Article re. Schrade in April isse of "Knives"

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MG_Saldivar

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The April 2005 issue of Knives Illustrated (Vol. 19, No. 2) contains a really fascinating article by Bernard Levine entitled "Recycling Schrade." It describes the fate of the assets of Schrade after their closure and liquidation.

It's been widely discussed on the forums that Smokey Mountain Knife Works purchased a lot of the existing Schrade inventory of finished knives at auction, and that Taylor Cutlery purchased the intellecutal property rights to the Schrade brands and designs. However, the article metions some things I had never seen on the forums, so I thought I would share.

1. United Cutlery, which was in my mind exclusively a manufacturer of "Megalo Mart" type cheapo knives and movie tie-in artifacts like Rambo movie bowies, is ramping up production of what the article calls high-end knives under the Arrowhead imprint. Per the article, United's CEO "hired a cadre of experienced Schrade employees -- both management and production -- and even retained Schrade's public relations firm (Levine, p. 76)."

2. Former Imperial Schrade president Wally Gardiner has started a company called Walden Knife Company. "The new Walden Knife Company's nucleus is a handful of former Schrade employees, mainly from the factory's 'customer shop' (Levine, p. 77)."

It's sad Schrade closed down, and clearly many former employees are still dealing with the aftermath, but hopefully some will be able to carry on the Schrade tradition with new firms.


SOURCE:

Levine, Bernard (2005) "Recylcing Schrade." KNIVES ILLUSTRATED, 19, 2, April.
 
Yes, pretty interesting stuff. I have still gotten no response from United on my inquiry about their purchase of and plans for the unfinished Schrade inventory. One of these knives showed up on ebay recently as the UC155 Red Fox, a version of the sharpfinger (#6517644539). The seller mistakenly claimed it to be from Boker, but Boker identified it as a United product. Smokey Customer Service responded that it is not a product that they carry. It had a blade etch and a decent looking red jigged bone handle, at least if you believe the seller. :rolleyes:

The reference to the Walden Knife Company is a misnomer caused by the fact that magazines have a long lead time between final editing and release on the newsstand. I think we are now all aware of the late change of the name to "Canal Street Cutlery Inc.". But it is good to know that more Schrade employees have found work in the cutlery industry.
 
I have not been posting recently due to several reasons first the good people on this forum have been answering questions and doing a good job so there has been no need for my two cents worth. However upon reading this thread I thought I would like to respond. Certain publications and there regular writers often lean there articles so as to seem that they are giving all of the information in an unbiased manner. This is due either directly or inadvertently to the input these firms have upon ( advertising ect ) of these publications themselves. You will not see Knife or Blade magazine printing anything inflamatory, or controversial about, these companies just a gentle general nudging towards acceptence while not really saying anything. You do not bite the hand that feeds you however In my case I could care less. So here is a bit more information

Walmart has just placed an order for 400,000 knives from an oriental manufacturer. Affialiated with the american firms mentioned. This order was to begin to replace the hole left by Schrade. Your initial assessment of the quality of the United knives is in my opinion correct and I do not believe the Arrowhead name will change that. It will however complete what I have maintained from the beginning, the elimination of Schrade as one of the last bastions of american competion in this field. It will now through the manipulation of american puppet companies have placed this market completely in the hands of these foreign companies with the american based companies simply assembly ( for certain knives ), and distribution centers for what are in effect the same crap they could not sell when competition like Schrade was around.

As I have said from the beginning this takeover and even this new line of knives has been simply part of this plan from the beginning, just as this easing over of what is now happening. was planned.

Since obviously this really was expected I would once more like to bring up the entire scenario. 1, Schrade over extended on machinery and various other committments. For several reasons 1, to compete and fullfill the much larger part of the market that they were acquiring. 2, This was done with the unterstanding that they would have the needed time for repayment from there bank. 3, Another bank accquires the original bank, 4, the new bank crunchs numbers and throws Schrade into bankrupcy, 5, Assets and the total dissimilation of Schrade is immediately accepted as the best way for the bankto proceed. 6. Schrade is liquidated for a fraction of its worth. 7, These assets are bought by puppet american companies with ties to the same foreign concerns that have affilations to the owning bank.

Well now why would they foreclose for 10 million dollars in debt ? Instead of simply letting Schrade ( WHO AT THE TIME HAD ORDERS FOR ONE MILLION KNIVES ) Fullfill the orders. I mean didn't they lose money? Well they would have lost money but it would not have mattered because Schrade would have been out of the way and that was the primary function of all of this. However they didn't because all the product and anything else was bought for pennies by there own puppet american companies.

The auction company had everything of value in giant lots which while they went for a fraction of there worth did so because they would be impossible to move and store by anyone other than someone with a warehouse to store it and a company that could use these materials The auction was done in two days if the lots had been broken down there would have been enough money for Schrade to have stayed in business in fact if Schrade could have just sold there stock they could have downsized and stayed in businees. The knife collection was appraised at over a million it sold for under 200,000 ( WHY ) Oh it would have taken to long to auction it in parts. Does this sound like a financial organization that was worried about there investment? Or simply had another agenda.

It was a very neat plan and it came off just the way it was supposed to. Ok I guess there is no choice but to accept it but please at least for a few more minutes try to remember what really happened. Schrade like a lot of American history will fade fast enough. In a very short time the next generation will be buying them great american favorites called the Arrowhead sold at Walmart. Say what you will about the insidious nature of the forces involved here You have to give them credit even on the name. Perhapes they will make a model of the Arrowhead line called the AMERICAN on the tang could be ARROWHEAD and engraved on the blade could be IN YOUR BACK AMERICAN SUCKERS.

PS. The building which housed Schrade and was a major asset for the bank to recoup its money remains unused, unbought, and empty, and is simply costing the bank money for security and upkeep, the employees who worked there for the most part remain unemployed and on unemplyment. Paid for by Americans. The Handicapped employees who Schrade employed which gave them purpose and pride may never again find a local employer with the type of production to which they could contribute. The local towns and neighbors no longer receive the contibutions for almost every worthwhile cause that they did when they could turn to there neighbor ( Schrade ) for help and in general we as a nation are all just a little bit poorer. LT
 
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