Another day, another box... Sheath Knives

[Codger_64]

I recognize a few, such as the Remington RH4 Outers knife, the Schrade 148 and a couple 147s, including the red and white sfo, and the woodcraft pattern, which could be Marbles, Western, or others, but the one I am perennially curious about is the one on far left with long oval blank shield, staglon handle with hidden tang and thumb knurled spine. Has anyone figured out the provenance on that one?

The outers is actually an Imperial with script tang stamp, not an in-house mark and likely made for them by someone else. The red and red& white knives were special order for Sears circa 1958. One Western, yes, "Western Boulder Colo.", no pattern mark, 8 1/4" oal. Nope, the odd Craftsman has never been positively identified. It has elements of several different Schrade Walden knives.

 

[Gevonovich]

The Kents are very appealing to me. I like the simple design. Looks like a Remington of the top left corner. I also really like the two Schrades on the lower left ( if that is correct) So many cool ones in the batch!! You knowledge is so much appreciated!!

 

[Codger_64]

Lower left? One is an ID'd Schrade, the outer one. The other is a Craftsman mystery. Likely a Schrade, but so far no absolutely positive I.D. Top Left is a Imperial marked Outers.

Ther are (or were) about six times this many. I may yet find some of them. Or not.

 

[Gevonovich]

Yes. those two on the lower left. Thanks!! I seem to remember seeing a Schrade that looked like the Craftman mystery and saying to myself that I really liked its overall look.

I look forward to more finds!!

 

[Charlie_K]

Cool stuff. The doubled folder/fixed sheaths are interesting.

I'm in agreement there. Nowadays if we want a combo like that we need an accessories pouch to attach to our sheaths.

 

[Codger_64]

I'm in agreement there. Nowadays if we want a combo like that we need an accessories pouch to attach to our sheaths.

With the knives and a picture of the design, several sheath makers here on BF can make you one to your specs. Of course I recommend my own favorite, member Sheathmaker, Paul Long of PFL leather. Here is an old scan of a pair of matching sheaths he made for me back in '05. Herman Oak leather, hornback alligator inserts, doeskin lined.

And two more styled after original early 1960's waffle stamped Schrade Walden sheaths. I believe these have kangaroo hide laceings.

 

[glennbad]

Those are some great blades, Mike! That 365 looks familiar though...

 

[Codger_64]

Indeed! I've only seen and documented a very few early Schrade Cutlery Co. fixed blades. And I do not think the Schrade brothers made them.

 

[Kisatchie]

The Kents are very appealing to me. I like the simple design. Looks like a Remington of the top left corner. I also really like the two Schrades on the lower left ( if that is correct) So many cool ones in the batch!! You knowledge is so much appreciated!!

all very nice!! , but I too like those simple Kents , I guess I am a cheap date sorta guy.

 

[Codger_64]

all very nice!! , but I too like those simple Kents , I guess I am a cheap date sorta guy.

The neat thing about the Kents (Camillus) is that you can get a modern version made for yourself by any one of a dozen talented knife makers here on the forum. Some years ago I got a hankering to try a 1902 Marbles Dall DeWeese pattern, but those were expensive and hard to find. I had a maker here make one for me and I use it nearly daily.

This was when new. Now the burl wood is nearly black and the blade was a nice dark patina.

And another one I liked was the Marbles Ideal. Anothre hard get in nice original form. David Stifle made me one and oh my!

 

[Mack]

Which models of the Black Beauties are those?
I think this is my favorite box so far. To say I'm envious would be a huge understatement.

 

[Codger_64]

Which models of the Black Beauties are those?
I think this is my favorite box so far. To say I'm envious would be a huge understatement.

An F66 and an F40, both around 4" blades, but one a bird and trout pattern (sometimes called a boy's knife), and the other a small hunter/skinner pattern. Dennis did a good writeup on the pattern in the Oregon club newsletter that is worth a read.

http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/Newsletter 0903.pdf

As you can see in an enlarged picture, both are pretty well relic condition.

The small one is still a decent user. The larger one I keep because I know the story behind it, and a sad tale it is. It was given to me by a tormented father, an older gent I hunted with when I was in my twenties. I hunted with his son as well. But evidently I didn't know him. The father gave me the knife (and good riddence) just after his son died. He was shot by his wife during the umpteenth time he had beaten her. I took the knife and offered my condolences. "I only wish she had shot him with my shotgun" he said. So I keep it as a reminder of Billy Ray and his son Teddy Ray, the knife's former owner.

 

[festerfromnzed]

Codger....Great knives and that last bit of history is well,/ troubling?,,,,,,I like the B/T...it looks like a good knife to me....FES

 

[Jack Black]

The larger one I keep because I know the story behind it, and a sad tale it is. It was given to me by a tormented father, an older gent I hunted with when I was in my twenties. I hunted with his son as well. But evidently I didn't know him. The father gave me the knife (and good riddence) just after his son died. He was shot by his wife during the umpteenth time he had beaten her. I took the knife and offered my condolences. "I only wish she had shot him with my shotgun" he said. So I keep it as a reminder of Billy Ray and his son Teddy Ray, the knife's former owner.

Dark.

 

[Codger_64]

Codger....Great knives and that last bit of history is well,/ troubling?,,,,,,I like the B/T...it looks like a good knife to me....FES

Dark.

Indeed. It is a fact that not every knife has a happy story behind it. That one's owner was evidently as eaten with corrosion as the blade. And it serves to remind me that not only do you not know all people as well as you might think, but that not all bad apples come from bad trees. I keep it because it reminds me of the father, Billy Ray, a good man tormented.

The Black Beauty, as Dennis wrote if you read his article, was a very distinctive and well made knife. That this one went to ruin was not the fault of it's maker.


And ad from 1956

 

[Mack]

A question I've been trying to find the answer for but haven't found it yet. The red handled Schrade Walden. That blade shape is a classic that it seems every company has made at one time or another. It's one of my favorites. Do you know who was the first to use it? I'm thinking it's a relatively new design say, mid 20th century?

 

[Codger_64]

A question I've been trying to find the answer for but haven't found it yet. The red handled Schrade Walden. That blade shape is a classic that it seems every company has made at one time or another. It's one of my favorites. Do you know who was the first to use it? I'm thinking it's a relatively new design say, mid 20th century?

I have not research the pattern for ancestors, but my best guess would be Western States by Harvy Platts.

Here is a 1950 dated jobber catalog showing Western knives.

 

[Mack]

Thank you sir.:thumbup:

 

[gunsil]

Indeed! I've only seen and documented a very few early Schrade Cutlery Co. fixed blades. And I do not think the Schrade brothers made them.

Michael, I believe the one here is a Kinfolks product with the aluminum guard, and the sheath is identical to Kinfolks sheaths except for the lack of the word Kinfolks. The pattern embossed in the sheath is the same as many Kinfolks sheath. I have several Schrade Cut fixed blades and they all show definite Kinfolks characteristics.
Regards, Gene

 

[gunsil]

I sure know about those box problems Michael, going through some today to get ready for the Keystone Knife Show this coming weekend. Also a pile of KA-BAR 72 pattern hunters being sorted.