I've been digging into Friedmann & Lauterjung allot the last few weeks. Here's a photo of the only F&L knife that I own.  It's in rough shape, but I still think it's a great specimen of their work. This is a whittler with a broken pen blade. 

Also, I've made some changes to the Electric Cutlery article I posted on our Champlin web page. Check it out if your a history geek.

I forgot to mention that the springs on this Whittler are tapered.  They are wider at the pen blade end of the knife. 

I think the inlays are genuine tortoise, but I'm not sure.

How excited I was to get this old Cattaraugus Equal End Jack with Ebony Handles in the mail yesterday. It has Cattaraugus Cutlery Co, Little Valley NY on both blades but no number. Anyone know how that happened?? Wonder what date this knife would have? Wish JBF were here to tell me.

Ken, I would say it is an early one because of the match striker pull. I also think that some early knives did not have the pattern numbers on them.

Thanks Mike, I think you might be right. Seems I have heard that before also.

I have a 2 pearl handled whittlers that are marked Cattaraugus Cutlery but do not have Little Valley on them. I think that they are earlier knives also and am not sure but one might be made in Germany. I will take pics and post them possibly on Friday.

YAY, we may see those pearl beauties tomorrow

Ken,

I may be uselss in dating this one but I know it is sweet!

Yes, Jan - that knife is really growing on me. I purchased a few knives here in this past 2 weeks that are really "sweet" - they give me great pleasure just to own them.

Here is one of the whittlers I spoke about. It is marked just CATTARAUGUS in an arch over CUTLERY Co. The construction is the same as Derek's F&L whittler and just like the Plumbers whittler we are having made. I really think that this knife is from around the same age as the 3 galvanic1882 pearls in the heading of this group!! It is 3 1/2" closed. Check out the etch on the main blade!!!

Here is a great Cattaraugus - one of my Favorite # 22379

Thank you J.B.F. Champlin for great Knives

Yesterday ended with our meeting Mike and Donna.  There was a great get together and they got into town in time to be there

Left to right

Danny Reed and Donnie

Donna, Mike and Ken Daniels (looks like they are cooking up some ideas for that new knife)

Mike and Courtney Daniels, gee I hope they are talking stag!

Thanks Jan and yes we were talking stag among a few other things!! You did a great job covering this show. Thanks for all you do and Donna and I were really glad to finally meet you and Donnie.

The Daniels family are the best and made us feel very welcome to the party!!

STAAAG!  

We had a ball and meeting you and Donna was certainly a highlight for us

Mike the table was spectacular!  The knives you brought were even better than that

Anticipation for the new JBF is killing me!!!!

Ryan emailed me the other day that they should be starting the knives this coming week!!!!

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Hey Mike, can we check with Ashley and see if we can get some pictures of the knife in process?

Hi All, I am sorry to say but I got an email from Ryan Daniels that the knives will be delayed till the beginning of Oct! Not sure why but as I get more info I will pass it on. As far as pictures we are working on getting some and I will post something when they are on our website. Again I am sorry to all those that have ordered knives for the delay, Mike 

Here are a few pictures of the secondary blades getting the tang stamps put on! The labels for the boxes are in and I will be putting them on the boxes this week. The COA's are being made and I will be getting a scan of the extra item that we will be including with these knives to Derek later today. It is going to be the first of the JBF Champlin Trade cards that will be with the next few knives!!!

Here are a few photos from the Queen production line as they create blades for our Plumber's Whittler

Here are a few more photos from the Queen production line of the tang stamping process.

Excellent guys!  Thanks for the photos of the progress, the progress notes and a hint at what the extra coming with this one is.  Cant wait to see these AND the trading cards.  Have you announced the handles yet?

Yes Jan the handles will be smooth bone, I wonder who gave us the idea for that, and the Cattaraugus Rosewood!! This is the first trade card we will be including with the knives!!

Well I got the good news from Ryan Daniels yesterday that they finally got the last piece of tooling for the whittler and it is being worked on as we speak. I am told that it will be ready the first week of Nov  Production pictures will be posted on our website as they come in. Thanks to all for being patient with us on this batch of knives.

Mike & Derek

Michael, that is just wonderful news!

The trade card coming this one is very cool!  It is a replica of the orginal?

Yes it is Jan and I just bought at the Easton show another one that does not have the missing corner!! 

Fantastic!

Derek,

Nice shots.  Great to see it coming into its own there! 

Sorry that there have not been more updates on the knives but please check our website because Derek is posting more pics as we get them. We are still hoping to have the knives by the end of Nov. Thanks Mike & Derek

http://www.jbfchamplin.com/

Here is the latest update on the knives, I spoke to Ken Daniels early in the week and as of today I will be picking the knives up on Monday Dec 2nd. I will then start to get them mailed out. I should also have more pictures this week and as soon as I get them I will Derek will post them on our site. Again thanks to all that have ordered a knife or set of knives for your patience with these. 

Mike & Derk

Thanks for keeping us updated, Mike.  Judging by your previous offerings, these will be well worth the wait.  The photos on your site are a pretty good guide to making a knife.  I almost feel like I could run those machines after studying all those pictures.

Thanks Rusty for the nice comment and also for your patience it is very much appreciated!!!!

Ok the boxes all have labels on them and the Trade Card copies are printed and ready to be put in the boxes. It won't be long now!!!

Hi everyone, please go to our website to read the bad news about the Plumbers Whittler we were having made, Thanks Mike & Derek

http://www.jbfchamplin.com/

Although this latest offering has been cancelled (at least in its original form) I will still be looking forward to the next one in the JBF line!!

The Champlins have been top-notch so far.  These are S/N 27.  Hopefully there will be others to join the group.

Very nice knives Rusty

Thanks Rusty for posting those you did a great job on the pics!! Not to worry though we have a few irons in the fire for our next project. Derek and I want to thank all those that have supported us in this adventure and are grateful that people have enjoyed the quality of the knives we have had made, Mike & Derek

Love those tear drops

i love my JBF TEARDROP and it ha a few extras that make it that much more awesome!- thanx MIKE AND DEREK

i have also been wanting to say for awhile now that of all the tang stamps to get choosen to "ressurected" you could say JBF is by far one of the best!.. the amount of cutlery history linked to the man is insane! i am ad this project did not go through.at the same tie this allows me the chance to be able to get on board with the next offering.

MIKE and DEREK im sorry this order fell through.i know it happens but nonethless im sorry.  

There you go, the silver lining to this dark cloud!

If anyone is interested I have a bone handled Teardrop from our first offering that I would sell. It is mint in the tube with the wiping cloth. It is number 10. I bought it back not long ago from the original buyer of set 10. Derek and I will buy back any of our knives with no questions asked.

Just so I am clear...This is just like the one that is being offered for sale right now.  You only have one right?