My First Canal Street!

[JD Mandrell]

I stumbled upon this one hiding in a case full of pocketknives in a really nice little store I found Saturday in Kentucky, Grand Rivers Antiques, in Grand Rivers, KY. About 50 feet east of the famous "Patti's" restaruant in Grand Rivers. It's a little old "General Store" type place with antiques and pocketknives, but they had just about one of the best selections of slipjoints I have seen in a walk-in store!

Case, Buck, Canal Street, Hen & Rooster, Kissing Crain, German Bull, Queen, Vintage USA Schrade and on and on...........

But it was this Canal Street Cutlery that caught me eye, it's a 4 inch Congress pattern with what they call Oxblood Maple Burl.

It is serial numbered "011", and after e-mailing with the good folks at Canal Street this morning I learned it is from a limited run of 50 with that handle.

Fit and finish are perfect, and I do mean perfect! You can't even get a hint of light between the liners and backsprings, not a gap or toolmark or any flaw on this knife at all.

All 4 420HC blades are razorsharp with solid walk/talk and properly crinked with no blade rub.

If this is what we can expect from Canal Street Cutlery, they are certainly going to get more money from me!

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

Nice looking knife. Great to find out it was part of a limited run. From the description it sounds like one well made knife. Congrats!

And they had vintage US Schrades as well. Man, wish I still lived up that way I would've had to make a pilgrimage.

 

[WIL TERRY]

You ain't whistling dixie, it is nothing short of a spectacular CONGRESS knife for the collection. WOOOOEEEE...are they pretty or what !!!

 

[JD Mandrell]

And they had vintage US Schrades as well.

Yeah, they had several Schrade's with yellow Delrin scales that each knife came in a hard plastic transparent case. They were USA made, but I'm not sure which series they were, seems if I remember right, they had American Flag shields on the side????

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

Hmmm, I may need to slip out to Rio Medina to the little store there. They have some knives, but I don't believe they sell that many. Ol' Buzzy is a sharp fellow, and he often gets stock by buying up things he finds here and there such as old stock, from old stores, etc.. I may have to check his displays and see if he has any old, Old Timers.

Seeing that lovely selection of fine cutlery must have been a fine experience.

Yep, that sure is a pretty knife.

 

[peter78]

Nice find. On thier web site it says this:

After searching for an appropriate manufacturing facility CSCC decided to make 30 Canal Street in Ellenville, NY its new home. Ellenville, nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Catskill Mountains in upstate New York has a long and rich tradition of quality knife making dating back to the 19th century so it was only fitting that this new Company committed to those same traditions return to the roots which brought this American craft to the forefront.

While in its inaugural year, CSCC starts with a wealth of knife making experience and technical knowledge. Principals, Wally Gardiner and Joe Hufnagel are joined by Nine Master Cutlers who combine for over 300 years of knife making experience. By using the finest materials available combined with the skill of years of experience, Canal Street Cutlery is committed to fulfill our promise to our customers of providing the finest US manufactured product available today.


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So it looks like a new company. I think I'll give them a try. Thanks for the info.

 

[JD Mandrell]

While in its inaugural year, CSCC starts with a wealth of knife making experience and technical knowledge. Principals, Wally Gardiner and Joe Hufnagel

Joe Hufnagel was the person who answered both my e-mails about this knife, VERY promptly also, I sent the first one very late Saturday evening, so I honestly didn't expect an answer until the start of the work week, and I got it very early Monday morning, asking for a little more info' than what I had sent to help identify the knife, I sent that and got a second reply in less than half an hour providing me with what I needed.

Nice to see a higher up in the company giving personal attention to a customer!