William Rose established the W. Rose in 1798 as a blacksmith shop near Philadelphia. The early years were spent making cavalry sabers and officer swords for the U.S. army during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. In 1864 the focus moved from swords to edged tools, knives, and the signature brick trowel we know today. W. Rose brick trowels are still manufactured near Philadelphia. The trowels that helped build America are still made in the USA.