Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

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.
Post Reply
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by galvanic1882 »

So, in 1901 JBF Champlin had a booth at the Pan American Expo in Buffalo NY 1901. In that expo he had an unbelievable group of knives. This whittler is one of them. If you can find a copy of a pocket knives price guide dated 1979 by James Parker and Bruce Voyles you can see the write up and pictures of the pearl knives. Pages 203-210 has the pictures of the knives; page 205 has this whittler shown. There were also the same knives made in, what many believed, Ivory covers. Years later it was determined that those knives were covered in smooth bone. I have never seen any of them but wish I could find at least a few. Attached is a picture showing the other Pearls I have from the expo and some advertising items that were give aways.

Also pictured are the large carving pieces that were displayed at the expo. I was able to find where most of them were and get them all together for a picture. Some are in the American Cutlery Museum and others are in private collections. I had 4 sets of the carvers and just bought 2 more sets and the large wooden handles butcher knife shown. I had been trying to buy them for a very long time. They were owned by the grandson of the last President of Cattaraugus Cutlery.
Attachments
IMG_3374.JPG
PanAm1.jpeg
IMG_3449.jpg
IMG_3448.jpg
User avatar
Beavertail
Posts: 1195
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:47 pm
Location: Way down south in Dixie

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by Beavertail »

That whittler is absolutely gorgeous! ::tu::
I have a MOP Bulldog brand whittler that's practically identical.
Jim Parker must have used the Cattaraugus as a model when he had the Bulldog version made.
Tim
User avatar
Madmarco
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 9645
Joined: Wed May 20, 2020 12:09 am
Location: Smack dab in the middle of Canada

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by Madmarco »

galvanic1882 wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 2:34 pm So, in 1901 JBF Champlin had a booth at the Pan American Expo in Buffalo NY 1901. In that expo he had an unbelievable group of knives. This whittler is one of them. If you can find a copy of a pocket knives price guide dated 1979 by James Parker and Bruce Voyles you can see the write up and pictures of the pearl knives. Pages 203-210 has the pictures of the knives; page 205 has this whittler shown. There were also the same knives made in, what many believed, Ivory covers. Years later it was determined that those knives were covered in smooth bone. I have never seen any of them but wish I could find at least a few. Attached is a picture showing the other Pearls I have from the expo and some advertising items that were give aways.

Also pictured are the large carving pieces that were displayed at the expo. I was able to find where most of them were and get them all together for a picture. Some are in the American Cutlery Museum and others are in private collections. I had 4 sets of the carvers and just bought 2 more sets and the large wooden handles butcher knife shown. I had been trying to buy them for a very long time. They were owned by the grandson of the last President of Cattaraugus Cutlery.
Beautiful Mike. Some really interesting knives in there. What is the longest knife in the center of the 2nd picture with the mosaic covers and round pommel? How long is it open, who made it, etc.? Thx! 8)
8)
User avatar
Ridgegrass
Posts: 5351
Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2020 2:04 pm
Location: Ocean City, MD
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by Ridgegrass »

Man, you're in my wheelhouse now! Great post, Thanks. J.O'.
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by galvanic1882 »

Madmarco wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 5:02 pm
galvanic1882 wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 2:34 pm So, in 1901 JBF Champlin had a booth at the Pan American Expo in Buffalo NY 1901. In that expo he had an unbelievable group of knives. This whittler is one of them. If you can find a copy of a pocket knives price guide dated 1979 by James Parker and Bruce Voyles you can see the write up and pictures of the pearl knives. Pages 203-210 has the pictures of the knives; page 205 has this whittler shown. There were also the same knives made in, what many believed, Ivory covers. Years later it was determined that those knives were covered in smooth bone. I have never seen any of them but wish I could find at least a few. Attached is a picture showing the other Pearls I have from the expo and some advertising items that were give aways.

Also pictured are the large carving pieces that were displayed at the expo. I was able to find where most of them were and get them all together for a picture. Some are in the American Cutlery Museum and others are in private collections. I had 4 sets of the carvers and just bought 2 more sets and the large wooden handles butcher knife shown. I had been trying to buy them for a very long time. They were owned by the grandson of the last President of Cattaraugus Cutlery.
Beautiful Mike. Some really interesting knives in there. What is the longest knife in the center of the 2nd picture with the mosaic covers and round pommel? How long is it open, who made it, etc.? Thx! 8)
I don’t own the knife but here is the owner standing next to it. He owns the American Cutlery museum in Cattaraugus.
Attachments
DC724586-6A89-4B7B-BE53-EC91398D1B7C.jpeg
User avatar
TPK
Posts: 10111
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2019 6:16 pm
Location: Bayern, Germany

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by TPK »

Now that's a KNIFE!!! ::woot:: Wow! :shock:

::hmm:: Maybe still a bit small for Madmarco though. :mrgreen: ::poke::
TOM - KGFG - (Knife-Guy-From-Germany)

I believe..., every knife is a soul, looking for a soulmate. :wink:

Weebit-Nano https://www.weebit-nano.com/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weebit_Nano

US - ARMY - COMBAT - ENGINEERS - 1990 - 1993 - God Bless Our Troops!
User avatar
Madmarco
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 9645
Joined: Wed May 20, 2020 12:09 am
Location: Smack dab in the middle of Canada

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by Madmarco »

Thanks for the picture Mike. Now THAT'S a BIG knife! From the picture I had no idea it was that big. It would seem I have met my match! 8)
8)
User avatar
Madmarco
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 9645
Joined: Wed May 20, 2020 12:09 am
Location: Smack dab in the middle of Canada

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by Madmarco »

TPK wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 7:33 pm Now that's a KNIFE!!! ::woot:: Wow! :shock:

::hmm:: Maybe still a bit small for Madmarco though. :mrgreen: ::poke::
I never thought I would see the day that the words "that's almost too big" would cross my lips Tom, but.....! 8)
8)
User avatar
TPK
Posts: 10111
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2019 6:16 pm
Location: Bayern, Germany

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by TPK »

Madmarco wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 9:17 pm
TPK wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 7:33 pm Now that's a KNIFE!!! ::woot:: Wow! :shock:

::hmm:: Maybe still a bit small for Madmarco though. :mrgreen: ::poke::
I never thought I would see the day that the words "that's almost too big" would cross my lips Tom, but.....! 8)
::nod:: Almost :wink: ::tu:: ::super_happy:: :lol:

One good thing about it is, you wouldn't forget it's in your pocket when you put your cloths in the wash. And if by some chance you did, your wife would notice. ::nod:: ::tu:: :mrgreen:
TOM - KGFG - (Knife-Guy-From-Germany)

I believe..., every knife is a soul, looking for a soulmate. :wink:

Weebit-Nano https://www.weebit-nano.com/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weebit_Nano

US - ARMY - COMBAT - ENGINEERS - 1990 - 1993 - God Bless Our Troops!
Jacknifeben
Posts: 1560
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:06 pm

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by Jacknifeben »

What is the length of the pearl whittler? Is the tang stamp really kind of light, not deep?
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by galvanic1882 »

Stamp on all blades is good. 4 1/8” closed
User avatar
Madmarco
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 9645
Joined: Wed May 20, 2020 12:09 am
Location: Smack dab in the middle of Canada

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by Madmarco »

TPK wrote: Thu Jul 28, 2022 4:05 am
Madmarco wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 9:17 pm
TPK wrote: Wed Jul 27, 2022 7:33 pm Now that's a KNIFE!!! ::woot:: Wow! :shock:

::hmm:: Maybe still a bit small for Madmarco though. :mrgreen: ::poke::
I never thought I would see the day that the words "that's almost too big" would cross my lips Tom, but.....! 8)
::nod:: Almost :wink: ::tu:: ::super_happy:: :lol:

One good thing about it is, you wouldn't forget it's in your pocket when you put your cloths in the wash. And if by some chance you did, your wife would notice. ::nod:: ::tu:: :mrgreen:
I'd hate to see the pants that has pockets big enough to put THAT knife in Tom! ::woot:: LOL! 8)
8)
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Here's a pair of unused handles from a pen knife Cattaraugus made.
Evidently they sold or gave away these knives during the Expo in 1901.

Anyone here have the completed knife?
Pretty cool knowing the exact age of them, 122 years old!
Attachments
Catt1 (1).jpg
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
1967redrider
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 16103
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:23 pm
Location: Alexandria, VA
Contact:

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by 1967redrider »

Very cool, Dimitri! 😎👍
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Cattaraugus Pan American expo knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Thanks John ::handshake::
AAPK Janitor
369
Post Reply

Return to “Cattaraugus Cutlery Collector's Forum”