Current manufacture Schrade knives

M

Mora2013

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Dec 1, 2013
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Ive heard that Schrade essentially closed business a few years ago, and a new company took over the name.

Do the new knives bear any resemblance to the quality/ style to the original ones?

They seem to be extremely inexpensive in price. And id think itd be a great value if its a decent knife. But I'd rather put the money into a better quality knife rather than to buy a piece of "junk ". what does blade forums say?

Specifically I'm looking at the 3 blade imperial stockmans.
 
the second of your options.the resemblance is cosmetic.
 
Save your $$$ and buy a GEC or some other USA made Knife! The New Schrade is not a speck on a knats rear comparable to the Originals!! You can find the USA made knives on the secondary MKT or that big auction site!!;)
 
The new owner of the trademarks and patterns is having them made elsewhere, and while I have not bought any of their folding knives, the fixed blades that have come my way were unimpressive in fit and finish. An exception might be some of the marks which have been rented out and a few knives made under those marks by domestic cutleries in the few years past. But still, if it is the quality and patterns you are after, there are still plenty of them out there in new-in-the-box condition if you know where and how to look. Or, as has been mentioned, there are still American domestic cutleries making traditional pattern knives. GEC is one. There are a few others. By the way, Imperial Schrade closed in 2004 (10 years) and Camillus closed in 2007 (7 years). But the products remain.
 
A number of folks have bought the new Schrade knives and reported them as somewhat lacking.

However, a bunch of folks have said that Rough Rider knives, which are in the same price range, are pretty well made.
 
All other considerations aside, American jobs make America strong. Just sayin'....
 
They are complete garbage especially at their price point. Rough Rider would be a much better alternative out of the Chinese made knives. Just save a little more money & buy a Case for around $38 or so.

If you have your heart set on a Schrade you can still get the real deal USA made ones bnib on the big auction site for very reasonable prices if you shop around.
 
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If you want something in that price range, Rough Rider delivers IMHO. Not bad knives at all, blade steel is adequate, and fit and finish, generally respectable. The new Schrades I've owned/seen, are lackluster, even compared to the Rough Riders (they aren't half bad). That's just my experience though.
 
A few years ago, some devious folks found ways of posting China made Taylor's on the Bay under "Schrade usa" and "Vintage Schrade usa." I was suckered into buying one of these.

I cannot say anything about the F&F or any general impressions because the Uncle Henry shield fell out of the box before I was able to get the knife out. I will admit that I did take the knife out of the box and tried to put the shield back in the hole made for it. It appeared to fit, but I did not glue it in. I did not try to open the blade or further examine F&F. I did hear it rattle in the box when I put it away.

Since then, when I am suspicious of country of origin, even though the knife is in a "usa " category, I question the seller by email. Only one seller ever responded to my question, but they truthfully said China.

Mike H.
 
reader1 said:
A few years ago, some devious folks found ways of posting China made Taylor's on the Bay under "Schrade usa" and "Vintage Schrade usa." I was suckered into buying one of these.

I cannot say anything about the F&F or any general impressions because the Uncle Henry shield fell out of the box before I was able to get the knife out. I will admit that I did take the knife out of the box and tried to put the shield back in the hole made for it. It appeared to fit, but I did not glue it in. I did not try to open the blade or further examine F&F. I did hear it rattle in the box when I put it away.

Since then, when I am suspicious of country of origin, even though the knife is in a "usa " category, I question the seller by email. Only one seller ever responded to my question, but they truthfully said China.

Mike H.
Click to expand...

Mike, if it is an original Imperial Schrade you want, they are easy to spot with a bit of knowledge. We have a lot of that knowledge here in this forum and specificly in the Schrade collectors' subforum here. Stop in and we will be glad to show and tell.

The shields were supposed to be heated in, melted into a slightly smaller cavity in the Delrin covers. So it shouldn't have to be glued in. I suppose that some day before long I should acquire a sampling of these knives to review so that I can give better answers when asked my opinions of them. I just really hate to spend the money on them instead of expanding my own collection of originals. It does help to have the originals in order to do side by side comparisons, as not too many of the originals were absolutely flawless, being high volume production knives. Please let us know if we may be of service.

Michael

PS- While quality of the TBLLC products may be questionable to some, the three fixed blade examples I own have supposedly been improved since mine were acquired in 2005-2006. I would have been surprised had that not been the case. It takes time to train workers, adjust machines and materials and set standards for production, no matter where knives are made. Again, I need to acquire examples.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I trust your guys judgement and will look elsewhere for a stockman knife.

Codger64, where is the Schrade sub forum? I don't see one listed .... I know blade forums is big...
 
Codger_64 said:
It takes time to train workers, adjust machines and materials and set standards for production, no matter where knives are made. Again, I need to acquire examples.
Click to expand...

I think that is a good point. Regardless of the point of origin, mass production seems like it can take a bit of time to work the kinks out. Even when certain "widgets" have been made for years it seems that they need constant attention to make sure that quality is assured regardless of what they might be.

Robert
 
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Thank you, Michael.

I have read everything to do with Schrade on BF, at least I think I have, and I have followed many of the links.

I have learned much. I like unusual Bolsters and drool over the Nagle and Waynorth posts. I cannot possibly list all of the posters and threads that have provided great joy, wonder and knowledge.

I cannot look for the China Schrades now Michael, but I will send you some authentic China Schrade folders for comparison later this week.

I have also seen some posts on BF claiming that quality has improved. I would rather have one of the Nagle or Waynorth Beauties (or many others) than 100 China knockoffs. I am thinking of the Bolsters on Black Mamba's Avatar or #1,21,25 and 35 and related on Elusive Schrades. The dedicated collector's posts also blow me away.

OP, When I want schrade, I type schrade in search. It brings up all kinds of great stuff that I miss when I do more targeted searches, but that is just me.

Mike H.
 
Most people seem to have had or harbour negative experiences, fair enough.

I have only one of these knives, a small 3OT lockback in Buffalo Horn. It is, I believe, the same pattern of knife that the USA Schrade used to make with delrin handles. Honestly, I have no complaints about this knife and use it from time to time when needing a small LB. The knife has no play, a common aspect of LBs, the tang/spring match up is very good, it stays sharp so whatever the stainless is it's adequate and the handles are finished smoothly. When I first got it, the pins had some slight flaking around them, but with pocket wear this has gone. It is very clearly stamped (not etched) 3 OTB CHINA and makes no attempt to pretend that it's a US made Schrade. I would like to get a US made 3 OT but they seem very expensive these days and for me in Europe this gets complicated. One knife does not make a general conclusion and it's not a multi blade knife, but this one is very far from junk, rubbish etc. I have to say it is very much better made and finished than a very late model Yello Jaket LB I have which has play, raised spring and pins.

Regards, Will
 
Will.

Thank you for your well respected and knowledgeable input.

Clarification:
1. As stated above, a year or two ago, several respected members posted on BF that certain of the new China Schrades were of good quality, and worthy of purchase. The threads with the positive posts should still be available on BF. This was a couple of years after my experience.
2. I never meant to impugn Taylor's marketing on the Bay or anywhere else. I, as many of you, have some very well made Fire & Ice knives.
3. It is rogue sellers on the Bay who have contrived to list these knives in the usa offering, not showing the distinctive Taylor Schrade Box or the China Tang Stamp. NOT ALL Sellers, such as Jays knives, who clearly identifies and differentiates.
4. I buy AG Russell knives made in China, or any where else, because of his unrelenting commitment to QC, now supervised by Phil Gibbs, of well-deserved impeccable reputation, and a solid guarantee for the fliers that may slip under their radar. At Blade 2012, one of the most highly respected custom makers and production designers gave me me an ecstatic and positive review of the quality of some current Taiwan production knives.

My negative comments were about the early Taylor China production, which may have been improved, but most especially about the devious and intentionally deceptive marketing of SOME, NOT ALL, Sellers on the Bay, which also may have been restricted or corrected.

I apologize for the Irish influence: "To Forgive is to Condone."

Mike H.
 
It's too bad that the Scrade/Old Timer line ended up how it is. That's about all there was around when I was a kid where I lived and I still have a few. The offshore marking on them now just doesn't seem right, but as mentioned, time marches on and things can't stay the same no matter how much we would like them to. I know after handling a couple, I wouldn't get one though. Same in looks only and that's from a distance.
 
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