Thread: Cattaraugus Little Valley, NY

I'm trying to find out more about this particular straight, if anyone knows about it's history and if it's a rare model or not. I recently acquired it and while it will stay with me till it's pryed out of my cold, dead, lathered fist, I would like to know as much information about it as I can find. I found a small amount of info online, but would like to know more.

I'm curious about it's makers history and where the blade steel came from, if the metal was local or imported. While it's priceless to me, I'm also curious if anyone knows what's it's worth in todays market?

ROCK

Rock, we don't allow appraisals on SRP ..... according to the house rules and them nasty moderators. I've seen that model on ebay more than once. Keep your eyes peeled for it and when one comes up see what it brings. Cattaraugus was one of the more respected makers in the pocket knife and razor business. I believe they were associated with the WR Case family by marriage or some sort of blood relation. They made good stuff and it will probably make a dandy shaver and it is a good looker.

Rock, you can search Cattaraugus and find some history of the company. They were well known for their 'Green Lizard' line of razors, barber hones, etc. Quality is excellent. You have a great shaving razor, and a very nice example from that firm. 'Hope you enjoy it alot.

ca 1886-1963 aka CCC Cattaraugus Cuttlery Co.

One of the Case Bros. companies see Case, Kinfolks, and Geo. Korn

Seneca, and Green Lizards, are the most known SR's yours is one of the Seneca lines.

They tend to have extreme hollow grind razors, the steel will hold a very sharp edge..


More ;
The Cattaraugus Cutlery Company began as the New York distribution company J.B.F. Champlin and Son, founded by John Champlin and his son Tint in 1882. The Champlins expanded into knife production, and along with William R. Case and his brothers, they formed Cattaraugus Cutlery in 1886, based in Little Valley. The company hired expert cutlers from Germany, England, and other U.S. manufacturers, to produce high quality cutlery. Admiral Byrd selected Cattaraugus knives to take on his expedition to the South Pole.

Over time, the Case family separated from Cattaraugus to form W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co., incorporated in 1905. Cattaraugus closed business in 1963. The building still stands in Little Valley, abandoned for decades and in an effectively unusable condition, with its roof partially collapsed.

That is a Cattaragus Indian Head. A most effective and quality piece which looks to be in fine shape. They do have collector value. One of the Case family members of razors from that area of the country. Search Case, Cattaragus, Burrell, George Korn,Genco. Nice!

I spent some time in Little Valley, NY this past summer.

The Cattaraugus factory still stands as does the Case home/factory on Fair oak street.

Pick up "The Case Cutlery Dynasty" by Brad Lockwood. A well written history of these companies.

The Union Cutlery Co. building in nearby Olean, NY is now a radiology group office.

Ontario Cutlery is still in business (120 years !) in nearby Franklinville, NY.
I tried to convince them to produce an anniversary straight.
They smiled and sold me some knives.

It must've been quite a lucrative bus. in its time, the razor bus. that is. I live SE of Albany, New York and in such a short distance there were at least a couple of manufacturers of razors (Holzauer Sons, Troy, NY and one or two in Schenectady, NY). And, in MA, which is only several miles from my home, there was a whole bunch of razors made at one time; the Osgood Bray comes to mind. I guess our best years are behind us at this point.

Originally Posted by cflaageriv

It must've been quite a lucrative bus. in its time, the razor bus. that is. I live SE of Albany, New York and in such a short distance there were at least a couple of manufacturers of razors (Holzauer Sons, Troy, NY and one or two in Schenectady, NY). And, in MA, which is only several miles from my home, there was a whole bunch of razors made at one time; the Osgood Bray comes to mind. I guess our best years are behind us at this point.

I would very much like to learn of the manucfacturer in Schenectady NY since im so close!!

Originally Posted by cflaageriv

It must've been quite a lucrative bus. in its time, the razor bus. that is. I live SE of Albany, New York and in such a short distance there were at least a couple of manufacturers of razors (Holzauer Sons, Troy, NY and one or two in Schenectady, NY). And, in MA, which is only several miles from my home, there was a whole bunch of razors made at one time; the Osgood Bray comes to mind. I guess our best years are behind us at this point.

Holzauer Sons, Troy, NY was a barber shop supplies shop in troy wich sold straight razor and had some made with their co name on them but they were made in germany.

Yeah, I wish I could recall it, the one I saw from Schenectady. I saw a restored razor somewhere in my travels (on the net), and for the life of me, I can't recall the name of the company. Does anybody here know it, by chance? Oh, and the Holzauer Sons, the neat thing about that is that I'm only a couple of miles (South) from Troy, I fish there, and on occasion, I attend hearings there (I'm an attorney). And, there's the infamous Troy Pork Store!