History Since 1858
The KIRSCHEN story began in 1858, when 25-year-old toolsmith Wilhelm Schmitt established his own forge in Stockden, Remscheid. His aim was direct and ambitious: make sharp, high-quality chisels that improved and simplified woodworking.
A family-owned toolmaker
Wilh. Schmitt & Comp. GmbH & Co. KG has remained family-owned since its founding. Across changing technologies and markets, the company kept its base in Remscheid, a German city with a long history of tool manufacturing.
The Two Cherries mark
The KIRSCHEN trademark and its two-cherries symbol became a sign of mature product quality. That idea still shapes the brand: precision, durability and function supported by experience passed from one generation of toolmakers to the next.
Tradition that keeps moving
Traditional forging, hand straightening and grinding remain important, while modern equipment supports consistency where it matters. The result is not a museum piece—it is a working tool made for today's cabinetmakers, carvers, turners and craftspeople.