Wilson Butcher Knife
Founded by William W. and James H. Wilson
Little Valley, New York
1869-1892
Born in Perth, Ontario, the Wilson brothers migrated to Little Valley by 1869 and formed perhaps the first “official” cutlery manufacturing operation in Cattaraugus County. Based out of a barn on lower Fourth Street, the brothers were blacksmiths who focused on carriage building, harnesses, and forging dependable household knives. Very basic, with a short blade and wooden handle, Wilson Butcher Knife proved that domestic cutlery could compete with imports. J.B.F. Champlin was impressed with the brothers’ offerings, reselling them under J.B.F. Champlin & Son, then recruiting William Wilson to work at the new Cattaraugus Cutlery factory on Mill Street, ending Wilson Butcher Knife by 1892.
Information provided by Brad Lockwood and Dean E. Case.