The Cooper Knife is one of the oldest continually manufactured custom knives known. Beginning in 1924 when John Nelson Cooper, as a hobby, began making knives for the local townspeople of Tremont, Pennsylvania. Since that first knife, the Cooper Knife has evolved into a totally new patented process of manufacturing the sporting blade.

The first knives were for the working farmer and housewives but as the popularity of a good serviceable knife grew so did his designs. Soon He was making a complete line of knives for hunters, police, military, fisherman, campers and the all around sportsman. Primarily using conventional methods of attaching the handle, it was noted that the acids and dirt would be built up around the tang and hilt area causing the knife to loosen and literally fall apart. Studying the problem, He developed a totally new method of assemblying the knife into a solid, bonded unit. This involved welding, brazing and epoxy that left no joint open or that could be opened, in a lifetime or more of use. The process was so unique that it was granted two United States patents #3,481,038 and #3,595,104.

Upon retiring from the Virginia shipyards in the mid 1960s John N. Cooper moved to Burbank, California, where he set up shop full time with his nephew George Cooper. Here he made more knives than ever and developed his patented process into the knives we see today in various books, magazines and catalogs.

The Cooper knife is a strong interpretation of what John Nelson Cooper envisioned a sporting knife should be. It is made from the finest steels, high carbon tool steel is used exclusively. It has proven to be the best all-around metal that will hold a good edge and temper. All handle material is Micarta*, its hardness and long wearing qualities make it withstand the pressures applied in the patented bonding process. Using the stock removal method, the Cooper knife is handcrafted into a bonded unit of steel, brass and Micarta* that is guaranteed for life.

The patented process used by Cooper makes the finest and strongest sporting knife, it's virtually indestructible under normal use that it was designed to do. Each blade is individual and has its own characteristics, this is due to the continuous research, developement and the handcrafted processes used.

Cooper Knives have specialized in making knives for collectors and special knives for motion pictures and TV stars such as Clint Walker, Buddy Hackett, Robert Stack, Lee Marvin, Audie Murphy, James Drury, John Wayne, Sammie Davis, Jr., Chill Wills, Brian Keith, Paul Harper, Sammy Kahn, and sports writers and collectors like William Williamson, Robert Ables, Col. H.O. Beavers, and Tommy Bish.

In 1976 Clifton E. (Clif) Lenderman, Sr., bought Cooper Knives from John Nelson Cooper. Mr Lenderman purchased the Cooper name, Cooper patents, all tools, equipment, all rights to manufacture Cooper Knives, and accessories using the Cooper process. Mr. Lenderman started training under the expertise and supervision of John N. Cooper in 1976(see letter).

Mr. Lenderman was born in Kennard, Texas, and lived 18 years in Burbank and Glendale, California. In early 1978 Mr. Lenderman asked Mr. Cooper if he would like to move to Texas and make knives. He agreed and was eager to move. He reported he, "would like to leave California for a different lifestyle." In October 1978 Mr. Lenderman moved his own family and Mr. Cooper to Texas, arriving on October 18th, 1978.

On October 28th, 1978, Mr. Cooper opened his new knife shop in Lufkin, Texas. The shop was located one mile west of Lufkin on Highway 103 West at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clifton E. (Jake) Lenderman.

Mr. Cooper made approximately 3000 (three thousand) knives from October 28th, 1978 until November 4, 1981. Contrary to some published reports, Mr. Cooper made 99.9% of these knives himself without anyone helping him grind the blade or handle. At times Mr. Lenderman would cut out a blade and file some part of the knife Mr. Cooper was working on, never grinding of blade, handle or finishing. Mr. Cooper did all the grinding of the blade, handle and the finishing himself.

Mr. Cooper made Mr. Lenderman a large bowie knife weighing 19 (nineteen) pounds and over 39 (thirty-nine) inches long. Mr.Cooper made this large knife all by himself, grinding and holding up the heavy knife for 29 days straight not taking off any days for rest or relaxation. Everyday he worked from approximately 7:00am til 8:00pm, 13 (thirteen) hours per day some days longer. At this time of his life he was 74 years old. That's as tough as a Cooper Knife.

Mr. Cooper was one tough gentlemen and you could depend on him. His word meant everything to him, it was good. The best. He loved to make knives, he loved good food and he enjoyed people. He liked to talk about knives to people that appreciated a beautifully designed and crafted quality knife. He made some of the best, no one made a stronger or tougher knife than his. All his knives have a life time guarantee...STILL DO.

After retiring in 1981, Mr. Cooper would go to the shop and make a few knives for his own use or to trade for something he needed. Sometimes he just wanted to be busy crafting a knife to give away to a friend or Mr. Lenderman. He made Mr. Lenderman knives until he couldn't walk or stand up for long periods. He made Mr. Lenderman's Daddy, (Jake) over a dozen knives after he retired in 1981. These knives were not logged in his book. He just considered these knives as recreation and relaxation tools.

Mr. Cooper passed away in 1987 at the age of 81. He is missed very much by all who knew him. Cooper Knives still gets calls daily wanting to know about Mr. Cooper and his knives. There probably never will be another knife maker, make as many handmade knives as Mr. Cooper made in his lifetime. He is surely missed and revered.

Mr. Lenderman continues to make knives using the Cooper patented process and the Cooper logo (Eagle and Cooper) since 1981. The logo is now on the right side of the blade on the knives Mr. Lenderman makes using the Cooper process. Mr. Cooper always put the logo on the left side of the blades that he made. Mr. Lenderman does this out of respect and rememberance of Mr. John N. Cooper. The logo is on the right side for a purpose, not a mistake.

In 1995 Mr. Lenderman introduced a new line of full tang stainless steel knives. These knives feature a new logo. The logo is made up using the word Texas with a star taking the place of the "X" in Texas and an Eagle in the middle of the star.

An Artisit was commissioned in 1992 to make a bust of Mr. John Nelson Cooper in bronze. The artist Lee Holmes of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area never met Mr. Cooper in person, he had to work from still pictures videos and the directions of Mr. Lenderman to attain a most awesome likeness of Mr. Cooper. Holmes completed the first bust in 1993, only five have been made to date, each is numbered, with Mr. Coopers signature, year of birth, year of death and the Cooper logo.

The sculpture was created as a commemorative set, featuring an Iron Mistress knife that is larger than the original Iron Mistress. The logo on the commemorative knife features Mr. Cooper grinding a knife, with the year of his birth and death. His signature and the Cooper logo. this logo is etched on the right side of the Mistress. The knife is enclosed in a coffin shaped case made by Jerry Bennett of Lufkin, Texas. The case is made of walnut, with a velvet liner, featuring a glass top so you can view the Iron Mistress and logo without opening the lid. This set sells for $5,000.00