The Catch Bit Show

Neal and Mike catch up on shop talk and Mike gives an update on the 2nd Annual Grand Knife Adventure. We talk about the most recent Knife Magazine issue and dive into to the topic of gear-driven knives. 

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to give us some of those stars in your podcast app!

Mike Moran: @moranknives and on the web: moranknives.com
Check out Neal's latest latest book on J.A. Henckels Knives

Friends, this episode's a little different. Mike and Neal put away their folding knives to talk about forging, fixed blades, and Forged in Fire with Jason Kraus of Northstar Forge. It was a lot of fun getting the inside details on the show and how Jason is growing his thriving business.

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to give us some of those stars in your podcast app!

Mike Moran: @moranknives and on the web: moranknives.com
Check out Neal's latest latest book on J.A. Henckels Knives

We're back from Eugene, Oregon and the Oregon Knife Collectors Association's Oregon Knife Show and Rhidian joins us to talk about all the fun we had!

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to give us some of those stars in your podcast app!

Mike Moran: @moranknives and on the web: moranknives.com
Check out Neal's latest latest book on J.A. Henckels Knives

We're back with Brad and more stories. Join us as we talk about growing up in Little Valley, walls full of knives, the legacy of Dean Elliot Case, and even possible midnight excursions into the "back 40" to look for old knives!

Be sure to check out Brad's knife show happening July 11 & 12, 2025. Link to the website: https://www.villageofknives.com/

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to give us some of those stars in your podcast app!

Mike Moran: @moranknives and on the web: moranknives.com
Check out Neal's latest latest book on J.A. Henckels Knives

This is one of those must-listen episodes chock full of humor, lore, and downright fascinating history. The Case Family had their hands in 32 cutleries over the years and Brad joins us to separate fact from fiction and he might even introduce new stories - you'll just have to listen to find out. From the early days, to the family fights, to horse thieving and factory fires...we've got it all in this one and it's only part one!

Be sure to check out Brad's knife show happening July 11 & 12, 2025. Link to the website: https://www.villageofknives.com/

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to give us some of those stars in your podcast app!

Mike Moran: @moranknives and on the web: moranknives.com
Check out Neal's latest latest book on J.A. Henckels Knives

Tom Cosgrove joins us for a second episode and this time we dive into New Britain.

If you are a knife history nerd, you are going to love the cross talk on this one!

Thank you to Tom for the below notes:

To talk about Landers, Frary & Clark you must talk about New Britain Connecticut history first.

At the turn of the century, New Britain CT factories produced one-sixth of the nation’s hardware, earning its title of the “Hardware Capitol of the World” with familiar names like: 

• New Britain Machine
• Stanley Rule & Level/Stanley Tool
• Fafnir Bearing
• P.F. Corbin Lock
• Russell & Erwin Locks
• North & Judd
• Landers, Frary & Clark

1829 George Marcellus Landers (1813–1895), left his familial home in Lenox MA at the age of 16 for the small town of New Britain CT where he took employment as a carpenter’s apprentice. Landers meets Josiah Dewey, a manufacturer of furniture casters and cupboard catches.

1842 Dewey & Landers is formed to produce cupboard catches. They operated on East Main Street in New Britain CT until the company’s dissolution in 1847 due to Dewey’s death. This led Landers to form his own foundry to produce brass hooks and eyes, and wardrobe hooks.

1853 Landers partnered with Levi O. Smith to form Landers & Smith Manufacturing Company with working capital of $30,000.

1862 Landers partners with Colonel James Darius Frary (1833–1890) of Frary, Carey & Company of Meriden CT join forces. Frary & Carey produced various metal and hardware products including the Turnbull Patent Dial Scale, which was a scale for home/kitchen use.

1865 Incorporated as Landers, Frary & Clark, the name that they maintained for about 100 years. At the time of incorporation, the company had $250,000 in working capital and employed 300 people.

1866 Purchased the Meriden Cutlery Company and with it the “right to be called the first manufacturer of cutlery in the United States” and immediately began manufacturing kitchen cutlery and opened a factory called the Aetna Works, on Center Street to make a variety of cutlery, including carving sets and the Anvil Brand line of putty knives with tropical hardwood handles.

The Aetna Works stone and brick buildings with slate roofs were located on a 4 ½ acre parcel and included a main shop, a grinding and finishing shop, a forging shop, and buildings wings for sawing and tempering.

1869 Began manufacturing housewares: products that were meant to ease household tasks, which were most often performed by women. Their products included: meat choppers, coffee mills, apple parers, hooks for various purposes, window pulleys, door handles, and tools.

1909 Purchased the trademark “Universal” from Levi T. Snow of New Haven CT

1912 Purchased the Humason & Beckley Manufacturing Company of New Britain CT and began manufacturing pocket knives and razors. The deal was brokered by Martha A. Parsons who was the secretary of LF&C. So uncommon was it for a woman to hold such a high position that Martha would sign her name as M. A. Parsons to hide that fact.

1916 Ceased using the H&B name on all pocket cutlery.

1918 Purchased all Meriden Cutlery Company and continued to make Meriden Cutlery pocket knives until 1924.

1925 The last year that LF&C used the Meriden Cutlery Company “Anvil” brand as a second line on all cutlery including pocket knives.

1931 Started manufacturing Boy Scout knives as the first

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to give us some of those stars in your podcast app!

Mike Moran: @moranknives and on the web: moranknives.com
Check out Neal's latest latest book on J.A. Henckels Knives

Tom joins us for part 1 of a 2 part series. We talk a little about Tom's past collecting and spend a good deal of time hearing about the story of the Remington Scout Heroism knife. A must listen for all Scout and Remington fans!

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to give us some of those stars in your podcast app!

Mike Moran: @moranknives and on the web: moranknives.com
Check out Neal's latest latest book on J.A. Henckels Knives

We are joined on this episode by Mark Erickson, who runs a large Facebook group: Old Switchblade Knives. We talk about Mark's early years of collecting, his book, and his Facebook group. Mark gives advice to those new to switchblades and he tells some great stories. If you love switchblades, this is the episode for you!

Mark's Links:
Old Switchblade Knives Facebook Group
Book - Antique American Switchblades
Apple Valley Knives Website

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to give us some of those stars in your podcast app!

Mike Moran: @moranknives and on the web: moranknives.com
Check out Neal's latest latest book on J.A. Henckels Knives

We made it to the future once again friends! After stealing a couple of weeks off, the boys are back with our good friend Charlie to catch up on his latest knife release and to play show and tell.

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to give us some of those stars in your podcast app!

Mike Moran: @moranknives and on the web: moranknives.com
Check out Neal's latest latest book on J.A. Henckels Knives

In our last episode of 2024, it was only fitting to invite a guy on the show who we both know, and who on previous episodes, have had a bit of fun at his expense. We had a great time with Grayson on this episode. He is one of the youngest makers of traditional pocket knives today and he also has some of the highest production numbers of any custom maker. We hope you enjoy the show and we thank everyone for the listens and support through the year!

If you enjoyed the episode, be sure to give us some of those stars in your podcast app!

Mike Moran: @moranknives and on the web: moranknives.com
Check out Neal's latest latest book on J.A. Henckels Knives