Codger_64
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- Joined
- Oct 8, 2004
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We ofter bang our heads against the wall trying to decode Sears Craftsman patterns. Is it a Schrade, Ulster, Camillus, or other? Occasionally a pattern is distinct enough that it is obvious who made it, and often when.
This oddball fixed blade was, I am pretty sure, a flash in the pan as far as a Sears SFO, as well as a manufacturer's production knife. The oddity of it's design just doesn't say "buy me" today, and especially didn't during it's production era, the early 1970's. If I remember correctly, we were a bit more attracted to variations of traditional design elements back then. This knife, named by Sears "Trophy Skinner" was quite radical with it's finger relieved tang, wooden finger grooved handle, and flat grind which this manufacturer was noted for on their lower priced knives.
As you can see, Imperial produced this knife circa 1973 and called it "Pro Guide". Sears, usually wanting to customize their knives for at least the appearance of exclusivity and to hide the manufacturer source, renamed it "Trophy Skinner". "PRO" was a big tradename descriptor for Imperial and for Schrade. Just think of all the knives made over the years with "Pro" in the name.
While Imperial was not the huge supplier of knives to Sears that Schrade was (and later Camillus), you can see by this example that the Baers were not beyond using Imperial knives as "fill in products" for the Sears SFO lineup. And often as a test market for new patterns, "running them up the flagpole", as it were.
Another Sears knife I have several examples of seems to be an Imperial construct using Schrade design elements, if not actual components. This knife, called by Sears "Heavy Skinner", has thumb grooves ala 165UH first production, and Staglon textured scales shaped like the 15OT Deerslayer scales. Several former Schrade employees when shown the knife said "I don't recognize it". One, who's opinion I highly value, actually stated with authority that it was not made here in the Ellenville factory. Another test marketing of a pattern through a Sears/Imperial SFO? One of those questions with no definate answer yet.
Ya gotta love the variations on the standard ISC knives that emerge from Special Factory Orders!
Michael
This oddball fixed blade was, I am pretty sure, a flash in the pan as far as a Sears SFO, as well as a manufacturer's production knife. The oddity of it's design just doesn't say "buy me" today, and especially didn't during it's production era, the early 1970's. If I remember correctly, we were a bit more attracted to variations of traditional design elements back then. This knife, named by Sears "Trophy Skinner" was quite radical with it's finger relieved tang, wooden finger grooved handle, and flat grind which this manufacturer was noted for on their lower priced knives.
As you can see, Imperial produced this knife circa 1973 and called it "Pro Guide". Sears, usually wanting to customize their knives for at least the appearance of exclusivity and to hide the manufacturer source, renamed it "Trophy Skinner". "PRO" was a big tradename descriptor for Imperial and for Schrade. Just think of all the knives made over the years with "Pro" in the name.
While Imperial was not the huge supplier of knives to Sears that Schrade was (and later Camillus), you can see by this example that the Baers were not beyond using Imperial knives as "fill in products" for the Sears SFO lineup. And often as a test market for new patterns, "running them up the flagpole", as it were.
Another Sears knife I have several examples of seems to be an Imperial construct using Schrade design elements, if not actual components. This knife, called by Sears "Heavy Skinner", has thumb grooves ala 165UH first production, and Staglon textured scales shaped like the 15OT Deerslayer scales. Several former Schrade employees when shown the knife said "I don't recognize it". One, who's opinion I highly value, actually stated with authority that it was not made here in the Ellenville factory. Another test marketing of a pattern through a Sears/Imperial SFO? One of those questions with no definate answer yet.
Ya gotta love the variations on the standard ISC knives that emerge from Special Factory Orders!
Michael