Tryon Axes of Philadelphia
Edw. K. Tryon Company
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1920s – 1940s (Approx.)
The Tryon axe was the house brand for Edw. K. Tryon Company of Philadelphia, one of America’s largest sporting goods retailers and wholesalers (at the time). Tryon axes were sold from roughly the 1920s to the 1940s.
Founded in 1811 and operating through the mid–1950s, this family-run sporting‐goods retailer/wholesaler was one of America’s largest. It sold a huge range of outdoors products under various names – firearms, fishing tackle, bicycles, and sporting equipment – often using trademarks like the “Golden Buffalo” and trade names such as Tryon–Tru-Temper Cutlery.
Tryon-branded axes only seem to have shown up around their peak, sometime in the 1920s. I think this brand is a little neat because it was a sporting goods retailer that extended to axes, while typically axes were left to the hardware industry. Although there are some other exceptions.
Like most house brands, Edw. K. Tryon Co. was not the manufacturer, but would have contracted out to another company to make the Tryon-branded axes for them. Tryon is known to have sold national brands of axe like Keen Kutter.
There is a chance that the Simmons Hardware Company (which made Keen Kutter) would have also made its house brand. Although that is just speculation based on similar agreements by other companies, it could have been anyone.
Figure: 1929 Edw. K. Tryon Co. catalog (Philadelphia) listing axes. Left page shows Keen Kutter axes; lower right is a “Tryon Double Bit (Michigan Pattern)” under the Tryon namebladeforums.com.
Tryon Axe Markings
Axes stamped “Supreme Tryon Quality” appear in several known forms, including single-bit, double-bit, and hatchet patterns. These tools were almost certainly earlier models of the axe from the 20s-30s.
The more intricate the marking, the more expensive it was to make (and the faster the stamps wore out). The axe industry was booming in the 20s and 30s, but already starting to decline by the 40s.
Axes with a simple “Tryon” stamp are likely later production 30s-40s.
It’s possible these axes were made as late as the 1950s; however, I suspect they would have ended in the 40s. WW2 and the massive need for steel impacted axe production across the world, and was the end or pause of a lot of minor house brands.
Plus, the Tryon Company also shut down in the 1950s. Axes were not a big part of the Tryon business, so I imagine they would be cut early in the declining years before the shutdown.
More about the Tryon Company
The Edward K. Tryon Company of Philadelphia was one of America’s oldest and most significant sporting goods and hardware firms, with roots stretching back to 1811. Founded by George W. Tryon, the company began as a small hardware and firearms retailer before steadily expanding into wholesale distribution. Over time, it underwent several name changes as leadership passed through the family, first as Tryon & Son, then Edward K. Tryon & Co., and later Edward K. Tryon Jr. & Co., reflecting its multi-generational character. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Tryon had become a household name in Philadelphia and far beyond, known as one of the nation’s leading sporting goods distributors and at times even described as the largest of its kind in the world.
The company’s offerings were wide-ranging. While firearms and ammunition were central to its business, Tryon’s catalogs also featured fishing tackle, bicycles, cutlery, and a variety of outdoor and sporting equipment. Much of this was sold under distinctive in-house brands such as Apollo Bicycles, Keystone Shotguns, Imperial Fishing Rods, and Tryon Tru-Temper Cutlery.
Its most famous trademark was the “Sign of the Golden Buffalo,” which became a recognizable symbol across its catalogs and marketing materials. Annual catalogs, produced well into the 1950s, showcased this immense variety, offering everything from high-end hunting rifles to everyday camping gear.
Edward K. Tryon Jr. (1844–1904) played a key role in steering the firm into the modern era of mass retail and wholesale distribution. Under his leadership, the company expanded its reach, supplying not only individuals but also retailers and institutions across the country. The firm marked its 100th anniversary in 1911 and later celebrated its 125th in 1936, cementing its identity as a long-standing pillar of the Philadelphia business community.
Though the company eventually closed in the mid-20th century, its legacy lives on in the catalogs, trade ephemera, and branded products that survive among collectors today. Tryon’s wide distribution of A.H. Fox shotguns, along with its own house brands and hardware lines, makes its products especially prized in firearms, fishing, and sporting goods circles. Equally, its foray into axes and cutlery has left a mark for tool collectors. Today, the Edward K. Tryon Company stands as a prime example of how a 19th-century family hardware store could evolve into a nationally recognized wholesaler, leaving behind a rich material history of American sporting culture.
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