Codger_64
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The Schrade clampack, as the clear sealed packaging is called, was patented by two inventors, Imperial Schrade employees Mark L. Gardiner and James Economos. When the patent issued in 1988, it was assigned to the Imperial Schrade Corporation and titled Knife Transport/Display Package. The patent was applied for in 1986 and received in 1988 and the first use I find is in the 1985 ISC company advertising flyer, SC-85 from 1985.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/1980s/pages/SC85-47_Page_1_Image_0001.htm
Production records indicate that nine Schrade folding and fixed blade knife pattern were shipped in the then-new clampack packaging before the years end. So clampacked knives will date roughly between 1985 and 2004.
The clampack is the closest thing the Schrade collector has to a coin collectors tamper proof sealed or slabbed coin from PCGS. For this reason, I believe the value of clampacked knives will climb in the future, though not for some time yet. Currently, they are undervalued in my opinion, generally selling for less than the same item in the folding cardboard box though this trend is already beginning to change incrementally.
Among the promotional programs during the mid to late1990's, green carded Bonus Packs appeared with a free sharpening stone, rain poncho, or other promotional item. These were editions which had no equivalent in the boxed product lines. It is the 152OTCPSS we will look at here in an attempt to more closely pin down the date of the promotion.
Here is an example which recently appeared.
First, I looked for advertisements in my archives. I only found this undated error printed original point of sale banner.
While it doesnt list the 152OT, it does show several other patterns which were used in the same promotion. 142OT Guidemaster from the Safe-T-Grip series, 6OT Golden Bear variant of the 7OT Cave Bear pattern, and the long running 8OT Senior Stockman. Of these, the presence of the 142OT and the 6OT gives us a clue to the starting date for this promotion. The 142OT appeared in 1993, and the 6OT lockback first appeared in 1995. So far, according to this banner, we can say the promotion post dated 1994 then.
Next I went to my photo archives and located 143OTCPSS (Blade Runner introduced 1994), 47OTCPSS (Beast LB introduced 1997), 8OTCPSS (introduced 1960), 897UH (introduced 1967). Those are the ones I have noted to date. The Sp3 Firebird Lightweight was used in a later solo promotion with included sharpening stone, albeit in two different clampack designs.
Well, the purpose of this exercise is to learn a bit about dating Schrade knives from their packaging. When exactly did this 152OTCPSS Bonus promotion take place?
Lets look at the front of the packaging first. In the upper right corner is the company logo.
This is first used circa 1992. In the bottom center is the flat flag/Made In The U.S.A. logo.
This is first seen on boxes circa 1998. Of course, both the knife tang stamp and sheath, as well as the blade grind tell me that these are not early, nor the last. The blade is plain ground, not hollow ground.
The 1" in 152" has a top serif, but not bottom.
Now we turn to the rear of the package and the insert.
#7007180711 © 2000 Schrade white/black text PRF#-EKG01-01 (.com)
Even if I had not previously catalogued the various inserts by number, we can see the web site listed. It was launched in June of 1998. So again we can be confident that this package is at least post 1998. The SCHRADE TOUGH / Knives And Tools logo first appeared circa 1999. The © 2000 insert gets us even closer.
The barcodes themselves give me very little information. Anyone have a translation? But the center printed one has the package code you were wondering about 152OTCPSS. That is a 152 Old Timer Clampack w/ Sharpening Stone.
Next, the logos on the bottom left.
First, this Imperial Schrade / address logo first appeared in 1996. Below that is the I-Beam logo from circa 1985-88 referring to the clampack patent. Below that is the package art design copyright date of 1995. This is likely when the promotion actually began as seen in the banner above.
In summary, while sifting through the various design logos, addresses, inserts and slogans, we see that while the Free Arkansas Stone promotion likely began circa 1995, this 152OT bonus pack dates from circa 2000-2001. While the insert might have been used later than its first use, it would not have been used earlier. Several of the other dated items illustrate this.
Michael
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/1980s/pages/SC85-47_Page_1_Image_0001.htm
Production records indicate that nine Schrade folding and fixed blade knife pattern were shipped in the then-new clampack packaging before the years end. So clampacked knives will date roughly between 1985 and 2004.
The clampack is the closest thing the Schrade collector has to a coin collectors tamper proof sealed or slabbed coin from PCGS. For this reason, I believe the value of clampacked knives will climb in the future, though not for some time yet. Currently, they are undervalued in my opinion, generally selling for less than the same item in the folding cardboard box though this trend is already beginning to change incrementally.
Among the promotional programs during the mid to late1990's, green carded Bonus Packs appeared with a free sharpening stone, rain poncho, or other promotional item. These were editions which had no equivalent in the boxed product lines. It is the 152OTCPSS we will look at here in an attempt to more closely pin down the date of the promotion.
Here is an example which recently appeared.
First, I looked for advertisements in my archives. I only found this undated error printed original point of sale banner.
While it doesnt list the 152OT, it does show several other patterns which were used in the same promotion. 142OT Guidemaster from the Safe-T-Grip series, 6OT Golden Bear variant of the 7OT Cave Bear pattern, and the long running 8OT Senior Stockman. Of these, the presence of the 142OT and the 6OT gives us a clue to the starting date for this promotion. The 142OT appeared in 1993, and the 6OT lockback first appeared in 1995. So far, according to this banner, we can say the promotion post dated 1994 then.
Next I went to my photo archives and located 143OTCPSS (Blade Runner introduced 1994), 47OTCPSS (Beast LB introduced 1997), 8OTCPSS (introduced 1960), 897UH (introduced 1967). Those are the ones I have noted to date. The Sp3 Firebird Lightweight was used in a later solo promotion with included sharpening stone, albeit in two different clampack designs.
Well, the purpose of this exercise is to learn a bit about dating Schrade knives from their packaging. When exactly did this 152OTCPSS Bonus promotion take place?
Lets look at the front of the packaging first. In the upper right corner is the company logo.
This is first used circa 1992. In the bottom center is the flat flag/Made In The U.S.A. logo.
This is first seen on boxes circa 1998. Of course, both the knife tang stamp and sheath, as well as the blade grind tell me that these are not early, nor the last. The blade is plain ground, not hollow ground.
The 1" in 152" has a top serif, but not bottom.
Now we turn to the rear of the package and the insert.
#7007180711 © 2000 Schrade white/black text PRF#-EKG01-01 (.com)
Even if I had not previously catalogued the various inserts by number, we can see the web site listed. It was launched in June of 1998. So again we can be confident that this package is at least post 1998. The SCHRADE TOUGH / Knives And Tools logo first appeared circa 1999. The © 2000 insert gets us even closer.
The barcodes themselves give me very little information. Anyone have a translation? But the center printed one has the package code you were wondering about 152OTCPSS. That is a 152 Old Timer Clampack w/ Sharpening Stone.
Next, the logos on the bottom left.
First, this Imperial Schrade / address logo first appeared in 1996. Below that is the I-Beam logo from circa 1985-88 referring to the clampack patent. Below that is the package art design copyright date of 1995. This is likely when the promotion actually began as seen in the banner above.
In summary, while sifting through the various design logos, addresses, inserts and slogans, we see that while the Free Arkansas Stone promotion likely began circa 1995, this 152OT bonus pack dates from circa 2000-2001. While the insert might have been used later than its first use, it would not have been used earlier. Several of the other dated items illustrate this.
Michael
