The story of Fisher Barton is a remarkable American tale of a legacy reborn, a journey that began not in 1973, but with the century-old manufacturing heritage of the "Village Blacksmith" brand, which had been crafting quality tools in Watertown, Wisconsin, since 1906.

    At the very heart of this story is a pivotal moment of entrepreneurial vision. In the early 1970s, the "Village Blacksmith" blade business, then owned by a large corporation, was being shut down. Dick Wilkey, who had been their sales agent, saw an opportunity where others saw an end. In 1973, he founded Fisher Barton, starting in a small, 2,400-square-foot rented building.

    This is a story of a powerful "full circle" moment. Just one year later, Fisher Barton had outgrown its space and made a symbolic move: they relocated into the very same historic building that the Village Blacksmith had once occupied. In a masterstroke of strategy, they then purchased the original, high-performance austempering heat-treat system that had been moved away, bringing it back to Watertown and doubling their capacity.

    But this is not just a story of a rescued legacy; it is a tale of how that legacy was supercharged with science. Driven by the challenges of the 1980s, Fisher Barton invested heavily in technology. In 1985, they established their first metallurgical lab, a move that set them apart from the entire industry. This was the birth of their true identity: a company dedicated not just to manufacturing, but to the mastery of materials.

    This commitment to science and innovation led to university partnerships, a state-of-the-art Technology Center, and the development of their patented MARBAIN® material—a steel up to 40% harder than the standard.

    This new, quality-obsessed company earned the trust of the best. It is a tale of a partner so reliable, they began supplying John Deere in 1985 and were later named their Agriculture and Turf Division Supplier of the Year. This quality has been delivered at an incredible scale, with over 350 million blades shipped to date.

    Today, after celebrating its 50th anniversary, the story of Fisher Barton is one that has masterfully diversified, growing into a world-class group of companies, including Thermal Spray Technologies (TST), Accurate Specialties (bronze gear blanks), and the 100-year-old Zenith Cutter (industrial knives). It is a promise to meet the most difficult customer challenges, a commitment driven by a deep mastery of materials, and a legacy of innovation that continues to deliver premium, longer-lasting products to the world's most important industries.

 

Year Founded: 1973

Main Products: Blades, Knives

Brand: Fisher Bartons

Country of Origin: USA

Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/fisherbartonsolutions

Website: https://www.fisherbarton.com/

Address: 570 Bluemound Rd, Waukesha, WI 53188, United States

Contact No.: +12625475450

Email: Via website