FROM DENMARK TO CHICAGO

The C.H. Hanson story begins with one man's determination to build something lasting in a new land. Christian Henry Hanson emigrated from Denmark to the United States in the mid-1800s, carrying with him a deep knowledge of the stencil trade. Not long after arriving, he was drafted into the 39th New York Volunteer Infantry and served in some of the Civil War's most significant battles. He was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg, and his path eventually brought him to Fort Dearborn in Chicago, where he was discharged and chose to make the growing city his home.

FOUNDED ON FEBRUARY 21, 1866

On February 21st, 1866, Christian Henry Hanson officially founded C.H. Hanson, opening his first location at Clark and South Water Street in Chicago. He built the business on the stencil work he had learned in Denmark, and it quickly took root. Six years later, the Great Chicago Fire tore through the city and destroyed everything he had built. Christian walked away with little more than the clothes on his back and a handful of stencil dies. He rebuilt anyway. That same tenacity, the refusal to quit in the face of loss, remains part of the company's character to this day.

GROWING WITH PURPOSE

From those early days on Clark Street, C.H. Hanson has grown into a trusted manufacturer of marking tools, metal stamps, industrial stencils, metal tags, layout tools, and safety products. Wherever something is being built, whether in construction, manufacturing, utilities, or municipal contracting, there is a need for a reliable hand tool, and C.H. Hanson has been answering that call for over 160 years. The company has also grown its family of brands over the years, expanding into complementary tool markets. You can learn more about each of those brands on our Our Brands page.

STILL FAMILY. STILL FAITHFUL.

C.H. Hanson remains privately held and owned by the Hanson family. Today, the fourth and fifth generations lead the company together, with the fourth generation serving as President and the fifth as Vice President. It is rare for a company to remain in one family for this long, and the Hansons credit that to the Lord's provision. They thank God for His grace and mercy and continue to build the company on strong, faith-based principles, guided by a mission of "Tools for Generations to God's Glory."

Beyond the products, it is the character of C.H. Hanson's people that keeps the company moving forward. From the grit it took to start a business in a new country, to the strength and skill of the team that carries it today, C.H. Hanson has a proud history and a bright future for generations to come. To learn more about our mission, values, and what drives us, visit our About C.H. Hanson page.