(1779–1780)
Henry Nock began trading as a
gunlock smith out of Mount Pleasant in London in 1772. In 1775, he formed "Nock, Jover & Co." with William Jover and John Green. The
American Revolutionary War led to strong sales for the new company. In 1776, the
Board of Ordnance granted Nock, Jover & Co. an advance of £200 to start producing
bayonets and in 1779 the company won a contract to produce 500 seven-barreled volley guns for the Royal Navy. Wilkinson developed and manufactured the
Wilkinson TMC, a luxury touring
motorcycle between 1911 and 1916, when production was stopped by World War I. The first 'Wilkinsons' were designed for military reconnaissance by
P G Tacchi. Demonstrated to the British military in the summer of 1908, the Wilkinson motorcycle failed to impress the authorities, despite optional accessories including a sidecar complete with
Maxim machine gun – and a steering wheel instead of handlebars. The company continued development and exhibited a new version a year later at the Stanley Clyde Motorcycle Show at the Agricultural Hall,
Islington, London in 1909. Only about 250 Wilkinsons were produced before World War I. Restrictions brought the line to its end in spring 1916, and Wilkinson then produced thousands of bayonets for the war effort. After the war, they continued to develop the in-line four engine – but in a new car called the Deemster. They never resumed motorcycle production. Wilkinson's Pall Mall sideline in
bulletproof vests also proved instrumental in the design and early fabrication of 'flak vests' used by USAAF aircrew.
Stainless steel razor blades In 1962, Wilkinson Sword introduced
stainless steel razor blades. Soon the company's blades made rapid gains in market share because one blade, though somewhat more expensive, could be used for a week. The earlier carbon steel razor blades rusted quickly enough that many people used a new blade daily. Although Wilkinson gained a larger percentage of the market, the demand for razor blades declined to approximately 14% of its previous level. This introduction gave Wilkinson a significant market share. Previous market leaders responded by introducing their own stainless blades. The technology had been available for some time, but the market leaders such as Gillette, which held a patent on stainless blades, presumably knew that any gain for them in market share would be overwhelmed by the dramatic reduction in the size of the market.
Merger with British Match In 1973, Wilkinson Sword merged with
the British Match Corporation to form "Wilkinson Match". After Gillette was ordered by the European Community Commission in 1992 to sell its interest in Eemland, Eemland sold Wilkinson Sword to
Warner-Lambert, owner of
Schick razor brand forming Schick-Wilkinson Sword. The Schick name was used on its products in North America and Japan, and the Wilkinson Sword name in Europe. The production of swords came to an end when the company's sword factory at Acton closed in September 2005. Wilkinson Sword then held an auction of the tools, equipment, sword drawings, and forging and milling machinery. Robert Pooley, who had commissioned the company to produce swords, bought many of these items and formed
Pooley Sword to supply the Army in place of Wilkinson Sword. Other sword manufacturers, and in particular
WKC in Germany, also bought items, including the roll forge. Many of the tools and machines remain in use, and classic knives such as the Fairbairn-Sykes are produced by both companies.
21st century Energizer Holdings bought Wilkinson Sword from
Pfizer in 2003, along with
Schick. In 2015, Energizer demerged its personal care business as a new company,
Edgewell Personal Care, of which Wilkinson Sword and Schick became part. Both are now brands used by Edgewell; Wilkinson Sword is used in Europe and Schick is used in Edgewell's remaining markets. Wilkinson Sword-branded three-, four-, and five-bladed razors for men and women have been produced in Germany since 1998, when production moved from the UK. In January 2026, Wilkinson Sword was signed as the official men's grooming partner of
Williams F1 Team.
India In India the 'Wilkinson Sword' brand is owned by
Gillette, who manufacture and sell products using the Wilkinson Sword logo.
South Carolina Following the theft of the
Sword of State of South Carolina in 1941, a replacement was procured by
Edward Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax from Wilkinson Sword, Ltd. The sword, the third to hold the designation of SC Sword of State, is made of steel and gold, featuring iconography of the state etched into the sides of the blade and a burgundy leather sheath. The sword was presented to the state in 1951. The sword remains in use to this day as a ceremonial artifact of the
South Carolina Senate. == Products ==