Anybody know when Schrade knife production began to be done off-shore??
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Anybody know when Schrade knife production began to be done off-shore??
In July 2004, the year the company celebrated its 100th anniversary, the factory in Ellenville was closed. The Schrade name was purchased by Taylor Brands LLC, who continue to manufacture products under the Schrade brand as well as Old Timer, Uncle Henry, Imperial & Smith & Wesson knives.
In July 2016, Smith and Wesson Holding Corporation announced that its Battenfeld Technologies division was to purchase Taylor Brands.[11]
I carried Old Timer or Uncle Henery knives most of my life and did lots of wood carving with them. I suddenly couldn't get them sharpened well enough to use. It was a new knife of my favorite brand so I tried for a replacement or refund.No dice but, I found they were being made across the chinese river. Since then I have luckily found some NOS, and have several in my nightstand. Good luck finding good ones anymore.
I had some of the large stockman , great blades for everything , when they went away I switched to camillus , and funny thing is my father gave me a larger stockman with a red handle made in china , leaks stain still after years of owning but it holds a edge and sharpens to a nice edge . On another note used to be able to buy leather wallets at the local western store , they went out of business and have to have them custom made to get the same style , as no one carries that heavy duty style .
I carry an old timer 34 OT or 340T as its commonly known. You can get a vintage old timer off ebay for less than 20 bucks and its well worth looking if you need a good pocket knife.
I lived near the Schrade factory as a kid, one of my friends used to raid their dumpster for rejects and sell them for 1$. Most just had a scratch or something minor wrong with them.
They ran into trouble with heat treatment at some point and their knives failed to hold an edge. Didn't know they were chinese now. I probably still have a few laying in the back of a drawer somewhere.
Similar story to laventti, we didn't live close enough to raid the dumpster but once we got our wheels we were over there in a regular basis going through the outlet store. I lost most of them over the years but still have my bone handled folder on my reloading bench. Still holds a good edge despite my abuse in the military. The "big" knife was eventually pushed off my belt by a more practical Leatherman.
When I last passed by a year or two ago the factory was still standing but looked mostly abandoned.
Sad story repeated all over the country during the last administrations. Locally there are cement slabs and cracked parking lots left from world famous furniture factories. The plant I worked for has had two more tenants and also sits empty with weeds and trash. It's a sad commentary on the once proud community where unemployment was none existant.Quote:
Originally Posted by metricmonkeywrench
When they sold I read they closed the doors and generations of workers who worked there their whole lives were jobless. I read that at times there were 3 generations of families all working there at the same time.
Battenfield is Midway USA.
A few months ago when I was on a business call, a knife collector at the store saw me open a box with my old Shrade folding pocket knife and told me how valuable it was even after decades of use. I was stunned but I still carry it. A knife, like a much loved old rifle, is meant to be used.
a 70's vintage Oldtimer 130T skinned a lot of deer for me, still have it.
I bought an old Schrade in the 80's from my dad's gun shop. Carried it and skinned a deer with it, if I recall correctly. Still have the original box and everything. Beautiful knife. Probably worth well over the $30 or so I paid for it back then...
I have the Golden Spike...
Attachment 219355
I guess like many others here I've had a knife in my pocket of one brand or another for 50 years. Case, Camillus, Boker and Old Timer's. Once Cold Steel began producing Carbon IV pocket knives in the stock man style (my preferred), that was all I carried. I put several back (a Trapper style as well) and figured I was good to go. In short, I'm knife poor.
I have 3 Schrade Waldens as well, one a smaller dress knife style and two stock man sized. I had an uncle who was a barber and a butcher who once told me "Son, if you ever get your hands on one that says Shcrade Walden, then you have a knife". I got on the auction sites and scored all three still new in the tubes over the next several months. Man did I ever get lucky on those! What I paid for the three of them was a pittance to what one of them new in the wrap (all pre 1970's knives) will cost you now when you find one.
Yep, hard to beat a Schrade.
Murphy
my mother gave me a Schrade for my 18 birth day I carried that knife till I was 62 when the first time the blade lock failed on it I retired it and called Schrade they wanted me to send it in for a replacement knife I told the lady on the phone thank you but my mother had given it to me and I would just as soon not get a replacement on it and loose that knife she asked my address and about a week later I got a new knife in the mail a Chinese made one and it still in the box on a shelf above the computer D Crockett
Back in the 80`s and working in a grey iron foundry as a pipefitter I sold Shrade knives as a side line. I would bring in a box of 25 LB-7 folders and would sell them all by days end. I sold them for 3/4 of what they normally sold for which was near $50 as I recall. I did this once a month, I sold other of their knives from a catalog I always had handy.Robert
Reason to buy Case. Buy every old Schrade.
I bought a, med. sized, plastic folder in WM in 2000 or so for $20. Its still good and opened a few clams. Its a half serrated and says USA on blade.
I recently went to an auction to buy reloading supplies, which I did. They also had some knives, two older Old timers, two Buck hunting knives with scabbards, a WWII M1 bayonet with scabbard, a Leatherman Super tool. I won choice at $8 and took them all. ��
i was never fond of buck knives i have about four of differiant models have a hard time getting an edgeon them. i have a new 340t that is shaving sharp. best huntingknife is my boy scout knife made by western.
I still have the Scrade Walden Bowie that Dad bought for me at the Western Auto on my 12th birthday. The red plastic trim cracked and the leather handles were worn so I restocked it with walnut. When I took it apart I was amazed that the blade and end cap were welded as if one piece. Lots of animals have been field dressed and skinned with it. Another favorite is an Old Timer drop point "sharp finger". I wasn't a fan of Buck or Case but I could name all their models, too back then.
I got one of those when I was 12 or so, it skinned a couple of squirrels in it's time but not much else. Still have it somewhere around here.Quote:
Another favorite is an Old Timer drop point "sharp finger
The reason for this post is because I picked up a Schrade, limited edition, "sharp finger " with black leather case style knife at our yearly gun show. This knife is in "as new" condition. The blade has "Schrade 2012 Limited Edition" on the right side of the blade as well as "Schrade" Stamped Across the base of the blade just below the handle. On the opposite side again just below the handle, is 1520TWELK. The handle is made of an off-white material to represent an Ivory effect. There is also an Elk-in-a-mountain scene in black on the right side of the handle. There is no indication of where this knife was made and I am curious to see if anyone here has any information as to where/when it was made and value..