Happy to have it back!!!

[galvanic1882]

Happy to have it back!! Sometime around 2010 I bid on an old wooden crate end that was marked Cattaraugus, picture attached, on gunbroker. During this transaction I found out the man was a gunsmith and lived in LV. His name was Edwin Stevens, he told me he had other Cattaraugus items for sale so instead of having him mail the item I decided to drive the 4 hours to see him. This was the beginning of quite an adventure. I would go back every month and each time this kind old gentlemen would show me something else he had. What started out with a piece of a wooden crate turned into so many very cool Cattaraugus items. On one of those trips as I was leaving his house he said, I'm surprised you have not asked about the picture. He then pointed to a picture in a gold frame hanging in his living room. How I missed it to this day I have no clue. It was of 3 young boy scouts looking at a knife on a mountain. He told me it hung in the Cattaraugus factory for years and that countless workers had walked by it daily on their way to their workstations. We came to an agreement on price, and I brought it home. The picture of it in the gold frame was taken after I got home with it when I lived in PA. In 2015 I packed it up for my move to AZ. After being in AZ for about 5 months I unpack it and when I did the picture had slipped off of the backing and came out of the frame. It was not too secure to begin with. The picture was damaged as you can see from the picture out of its frame. Falling out behind the picture was an old poster advertising a Basketball game in 1922 that was to be played in the top floor of the Champlin Opera house. Who knew the rare piece was hiding there! I posted the picture on different forums when a great guy named Kerry Hummer asked about buying it. After some back and forth we made a deal, and I shipped it out to him. He had it restored which I was very happy about. Then while on the phone with a knife buddy last week, he asked about the picture, and I told him I sold it years ago. He cringed when he heard that. I hated selling it but needed to at the time. Last week I contacted Kerry and asked if he would let me have it back and we made a trade, and I received it yesterday and I am very glad its back with me.

[treefarmer]

Very interesting!
Glad you were able to get it back.
Treefarmer

[knifeaholic]

Amazing picture! Looks like the scouts were using the "compass" scout knife to find their way.

[galvanic1882]

Thanks guys, if you look in the top right it says That’s North Phil

[galvanic1882]

The boy in the middle is Phillip Tint Champlin

[btrwtr]

What a wonderful piece of history!

[galvanic1882]

Cattaraugus used that image on envelopes and the back of letters

[FRJ]

A great story and a beautiful, well executed picture. I wonder who the artist was?
You could almost date the time from their fabulous shoes.
You must be walkin' on your toes having that one back.

[galvanic1882]

We always wondered who it was also. We believe the picture is from the 1920’s. Yes I am so thrilled to have it back.

[1967redrider]

Any chance it could have been Maxfield Parrish? He died on March 30, 1966, in Plainfield, NH, at the age of 95.

[galvanic1882]

I have no clue

[Reverand]

Wow, that is an awesome bit of history!!

[CarMan]

So much about Cattaraugus is amazing. Great story, thanks for sharing it.

[bestgear]

Fantastic, thanks Mike!

[Ridgegrass]

Great story. Great pic. Here's the knife, maybe, unless it's a "Junior". J.O'.

[1967redrider]

Roger posted a trio of those back in 2014.

[Froe]

Love the story!