C. Risner Cutlery "Indian Head" Trademark
The first documented use of the “Indian Head” trademark was in March of 1974, under the Buck Creek brand knives by Millard Burns of Burns & Company of London, Kentucky. Mr. Burns imported the knives from Solingen, Germany.
My grandfather was Clarence Risner, founder of C. Risner Cutlery and former President of the National Knife Collectors Association (NKCA). Beginning in 1978, Mr. Risner and Mr. Burns became good friends. Mr. Risner began freelancing “Buck Creek” knives and “Indian Head” knives at knife shows.
In December of 1986, Mr. Risner purchased the “Indian Head” trademark and began producing knives with the circular Indian Head 1902 shield and “C. Risner Indian Head” trademark stamped into the blade tangs.
For years, I have wanted to bring back the “C. Risner Indian Head” knife. I was truly honored to work with Bill Howard, founder of Great Eastern Cutlery to produce the first ever USA made “Indian Head” knife.
I recently added another Indian Head pocket knife to our collection. This knife is featured under my own brand design called, the "C. Risner Brand" and the knife pattern design is called, the "Kentucky Holler Jack."
Over the next few years, I will continue to expand the Indian Head pocket knife collection, carrying on the tradition my grandfather started back in 1978.
-Austin Jackson, Grandson of Clarence Risner and Owner of C. Risner Cutlery
Detailed History of the Indian Head Trademark
Buck Creek brand knives were initiated and made in Germany for Millard Burns of Burns & Company of London, Kentucky. The company began importing knives in 1968 with one yellow delrin handle stock knife pattern with "Buck Creek" stamped on the tang of each blade. The back of the tang places the origin as Solingen, Germany, where the knives were made to the Burns specifications.
The Buck Creek name derives from a mountain stream in Eastern Kentucky, near London.
The first documented use of the "Indian Head" trademark was in 1974. The Buck Creek "Indian Head" and "Owl's Head" line of knives contained a profile, circular shield.
Starting in 1978, Clarence Risner (owner of C. Risner Cutlery) began a friendship with Mr. Burns (owner of Buck Creek). Mr. Risner began freelancing "Buck Creek" knives and "Indian Head" knives which were all produced for Buck Creek in Solingen, Germany.
After the passing of Mr. Burns in the Spring of 1985, Mr. Risner purchased the "Indian Head" trademark.From 1986 to the early 1990s, Mr. Risner continued to produce "Indian Head" knives from Solingen, Germany.
The most common knife pattern produced with the "Indian Head" trademark was the three bladed stockman pattern. Mr. Risner also produced several small four bladed congress patterns with the "Indian Head" trademark. Mr. Risner selected handle materials arraying from stag, bone, acrylics and celluloids. All of Mr. Risner's "Indian Head" knives were highly collectible pocket knives containing high carbon hammer forged steel.
Throughout Mr. Risner's ownership of the "Indian Head" trademark, Mr. Risner leased the trademark to Smoky Mountain Knife Works and Blue Ridge Cutlery. Both SMKW and Blue Ridge Cutlery had several "Indian Head" knives produced in Solingen, Germany and in China.
The friendship Mr. Risner formed with Mr. Burns led Mr. Risner to being the sole importer for the distribution of all German Eye Brand knives in the United States from the early 1990s to 2015.
The "Indian Head" trademark now belongs to C. Risner Cutlery LLC.
-Austin Jackson
Owner / C. Risner Cutlery
