In 1977, Schrade bought Richards holdings in Sheffield, England which included:
Richards on Moore Street, a 180,000 sf factory making scissors, pocket knives and kitchen cutlery.
Rogers Wostenholm on Guernsey Road making two famous brands, the Jas. Rogers “Star and Cross“, and the I*XL brand.Schrade IXL products produced at Morse Street factory until 1982.
Also the Richards hollow ware factory “Satinsteel”. Mr. Tony Gibbs was given the managing directorship of these factories.
According to member Sebago, The Schrade/I*XL knives were made at the Richards of Sheffield, factory, Moore Street in 1980/81. Five patterns were made and the bolsters were stamped (hallmark fashion) S W (head device) 0. The zero would indicate 1980 production. The S W would indicate Schrade / Wostenholm. According to Phil Gibbs, the lock backs were made at Camillus, sent as skeletons to Sheffield where they were hallmarked on the bolsters, the handles were added, & the knives were finished. The patterns were; Three different size lockbacks (White micarta. Stag and Red Bone, as well as a three blade stockman in Red bone and a three blade* canoe in Stag. The knives were sold singly and in serial numbered sets with a display case. The faces of the blades were etched with a "Schrade Wostenholm" banner. Many were later sold without a serial number.
The factories were sold by Imperial in August of 1982 to a British firm, Western Knives. It closed in October of 1983. The late James Parker leased the I*XL trademark from the people that held it for a short while (c.1983/4). The Egginton Group purchased both the Rodgers and the I*XL trade marks in 1986. I noted with interest that Joseph Rogers knives are currently advertised in the Australian collector's magazine Knives Australia.
, Duncan
