J.S. Cantelo drawknives

[Branson]

I picked up a J.S. Cantelo drawknife some years ago at a yard sale.  The elderly woman, whose yard sale it was, said it had been her father's tool.  I didn't think about it much, and I had never heard of J.S. Cantelo.  But during the past year, one came up on eBay and  commanded a good price.  Then  several more, with one netting $110.   $60 seems to be the middle price, though one antique tool dealer want $130.   I'm wondering why these drawknives command   much higher prices than those of say, D.R. Barton or L& IJ White.

J.S. Cantelo held two patents, one from 1883, and a second from 1891, and he produced them himself.   But all I can find, besides expensive drawknives online is that Cantelo manufactured them in Boston.   Did he make anything other than his patent drawknives?  What makes Cantelo drawknives so recognized and expensive? 

Does anybody here know anything more about J.S. Cantelo and his factory?             

[gibsontool]

I have several drawknives but that's one maker I've never heard of.

[skipskip]

I have one also

ADEC 048 by skipskip, on Flickr

I did some googling and didn't find much more than you did.

Hope someone else here can enlighten us.

Skip

[Lewill2]

They bring more because the handles fold to protect the blade and to take up less room in your tool box. There were several folding handle designs.

[Bill Houghton]

So my Greenlee folding handle drawknife that I have no intention of selling might be valuable?

[mikeswrenches]

I don't think the Cantelo's bring any more or less than other folding handle draw knives. As Les pointed out, the fact that the handles fold to protect the blade and to make them less bulky makes them more desirable.

Probably the only exception are the ones made by James Swan.  His seem to bring a little more.  He also made a rare model where the handles folded and were also adjustable up and down so you could adjust the angle.  See link below.

http://www.datamp.org/patents/advance.php?pn=386903&id=16996&set=61

Mike

[Chillylulu]

I have some with folding handles.  I have seen them on ebay, and they don't seem to run as high as Branson's.  More like the $30 -$60 range, with some heading up higher.

I think there must be more to this than just the folding feature.

Chilly

[turnnut]

John Solomon Cantelo,  Tauton/Boston, Massachusetts
patents; 1883-1922
286385 - 1883 adj. drawing knife
290396 - 1893 - drawing knife
448633 - 1891 - drawing knife
543146 - 1895 - drawing knife
1338356 - 1920 - caster
1406930 1922 - caster
both caster patents gave an example of the casters being siutable for shoe racks
in the shoe mfg. shops.  the 1920 patent was applied for in 1915, it took him 5 years to get it.

in 1912 he was in bankruptcy court in Maine; Ives vs. Cantelo Mfg. Co. et. al. case no. 179
he had a patent for a steel stepladder and was involved with Howard R. Ives, in the courts,
Ives was suing him for the ladder patent as Ives was somehow taking over the plant.

in the book; "The Directory of American Tool Makers"  his name is listed as Cantello, J.S. Boston
but all his patents, his name in John Solomon Cantelo or John S. Cantelo  (only one l )   

[Branson]

I don't think the Cantelo's bring any more or less than other folding handle draw knives. As Les pointed out, the fact that the handles fold to protect the blade and to make them less bulky makes them more desirable.
Probably the only exception are the ones made by James Swan.  His seem to bring a little more.  He also made a rare model where the handles folded and were also adjustable up and down so you could adjust the angle.  See link below.
http://www.datamp.org/patents/advance.php?pn=386903&id=16996&set=61
Mike

I can't recall seeing another folding drawknife going for $60, and never saw one at $110 or at $130.  I do have two others, not Cantelo, that cost me nothing like that.

Cantelo also made one nearly identical to the James Swan you  mention.

[Grace Blackette]

John S Cantelo was my paternal great-uncle, I have a 1891 draw knife, he invented the folding handles for the draw knife for easy carrying in his/others side satchel with other tools. He left PEI as a young man and went to the "Boston states" as did many other young folks in the same period. He was a very creative young man.

[oldtoolguy]

Cantelo made more than one style of folding handle drawknife.  Wilkinson & Swan are two other quality makers of folding handle drawknives.  I consider those three to be the best.
The Swan folds & swivels. 

[James Krumbein]

I own a folding Cantelo drawknife that I've had for 53 years. [patented June 30, '91]. I've used it extensively and to this day, I have never sharpened it. It is still holding the true edge, that it had when I bought it at a flea market in New Hampshire. As I recall, I  bought it for $40. I'm 73 now and I would like to sell it to someone who would appreciate it.

This knife has barrel locks on each handle that allow it to be secured in several positions.
I think it is a more refined model than some others that I have seen. The handles are made from some kind of burl wood and in very good condition. There is some pitting on the blade, as expected,but nothing that could hurt its value.

I'm not sure how I should sell it though and would appreciate some feedback.

[G.Fischer]

James,
Just recently had a barn fire, in November, someones idiotic fir negligence. And lost many years of tools, like 10, 12 & a 14 drawknife. Would really be interested in yours, to start recovering favorite type tools. Send me a message for what you are looking to get for it.

Thanks.

Guy