Clauss Cutlery

What Clauss Cutlery does

Clauss Cutlery is a manufacturer and distributor of professional-grade cutting tools established in 1877, currently operated as a brand division of Acme United Corporation (a privately held diversified corporation headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut). The company produces scissors, shears, pruners, snips, knives, loppers, hedge shears, utility blades, wire cutters, paint and putty knives, and safety cutters for professional gardeners and landscapers, industrial and manufacturing operators, food service processors, and discriminating home users. Distribution is concentrated in the United States, with no international shipping offered.

The company's product platform rests on proprietary materials and manufacturing technologies developed over more than a century of operation. Core technologies include Titanium Bonded® and Carbonitride Titanium® (a patent-pending surface treatment described as harder than carbide and chrome), Titanium Non-Stick coating rated for up to 100,000 cuts without wear, hot-forged steel construction, thru-hardened blades engineered for repeated re-sharpening, Transfer of Power™ design eliminating blade flex, SureSet® adjustable pivot fasteners, and double-plated nickel-and-chrome corrosion protection. Heat-induction processes deliver edge hardness up to 62Rc. These technologies are organized into sub-brands targeting specific use cases: HYDRO for hydroponic trimming, AirShoc for impact-resistant lawn and garden work, ExtremEdge V2 Carbo for DIY and industrial cutting, WORKBENCH and ULTRAFLEX for workshop and precision work, and DualDrive for sharpening accessories.

Revenue is generated exclusively through one-time hardware sales across a multi-channel distribution model. Direct-to-consumer commerce is operated through a Shopify-based storefront at claussco.com, with free shipping on orders over $49 and a product comparison tool. Tier-1 retail partners include The Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards, Hobby Lobby, and Amazon. Industrial and specialty supply channels include Grainger, Fastenal, MSC Industrial, ZORO, Global Industrial, Hantover, Southstar Supply, and Blish Mize, with Knife Center and Woodcraft serving specialist hobbyist and woodworking segments. Pricing spans entry-level thread snips at $3.39 up to heavy-duty industrial equipment at $2,854.35, supporting both volume consumer sales and higher-margin professional and industrial skus. Customer segments are horizontal rather than verticalized, spanning professional, industrial, specialty, and consumer users.

Name

Clauss Cutlery

Legal name

Acme United Corporation

Website

http://www.claussco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1877

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Clauss Cutlery, founded in 1877 and a brand of Acme United Corporation, manufactures professional-grade scissors, shears, pruners, knives, and industrial cutting tools using proprietary Titanium Bonded, Carbonitride Titanium, and hot-forged technologies for professional, industrial, food service, and consumer users across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: One-time sale of professional-grade cutlery and cutting tools including scissors, shears, pruners, knives, and industrial cutting instruments. Products sold directly to consumers via e-commerce and through distribution channel partners including retailers, industrial supply distributors, and specialty stores.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels13 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Clauss Cutlery manufactures and sells professional-grade cutting tools including scissors, shears, pruners, and knives for industrial, professional, and home users. Its products feature proprietary titanium-based surface treatments designed to extend blade life, improve corrosion resistance, and deliver cutting performance beyond standard stainless steel cutlery. The brand is sold through a combination of direct e-commerce, major consumer retailers, and industrial distribution channels.

Product overview

Clauss Cutlery is a manufacturer of professional-grade cutting tools and instruments established in 1877. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized into three main product categories: Floral and Lawn & Garden tools (including pruners, snips, scissors, and hydroponic tools), Food Service/Processing scissors and shears, and Hardware & Industrial Cutting products (including utility knives, snips, wire cutters, paint knives, and safety cutters). The product lines incorporate multiple proprietary technologies including Titanium Bonded, Titanium Non-Stick, Carbonitride Titanium, and Hot-Forged manufacturing processes. Clauss also markets specialized sub-brands such as AirShoc for impact-resistant garden tools and HYDRO for hydroponic applications. Additional offerings include the ExtremEdge V2 Carbo, Power Flexx Titanium, ULTRAFLEX, WORKBENCH, and DualDrive Sharpener product lines, creating a complete ecosystem of cutting solutions for professional and home use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ExtremEdge V2 Carbo: Carbonitride Titanium cutting tools for DIY and industrial applications.
• Power FleXX Titanium
• Hot Forged
• Titanium Non-Stick
• AirShoc
• HYDRO
• WORKBENCH

Quantifiable outcome

• Blades stay sharper 3x longer than untreated stainless steel due to Titanium Bonding
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AmazoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor online marketplace partner for Clauss products, enabling direct sales to consumers and professional buyers through Amazon's platform with fulfillment handled by Amazon or direct shipment.
• The Home DepotcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary retail partner for Clauss products in the home improvement segment, with physical store presence across the U.S.
• Lowe'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor home improvement retail chain partner for Clauss products, serving both consumer and professional buyers through physical stores.
• GraingercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustrial supply distributor serving commercial and industrial customers with Clauss products in their catalog.
• FastenalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustrial supply distributor partner offering Clauss tools to commercial and industrial customers.
• MSC IndustrialcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustrial supply distributor serving manufacturing and industrial customers with Clauss product offerings.
• Do It BestminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHardware dealer cooperative enabling independent hardware stores to stock Clauss products.
• Hobby LobbyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCraft and hobby retail chain offering Clauss products for floral, crafting, and hobby applications.
• MenardsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMidwestern home improvement retail chain carrying Clauss products in stores and online.
• Knife CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty online retailer focused on knives and cutting tools, offering Clauss products to their niche audience.
• WoodcraftminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWoodworking supply retailer offering Clauss tools for woodworking and crafting applications.
• Global IndustrialminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustrial supply distributor serving manufacturing and industrial customers with Clauss products.
• HantoverminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustrial supply distributor specializing in serving manufacturing customers with Clauss tools.
• Southstar SupplyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupply distributor offering Clauss scissors and snips to their customer base.
• Blish MizeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHardware dealer distributing Clauss products through their network.
• ZOROminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustrial supply distributor serving commercial and industrial customers with Clauss products.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fiskars: Fiskars is a leading global manufacturer of scissors, shears, and cutting tools for crafting, gardening, and industrial use. Directly competes with Clauss across multiple product categories including pruning shears, kitchen shears, and household scissors, serving overlapping retail channels like Home Depot and Lowe's.
• Wiss: Wiss specializes in industrial scissors, shears, and snips for aviation, electrical, and trades applications. Now part of Apex Tool Group alongside other tool brands, Wiss directly competes with Clauss's industrial cutting tool lines, particularly in professional and contractor segments.
• Klein Tools: Klein Tools is a leading manufacturer of professional hand tools for electricians and tradespeople, including pliers, wire cutters, strippers, and snips. Directly competes with Clauss in industrial/professional cutting and wire cutting categories through overlapping industrial distribution channels like Grainger.
• Olfa: Olfa invented the snap-off utility knife and is a global leader in utility knives, blades, and precision cutting tools. Directly competes with Clauss in the utility knife and blade category, serving similar professional trades, DIY, and craft customer segments.
• Felco: Felco is a Swiss manufacturer of premium pruning shears and professional cutting tools for viticulture, horticulture, and arboriculture. Directly competes with Clauss in professional pruning shears and garden cutting tools, positioning as a premium alternative in similar gardening and landscaping segments.
• Corona Tools: Corona Tools manufactures professional and consumer-grade pruning tools, shears, and saws for the agricultural, landscape, and garden markets. Directly competes with Clauss in pruning shears, loppers, hedge shears, and garden cutting tools distributed through similar retail channels.
• ARS Corporation: ARS Corporation is a Japanese manufacturer of professional-grade cutting tools including pruning shears, hedge shears, and snips. Directly competes with Clauss in professional gardening and pruning segments, particularly for horticultural, viticulture, and nursery applications.

Broad incumbents

• Stanley (Black & Decker): Stanley is a major hand tool brand under Stanley Black & Decker offering cutting instruments, utility knives, snips, and industrial shears. While broader in scope than Clauss, it directly overlaps in hand tools, utility knives, and industrial cutting products sold through similar retail and industrial distribution channels.
• Apex Tool Group: Apex Tool Group is a major industrial hand tool manufacturer encompassing brands like Wiss, Crescent, and Lufkin. Serves as a parent-level competitor to Clauss in the professional and industrial cutting tool space, with overlapping industrial distribution through Grainger, MSC, and Fastenal.

Emerging players

• Gerber Gear: Gerber Gear manufactures knives, multi-tools, and cutting instruments for outdoor, tactical, and industrial applications. Partially overlaps with Clauss's knife and cutting tool product lines, particularly in utility and specialty knife categories, though primarily focused on outdoor/tactical rather than industrial.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Clauss1877
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ClaussBrand?feature=mhee
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClaussTools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clauss
• Instagraminstagram.com/clauss1877
• Pinterestpinterest.com/clauss1877

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clauss Cutlery