Blount, Inc. - Specimen Stock Certificate

Specimen Stock printed by Federated Banknote Company. Montgomery, Alabama. Available in Blue or Green. Please specify color.

Blount International, Inc. is a company located in Portland, Oregon, United States, specializing in the production of saw chains and various equipment for the forestry, agriculture, and construction sectors. The company was established and is led by Winton M. Blount, Jr., commonly referred to as Red Blount, who served as the U.S. Postmaster General from January 22, 1969, to January 1, 1972. In 1947, Joseph Buford Cox founded the Oregon Saw Chain Company, which later led to the establishment of Precision Castparts Corp. In 1953, John D. Gray acquired the company and rebranded it as Omark Industries. During the 1980s, Omark began to explore and implement just-in-time manufacturing techniques, drawing inspiration from lean manufacturing practices observed in Japanese factories. These strategies helped maintain the competitiveness of their saw chain products in the export market, particularly during a time of a strong dollar. In 1985, Omark Industries was acquired by Blount Industries, Inc., under the leadership of its founder, Winton M. Blount.

In 1993, the company underwent a rebranding and became Blount International, Inc., shifting its emphasis from construction to manufacturing. In 1997, Blount expanded its product range by acquiring Frederick Manufacturing Corp. based in Kansas City, Missouri, which allowed the company to include lawnmower blades and garden products in its offerings. In 1999, Blount was acquired by Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking. Subsequently, in 2002, the corporate headquarters relocated from Montgomery, Alabama, to Portland, Oregon. In 2004, the company changed its ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange to BLT, which remained in use until 2015.