The legacy of COAST Products
COAST Products, a family-owned company based in Portland, Oregon, has been producing innovative products that make people’s jobs safer and easier for over 100 years. Founded by H.W. Brands as Coast Cutlery Co. in 1919, the company's journey began with a revolutionary fillet knife that included a blade and a gutting spoon, simplifying the processing of salmon for canneries on the West Coast. H.W. Brands sold this innovative tool from the back of his car, showcasing the 'do anything' attitude and entrepreneurial spirit that continues to drive COAST Products today.
Like most successful multi-generational businesses, COAST has evolved significantly over the years. In the 1920s, COAST expanded its product line to include pocketknives, hunting knives, and agricultural knives, supporting the booming economy of the Western U.S. Despite the challenges of the Great Depression, H.W. Brands Sr. kept COAST operating, and during World War II, the company produced work knives for shipbuilders in Portland, Oregonand agricultural knives for farmers in the West supplying food to the troops.
The end of World War 2 brought the first change in ownership at COAST. H.W. Brands Jr. returned from the war and joined COAST to support his father. The country’s economy grew, and COAST grew right along with it.COAST diversified its offerings to include scissors, kitchen cutlery, and more agricultural knives, meeting the growing needs of American households and businesses. By the 1950s, COAST was recognized for its high-quality cutlery, used for work, recreation, and the home.
The 1980s marked a significant shift when David Brands, H.W. Jr.'s youngest child, joined COAST. Under David’s direction, COAST introduced a series of folding lock-back knives, followed in the 1990s by the company’s first multi-tool, The Pocket Mechanic. The late 1990s marked the company's most significant evolution, with the introduction of LED portable lighting. COAST's first LED product, a small folding knife with an LED and a keyring, debuted in 1996. By 2000, COAST had launched the first LED flashlight sold in the U.S., followed by the first LED headlamp in 2001.
This move into LED lighting opened a new chapter for COAST, aligning with the company’s commitment to innovation. David Brands focused on making COAST the most innovative LED portable lighting company in the world. Between 2000 and 2020, COAST was awarded over 100 patents for LED lighting technologies, including beam-shaping optics, power systems, and thermal regulation systems. These next-generation LED lighting innovations produced brighter, better beams, were more efficient, and had longer-lasting runtimes, enhancing safety and ease of use for workers everywhere.
In 2016, the fourth generation of the Brands family, Tyler Peterson, David's son-in-law, joined COAST. Tyler became President in 2023, leading the launch of Zithion-X USB-C Rechargeable AA and AAA batteries. This latest innovation, featuring patented pending technology, is the first 100% compatible replacement for standard alkaline batteries.
From its early days of crafting knives to pioneering LED lighting and rechargeable batteries, COAST has consistently focused on innovation and problem-solving. The company’s products, whether cutting tools, lighting, or batteries, are designed to make people’s jobs safer and easier, staying true to H.W. Brands’ original vision.
As COAST enters its second century, it remains dedicated to leading with groundbreaking products that enhance safety and productivity. The legacy of H.W. Brands lives on, with COAST Products serving as a testament to American ingenuity, perseverance, and a relentless commitment to improving the lives of working people everywhere.