Older Cattaraugus Pocket Knife

[rugmar]

First post so let me say thanks for having me and I really enjoy this site. I've been reading here for awhile and decide to join up.

I have an old knife that I would like some info on if anyone can help. I acquired this 20 or 25 years ago at a knife show in W-S, NC in a trade for an old Remington knife with two broken blades. I somehow felt I might have gotten the short end of the stick because in my mind, who would offer a nice old knife for an old broken knife. Anyway, I was happy and have been every since so it matters not.

Can someone tell me anything about this knife? Is it original? When was it made? That type of thing.

I tried to photograph the blade stamp but could not get it to show. It says Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. with the Cattaraugus being in an arch and cutlery co. being underneath. It also says something else but almost impossible to read as it's hidden by the bolster no matter where the blade is in it's travel. I can only see what appears to be the last two or three letters and I think they are LEY although the Y is so light I could be making it up

Any info is appreciated.

[doglegg]

Rugmar, glad you pitched in. I'm not the historian here just an enjoyer. Knice looking knife. I bet help will be on the way.

[peanut740]

Handles appear worn and the blades not.

[rugmar]

I was also wondering about the shield. Don't claim to know that this shield is not Cattaraugus, just that I've seen this shield on other brands than Cattaraugus. Maybe there is some slight difference?

[stockman]

That type shield is common on many knives. Looks like it has been cleaned.

Harold

[FRJ]

Welcome here, rugmar.
Very shiny old knife and good pictures.

I can't offer much help on your knife but maybe your hidden stamp looks like the one I'm showing.
Click to enlarge.

[rugmar]

Yes, the stamp looks like what is shown above but I can only see the last part of Little Valley.

You say lit looks like it’s been cleaned. Is that bad? If so can you explain why and what is a guy supposed to do when he loves shiny stuff. I guess edges get rounded and that sort of thing? How bad does it devalue the knife?

I mostly collect for my pleasure and nothing too expensive or old but I would hate to unknowingly destroy a good old piece of history. I will say though that I find it very satisfying to buy an older knife from say the 60’s or 70’s and make it look new. I have found 5 or 6 in the last year or so for $30 or so and made them look new. Please don’t hesitate to tell me to stop but I just want to understand the reason.

Thanks much!

[espn77]

Your fixin to open a can of worms. We all have different opinions on cleaning knives. And the definition varies between us.

[doglegg]

Rugmar, bottom like it is your knife. Do what makes you happy.

[rugmar]

Well it is certainly not my intent to open a can of worms within 24 hours of joining

I just like to discuss and learn. Please tell me what's proper. I don't mind a few different opinions.

Back to the topic: Can anyone venture a guess at the age of the knife in the OP? Or, is there just no way of knowing. I've read that Cattaraugus closed their doors in 1963. So I guess at least 56 years old if this is true.

Thanks for helping to educate me a little.

[peanut740]

Is there a pattern # on the pen blade.There are lots of cobbled together Catt knives from parts sold years after the factocy closed.If you traded a knife with broken blades for it,the other party was either a sucker or didn't value your knife very highly.Cattaraugus didn't make any pocket knives after WWII.

[rugmar]

No, nothing at all on the pen blade and only on the front side of the main spear blade. No numbers anywhere.

Interesting that no knives were made after WWII. Thanks for that info.

[rugmar]

Also, and I should have mentioned this earlier, it has a different feel to it when opening and maybe more so closing. I don't really know how else to describe it, it's just different than any other knife I've opened and I'm sixty and have opened a few knives. It doesn't feel bad, just different. I've always suspected it may have been apart at some point in it's life.

Thanks for your replies and if anyone has anything to add, please feel free.

[FRJ]

I'd like to add that I hope you stay with us here and that you use that Catt as you wish and that you add more knives to your pile
and show pictures when you do. It's a great way to learn about knives.

[rugmar]

Wow! Thanks Joe! How nice was that. This place is too interesting to leave.

Thanks!

[Case XX 6383]

I like the looks of it. That's all I know about it

[rugmar]

Here's another picture that shows the back side of the Cattaraugus in the OP. It having a little chat with an old PAL i picked up this past weekend. And what a bargain I got on that PAL. YEAH!!

[Reverand]

I ran across this older post while researching a Cattaraugus knife that I just bought.
Yes, yours is definitely a Catt! I love that old pocket-worn Wormgroove bone on old Catt knives. It is just beautiful!
Since you didn't garner many replies, cleaning a knife isn't always bad. There are hard-core collectors who want a knife that is untouched. If it has a bit of patina on the steel, they want it that way.
Others would rather have it look brand new and shiny. A knife can be lessened in value if polished, but only if everything else looks perfect.
One like yours that is worn a little, and perhaps has been taken apart and repaired, will never have collector value, but it is a great knife! And since it is yours, you should do with it whatever makes YOU happy!
I personally like knives that I can carry without worrying about ruining the value if I open an envelope with it!

[RobesonsRme.com]

I wish you had photos of the Remington you traded for the Catt.

Guaranteed it was rehandled and sold for good money.

Charlie Noyes

[rugmar]

Thanks for the additional replies fellows. I agree that it is nice to have a few knifes that you can call users and don't worry about putting a few miles on them. I carry one for a week or so and then wipe it down, sharpen it up and put it away for awhile. Then on to the next one. I have a few pristine ones that are getting harder to find that I can only bring myself to wipe down and look at. I guess you might say those are retired.

Yeah Charlie, I wish I could even remember what that old Remington looked like. All I can recall was that it was a jack in the 3-1/2 inch range. Both blades snapped off really short but otherwise looked pretty nice. I took it to the show hoping to find someone to repair it and the first guy I showed it to offered up the swap for the Catt. The rest is history and I'm okay with it.

Thanks for your time guys. It's always a pleasure here.

[RobesonsRme.com]

So, your Remington had no blades and broken handles and someone traded you an intact Cattaraugus for it.

Charlie

[rugmar]

No, just broken blades. I think the handle scales were nice.