Tell me about Canal Street Cuttlery

coaltrain

coaltrain

Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
482
Since my great discovery of the Canal Street Half Moon Trapper, it is my nature to do some research on the knife and possibly try to accumulate a couple more - why.......I don't know.....

As I search our trusted vendor list, I find only one that stocks any Canal Street, and even at that just one HMT cover material. I find dribs and drabs here and there of other ones, but it starts to make me wonder. Is Canal Street just an unpopular brand? In the short time I've been active on this forum, I've read some of both good and bad about their fit and finish, but not out of the realm of any other traditional knife manufacturer.

I found a page that lists the handle cover materials that have been used on this knife - a list that is 60 items long! This list doesn't tell the quantities of each made nor the year. So I get to wondering - where are all these knives. And more importantly, why don't many vendors carry them?

It's in my nature when I buy something to look at the possible resale value down the road. This may be different in the traditional knife world, but in other hobbies I usually expect to get at least 75% of my money back if I decided to sell something in unused condition. This lack of presence of Canal Street knives around the internet vendors worries me a little - I would hate to start accumulating a few of these knives only to find that there is no resale value at all. I know that resale value isn't the most important part of enjoying or collection knives, but it is a consideration for me.

So I guess my main question is - why so few vendors carrying Canal Street?
 
[non-BF vendor removed]AGRussell, KSF, and KnifeCenter also have a few. Knifeswapper had a few under Other Brands but I think he only has fixed blades left. There are a few other vendors I know about but I don't think they're dealers here so I won't mention them. Why do so few carry them? I don't know.





 
Last edited by a moderator:
I believe that CSC has very few cutlers and is not a high output company but it is a high quality company. I have not heard much negative on them or their products,. I snagged their pink abalone scales like 2 DEADs example in their post ^
 
I have been satisfied with all of my Canal Street purchases and am especially impressed with the most recent purchase, a Pinch Lockback.

If you're looking for a dealer recommendation, the place to ask would be in The Good Bad and Ugly forum section. :thumbup:
 
smokinbasser said:
I believe that CSC has very few cutlers and is not a high output company but it is a high quality company. I have not heard much negative on them or their products,. I snagged their pink abalone scales like 2 DEADs example in their post ^
Click to expand...

Michael said they only made 6 of those (at least in that run in 2010).
 
Thanks for the relies so far!

2Dead - oh man - what an awesome collection! Gives me something to strive for.

And thanks for the recommendations of where to look - gives me a good starting point. I've found that I like the thrill of the hunt.

One other issue I need to deal with is trying to figure out when the different knives were made. In my other post about my new Half Moon Trapper, I was told to stay away from knives made this year (2013) and forward since they changed their build and the spring tension is much stronger. So I somehow need to determine if a knife I am looking at is made in 2012 or earlier. I guess the only way to tell is to ask the seller/vendor to check the date slip inside each box.
 
I'm sure the 2nd hand value of these knives unused or lightly used is as good as the next brand.

Trand, that Antique Ivory micarta job always impresses me. Wish we could get that colour on the forthcoming Forum Knife.

Regards, Will
 
I don't know if its any reflection of resale but there is a trapper listed for sale now in the classifiedshere on BF. Less than half price of new.

Chris
 
Canal Street is a very arrogant company to dealers. They really don't seem to want new Dealers and aren't afraid to say so. That was my experience. Downright rude. A few of their knives are available to Dealers from one of the large Wholesalers.
 
I view resale the same as most other factory knives at 50% (of purchase price). Canal Street Cutlery knives will certainly provide that and there is enough interest to make after market/secondary market sales. At 75%+, I'll just buy new unless there is something special about the knife with regards to my accumulation. The resale thing always interests me as I simply don't sell. But occasionally I look at the for sale by individuals forum and surprised by the high (almost internet retail) prices and yet they sell. Like saving $5 is really important.

I'm new to Canal Street and my elk two blade moon pie trapper is certainly not a nail breaker. Coaltrain, I think you'd be very comfortable with the pull. CSC does not appear to be a high volume manufacturer and appears to cater to the collector market at this time. Hopefully that will change and they can increase their production capability.

Canal Street is a very arrogant company to dealers. They really don't seem to want new Dealers and aren't afraid to say so. That was my experience. Downright rude. A few of their knives are available to Dealers from one of the large Wholesalers.
Click to expand...

Probably because they are selling all they make now. Things can change and it would be a good idea for them to stay on good terms with future dealers.
 
Last edited:
Some of their offerings are very low run (single digit) SFO's. I know my neon crocodile half moon is a 1 of 10 or so according to DPH's website. As far as the new backspring models that started with the atomic red fireball half moons. So on that list you found (which is fairly chronological) anything before atomic fireball has the old style spring.

There are not many out there on the second hand market, which probably speaks to their collectability. There are a few places out there to look though. For new offerings you can subscribe to DPH and get emails.

The white linen micarta is probably my favorite right now.
a9adegat.jpg


dega6eha.jpg


ezajypa3.jpg
 
A.G. Russel has more than a few of them, several that are AG exclusives, usually limited and serialized...great company, great quality, US made, in new york i believe...they are always doing really different and unique handle materials. They def make some beautiful pieces.
 
rma100 said:
Canal Street is a very arrogant company to dealers. They really don't seem to want new Dealers and aren't afraid to say so. That was my experience. Downright rude. A few of their knives are available to Dealers from one of the large Wholesalers.
Click to expand...

Well that might very well be a reason I don't see many vendors carrying them!
 
JustinR said:
Some of their offerings are very low run (single digit) SFO's. I know my neon crocodile half moon is a 1 of 10 or so according to DPH's website. As far as the new backspring models that started with the atomic red fireball half moons. So on that list you found (which is fairly chronological) anything before atomic fireball has the old style spring.

There are not many out there on the second hand market, which probably speaks to their collectability. There are a few places out there to look though. For new offerings you can subscribe to DPH and get emails.

The white linen micarta is probably my favorite right now.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Justin - just what I've been looking for.

And yes, that white linen is at the top of my list fighting for position with the camel bone I also found. Using your suggestion I see the white linen is listed before the atomic red fireball, so I guess I would be good with that one. That info about staying below the atomic fireball on the list is a huge help!

Now that I've spent some time and looked at the suggestions given me, I am finding some more here and there. Also now knowing that the runs were small and those likely being horded up all makes some sense to me now.
 
ya just HAD to put that rams horn canittler in front of me didn't ya?
 
Not accepting new dealers may not mean they are arrogant. Maybe they are just loyal to their current dealers who are able to sell their full production. They don't need new dealers and won't dilute/impinge on their relationship with their current ones.
 
meako said:
ya just HAD to put that rams horn canittler in front of me didn't ya?
Click to expand...

Sorry :D That's the pic I took after a month of pocket carry when we were doing pattern of the month. I just checked KSF, where I got it from, but Derrick doesn't have any more on the site with "external rams horn". I believe only 50 were made. Here's the other side :)
 
I've been searching their name a bit too. I like many of their offerings, but they don't have just a huge market presence, however that could be a could thing and insinuate that they are taking time, in making decent stuff, with respectable fit an finish, not unlike companies like GEC. I've got my eye on the English Barlow, just a really cool knife. Exactly what I'm looking for. These lower output companies have my attention. I never get tired of your CS pics 2Dead, that's a substantial collection.
 
Thanks again. I expect the collection to remain static for now as I have what I like in the patterns they make (barring an interesting handle material like the panama linen and neon carbon fiber in the last two). Now, if they ever put a pen blade on that HMT... my poor wallet :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top