1984 N.C.H.P. 55th Anniversary TM-4 Trapper

Dave Thinkstoomuch · Feb 16, 2013

Here's a red jigged bone handled SFO that is about 3-7/8" closed. It was done for the North Carolina Highway Patrol to commemorate their 55th Anniversary back in 1984. The tang is stamped TM-4 and is basically the same knife as "The Lumberman" from "The Tradesman Series" of "Schrade Cutlery Classics" released a few years previously in 1981. http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/tradesman/Tradesmans.pdf It came in original cardboard box with (slowly disintegrating) yellow foam lining and original bag but no paperwork was included.

This SFO has a fine blade treatment with deeply engraved and colour-filled text replacing the Giorgianni "Lumberman" etch. The shield is engraved "NCHP" instead of "Lumberman" as well. My knife is number 21 of 500. It seems to me that the blades are more highly polished than regular Schrade production from this period but not quite "mirror polished". I don't really know what to call this finish but I know I like it. This is a real nice Schrade.

koldgold · Feb 16, 2013

Hi Old Mate Dave, I must say you find some nice knives. Ken.

delmas2nd · Feb 17, 2013

cool knife and from this can we infer that NC finally got highways in 1929?

thawk · Feb 17, 2013

Dave Thinkstoomuch said:
It seems to me that the blades are more highly polished than regular Schrade production from this period but not quite "mirror polished". I don't really know what to call this finish but I know I like it. This is a real nice Schrade.

It looks as if maybe it was "extra glazed". Makes me wonder if there were surplus of the Lumberman, and they decided to use them for an SFO,,, then the etch was removed and then engraved with the NCHP? It also looks like the shield was removed and replaced too? Or it all could be my imagination and a cockeyed theory.

ea42 · Feb 17, 2013

Nice one Dave! That's a scotch brite finish done on a double header. They had a couple of different grits for the blades, but it's generally what they used on all the satin finish knives. The shield may well be an original that was just flipped over and etched. If you popped it out you may find an original engraving from the old collection on the back

Eric

ea42 · Feb 17, 2013

Stupid double tap, what's with that anyway?

Codger_64 · Feb 17, 2013

Forum software glitch. It isn't just you.

Dave Thinkstoomuch · Feb 17, 2013

Thanks for the comments guys. It is interesting that this is so obviously a messed with "Lumberman". This sure implies Schrade made tons of knives if "extras" were more than 500 pcs. My guess is this is a 1981 knife with 1984 blade embellishment etc. Maybe this was warranty replacement stock that they decided to sell off. This type of blade engraving is just like the 80th Anniversary knives, also from 1984 and is quite distinct from the earlier and later types etches.