History
In 1977,
several workers from PPG Industries discussed starting a knife club in
Barberton, Ohio, as knife collecting was beginning to
grow in the area. They were able to meet in a conference room of the
Firestone Bank (now Bank One) in Barberton. With 18 people in attendance, the
first meeting led to the organization of the Club. The following
officers were elected: Jorgen Nielson-Mayer, President; Alan
Esterday, Vice President; Dick Konkle,
Treasurer; Jim Gainer,
Secretary.
The Western Reserve Cutlery Association was the first knife club
to be organized in the state of Ohio.
In 1986 the Club lost its meeting room in the
bank and moved to the Doylestown Town Hall.
Several years ago the club moved to the Gene Daniels Community Center
in Doylestown, Ohio. The Club still meets there the second
Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Of the original 18 members,
several are still active in the Club, which has now grown to over 100
members. The club offers life memberships as well as junior membership
to encourage younger members to develop an interest in knife collecting
.
The WRCA has issued yearly Club Knives since its inception, as well as
anniversary knives to commemorate each fifth year anniversary of the
founding of the Club.
The WRCA Club
knives have consistently grown in value as time goes by. This is in
large measure due to the decision to choose high quality, unusual and
unique knives for the Club knives in recent years, along with choosing
handcrafted, custom knives for the special anniversary editions. The
Club also issues a
“show knife” to commemorate its annual
Knife Expo begun
in 1989.
