Sabel Steel 166 Year History

When asked to comment on Sabel Steel’s 166th anniversary, the company’s current principal, Keith Sabel, remarked:

“Ours is a history of perseverance, risk and reward, feast and famine”

Founded in 1856

Founded in 1856 by Keith Sabel’s great-great-grandfather, the family brought all of their belongings from Louisville, Kentucky to the Montgomery, Alabama area. The senior Sabel, was a true entrepreneur, father of ten children who began his business by selling leather goods, trading furs, and cowhides. Leather was essential for farm implements and horse tack; the best entrepreneurial means of transportation and heavy work requirements of the time.

As the country became more industrialized scrap metal became a primary focus as the need for metal became prevalent, Sabel’s business moved in that direction. When Keith’s father and uncle came home from WW II, they continued to move towards metal being their primary focus and purchased their first car load of steel from US Steel’s Fairfield mill, always seeking new business opportunities. Their first experience was not up to their expectations as a bundle of newly manufactured steel “broke” when it was dropped during unloading.