Ok a little more from old Knife World articles and some of my brain.
I think we are looking around 1900 give or take a few years (mostly take). I do have a Cattaragus that I am pretty sure was made in the early 1900's. After WWI and into the '20s it was not unusual for pharmacutial companies to include these patterns in a shipment of medicines (for human and vetinary care (that one was for Mongo of course
). Of note here are the famed Remmington made "Mentholatum" etched knives. Seems that they were included as a premium on orders that totaled a certain amount for that named remedy that was used to treat "consumption" as it was called back then.
The pattern continued until Case discontinued the 85 pattern in 1974. From that period until the resurgance in the 1990's there realy were not any in steady production with the exception of some special runs. Runs by Parker and Taylor come to mind from the mid 1980's.
I think that Case started the resurgence (coupled with the limited runs by Parker and Taylor earlier in the 80's) with production of pearl, imt. Ivory, Goldstone and imt. Tortoise Shell in 1989. These were made in Germany for Case and if I remember right they had a Bradford stamp. Queen and Schatt and Morgan rejoined the fray in the mid 1990's with the Winchester and Case Classic versions in tow.
The main use for these knives was for the manipulation of medications since more refined medical instruments were readily available. They were not made for heavy or even medium chores, but they were extreamly well made. The ones we see in production currently are typically much more sturdy with the thicker bolsters rather than thinner end caps that are found on earlier models. I have seen a few and own an Ulster that has a slight serpentine handle configuration (rather than straight). It is out on loan right now to a maker friend so I can not post a picture.
Added later:
The ones that were used for their intended purpose are pretty rough. Some of those medicines were very corrosive, but it surprising a little to see old ones in great condition. A old Knife World article painted a story of the knife ending up in the back of a desk drawer soon after a shipment of medicine came in.
Gus and I were talking about Doc pattern knives and I was asking about the history of this pattern. Anyone know how they came about? ANy other interesting info? Thanks!
