All About Pocket Knives

I am starting anew post for JBF Champlin to show some items attributed to him and his early years of cutlery after Freidmann & Lauterjung. I have always thought that the year 1882 was when he started to job and then manufacture for himself. I am showing 2 paerl knives in this post that are both marked GALVANIC over 1882. The little whittler is the second knife I ever bought for collecting over 20 years ago for 7.00. I love the deep etch on the whittler. The whittler is 3" closed and the other is 3 1/4" closed. After searching for all these years for another one maked that way I thought I would never find another till the Doctors knife came up for auction on ebay. The handles are pearl and are chip and crack free and it is a nice beefy knife!!! I would have paid more then I did for this one no matter that it is in this condition. I have always said that JBF was more important to cutlery making in Little Valley then the Case family but that is just my opinion. I will be adding posts to this tread with pictures of razors and scissors.

BTW, I think the person that started the tread on the Q&A forum was the seller. I tried to PM him so I could give him some info on the mark and JBF but got no response.

These are my favorite knives even though they are not mint or have ink!!!!

Here are 3 razors that are etched galvanic. The bottom one is marked Cattaraugus. The little knife is marked Maine Cutlery Company, Goins' states that Champlin used that mark also for knives imported form Germany. Germany is not on marked on the knife but it looks German made to me.

Here are 2 pair of scissors the large ones are 12" overall and have the Galvanic etch and are marked JBF Champlin Little Valley NY. The medium sized ones are 9" overall and are etched Galvanic and marked Cattaraugus in fancy script!!

Glad to see you got it Both those knives are real beauties, the bolsters on the congress are nice.

Mike,

Absolutely gorgeous, now THAT'S vintage cutlery at its finest. You're in a class all your own Mike. Love those Galvanics. Tell us more about JBF.

I am bringing this thread back because of a meeting I had Friday and yesterday with 3 of the nicest people that know much about JBF Champlin and the families from Little Valley. One is a direct descendant of JBF himself!!!! Watching her hold the JBF Champlin knife box that I own in her hands was a real treat. I met these wonderful people so I could show them my Champlin, Galvanic and Cattaraugus Cutlery items, many of which I have posted on this site. They are writing a book on JBF and the items were scaned or photographed for the book. There were items that one of them brought that amased me!! How about an unsharpened Pearl Case Bros Little Vally Toenail!!!! Or an original Stock certificate from Case Brothers Little Valley.

The book will have history and pictures of Little Valley and the Cutlery Indusrty and I can't wait for it to published. I will be getting some pictures soon of the meeting and will post them as soon as they arrive.

Go to the thread Knife Paper and you will see a Billhead that was given to me from Little Valley.

Keep hunting the History!!

Galvanic, I am anxious to read this book! You have some rare beauties there. I agree that J.B. was the most important figure in the Little Valley cutlery industry. After reading Brad Lockwood's book, I suspect that the only reason there is a Case knife at all, is the sisters marrying J.B. first, then adding Brown, Crandall, and Platts men who knew how to make knives.

I have an invoice from 1916 that still has a ESTABLISHED BY J.B.F. CHAMPLIN IN 1880 and a picture in the top left of the letter head. Sold to JACQUES BROS. in LOWVILLE N.Y. 49. They replaced free of charge a 22919, a 22916, and a 22356. sold 40 some cattaraugus pocket knive, razors. kitchen knives. a 3W knife, a 12 piece widow display, one boy scout hanger, and a special etching for 44.50. The 3W wrench knife was $1.00.

JKB,

I have the same invoice dated 1918 and one 1919.

Someone sent back a pocket knife to be repaired, cost .55 cents

on my 1916 invoice top line they replaced free of charge a 22919, a 22916, and another knife.

They also bought 1 dozen knife purses for .80 cents...............

WOW!..Fantastic post of some great knives!
I also believe as you do that the cutlery world would not have been the same w/o JBF.
thanks a lot for this,I will be waiting for the book.
I'm planing a trip to Little Valley in a month or so just to look around.

here's a pic of my JBF Razor

Here is a picture of the cover page of a calendar that I ordered to give out as gifts this year. It shows the 3 Galvanic1882 knives that I own. The photographer did all the work of putting it together. If anyone wants his contact info just email me at galvanic1882@yahoo.com and I will get you in touch with him. He is an artist at taking pictures and layout and is also a great guy!!!

I will post other pictures in a few days.

Mike
WOW

Here is another JBF Champlin item, something I picked up last week. It is a traveling trunk that belonged to the Champlin family. A few of the labels read JBF Champlin they appear to be 1920-1940's!!! I am researching it and think that it is not the first JBF Champlin but his grandson who ran Cattaraugus Cutlery later on. There is an older label on the trunk also that has Miss H Champlin on it. I have been told that this was Hannah Champlin the Cattaraugus founders daughter from his second marriage. I will post info as I get it.

Man this is fun!!!

wow !! some great stuff . thanks for sharing

Awesome history Mike!

Mike,

You sure do find the most awesome stuff. Only thing that would have made it a better treasure, would be finding the trunk full of saleman's samples!

Bret

Here is my latest JBF Champlin pickup. Really cool invite to a New Years dance. the date is the best, Jan 2, 1882!!!

High flue-ten.

Mike, I just discovered this thread. Very nice knives and really interesting history. I have to say that I didn't know who JBF Champlin or the galvanic knives were? Thanks

Discovered this Cattaraugus Cutlery JBF Champlin ephemera from 1946 today at an estate sale...

What are the odds Scott? Amazed that it survived all these years and that you were able to find it. Great ephemera.

Nice find Scott,It is about a month older than I am! Bill

And it's two months older than me.