Collins & Company

This company is best known as a producer of axes and machetes but Collins made many types of farm tools and military edged weapons. Founded in 1826 to make axes in what was then South Canton, Connecticut by two brothers and a cousin, Samuel Collins, David Collins and William Wells.  Business was good and the town was renamed Collinsville in 1832.  By 1845 they were making machetes and other edged tools for the South and Central American markets.  At the onset of the US Civil War, Collins started making swords and bayonets for the US Military.  Many orders for sword bayonets were accepted for a large group of different rifles making Collins one of the largest producers of brass hilted sword bayonets during the US Civil War.  It appears that Collins accepted a few contracts for post war production as well.  In 1966, operations ceased in Collinsville.