In 1946, Winton M. (Red) Blount founded Blount as a construction contractor in Union Springs, Alabama. Blount began building fish ponds, roads and bridges in Alabama and soon progressed to large projects such as the nation's first atomic energy plant, BOMARC missile bases, an indoor ocean for the Navy, launch pads for the NASA Moon launch, and a university campus built for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Blount was incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1971.

Blount went to Japan in 1983 to learn how successful manufacturing companies operated. On that trip, Red Blount asked a Japanese expert which American company had most successfully adopted Japanese manufacturing techniques. The answer was Omark Industries of Portland, Oregon. In January 1985, Blount acquired Omark, the world's leading manufacturer of saw chain and timber harvesting equipment.

Blount exited the construction business in 1993 and turned its focus exclusively on manufacturing. Almost overnight, Blount went from a worldwide construction company to a worldwide manufacturing company.

In 2002, Blount's corporate headquarters moved from Montgomery, Alabama to Portland, Oregon to the headquarters offices of the company's Outdoor Products segment that consists of Oregon Cutting Systems and ICS. James S. Osterman was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of Blount International, Inc, after serving for 15 years as President of the Outdoor Products Group.



Most recently in November 2007, Blount sold its Forestry Division, manufacturers of specialty timber harvesting tractors, loaders and equipment to Caterpillar, Inc., sharpening its focus on the Outdoor Products segment. The company keys on manufacturing products that offer a superior competitive advantage and hold leading market share positions. Still headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Blount manufactures in the United States, Canada, Brazil and China. Operations employ approximately 3,500 employees worldwide and products are sold in more than 100 countries.