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.
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
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 »

Jacknifeben
Posts: 1560
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:06 pm

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

Post by Jacknifeben »

Sad day. Still might be some old stuff in the front? I could send some bail money if they catch you.
User avatar
carrmillus
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 6293
Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2010 9:22 pm
Location: tupelo, miss.

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

Post by carrmillus »

Miller Bro`s wrote:Old Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. knives are highly collectable and have been for many years. I could not find a specific thread dedicated to their knives here in Knife Lore. I will start off with some knives made by them and if you have any post pictures here. I would also like to see any ephemera or other knife related items made by this company.

Here is a brief history of the company compiled by John Goins:

"C. 1886-1963 Founded by John B.F. champlin and ran by members of the Champlin family during the entire existence of the company. The firm was originally called J.B.F. Champlin, founded in 1880 as a jobbing firm. Tint Champlin joined the firm in 1882, and the name became J.B.F. Champlin & Son.

In 1886, Champlin`s brother-in-laws, the four Case Brothers, W.R., John D., Jean, and Andrew became members of the firm, and the name was changed to the Cattaraugus Cutlery Company. Cattaraugus became a manufacturing concern about 1890, when they purchased the tools and equipment from the defunct Beaver falls cutlery company. Cattaraugus made an excellent quality knife, many patterns are avidly sought by today`s collector.

In the early 1970`s, old parts were used to make completed knives using the old marking."
millerb, I really like the scout with the compass!!,I've got an old 4 line Camillus like that!!...... ::tu:: .............
User avatar
Jethro Bodine
Posts: 534
Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 2:34 pm
Location: West Virginia

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

Post by Jethro Bodine »

galvanic1882 wrote:Here is another couple of Catt's. The pearl was part of the Pan Am knives and some consider it one of the best of them. It was not cleaned and still has the Salesman's ink on the back of the main blade. Pictured with an original Cattaraugus stock certificate.

The EO is marked with the pattern number 2039A, I think the A stands for aluminum??
Wow Mike! That pearl might be the best you've posted. Simply incredible. ::tu::

Every picture tells a story, don't it


AAPK Rules!
JohnR
Bronze Tier
Bronze Tier
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2015 11:43 am
Location: Maryland

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

Post by JohnR »

Here is a Barlow I picked up recently, has some beautiful bone on it.
Attachments
IMG_3793.jpg
IMG_3791.jpg
User avatar
carrmillus
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 6293
Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2010 9:22 pm
Location: tupelo, miss.

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

Post by carrmillus »

.......jr, that's a beauty!!!............ ::tu:: .................
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
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 my latest Catt, this one does not have Little Valley NY on it. I have about a half dozen of them now with the Little Valley missing. Derek and I think they are some of the oldest Catt's out there. Love the button hook, handles are smooth bone.
Attachments
catbutton1.jpg
catbutton2.jpg
catbutton3.jpg
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

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

Post by Miller Bro's »

Interesting one, can you post a picture of the tang stamp?
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
wlf
Posts: 4762
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:55 am
Location: WV

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

Post by wlf »

Another terrific find Mike.What's the size?
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
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 »

It's 3 1/4" closed. I'll get a picture of the stamp later today
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
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 is a shot of the mark on the tang.
Attachments
catbutton4.jpg
User avatar
wlf
Posts: 4762
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:55 am
Location: WV

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

Post by wlf »

Sure looks like an early industry stamp.
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
Joshr30
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2015 12:30 am

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

Post by Joshr30 »

My only one. It was my Grandfathers. Anyone can feel free to school me on it. Thanks.
Attachments
1451782788469-1195666515.jpg
14517828186091795369365.jpg
14517828787481394280002.jpg
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 little Catt there Galvanic, love those old tang stamps!

Joshr30,.. Thanks for posting, I've never seen marks like that over a pattern number before!

Anybody have any comments about the wavy lines?
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
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 »

I just picked up these 3 pearl letter openers that Derek and I believe were given out by JBF Champlin at the 1901 Buffalo Pan Am Expo. I have seen them before but was never able to buy one!!
Attachments
cattletter2.jpg
JohnR
Bronze Tier
Bronze Tier
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2015 11:43 am
Location: Maryland

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

Post by JohnR »

Picked up this nice Jack with a sheepsfoot main blade,wonderful swedge. Has some real pretty wood., no pattern number.
Attachments
IMG_5422.jpg
IMG_5423.jpg
IMG_5426.jpg
IMG_5429.jpg
IMG_5431.jpg
stockman
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3665
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:19 pm

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

Post by stockman »

I love that knife!!

Harold
User avatar
Beechtree
Posts: 910
Joined: Fri May 04, 2012 8:17 pm

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

Post by Beechtree »

I agree with Harold ::nod::
That is a great ol' knife John, it has some beautiful and tight Cocobolo handles.
"A tool is but an extension of a man's hand." -Henry Ward Beecher
User avatar
FRJ
Posts: 15173
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 1:43 pm
Location: Ct.

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

Post by FRJ »

Very nice old Catt, John. I have its distant cousin. :lol:
How long is your knife? Mine is 3 1/2".
Attachments
DSCN1380.JPG
Joe
User avatar
wlf
Posts: 4762
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:55 am
Location: WV

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

Post by wlf »

Nice knives John and Joe. Sheepsfoot mains are not too common on old knives.
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
JohnR
Bronze Tier
Bronze Tier
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2015 11:43 am
Location: Maryland

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

Post by JohnR »

Thanks guys, Joe, mine is 3 1/2 also, looks like the same knife other than the blade. Lyle, I was surprised to see the sheepsfoot, I don't recall ever seeing another.
User avatar
dcgm4
Posts: 1962
Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2008 3:09 am
Location: not there

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

Post by dcgm4 »

Fantastic jacks, John and Joe! ::drool::
Dave

Always looking for vintage knives with Virginia, Maryland, or Washington D.C. tang stamps. Any condition.
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
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 »

I agree really nice Catt's !!
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
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 is my latest Catt I love the etch. It is the name of an old company in California. Check out page 14 of the link below to read about them.

Foresman & Hoke San Dimas Cal. Got the knife from an AAPK memeber, thanks again Mark

http://www.sandimasnews.com/PDFs/1501sdcn.pdf
Attachments
Cattaraugusetchedlob1.jpg
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

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

Post by Miller Bro's »

Some great ones posted here on this page so far ::tu::

This from the unusual file, a manicure/dressing/sewing set 8)

You don't see these too often, they made several sizes some quite large. They were very expensive at the time. Apparently this one was a giveaway item. All the handles on the tools are genuine mother of pearl! The shoehorn is celluloid ::paranoid::
Attachments
s-l1600 (44) (1).jpg
s-l1600 (19) (1).jpg
s-l1600 (45) (1).jpg
AAPK Janitor
369
Post Reply

Return to “Cattaraugus Cutlery Collector's Forum”