, and that got me wondering what is the origin of the UN-X-LD brand name and what does it mean, if anything?
Can't find any info on the GEC site.
 
Ever-helpful, Jack!

Off topic, but... Banksy, I really like that piece you did, the picture of the protester ready to lob a bouquet of flowers instead of a stone or molotov cocktail. Do you carry a knife with you when you go out at night to make your artwork?




;)
 
banksy said:
I have been looking at Northfields knives lately, and that got me wondering what is the origin of the UN-X-LD brand name and what does it mean, if anything?
Can't find any info on the GEC site.
Click to expand...

Unexcelled - None better.
 
I guess it also denotes the premium version of a GEC knife? I always found this interesting because I cant tell the difference in "premium-ness" between GEC, Tidioute, or UN-X-LD
 
Grooved and/or pinched bolsters seem to be a feature of the Northfield offer. As far as basic qualities go, all three namebrands are top notch in the slipjoint segment by my standards. Tidioute generally has more scales/handles options. Whatever your choice, you'll get quality.
 
banksy said:
Yes those are the sites I looked at. I have a feeling I'm being really dumb here, but I can't see the answer to the question in any of those links.
Click to expand...
"Unexcelled" has just the kind of sound that makes me reach for my credit card...
 
Old Sheffield makers had marks including XL. I*XL was first granted to William Smith in 1787 but was made famous by George Wostenholm and Son. NON XLL was a trademark of Unwin and Rodgers and then acquired by Joseph Allen & Sons. These are the ones that come to mind. Don't know if this helps any.
 
Cutty73 said:
UnExcelled= Un-X-ld

Top knotch, can't be beat, can't be surpassed, UNEXCELLED
Click to expand...

Thanks, I understand, but I'd like to read more about how the name came to be used.

smiling-knife said:
Old Sheffield makers had marks including XL. I*XL was first granted to William Smith in 1787 but was made famous by George Wostenholm and Son. NON XLL was a trademark of Unwin and Rodgers and then acquired by Joseph Allen & Sons. These are the ones that come to mind. Don't know if this helps any.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's the sort of information I'm looking for.
 
Always nice to get some history... Thanks for that !
 
puukkoman said:
Ever-helpful, Jack!

Off topic, but... Banksy, I really like that piece you did, the picture of the protester ready to lob a bouquet of flowers instead of a stone or molotov cocktail. Do you carry a knife with you when you go out at night to make your artwork?
;)
Click to expand...

Actually, I've been known by this name for far longer than Robin Gunningham. All credit to him though, he's done rather well for himself.
 
banksy said:
Yes those are the sites I looked at. I have a feeling I'm being really dumb here, but I can't see the answer to the question in any of those links.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I'd thought you wanted information about the origin of the brand itself, assuming the meaning of the name was self-evident, but I guess that's only the case if you're familiar with brands such as the ones Smiling Knife refers to :)
 
Jack Black said:
Sorry, I'd thought you wanted information about the origin of the brand itself, assuming the meaning of the name was self-evident, but I guess that's only the case if you're familiar with brands such as the ones Smiling Knife refers to :)
Click to expand...

I wasn't familiar, and it seems odd to me that in the brand history articles you linked to, there is no information about the name, what it means, how it came to be used and so on.
 
Last edited:
The Northfield Knife Company was started in Northfield Conneticut in either 1859 or 1869. UN-X-LD was one of the Brand Names used for their Premium line of knives. The company went out of business in the 1920's I believe. The Trade Marks Northfield UN-X-LD and Tidioute Cutlery were purchased and used by Bill Howard as a tie in to his production of Traditional American Pocketknives, using traditional materials and cutlery techniques. You can read much more about this in Great Eastern Cutlery, An American Tradition by David L. Anthony. Available from GEC and several different Distributors.
 
What is the significance of terms "Northfield" and "UN-X-LD"?

Sorry if this is a dumb question to most of you, but I like to learn about this stuff. :)
 
UNeXcelLeD

Copy-paste. Google is yor friend ;)
Since 1858 Northfield Cutlery has been the epitome of quality American craftsmanship. With the Northfield UN-X-LD trademark, these knives were made one at a time by hands that understood quality and pride in the ability to produce it.
Today the Northfield Cutlery trademark is held by Great Eastern Cutlery, and they are just as serious about these ideas as their counterparts 150 years ago.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top