156OT's, 164's on Ebay - Real "old" stock?

L

larmar

Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
26
I noticed all of a sudden there are a bunch of 156 Little Fingers hitting Ebay. At one time, you never saw this knife or it went for crazy money if someone did have one for sale. Since these were last made in the mid 80's, are these true "old" stock or did Schrade have a special run later on that someone just found? I'd hate to get one and find out later it was a late production stainless model.

Same on the glut of the other "rare" fixed blades like the Badger and Wolverine limited showing up. Nice looking knives but sure seems like a lot of them showed up all of a sudden.
 
I noticed the same thing. It's as if they opened a new trailer and came upon a load of the same kind of knife or knives. A lot of other stuff has been sold the same way. The flood of the same knives onto eBay only hurts them by causing the price to be lower. It's a good time to buy if you want one for a collection, a bad time to buy to resell.
 
The eBay sellers are buying in box lots from the two main buyers at the liquidation. One seller I know bought a dozen or so boxes, and just this past month opened one from that lot. And had some more unopened. My take on it is this: When Schrade discontinued a pattern, they kept a stock of finished knives of that pattern in-plant for warranty replacement. That is what most of these are. They did crank out some old patterns for SFO's in the last few years, and these were mostly stainless. Watch for the "LTD." stamp. If they had finished blanks left over, they may well have completed knives from July to October to fluff up the inventory for the liquidation. This is where a lot of the OT knives got the UH scales etc.

These are only the opinions of Codger, and do not reflect Imperial Schrade management or employees.

Codger

PS- I acquired a used 156OT just before deer season last year, and EDC'd it for a while. I love the pattern. I'll likely get another one nearer mint for the collection, and continue to use the one I have.
 
Possibility does exist that these are parts knives, somebody bought a bunch of parts and are putting them together, finishing them, and selling them as old stock. My understanding is that there were lots of unfinished parts laying about the plant at closure.

Pure speculation on my part, but it is in the realm of probability.
 
Codger_64 said:
The eBay sellers are buying in box lots from the two main buyers at the liquidation. One seller I know bought a dozen or so boxes, and just this past month opened one from that lot. And had some more unopened.
Codger
Click to expand...

If you are saying that SMKW et all is selling in a "grab bag" mode now, I'd take it that they have recovered all their funds (plus a bit!!), and now all the income is "gravy". So why not lower expenses to the minimum in order to maximize the return?
 
I just received a new old Badger and Wolverine today and they are NOS. They're both LTD's and the sheaths are original to the knives. They're nicely finished and are definitely not parts knives. For the current selling price of $26.00-40.00, depending on who you buy them from, these great little knives are selling at bargain prices. I expect the prices will even drop a little lower as a result of so many of these on eBay right now. Codger, get ready to jump on these beauties if you haven't already.
 
Here's an interesting knife which I have seen quite a few of lately. A wholesaler had a bunch of them, going for $25 each. But what is it? The item description says its a 'Mustang' 125OT. But we all know that the 125OT came with brown sawcut delrin handles, not faux ivory. And we know the production run was 1972-1997.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schrade-125OT-O...587280914QQcategoryZ48820QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The seller has his take on this knife and I have mine: parts knife. The handles are left over from one of the scrimshaws, or a special issue to be made for some company or other entity. It would have no value to me. I did recently buy a beautiful NIB Mustang in the proper handle with the woodgrain box and papers. And I'd do it again right now just to have a spare, and knowing (well, Betting anyway) that it will increase in price.
 
Yes, quite a few patterns of unscrimmed stock have surfaced. Schrade seems to have held overruns from production for future designs of Scrimshaws and SFO knives. Remember a short glut of 156 with white delrin? I have an unscrimed sharpfinger, and I have seen quite a few other patterns. They really aren't parts knives, just unfinished knives. I am still considering getting a 25OT. I have none of that series of folding hunters yet.

Codger
 
I have a couple of the white Delrin handled knives in different patterns, and like Codger stated, I believe them to be knives that were to be scrimmed for future editions or unfinished knives for current editions. I'm not bothered by that, they're just another example of the same pattern and in the end, there are probably far fewer white Delrin handled 125OT's floating around than the original brown saw-cut handled models.
 
Just picked up a Little Finger on eBay. Looks like a fantastic design with good carbon steel.
 
I have mine on my desk right now cleaning and touching up the blade. Breasted four ducks today, six yesterday. It is a good design. Orange duckie on red beans and rice!

Codger :thumbup:
 
I always wanted to try duck hunting. Never known anyone who'd show me the ropes. Love to eat duck though.

Bon appetit, Codger.
 
Thanks! It is going to be a fat week. Some weeks are beans and taters. This week will be deer tenderloins with onions and gravy, orange roast duck breast with red beans and rice, and lemon peppered Mahi-mahi with broiled shrimp and bay scallops. Have to splurge every now and then.

Codger
 
Codger Dude...

I am so inviting myself for dinner(s) at your house. :D Scorpion stew gets tiring.

Enjoy...and watch the sharks in those pools.

Bill (Still in awe that Codger is on vinyl).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top