Help w/ a Cattaraugus Knife

SCFlyGuy

SCFlyGuy

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I am a long time lurker with a love of traditional knives. I grew up in Western NY and now spend my summers on Lake Chautauqua. I'm in close proximity to Little Valley, NY, Bradford, PA, and Tidioute, PA. Good folders aren't as available as they used to be, but from time to time, I still find them. I came across this Cattaraugus 2 blade, Trapper style knife today. It's about 4-1/2" long closed with a large main blade that says:
Cattaraugus
Cutlery Co.
Little Valley
NY
There is no model number or marking on the back of the main blade or anywhere on the small blade. The scales are nice amber stag with bolsters on both ends.

I'd appreciate any help in identifying and dating this knife. Thanks in advance for your help.

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Looks like pattern # 22099 except the ones that I've seen have a shield. I think the pattern number should be on the small blade. The small blade was reshaped by a prior owner from a pen blade into a small clip blade. The handles are bone, not stag. But in the old catalogs they use the word "stag" for bone. It's a large jack, not a trapper. Large jacks are sometimes called English jacks.

3mxCAI5.jpg
 
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Thanks for the help!!! I knew I'd find the experts here. I had a feeling that the small blade was re shaped. Any idea on how to date the knife.

Overall, it is in really nice shape and I want to bring it back to life. Any tips for removing some of the more stubborn dirt and grime?
 
0000 steel wool and mineral oil to clean it up. Please dont use any kind of power tool. That's a very neat old knife with a lot of use left. I love to find those old ones and clean them up and carry them. Most of my EDC is older than I am at 65.---KV
 
What a great old knife...I'd love to have that one riding in my pocket!

Regarding the missing shield, I think I see a shallow indentation where a shield may have been at one time, but no pin hole. How did the manufacturer attach a shield to a jigged bone handle in those days?

Are shields glued in place today, or pinned? I know that Boker had an aggravating issue at one time with their round shields popping out and being lost.
 
Thanks folks. I don't think that there are Pin holes or any evidence of a shield. It also seems bigger than other Cattaraugus Jacks I've seen.

I'll give the 0000 steel wool a try. I also restore old fishing reels and as much as I'm tempted, I avoid the 'mechanical assist' when cleaning. I've also seen recommendations for Hoppe's No. 9. If I can figure out how to post pictures, I'll try to post some 'after' pictures.

Thanks again for the responses.

BTW - I also picked up a fixed blade Cattaraugus in leather sheath with this one. It's one with the plastic (Delrin?) handle.
 
The jigged bone may be one clue about the age. The lack of a shield may be another clue. I'd guess 40s or 50s but it's just a guess. You might check books written about Cattaraugus.

To preserve an old knife, only wipe down the steel surfaces with a rag damp with mineral oil. Keep wiping until the knife no longer dirties the rag. That's all.

It seems people are compelled to make old knives shiny. Some knives that should be preserved are unfortunately stripped of their remaining original finish. Some heavily pitted blades are resurfaced until they like they melted away in the sun!

The blades on your knife have already been resurfaced with abrasives. Some of the remaining dark spots may be pits. It looks usable or collectible as is but you could touch up the prior resurfacing. Avoid resurfacing the bolsters since that is a finishing step on a parts knife and will make an authentic knife look questionable.

Hope that helps.
 
supratentorial said:
The jigged bone may be one clue about the age. The lack of a shield may be another clue. I'd guess 40s or 50s but it's just a guess. You might check books written about Cattaraugus.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's what I suspected. I've looked for information action on the knife, but I haven't been able to find a knife like this one.

supratentorial said:
It seems people are compelled to make old knives shiny. Some knives that should be preserved are unfortunately stripped of their remaining original finish. Some heavily pitted blades are resurfaced until they like they melted away in the sun!

The blades on your knife have already been resurfaced with abrasives. Some of the remaining dark spots may be pits. It looks usable or collectible as is but you could touch up the prior resurfacing. Avoid resurfacing the bolsters since that is a finishing step on a parts knife and will make an authentic knife look questionable.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. I think the patina gives the knife character and makes me think of previous owners and what they may have used the knife for? The blades have clearly been used and were poorly treated as evidenced by abrasive marks.

I cleaned it with oil looking for a model number, but I see none.
 
Love that bone. That style of jigging, that particular style, just doesn't seem to be as well done as it was at one time. Although the second pic, opening post in Charlie's birthday thread might put the lie to what I wrote.
Thanks, Neal
Ps-great score!
 
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