Cripple Creek Cutlery

In 1981, Bob Cargill formed Cripple Creek Cutlery in Lockport, Illinois. His goal was the revival of old-time patterns and production of them in limited numbers. Cargill had been involved in collecting antique factory made knives for a number of years and had served several years as a factory authorized repairman for W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery. More recently, he had been a custom knife maker for half dozen years and many of his custom knives were patterned after antique favorites. Cripple Creek was the fruition of a dream to apply modern day handcrafting methods with age-old favorite knives.

The first patterns to be produced were narrowed down to ten favorites designated LI-1 through LI-10 and referred to as the “ten little Indians” because of Cargill’s devotion to American Indian lore. Distribution of the new brand was to be through a limited number of distributor/dealers and seven display sets containing one each of these ten knives ware made. These sets were valued at about $350.00 when produced in 1981 but will command about $2,500 in today’s collector market.

Primarily noting the shield and stamping make identification of a Cripple Creek. Except for knives made in 1981, all knives have a year of manufacture stamped on the master blade’s reverse tang. The shield found on most Cripple Creek knives is an oval one embossed with a three-legged buffalo, modeled after the one on the USA 1937 “D” nickel. The very earliest knives produced, however, used an oval shield with “C.C.C.” or “Cripple Creek” stamped onto it. These knives, which retailed in the $30 to $45 range, are now valued in the $300 to $400 range.

Production of the standard Cripple Creek patterns in 1981 was approximately 500 knives and approximately 250 in 1982. Shortly after introduction of the brand, Cripple Creek contracted to make a special knife for Knife World Publications. The 1^st Edition Knife World knife was limited to 2,000 pieces but its production required most of Cargill’s time during the later portion of 1981 and much of 1982. Therein lies the reason for the very low production of regular Cripple Creek Little Indian series knives during this period.

A variety of handle materials has been used for Cripple Creek, but the majority of knives have been handled in bone. During the first three years, a light brown colored bone was used and referred to as “Honey Bone”. It became a favorite for collectors of the brand. Other collectors used have been brown bone, strawberry bone, green bone, and white bone. Except for 1986, when Christmas celluloid and red-white-blue Micarta were used on two special knives, natural handled materials have been used. Stag has been second in use to bone, followed by mother of pearl.

In 1986, Cripple Creek was relocated to Tennessee and in 1987, the name “Old Fort, TN” was added to knife stampings.

As with all knives, values of Cripple Creek vary depending upon pattern, years made, and handle material used. With this brand of knives, however, it is possible to offer some general value guidelines for mint condition knives that apply to all or most patterns.

Any knife bearing the “C.C.C.” or “Cripple Creek” shields will have a minimum collector value of $300 and some will range up to $800.

Any knife made in 1981, regardless of shield type, will have a minimum collector value of $250, ranging upwards to $400. With the limited production of regular patterns in 1982, any standard Cripple Creek pattern knife dated that year will be valued as highly as one produced in 1981.

Any knife bearing an “Oak Leaf” shield is an especially desirable collectible and these will vary in value from $175 for the LI-1 pattern one-blade “white Hawk” made in 1983 to $400 for the LI-4 made in 1981.

In 1984, Cripple Creek produced the five-blade sowbelly stockman in three handle materials. Those handled in stag have a collector value of $350, while the honey bone and strawberry bone models are valued at $250 to $300.

Finally any mint condition Cripple Creek knife bearing a date stamp up to 1986 will have a minimum collector value of $145.

In 1993, Cripple Creek knives was sold to Blackjack Knives and production moved from Tennessee to Effingham, Illinois. A limited number of patterns were produced there prior to ownership of the brand returning to Cargill and to Tennessee.

Using the United States Patent and Trademark Office, I did find a current web site for Cripple Creek Knives: The current owner is Martin, Phillip S. DBA Blue Ridge Knives.

http://www.cripplecreekknives.com/