By Brad Lockwood
The annual Village of Knives Celebration will combine two birthdays – America’s 250th with Little Valley’s Volunteer Fire Department’s 100th – to help raise needed funding for essential local fire/rescue/EMS services this weekend, July 10 – 11.
“Every year we try to do something special that help
s the local community.” explained John Burrell, co-founder of the Village of Knives Celebration. “Our inaugural year we made the first knives in Little Valley in 61 years, then auctioned them to donate the money to needy causes. This year, Little Valley’s Volunteer Fire Department was hit with ridiculous electric bills, so we are sharing the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds and revenues in hopes they raise money that benefits the entire region during emergencies.”
Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department President Dustin Ryan shared over a century of proud service to the region. “We started as the private Crissey Hook & Ladder Company in the 1880s, and became the Little Valley Volunteer Fire Department 100 years ago. We now cover a larger service area, including half of Mansfield after it disbanded its own department, so local support has never been more critical. Without our fearless volunteers and fundraising like the Village of Knives Celebration, we simply won’t be there for you when you most need us.”
In addition to fun activities for all ages, including face painting, a bouncy house and delicious chicken BBQ Saturday the 11th – even a best beard and mustache competition – the annual knife show draws thousands of dealers and collectors from around the world to Little Valley, which was known as “The Village of Knives.” This small western New York town was the epicenter of the greatest age of American cutlery manufacturing, which continues through this annual event held at the Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds. And, over its 160 years of cutlery history, no objects were more sacred than a giant knife and fork set, which disappeared in the late 1970s. This giant set was crafted by Beaver Falls Cutlery in Pennsylvania for America’s 100th birthday in 1876 with handles made of actual ivory tusks, the carving set became Cattaraugus Cutlery’s when it bought all of Beaver Falls Cutlery’s machinery to begin manufacturing in Little Valley in 1890. It’s very apt that a matching set has now been made for America’s 250th birthday, in Little Valley of course..
“We have searched high and low for the giant carving set and workers at Cattaraugus Cutlery remember walking under them while going to lunch.” offers Brad Lockwood, co-founder of the Village of Knives Celebration. “So, in fine Little Valley tradition, we decided to make them! The knife alone measures ten and half feet tall and weighs 400 pounds! Undoubtedly, this is the largest carving set in the world, reincarnated by local masters, forever on display for the world to enjoy once more.”
Walter Baranowski, “Forged in Fire” champion, and owner of Baranowski Metalworking and Fabrication, was charged with this unique mission. “When does any knife-maker get the chance to work on this scale? Of course we couldn’t use ivory again, so the handles were turned by an excellent Amish workworker, the steel was water-jet cut by Springville Manufacturing, and the polishing performed by three Case relatives, John Burrell, Brad Lockwood and Claude Case. These have finally returned to the region, and will be giant reminders of all western New York can accomplish.”
The Village of Knives Celebration has brought much-needed tourism to Little Valley, proving that embracing history can have a big economic impact. Kids under 18 are free, and the doors open at 9am Friday and Saturday. In addition to all of the historic sights, food and fun, a rare, limited run of Case Brothers and Kinfolks commemorative knives have been made for sale by W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery, as well as craft “Village of Knives” beer by Ellicottville Brewing Company, so grab yours before they are all gone!
Bring a big appetite, maybe grab your grandpa’s old knives to be appraised, and be prepared to be awed by the largest and finest selection of American cutlery assembled in the world. For more information, please visit VillageofKnives.com.