Buyer Beware

No, actually it is an American company located in Northeast Tennessee that has been around for a long time. Taylor bought the trademarks in 2004 when Schrade went bankrupt.

Most of his knives with the Schrade name on them he is contracting the manufacturing of in China. Some, I think he is having made here by American cutleries (not sure which ones).

A shame, yes. Schrade, as far as newly made knives go, is a nostalgia mark, not a manufacturer's mark. Deceptive sellers are the biggest problem. Real new in the box Schrades are still around, you just have to be careful and know what you are buying.
 
Taylor has not only bought the name rights he would appear to have bought certain peoples loyalties as well......those that can be bought....are in the stable..now if only they can convince us that they are not trash, and better still if the supply of NIB genuine USA Schrades would just diminish which will inevitably happen in the near future....they would have one of those most cherished of Commercial situations...namely a Monopoly...of name and product...one would have to concede however they represent value for money..they sell for practically nothing which is what they are worth...its the on-sellers/peddlers/sheisters who cause the real problem of mis-representation particularly on FleaBay..
You cannot protect people from themselves..if they wish to pay good money in the belief of what they are buying without doing the hard research yards then why should we as collectors who share our knowledge accept any responsibility....if it looks like crapp,functions like crapp, and then it likely is and always will be crapp...and many fortunes have been made out of peddling crapp its just a pity another country is the chief benefactor.........Hoo Roo
 
And this morning, sadly, there is likely a Schrade collector who will be expecting a nice old 165 in the mail, only to be very disappointed. Or, more likely, the buyer has, by now, read the full description after jumping on the buy it now like I almost did, and is getting more angry by the minute. And THAT truly makes me sad. I would be furious.

Edit...
I asked the specific question last night. Here is the question, and the seller's answer:

Q - Hi again. Please tell me what the tang stamp reads. Your wording is a bit contradictory. I am trying to discern if this is a "vintage" Schrade Walden, or a new Taylor owned Schrade knife.
Thanks again

A - It is the new version. Thank You

Like I said, someone is going to be furious.
 
Last edited:
Larry303 said:
Taylor has not only bought the name rights he would appear to have bought certain peoples loyalties as well........and many fortunes have been made out of peddling crapp its just a pity another country is the chief benefactor.........Hoo Roo
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Well, there are those who believe that true collectors of Schrades should now include Taylors in their collection. So how many of you have one of these early Taylor commemorative gems in your collection?

ht7ajq.jpg


I can't imagine that there was a huge market for them so they are bound to be valuable collectables now. I'm just saying...
 
Codger_64 said:
Now, should someone here slip up and actually tag a TBLLC Woodsman pattern, I would trade a new TBLLC 171UH that I picked up a few years back to review (search and ye shall find). I'd like to compare the import erzatz knife to the real one, but I won't spend the $20-$25 they cost.
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I have wanted to get my hands on a new 165 just to see the difference, but I will not put my money into Taylor and support their endeavor. I think I used to see them as low as about $22 shipped. They seem to be going for more now. Low to mid 30s.

I am curious about the sheath as well as the knife.
 
I am curious about the sheath as well as the knife.
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If the sheath is the same construction as the two I have (both c. 2005), it is processed leather fibers in a glue matrix pressed to resemble leather. On the plus side, it is a step up from naugahyde and reduces the clubbing deaths of baby naugas. It also reduces the amount of leather scrap that winds up in landfills. In China, not here.
 
I just went to the bay to do my morning look see, and the same person that listed the 165, just listed a 171...
The picture is clearly a U.S.A tang stamped knife, but the description says in bold red letters, it is a current production knife.

I have a hard time believing there are no stock photos for the current production 171's.
 
orvet said:
Perhaps if he was reported to ebay.....?
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HA!
The idiots that run fleabay only care if you are selling something dangerous like an enbloc clip. (read with sarcasm) As long as they get their fees they ignore most offences that people with morals would object to.
 
we can continue what has been done, ask the question of when it was manufactured like i have done and bridgeman did. that will at least put the infor out there for someone to read.
 
338375 said:
I just went to the bay to do my morning look see, and the same person that listed the 165, just listed a 171...
The picture is clearly a U.S.A tang stamped knife, but the description says in bold red letters, it is a current production knife.

I have a hard time believing there are no stock photos for the current production 171's.
Click to expand...

Here is a picture from an honest seller's current listing:
2yoecm8.jpg


Here is a picture snagged from an online retailer (who plainly gives the country of origin):
29ehapz.jpg


They list their retail at $24.95.

As to the eBay seller, he ...

(A) Doesn't own a camera and is too lazy to snag a correct picture for his listing
(B) Purposely snags pictures of the real deal to fool buyers
(C) Is without an effing clue.
 
Codger_64 said:
As to the eBay seller, he ...

(A) Doesn't own a camera and is too lazy to snag a correct picture for his listing
(B) Purposely snags pictures of the real deal to fool buyers
(C) Is without an effing clue.
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I would agree, but as to the 165 that began this thread, the seller was either being purposely deceptive, or doesn't even bother to read their own descriptions. I can excuse the use of the word "Walden" for someone who does not know better, but the use of the word "vintage"? Technically it means "year", or "era", but it is WIDELY and universally used to mean older, or from a previous time. And to cap it off, it said it was lightly used. Then going on to state "New Production" seems flatly deceptive. The knife has been relisted without the word "vintage".

I think the seller did a ton of cut and paste without doing a minute of research. I do feel sorry for the buyer who shelled out the $45 or so for it. Hopefully the seller will rectify or feedback will reflect accurately the transaction.
 
Codger_64 said:
Here is a picture from an honest seller's current listing:
2yoecm8.jpg


Here is a picture snagged from an online retailer (who plainly gives the country of origin):
29ehapz.jpg


They list their retail at $24.95.

As to the eBay seller, he ...

(A) Doesn't own a camera and is too lazy to snag a correct picture for his listing
(B) Purposely snags pictures of the real deal to fool buyers
(C) Is without an effing clue.
Click to expand...

Do to the fact that he used the word Vintage in the first listing, I'm guessing B would be a safe bet.
The deceptive picture of the U.S 171 that they used, would have made it very easy for someone to jump on the b.i.n ...
I'm making a note of that seller. Even if he did have something that was worthwhile, I'll pass on taking a chance.
 
Well, he did sell a few for $10 more than he paid for them if he bought them at retail. But look at his other listed items as well. Meh. Just add him to your list of sellers to avoid, as you said, and keep the lesson learned.
 
I hadn't even seen that he sold two 171s back to back yesterday with a photo of a USA stamped blade. The current one has a new picture. He is gonna have some UPSET buyers.

Is there any way to tag a seller in eBay's system so that a flag pops up when you view one of his listings, or do I just have to keep my own list? And how do you track a user's history as to whether or not they have changed their user id?
 
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