Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

The Cattaraugus Cutlery Company was started by John Champlin and his son Tint in 1882. It was first incorporated under the name J.B.F. Champlin and Son as a wholesale distribution company based in Little Valley, New York. The business proved to be a successful endeavor, and it soon branched into a knife production company named Cattaraugus.
rustyoldknife
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 717
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 6:07 pm
Location: SE Pennsylvania

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by rustyoldknife »

Waukonda wrote: Thu Oct 01, 2020 2:23 am Has anyone seen this configuration for a 32189G before?

I have never seen this model out side a book
This picture is from Romance of Collecting by Ferguson
Attachments
CATT3218G.JPG
David
rustyoldknife
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 717
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 6:07 pm
Location: SE Pennsylvania

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by rustyoldknife »

utahbound wrote: Thu Oct 01, 2020 2:39 am It's a beauty, but I have not seen one like that before.

Guys have been posting nice photos of toenails,.. It took me a while to find these shots. These knives came out of
the late Scott King's collection. 3 catts_4193.jpg3 catts_4196.jpg3 catts_4204.jpg
That's a impressive collection ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
David
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Waukonda wrote: Thu Oct 01, 2020 2:23 am Has anyone seen this configuration for a 32189G before?
It looks like a 32149-G to me. What’s the closed length?

Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
User avatar
Waukonda
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3775
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2019 1:35 am

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by Waukonda »

Mumbleypeg wrote: Thu Oct 01, 2020 4:32 am
Waukonda wrote: Thu Oct 01, 2020 2:23 am Has anyone seen this configuration for a 32189G before?
It looks like a 32149-G to me. What’s the closed length?

Ken
Ken, you are exactly right. I had just looked at a previous post of a 32189G and had that pattern # in my head. Closed length is 3 7/8
Ike
User avatar
utahbound
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 1:27 am
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by utahbound »

Hey Guys,

Recently got my hands on this unusual Cattaraugus Pill Buster. The frame has a mild sway to it and the tang stamp is missing "little Valley, NY'.
This knife has seen some miles, but it still has a very strong snap.

Catt pill buster _MG_1567.jpg
Catt pill buster _MG_1571.jpg
Catt pill buster _MG_1573.jpg
Catt pill buster _MG_1639.jpg
Catt pill buster _MG_1641.jpg
User avatar
treefarmer
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 12849
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 6:53 am
Location: Florida Panhandle(LA-Lower Alabama)

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by treefarmer »

utahbound, that is a great Physician's knife! What is the style of bolsters on that one called? Scalloped or fluted? At first glace it has the shape of an Ideal brand wire nut, to me. ::hmm:: The couple of examples that I see in one of my old books don't show a Catt. Physician's knife with the slight serpentine shape, that is really a nice find. ::tu::
Cattaraugus is a rare find in our part of the world, at least for me.
Again, that's a fine old specimen!
Treefarmer

A GUN IN THE HAND IS BETTER THAN A COP ON THE PHONE.
doglegg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 17731
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 2:35 am
Location: Grand Prairie, Texas

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by doglegg »

Very knice. A terrific find. Not like any Doctors knife I've seen but wonderful. ::nod::
User avatar
utahbound
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 1:27 am
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by utahbound »

Hello Treefarmer,

I'm not sure what name suits the bolsters best. 'Fluted' works me, but they also have a 'rat tail' quality about them where
the bolster meets the bone. They look to be coined or stamped out of solid material.

I would love to find an old catalog that shows this kind of bolster, might give me a clue as to where it was made.
I think this one was made before Cattaraugus had their own factory up and running.
User avatar
edge213
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 7764
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:48 am
Location: The Crossroads of America

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by edge213 »

utahbound wrote: Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:08 pm Hey Guys,

Recently got my hands on this unusual Cattaraugus Pill Buster. The frame has a mild sway to it and the tang stamp is missing "little Valley, NY'.
This knife has seen some miles, but it still has a very strong snap.


Catt pill buster _MG_1567.jpgCatt pill buster _MG_1571.jpgCatt pill buster _MG_1573.jpgCatt pill buster _MG_1639.jpgCatt pill buster _MG_1641.jpg
This is a really cool knife.
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
jwwood
Posts: 120
Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:57 pm

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by jwwood »

Would that DR. knife be considered a gunstock? jwwood
User avatar
utahbound
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 1:27 am
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by utahbound »

It does remind a fellow of a Gunstock. However, I think 'Serpentine' suits it best.
Has anyone seen an old catalog image with a shape like this one?
rustyoldknife
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 717
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 6:07 pm
Location: SE Pennsylvania

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by rustyoldknife »

utahbound wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 6:32 pm It does remind a fellow of a Gunstock. However, I think 'Serpentine' suits it best.
Has anyone seen an old catalog image with a shape like this one?
Utahbound.
I have pictures or documentation for 6 Catt Doctor knives
22753, 22752, 21759 and 22759 looks like they have the same frame and NO sway but 22752 and 22753 do use your shield on Bone.
Here are 2 Doctor knives that look like they may have a sway.
22749 looks like the bolster has squared off edges and the bolster on 22746 may be fluted. ::shrug::
I hope this helps, It is so hard to tell from the catalog pictures
Attachments
Catt-Doc1.jpg
Catt-Doc2.jpg
David
User avatar
utahbound
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 1:27 am
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by utahbound »

Thanks, Rusty Old Knife!

I appreciate you going to trouble to scan those pages.

And yes, a couple of those knives look like they might have some sway to their frames.

Best,
rustyoldknife
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 717
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 6:07 pm
Location: SE Pennsylvania

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by rustyoldknife »

utahbound wrote: Sat Oct 10, 2020 1:05 am Thanks, Rusty Old Knife!

I appreciate you going to trouble to scan those pages.

And yes, a couple of those knives look like they might have some sway to their frames.

Best,
::tu:: ::handshake::
David
User avatar
toomanyknives
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 2856
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 4:47 am
Location: Georgia

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by toomanyknives »

My one and only CATT.. Anyone have a guess as to its age? Great old knife. 32936 I believe..
Old knives.jpg
Old knives.jpg (64.47 KiB) Viewed 6635 times
knfcollector
Posts: 351
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 12:14 am

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by knfcollector »

Here’s a couple of sweet Cattaraugus pearls I picked up recently. Never seen this sowbelly pattern and the stamp is really light. The pearl stockman has been cleaned but you don’t often see pearl stockman patterns.
Attachments
50B99B5A-4D7B-4A75-B1FC-99209B5452F7.jpeg
KNFCOLLECTOR
User avatar
New_Windsor_NY
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 10828
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:50 pm
Location: I'm On The Far Right On The Left Coast In Commiefornia

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

Today I add this pocket knife to my general pocket knife collection. It's a Cattaraugus 32409, 3 blade, 3 3/8" closed, whittler pocket knife. I gave it a very light cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Attachments
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
Kid: "Wish we had time to bury them fellas."
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales

Skip
User avatar
Ridgegrass
Posts: 5356
Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2020 2:04 pm
Location: Ocean City, MD
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by Ridgegrass »

That's a sweetie! Congrat's. J.O'.
User avatar
New_Windsor_NY
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 10828
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:50 pm
Location: I'm On The Far Right On The Left Coast In Commiefornia

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

Ridgegrass wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 11:29 pm That's.....
Thank you J.O'. 🍻
Kid: "Wish we had time to bury them fellas."
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales

Skip
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3190
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by galvanic1882 »

Here's some more Cattaraugus history. I've posted the knife before but never the other items.

George Sherman started working for Cattaraugus Cutlery at the turn of the century as a machinist and die maker. His son was the superintendent of the company and worked there 55 years starting on Jan 24, 1898. The items shown all belonged to Mr. Sherman and the picture is of him in the factory.

Note the time card and the "E" pin for service at the cutlery during WW2. The Cutlery was awarded the "E" rating for their work during the war and other individuals received the award and pin also.
Attachments
IMG_2015.jpg
doglegg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 17731
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2017 2:35 am
Location: Grand Prairie, Texas

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by doglegg »

Pearl, bone and ephemera, what a great start to a page. ::tu::
And some history!!! ::nod::
Jacknifeben
Posts: 1560
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:06 pm

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by Jacknifeben »

You are the man, don’t know how you find the good stuff.
User avatar
utahbound
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 1:27 am
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by utahbound »

Nice stuff Mike!

Can you imaging working at the Cattaraugus factory all those years?

What a story!
User avatar
New_Windsor_NY
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 10828
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:50 pm
Location: I'm On The Far Right On The Left Coast In Commiefornia

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

galvanic1882 wrote: Tue Dec 08, 2020 2:07 pm Here's.....
GREAT items Mike! ::tu:: Can you post the picture here also.
viewtopic.php?f=118&t=68236
Kid: "Wish we had time to bury them fellas."
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales

Skip
kootenay joe
Posts: 13373
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:36 pm
Location: West Kootenays, B.C.

Re: Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. 1886-1963

Post by kootenay joe »

Here is a large 4 3/8" swell center whittler. The blades suffered some pitting possibly from off gassing of nearby celluloid, and then the blades were buffed. Most of the tang markings have been removed but i can just make out the beginning of "Cattaraugus" in an arch.
I think this size of swell center whittler is somewhat rare.
kj
Attachments
IMGP0317.JPG
IMGP0318.JPG
IMGP0319.JPG
Post Reply

Return to “Cattaraugus Cutlery Collector's Forum”