Welcome HOME to the Only Cutlery Museum in the Western Hemisphere Not Affiliated with a Manufacturer or Retailer.
The American Museum of Cutlery in Cattaraugus, NY showcases Premier examples of knives, swords, edged tools, and weapons. This internationally important museum is dedicated to preserving the stories of all cutlery manufacturers past and present, as well as examples of their work. The Museum relates the history and development of cutting instruments from pre-Columbian, Colonial, Revolution, Civil War, 20th Century, up to and including today’s high art examples. The stories of those who used these tools of history will be conserved along with the stories of individuals, collectors and authors who have helped to advance knowledge and appreciation for this very significant component of the American enterprise. Cattaraugus, New York is an ideal location for such a comprehensive museum because many cutlery companies originated in or around the Village. Dozens of companies made axes, knives and other edged tools in the region making Southwestern New York and Northern Pennsylvania the highest concentration of cutlery companies in the Western Hemisphere. Historic Cattaraugus Village, New York, was our nation’s first railroad boom-town in 1849. It is situated in the last section to be completed of the longest rail line in the entire world at that time, the New York and Lake Erie RR. Cattaraugus Village’s population grew from a handful to about 2,000 within weeks when it was announced that the new railroad would change its course to run through the Cattaraugus wilderness. Cattaraugus Village was America’s Wild West in 1849!!!
The American Museum of Cutlery was started in 2005 by a group of volunteers led by Patrick J. Cullen. Patrick grew up in Cattaraugus Village and has had the great opportunity to discover its amazing history and relate how this history was significant to our country's westward expansion. Cullen is also the current President of Bank of Cattaraugus, the oldest Bank in Western New York State. 2017 marks his 48th year in banking and his 35th year as the President and CEO of Bank of Cattaraugus. Bank of Cattaraugus is one of the oldest banks in the country. Cousins to Davy Crockett and Abraham Lincoln were among its early stockholders. The fact that the Bank numbered many cutlery companies and their owners as customers, and still does today, has been a driving force behind the establishment of this great museum.
Museum Stats:
Knives – 3,500+
Yearly Guests – 1,800
Volunteers – 12
Donors – 118
Specialties:
Knives, Swords, Edged Tools, Weapons
Ephemera
Reference Library
Work Shop
Secure Storage
Hours:
Thursday 1 PM to 4
Friday 1 PM to 4
Saturday 1 PM to 4
Sunday 1 PM to 4
The American Museum of Cutlery is operated by the Historic Southwestern New York Foundation and the Historic Cattaraugus Corporation. The American Museum of Cutlery ® and AMCUT® are registered trademarks of the Historic Southwestern New York Foundation, Cattaraugus, New York 14719. The American Museum of Cutlery is not affiliated with any manufacturer or retailer and is an independent nonprofit museum organized and operated under the laws of the State Education Department of New York State.
The Historic Cattaraugus Corporation (HCC) was incorporated under section 402 of the State of New York Not-for-Profit Corporation Law on October 15, 2002. The Historic Cattaraugus Corporation is a corporation as defined in subparagraph (a) (5) of section 102. The corporation was determined to be organized exclusively for charitable purposes as specified in Section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code on 11/28/03. The HCC is classified by the IRS as a Public Charity under 170 (b) (1) (A) (vi).
The HCC is registered with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and has been determined to be exempt from franchise tax as of 10/24/02. The HCC is registered with the New York State Charities Bureau (Reg # 20-59-93). All contributions to the Historic Cattaraugus Corporation are tax deductible.