A VERY Early LB-7

[ea42]

Here's a new one I just received, it's an LB-7 (#0185 ) in the original display case that was used when the knives were first introduced:

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During the initial ramp up of the LB-7 in mid-1977, Henry Baer sent out a memo that he wanted, for the time being, the LB-7 to have it's own display box as a standout product. This way it could be placed right smack dab on a countertop for folks to ogle.

After a month or so, the above setup materialized. It's a red-maroon flocked platform with a fairly thick clear top (which was borrowed from the 95026 display, which I'm not familiar with at the moment, possibly Sears?), cardboard bottom, and hot stamped signature. You'll likely recognize this as the predecessor to a myriad of other displays, such as the Katchina series, First Flight, Cowboy, etc. Those displays had a thinner (cheaper) plastic top, and were housed in a box, but basically had the identical layout.

The deal at the time was that a retailer would purchase a "kit" which consisted of one display (which included a shammy for wiping fingerprints), a 6X9" counter card, and four LB-7's in their standard white boxes all packed in a large cardboard box. The display knife was never to be sold.

Now there's an aditional piece to the puzzle, before the kits were produced, there were salesman samples of the display made up so that retailers could see what they were getting. These samples were identical to the store displays with one exception, the snap on the sheath was unmarked, while the production models had "Schrade" embossed on them. Salesman samples started at 150 (which I believe went to Mr Trachtenberg), so it's possible that the above knife fits into that category as well. It definitely doesn't appear to have been shown much, if at all. I think someone squirreled this one away

Enjoy!

Eric

 

[brady806]

wow eric what a nice find. ill bet that one like george costanza said made "it moved"!! lol - a really nice early one, i love the hint of red color coming out in the wood grain. congrats--------brady

 

[thawk]

... Salesman samples started at 150 (which I believe went to Mr Trachtenberg), so it's possible that the above knife fits into that category as well. It definitely doesn't appear to have been shown much, if at all. I think someone squirreled this one away

Eric

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Very cool LB7 Eric. Lowest number I've seen, however

I've seen Trach's original LB7 sold at least 6 time on a certain auction site... :yawn:

 

[Bridgeman]

VERY nice. Congrats! :thumbup:

 

[Codger_64]

Eric, Eric, Eric. What can I say? You constantly come up with "wowser" knives and information.

I have an early LB-7, #0326, but have never seen those display boxes like that. Most excellent!

Now, I didn't drool on my keyboard over that knife, I promise. But I did have to windex my screen to get the fingerprints off. I need a true "touch screen" monitor. I wanted to coon finger that boxed set soooo bad!

So what else did Uncle Henry say about that initial release?

 

[thawk]

Wanted to ask too Eric, is that a real shammy? I've never seen the Schrade Shammy before, and have a hard time saying it five times. Still thinking that was a dandy acquisition.

 

[delmas2nd]

all i can say is WOW! this being my favorite knife of which i carry daily. what a beautiful example. if i had the chance i would definitely spend a bunch on getting one that low in the serial number department.

 

[edbeau]

The knife and display are great. The Sears knife would be a 95206 not 95026, I have two.

 

[waynorth]

Not much into LB-7s, but that one changes my mind!!
Outstanding example of the breed!

 

[ea42]

Thanks guys! I've had another example for a while now, although that particular one has definitely been used as a display. Not only that, but I suspect both the knife (#B25212) and sheath (squared bottom, doesn't fit the mold, which is made for the round bottomed sheath) were added at some later date, so to find this un-adulterated one pretty much made my year!

Not a whole lot to add to the old history so far. From what I can gleen from some old papers:
The knife originally referred to as the LB-1 (for 1st lockback), and was going to be sold with an Old Timer sheath (Sept 1976).

By February 1977, the name was changed to LB-7, possibly to avoid confusion with some display case numbers, which had a lot of 1's in them. At this time they were in the process of making a new space for eqipment, tooling, parts, etc.

In July of 1977 discussion started on the above vac-formed tray, this from Uncle Henry to Dave Swinden:
"Regarding the Bear Claw LB-7, this we would want in it's own home or dispaly box, possibly a vacuum formed tray, the sheath seperate from the knife, in a clear transparent sleeve"
The knife was also to be included in the multi knife floor display as well:
"On the new Floor Display, this knife should be inlcuded in the Uncle Henry line on the display as a star attraction and centered, and on this new display you are also planning a space for the Boot Knife" (this was to be the future 156OT) "but this space would be covered with a card or some promotional copy, until it is finally in the line."
Might as well give you the rest of the memo, which continues on the subject of the boot knife:
"Please have Bucky make up a new sample with the slant guard, but a slightly thinner blade, duplicating the Clyde Fisher blade" <---very interesting
"If your new grinding equipment will permit us to make this a hollow ground blade, it is well worth considering.
After reading this take two aspirins and I hope it will relieve the headache.
Sincerely,
Henry B. Baer"

By Sept 1977, they had approval to use stainless steel pivot pins, and sample knives for the salesmen were to be started immediately, as were the above trays. The white box with gold imprint was decided on, and orders were placed with Newburgh Paper Box out of Newburgh, NY, which is about ten or so miles from Ellenville.

In November 1977, production was full swing, and an order of 10,000 Schrade branded LB-7's was headed for Sears, with another 10,000 Craftsman branded knives being made up ASAP, with black delrin handles. At this time production estimates for 1978 were from 250,000 to 500,000 pieces.

By January 1978, they were going gangbusters, with the LB-7 becoming the most important project at the factory, and any problems or bottlenecks were being worked out at a frantic pace. Things had ramped up to the absolutey required production of 1000 knives per day in order to fill advanced orders.

Michael, I always thought you knew about these, you made the following quote way back in 2007, which referred to a memo regarding these very displays:

While digging through files looking for something else, I came across a Schrade Cutlery internal memo dated 1978. In it I found:

Some customers may prefer the LB-7's packed in bulk without display, each individually boxed. Packed either 4 to a carton or 10 to the carton. Orders should be written - LB-7ND (No Display).

Why didn't you guys point this out to me?

Well, it clears the way a bit for me to more closely date the LB-7 pattern knives by serials. I'll update this as I progress.

Michael

I've been thinking of wading through about nine filling cabinets worth of Loss Replacement Certs. to narrow down the old four pin switch, but it's such a daunting task!!! No rhyme or reason to 'em, just wrapped in rubberbands and tossed in! Did you know there's a center pin hole in the liners between the two rear pins, even on the one above? It's almost like they always intended to make the switch.


Hal, not a real chamois, more like a very soft felt polishing cloth, no markings on it whatsoever.

Eric

 

[ea42]

edbeau, there actually was a 95026, it was a two blade folding hunter, looks like it was on the 227UH platform, but with black handles.

Eric

 

[delmas2nd]

in trying to figure out when the switch was made from the four pin to the three pin, i thought i had it down to Mxxxxxx but have seen later 4 pins and earlier 3 pins. looks like the kinda just made the two at the same time?

 

[Codger_64]

As with many production changes, I am sure there was some overlap. And when they did make the change, they found that the smooth Delrin knives covers warped somewhat causing gaps, so the order was given to resume four pins on those knives. One can survey the Scrimshaw knives of this pattern to find the timeline, though I posted the memo here some time back.

 

[Larry303]

What a great thread!....I've got an old black delrin handled 4 pin LB7 I originally got from Rich Lanigan who had many Schrades from the 50's thru 70's.....I may not have realized its significance and may now have to locate it in the shipping container somewhere amongst the other 2000 odd Schrades........great find Eric...amazing what still turns up...Hoo Roo.

 

[delmas2nd]

speaking of early, i remember (and remember is the key word here) that before they started making the LB-8 they dressed out LB-7's in the staglon handles? is there a date for this. am the lucky bidder on such an example on the bay. (almost got snipped but upped my bid at the last moment) hah!

 

[Codger_64]

The "Dixie COllection" knives were the first LB-7 knives with LB-8 Staglon that I recall. That was 1978, I think.

 

[delmas2nd]

so this is a broken set knife? as i have stated before the LB-7 is my every day carrier so this fits nicely in with my collection.

 

[Codger_64]

Would have to see pictures before hazarding a guess. Quite a few LB-8 appearing knives have shown up with LB-7 blades, so many that they are pretty well accepted by most collectors to be LB-8s regardless of their marks.

 

[edbeau]

Nice to know, I only collect Craftsman single blade hunter knives. Thank You for the information.

 

[thawk]

so this is a broken set knife? as i have stated before the LB-7 is my every day carrier so this fits nicely in with my collection.

The Dixie Series had serial numbers and etch, and I've seen LB-7's with the Staglon handles from time to time. Minus a serial number and etch.