--- title: Oregon History description: Discover the fascinating history of Oregon Tool, Inc. and how inventor Joseph Buford Cox revolutionized woodcutting with his innovative saw chain. --- [Skip to content](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/oregon-history#main-content) - [English - New Zealand](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/oregon-history) - [English](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/oregon-history) - [English - Australia](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-au/oregon-history) English - New Zealand Show submenu for translations [![NEW Oregon-Logo-bar-rgb](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NEW%20Oregon-Logo-bar-rgb.png?width=190&height=56&name=NEW%20Oregon-Logo-bar-rgb.png)](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/oregon-website?hsLang=en-nz) - [The Crew](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz) - [Crew Stories](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/tag/crew-stories) - [Crew Members](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/tag/crew-members) - [Crew Partners](https://thecrew.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/crew-partners) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [The Crew](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz) - [Crew Stories](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/tag/crew-stories) - [Crew Members](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/tag/crew-members) - [Crew Partners](https://thecrew.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/crew-partners) - - [English - New Zealand](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/oregon-history) - [English](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/oregon-history) - [English - Australia](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-au/oregon-history) English - New Zealand Show submenu for translations This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. - [English - New Zealand](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/oregon-history) - [English](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/oregon-history) - [English - Australia](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-au/oregon-history) English - New Zealand Show submenu for translations [![Oregon Logo-bar-rgb](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Oregon%20Logo-bar-rgb.png?width=223&height=75&name=Oregon%20Logo-bar-rgb.png)](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/oregon-website?hsLang=en-nz) - [PRODUCT CATALOG](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/product-catalog) - [OUR HISTORY](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/oregon-history) - [FIND A LOCAL DEALER](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/find-a-local-dealer) - [THE CREW](https://thecrew.oregonproducts.com/en-nz) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [PRODUCT CATALOG](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/product-catalog) - [OUR HISTORY](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/oregon-history) - [FIND A LOCAL DEALER](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/find-a-local-dealer) - [THE CREW](https://thecrew.oregonproducts.com/en-nz) - - [English - New Zealand](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-nz/oregon-history) - [English](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/oregon-history) - [English - Australia](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/en-au/oregon-history) English - New Zealand Show submenu for translations ![A-True-Legend\_JoeCox\_1080x600\_6](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/hubfs/A-True-Legend_JoeCox_1080x600_6.png) ## ![Joe\_Cox\_Bio](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Joe_Cox_Bio.jpg?width=157&height=157&name=Joe_Cox_Bio.jpg)A BETTER WAY OF WOODCUTTING Logger/inventor [Joseph Buford Cox](https://thecrew.oregonproducts.com/joseph-buford-cox-inventor-founder-oregon-crew-member-1?hsLang=en-nz) was chopping firewood one chilly autumn day in 1946 when he paused for a moment to examine curious activity in a tree stump. A timber-beetle larva, the size of a man's forefinger, was easily chewing its way through sound timber, going both across and with the wood grain at will. Joe was an experienced operator of the gas-powered saws used in those days, but the cutting chain was a problem. It required a lot of filing and maintenance time. "I spent several months looking for nature's answer to the problem," Joe recalled. "I found it in the larva of the timber beetle.     ![bettle\_larva\_1080x1080](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/hubfs/bettle_larva_1080x1080.png "bettle_larva_1080x1080") Joe knew if he could duplicate the larva's alternating C-shaped jaws in steel, it just might catch on. ![Joe\_cox\_house\_1080x1080](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Joe_cox_house_1080x1080.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=Joe_cox_house_1080x1080.png "Joe_cox_house_1080x1080") He went to work in the basement shop of his Portland, Oregon home and came up with a revolutionary new saw chain. The first Cox Chipper Chain was produced and sold in November, 1947. ![joe\_cox\_1080x1080](https://getsharp.oregonproducts.com/hubfs/joe_cox_1080x1080.png "joe_cox_1080x1080") The basic design of Joe's original chain is still widely used today and represents one of the biggest influences in the history of timber harvesting. (Source: Oregon Historical Society) ## THE STORY OF THE OREGON® BRAND Getting up early and doing a good day of work is a way of life for you, and it's our way of life too. That's why we make high-quality, durable products you can depend on every day. #### about Our History News & Events Careers   #### WHERE TO BUY Find a Local Dealer   #### RESOURCES Declaration of Conformity ## ©2023 Oregon Tool, Inc. 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