A box collector or knife collector?

You can contact Colonial through their website http://www.colonialcutlery.com or email them at colonialcutlery@aol.com, or call them at 1-800-421-6500 and they will send you the 2005 retail catalog with order forms.

I think our habit of veering here and there in threads is a part of what makes this forum interesting, though it might be unnerving to some. Just my 2 cents worth.

I have not burned my boxes, and appreciate the fact that most collector items are higher valued when accompanied by all the original packaging, like having the dealer price sticker, build sheet, vent instruction hanger, jacking instructions, owner manual and paper floor mat covers for your '65 Mustang. But I do not let the absence of a box kill a deal on an otherwise mint or near mint knife. Nor would I turn down a good deal on the red '65 Mustang the old school teacher has in his garage here. No, it doesn't have the bling-blings of original papers, but I would not be afraid to take it out and play with it. After all, what good is it if you can't take it out and play with it? :eek:

Codger
 
I totaly missed the discussion on the Schrade thongs until Phil's last posting.
My question for this thread is Does the thong come in its original box? (Michael used this one so)
Oh I got another.. Was it used to floss anything? (see Phils picture)

Boxes? We dont need no stinking boxes!

Yes we do have a diverse group and the humor is amoungst the best.
We all are just a little? off center, OK!
Splains a lot dont it!

TTYL
Larry err... lrv
 
What do you think, if any, the value of the last run letters will add to the last production knives off the manufacturing floor, and is there a way to authenticate the letters to the knives?
 
Had those letters been issued by Schrade, had a Schrade employee signed them and had they been tied by serial number to the knives, there might be some value added. As it stands, I would give $100 for a documented Imperial Schrade Employee layoff notice before I would give a dollar for a "Schrade locks their door" etched knife, and before I would give a dime for one of the mass printed aftermarket "Last Run" certificates, or a penny for a new first run certificate.

That is just my own tainted, cynical opinion. What else do you expect from an Old Codger?

Codger
 
I agree with Codger opinion but to answer the ?

The last run certificates were mass printed by SMKW and sent with every Schrade order they filled after the closing and a lot of their Schrade's were made prior to the last year.

They cannot be tied to the knives in any way I can see.

I stongly doubt they add any value but look what an added thong can do!
 
Thanks for the quick replies.

It would be nice to have a list of Official Schrade sanctioned Merchandising/advertising collectibles.
 
I am not a collector, I like knives that I can use and truth is that I accumulate them, but I don't care much about the boxes, unless I can use them for something, like I also have a bunch of harmonicas that I keep in their boxes, and there's plenty of uses for my old cigar boxes. I understand the value of a box in a special edition knife because you probably don't plan to use the knife and you can keep it in the box, maybe the box was made particularly pretty, meant to be kept.

But If you collect knives, special editions or not, doesn't a display panel or something like that make more sense?, does a knife loose its virginity when it looses its box ????. Of course you can collect boxes and put those on display too, it's just not my thing I guess.

If I go into into a museum and I see the original Alamo Bowie, with lots of scratches and no box, and next to it is a well kept knife that Bowie owned but never used, still in the original box, I will consider the used one much more valuable. A used knife has a story to tell.

Just my used 2 centavos.

Luis
 
A used knife has a story to tell.
Click to expand...
I couldn't agree more. I collect the new ones for display, but I collect used ones to use. It's sort of like a continuation of the past. Your life connects with the previous owner, and also begins a new life line for the next owner.

I often have a hard time putting a stone to a new blade, but I love bringing the old ones back to life.
 
"Here is a real collectors item. Up for bid is a Schrade Uncle Henry #165 UH. This is an extremelly well made knife with super balance. I cannot prove this, but this knife was given to me by the president of Schrade over a quality dispute with a lesser value knife. I got my pick of the Schrade line, and I chose this one because it was the best they made. It is used but in fantastic condition. Also comes sheath and sharpening stone. This really is a super quality knife."

Hype or truth? Let's ask, shall we?

"A very interesting story to go with this knife! And very believable, knowing Wally Gardiner also! Can you remember what year this was? This knife was produced between 1994 and 1997. Price was at that time $69.95. Of course, they kept production overruns in the plant for a long time."

So did he stick by his story?

"The story started in 1993 if I remember right. I bought a Schrade hunting knife they had just come out with, lightweight and thin. It broke on the first deer of the season. They replaced it with the same style knife which broke on the first deer it was used on. This started a 2 year battle between me and the company over poor quality knives. I didn't want another of the same, or my money back. I wanted a quality knife from a company I should expect it from. Finally after 2 years I was able to get ahold of Mr. Gardinar himself and present all of my communications, and responses from his company. He sided with me totally and told me to take my pick of any knife they made, and I chose this one. It was the best and just come out. He also gave me a second knife of his choice. Schrade, in my books, is still one of the best."

So far so good.

"Interesting. For my own info, do you remember which model gave you fits?"

Am I bugging the old gent? (I am speculating the knife was a 160OT Mountain Lion, flat ground and relatively thin, 1990-95)

"I really don't rember what model it was. They had just come out with it. It
was the "latest thing". I my self have cleaned literally hundreds of deer in
my lifetime too, it wasn't me that was breaking the knives. The blades would
break splitting the rib cage, hadn't even got to the pelvis. They were the
poorest quality for a hunting knife I had ever seen. They also quit making
them soon after from what I understand. Out of all the work knives I have
ever owned, this one is the best. It has cleaned it's fair share of deer ond
hogs and still looks pretty new. It also keeps an edge like you wouldn't
believe. I hate to get rid of it but I can no longer get out and use it
anymore. So I thought I would pass it on. Please feel free to contact me more.
Thanks"

Maybe not. Let's keep at him. I love to pry!

"On the Uncle Henry's experience: Are you / were you by chance a boar hunter? I have some friends here in Tennessee who are hog guides. One of their sons made a fantastic kill on a huge boar with a knife. Our game police informed him it was illegal. Nothing prohibits it, but it is not specifically allowed in the regs."

Maybe he has some hunting stories.

"Yea, I'm a hog hunter/trapper from way back. That's where I get my name
piggman. Here in Texas you can kill them any way you see fit. Yall have
boars , the real thing. Most of what we have are ferral hogs. The biggest I
have under my belt went alittle over 800 lbs. That was one hell of a hog! We
have tried to get one by knife only, but haven't had any luck. We have
speared them though. Makes for an exciting night. Hell, the game wardens
here will help if they are having a boring night."

"I think if you were to regulate the way they were hunted down here, you'ld
probably get hung. It is one of the only large animals you can still make a
really sporting kill of without the "GREENIES" coming down on you. However,
if some "GREENIE" group ever tried to make a public heartbreaking deal of
it, they would probably make the protected list. Poor little piggies. These
things are very destructive to crops and other wildlife like turkey and
deer. Plus, they can get mean. So far the do gooders haven't sunk their
claws that far, but it won't be long."

So that is the story that comes attached to a Texas hunter's 165UH that resides now in Codger's cabin in Tennessee. Yeah, I like knives with a history. Worn handles from a man's sweaty palms. Patina on even a stain-less blade from butchering deer and wild hogs for a decade. The knife outlasting the man. Not a pretty knife, but one that has a tale to tell. Eight hundred pounds? Dang! That was Fred's mule! :eek: :D

Codger
 
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