Rare J Caire stag hawkbill
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:34 pm
Stag handled 5 1/4" closed hawkbill marked J Caire San Francisco. No liners on the knife but it locks up tight when open.
Information below is taken from and article in Knife World that Bernard Levine wrote back in 2003.
Justinian Caire was a successful 19th century merchant who emigrated from France to San Francisco at the height of the California Gold Rush. Caire started out as a wholesale hardware merchant in 1851, and worked about 40 years thereafter.
In 1897, Caire's heirs decided that the hardware business was becoming too competitive, especially with the added burden of the McKinley Tariff. They transformed J. Caire & Co. into purveyors of technical and scientific apparatus, catering mainly to the wine and mine industries of California.
In the 19th century, Justinian Caire imported his knives from France. Until now I have only seen two types (several examples of each). One is a typical Sabatier style chef knife, with slender ebony handle and tapered steel ferrule. The other is a California style hawkbill folder, with an L-shaped handle 6 inches long closed.
I am asking 140 for the knife shipping included if payment is by check or MO, shipping in the CONUS. Please email me if you are not in the US and are interested in the knife.
My email is [email protected] thanks Mike
Information below is taken from and article in Knife World that Bernard Levine wrote back in 2003.
Justinian Caire was a successful 19th century merchant who emigrated from France to San Francisco at the height of the California Gold Rush. Caire started out as a wholesale hardware merchant in 1851, and worked about 40 years thereafter.
In 1897, Caire's heirs decided that the hardware business was becoming too competitive, especially with the added burden of the McKinley Tariff. They transformed J. Caire & Co. into purveyors of technical and scientific apparatus, catering mainly to the wine and mine industries of California.
In the 19th century, Justinian Caire imported his knives from France. Until now I have only seen two types (several examples of each). One is a typical Sabatier style chef knife, with slender ebony handle and tapered steel ferrule. The other is a California style hawkbill folder, with an L-shaped handle 6 inches long closed.
I am asking 140 for the knife shipping included if payment is by check or MO, shipping in the CONUS. Please email me if you are not in the US and are interested in the knife.
My email is [email protected] thanks Mike