Charles D. Briddell & Carvel Hall

[woody 73]

A very special shout out to GJ member RTM, sometimes when I get stuck late at night and I cannot find the information that I am looking for; I then need a special set of eyes that help me search for that missing information.

We did stumble upon the same man in question, but alas he would have only been 12 years of age in 1895, when the business got its start, and I don't think we found the right man.

What I did find out is that Charles (Chas), D. Briddell of Crisfield Md. was founded in 1895; it started simple enough in his small blacksmith shop, starting in 1946 Mr. Briddell's employee named Paul Carver designed a letter opener as a Christmas Gift to Mr. Briddell; seeing the gift he thought, why not turn it into steak knives and as they say they say they could not make them fast enough for the general public.

During the second World War they did make bazooka shells, along with oyster knives, butcher knives, steak knives, boning knives, awls, ice picks, cleavers, letter openers along with other knives.

Now most times I post my stories in the vintage tool section, but this oyster knife is not 50 years old (Vintage) I am 98% sure it was made not that long ago, because it has a laser etch, and a more modern sticky ace tag for $2.99 on the end of it.

The business has a long History and was sold in 1961 to the Towle Manufacturing Co. and it was active till 1990. It would seem the Carvell name was sold off and it was active for a few years in the early 2000's.

A few pictures of the oyster knife along with a few links for you to look at on this nice Friday night.

Carvel Hall Brand History - Country Knives

Read the Carvel Hall Brand History. Learn about Carvel Hall background as well as the variety of knives and tools Country Knives offers from this top brand.

www.countryknives.com

https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Land/MarylandBrownfieldVCP/Documents/Carvel%20Hall.pdf

Carvel Hall revitalization project aims to make facility a new agriculture hub on Eastern Shore - 47abc

CRISFIELD, Md. – “This is good, solid economic development,” State Senator Mary Beth Carozza said. The historic Carvel Hall manufacturing facility will now be a future agricultural hub for Somerset County. “We’re going to have a world-class facility. We’re talking about the Hemp industry. We’re...

www.wmdt.com

Charles D. Briddell, Inc.

mycompanies.fandom.com

 

[bbrins]

I'm sure that would make a fine letter opener, but I'm fairly certain that is one of their oyster knives.

 

[RTM]

That was my thought too, but I know nothing of oyster knives, so didn't want to question it.

 

[bbrins]

I get plenty of use out of their crab knives. Never cared enough for oysters to bother with shucking my own, seen a few people over the years with an oyster knife blade in their hand due to poor technique and/or beer. As a small child, I lived about a 1/4(?) mile down the road that is across the street from the now closed factory in Crisfield. Dont know much about it besides the fact that they made a gazillion crab knives and oyster knives/letter openers.

 

[woody 73]

Thank you for enlightening me, I fixed it to read "oyster knife". My wife told me last night that it looked too small for a letter opener, and she was right on the money.

 

[woody 73]

Funny that of all places Ace would be selling oyster knives, never seen one before, but stranger things have happened.

 

[four.cycle]

Oh.... you don't have oysters, do you?

Oyster Knife a must-have here. Big giant screwdriver will work, but after you've pushed the end of the blade through the palm of your hand two or three times, you understand and appreciate why a good oyster knife is worth the investment. Buy only top-of-the-line.

Stop by... I'll cook up a mess of 'em for you.

 

[bbrins]

I remember being told about bazooka shells being made in the Heath's Crabpots building during WW2, it's an old quonset hut type of building a couple miles(?) to the south on 413. I wonder if that could be related?

That oyster opener could be older than you think, notice the font looks like a stencil. Could be some kind of electrochemical etching, or maybe sand etched.

 

[four.cycle]

^ A good oyster knife retails for anywhere from $12 - $20 bucks. (I paid about $17 for that Dexter a couple years ago.)
So... $2.99 for that wood-handled model says one of two things: (1) cheapo Chinese stuff, or (2) really old stock.

 

[Crabman]

four.cycle

I have Carvel Hall crab knives, the best IMHO. Had my first crabs of the year last night.

The Dexter is a good oyster knife, I have a couple of styles. I am blessed to have Chesapeake Bay oysters in the creek behind my house. Here are some I got at a real low tide this winter. I keep them in floats at my dock. Good for filtering the water, and eating of course.



I have couple of nice steel gloves that I use that have helped reduce pain, suffering and bleeding for me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086JKLPMK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Amazon.com: Mercer Culinary MercerMax Cut Glove, Extra Large : Tools & Home Improvement

Amazon.com: Mercer Culinary MercerMax Cut Glove, Extra Large : Tools & Home Improvement

www.amazon.com

 

[3baygarage]

When I saw this in the tool bin today I had to laugh. It was cheap, but thanks Woody, you now have me buying oyster knives.

 

[MisterEd]

The SigO finds the oddest things and thanks to @woody 73 we figured out that amongst a pile of rusting punches she’d found a Briddell Oyster Knife. Basic and sturdy. Edges are slightly nicked, but it’s still straight and probably fully functional. No “Made in USA” marking. Perhaps an early version.