Elusive Schrades

tongueriver said:
Thanks, Charlie, for the pics and the heartache! :):cool::thumbup:
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You are welcome Cal! (groan). It wasn't the greatest deal - but when will we see another?

But please explain the numbers to me, someone!!
Here are some comparison pics. The numbers do not seem to make sense!
894i_zpsb975337e.jpg

894j_zps1a46f30e.jpg

894k_zps37730f82.jpg
 
Employees have toold me that even they had some difficulty keeping the numbers straight. It was not the same as the well-coded SCC system, nor the same as their post-1946 parent company, Ulster. For further clarification, look up the 1950's Schrade Walden catalogs listings of knives similat to your 894. Like the 895. Sometimes it indicated a different pocket blade or second or third blade on the same frame. Like the 899 or your 825. Sometimes it indicated a knife with custom etched branding for a major customer like Sears or Belknap etc., and the only difference is that the (usually missing) etch and number are different. Sometimes it is the handle material like the 896K with k-horn. In short, there was no key left to us other than the surviving catalogs, both Schrade and Jobber/merchants.


http://collectors-of-schrades-r.us/Catalogs/images/1962-SW-CATS.pdf

Here is the 1955 Belknap catalog.

http://collectors-of-schrades-r.us/belknap/1955-Belknaps.pdf
 
waynorth said:
This knife arrived yesterday, for that ubiquitous on-line auction site.
Some of my Schradey friends alerted me to it, and tell me it is a rare bird.
Perhaps they will comment with some details. Thanks in advance Hal, Cal, et.alia!!!
It has had a rough patch, with someone trying to remove rust with an asphalt chewing machine or something!
But it has nice snap, after some oiling, and the stag is tight. It all looks original. This is an example of the smoother stag being placed on the shield side to facilitate shield installation.
Enjoy this Elusive Schrade!
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What a COOL old knife Charlie! The Schrade Walden stamping looks kind of crude though, probably due to it's era of manufacture. Looks almost hand engraved.
I'd love to hear what the date of manufacture is when one of your experts show up. ;)
 
It's the only Schrade 894 pattern I've ever seen, in reference, on a tang stamp, or even mentioned. Stag handles are pretty much unheard of during the 1950's, on what appears to be a production knife. Definitive rare and elusive.
 
Ballenxj said:
What a COOL old knife Charlie! The Schrade Walden stamping looks kind of crude though, probably due to it's era of manufacture. Looks almost hand engraved.
I'd love to hear what the date of manufacture is when one of your experts show up. ;)
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It just takes a little patience around here!

Codger_64 said:
1947-59. That work? A 13 year spread? :D
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Works just great for me!!

Ballenxj said:
Well, that does narrow it down to within a decade and a third. :p
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I think that's as close as you can hope for around Schrades!!!

thawk said:
It's the only Schrade 894 pattern I've ever seen, in reference, on a tang stamp, or even mentioned. Stag handles are pretty much unheard of during the 1950's, on what appears to be a production knife. Definitive rare and elusive.
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A powerful statement from another serious student of Schrade, and one who seems to have owned most of them at one time or another!!!!

Thanks Hal, Codger, Cal and all who Lurk this thread!!!!!
 
P.S. Ballenxj, those stamps look good under the 'scope. They just suffer from rust! They have been liberally doused in oil, and I will remove said rust when it loosens!
 
The 894 is identical to the 895 except for the covers, and they are identical to the 825 except for the steel. And the 897UH is identical to the 825 except for the covers. As Hal said, the stag was rare in the '50s, but actually it was just plain rare for the COMPANY, all the way back to 1904. Very few stag knives came out of those buildings. I am pleased to see that knife in a good home.
 
Nice knife Charlie. Could Herman Williams have anything to do with this one? Stabbing in the dark.

You have two mysteries ,at least ,now.:)
 
waynorth said:
P.S. Ballenxj, those stamps look good under the 'scope. They just suffer from rust! They have been liberally doused in oil, and I will remove said rust when it loosens!
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Thanks Charlie. I hope you will post more shots of it after removal of said rust? ;)
 
I do not believe this is a Williams knife. For one, he would have matched the handles. All the signs are there, that this knife has all it's original parts, IMO.
It did have a rough life though! But it works great!! The walk and talk is better than its stainless cousin up there next to it in post #781!!!!
Thanks for checking in, Lyle!
 
Ballenxj said:
Thanks Charlie. I hope you will post more shots of it after removal of said rust? ;)
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I'll shoot the stamps again. I am not going to touch the blades. I don't believe I should "clean" this knife. But that little bit of red rust has got to go!
 
wlfryjr said:
Nice knife Charlie. Could Herman Williams have anything to do with this one?
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tongueriver said:
Highly unlikely.
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Actually, he could have something to do with it. By identifying it for you. HE is the one who knew Schrades well enough to identify and mount the factory wall collection and in fact, many of them were from his own collection. So... I suggest that you take best pictures and ask Herman if he can help you date it, and whether of not it was an SFO or if the odd number somehow signified the unique handle materials. FYI, this knife was most likely made in the old S.C.C. building in Walden on the same machinery that made the S.C.C. knives. And possibly by the same cutlers. Look at that date spread again.
 
Man..this is getting REALY interesting, I just LOVE this Thread, I will soon put up a couple of fixed blades I have just obtained - nothing as Elusive as this latest Schrade of yours Charlie.
 
tongueriver said:
The 894 is identical to the 895 except for the covers, and they are identical to the 825 except for the steel. And the 897UH is identical to the 825 except for the covers.
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... In which my learning curve threatens to become a circle.

Beautiful find, Charlie, and I greatly appreciate all the insights and knowledge being brought to bear. :thumbup:

~ P.
 
tongueriver said:
The 894 is identical to the 895 except for the covers, and they are identical to the 825 except for the steel. And the 897UH is identical to the 825 except for the covers...
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Except when it is not. :D

2a8mir6.jpg


These are both 897UH knives, identical to the familiar Staglon covered knives other than the covers.
 
Absolute stunners in this Thread everyone!
Charlie, my biggest apologies if these knives don't fit into the proper description of this great thread, I wouldn't call these "Elusive" by any means...but they are becoming to be, and especially in this neck of the woods.
I have had my eyes on these two for a wee while, everytime I went away I was telling myself...you fool, it will be hard to get another as tidy...I just HATE that voice!!!
So I got'em, The 153UH's aren't all that rare, but I believe day by day they are climbing the ladder to be collectable in their own right - is it me who only believes this -I don't mind constructive criticism here ...I quite often need telling things....like "Duncan ..its day time"
The other knife is what I believe to be only a notch above more "harder to come by" and that is the Ducks Unlimited Fixed blade.
A couple of questions - if you can help me.... the 153 I was told has a 1973-'74 stamping, I took this with a grain of salt as I haven't seen anything different in the stamping of this knife to age it-can you?
I really like these knives - even though they have the Staglon etc but to me still very appealing...are these taken much notice of in the States yet - or are they still in quite obtainable numbers?
The knives are Mint - never been sheathed - totally new old stock,
Have a great day/night my friends!















DUCKS UNLIMITED..











Please let me know if these do not belong here and I will transfer them, as this thread is quite an important one!!
Thanks for looking.
 
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waynorth said:
I do not believe this is a Williams knife. For one, he would have matched the handles. All the signs are there, that this knife has all it's original parts, IMO.
It did have a rough life though! But it works great!! The walk and talk is better than its stainless cousin up there next to it in post #781!!!!
Thanks for checking in, Lyle!
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I agree that it looks original, and look at the coined/milled liners as further evidence. They are not too common on the normal patterns, and usually you see them on the more "fancy" or special knives. Although I also have never seen this pattern or much stag at all on Schrades, everything else on this knife look legit.

Great knife, thanks for sharing it Charlie!
 
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