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The Nelson family has produced leather artisans for over 100 years. John E. Nelson apprenticed harness making in Sweden until moving to the U.S. in 1883. From 1912 until 1947, John owned a harness shop in Herman MN. His son, Adelbert E. Nelson (A. E. Nelson) worked in the shop until WW-I. After the war, Adelbert worked at the Sentinel Butte Saddlery in Montana.

In 1938, Adelbert moved to Salem OR and founded A. E. Nelson Leather Co. on the back porch of his home. Between 1938 and 1942 he made handmade camera cases. In 1942, he moved to Capitol Street and continued the business in his basement. During WW-II many equestrian items were manufactured. After the war, he turned his attention to the sportsman. He started manufacturing a full line of leather sporting goods that included leather covered fishing baskets.

In 1955, Bennett F. Nelson inherited his father's business and moved it to a larger shop on Tile Road in Salem OR. He continued making leather sporting goods. In 1970 he expanded the line to include leather law enforcement equipment. In the same year the business was moved to Sandner Drive in Scio OR. Ben retired in 1990 and turned the business over to his daughter Catherine A. (Nelson) Struckmeier (Kitty) who runs it with her husband Gary L. Struckmeier.

In 1994, the business was moved to a larger facility on Gilkey Road in Scio OR and employs three other craftsmen. The goal has remained the same -- to make the finest quality leather goods that are guaranteed to give long and satisfactory service. Customer satisfaction is the foundation upon which the company has been built.

From 1970 to 1995 our main focus has been on leather law enforcement equipment. In 1995, we brought back our high quality sporting goods in addition to our popular law enforcement line. In 2004 we added quality fly fishing accessories to our product line. In 2007 we became more user friendly and added this shopping cart system to make it easier for you to purchase our products.

Our products have been sold under our name as well as the names of many of the stores that have carried our products over the years. Some of the brand names that have been on our products include:

Abercrombie & Fitch
Evan's Fly Shop
Foster Sporting Goods
Fowler's Gun Room
Freeway Sporting Goods
Goerg
Gunarama Wholesale
Hollywood Gun Shop
Kerr's Sport Shop
Kesselring Gun Shop
Meier & Frank
Pachmayer Gun
Ray Holes Saddle Co. San Francisco Gun Exchange
Santa Anna Gun Room
Siegle's
Simm's Hardware
Spiro
Territorial Supplies
The Gun Room
W. Joseph O'Connor
Walker's Pack Saddlery
Walker's Riding Apparel
Warshall's
Washington Hardware