Factory box changes

relodr36

relodr36

Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
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Probably 20 years ago,the local Kmart had their Schrade 34 0T's reduced 25% and I bought six of them as it was my favorite "carry" knife.
Having given a couple as gifts and losing three,I was down to my last one and figured I better get in a supply.
Lo and behold! I found out that Schrade went out of business last year.Bummer!!
Well,I managed to get 3 new ones off one auction site and 2 good ones off eBay.Since I'm getting to be an old codger,I figure about 8 ought to last me the rest of my life.(As you get more senile,you forget where you put stuff.)
The boxes that the new ones come in are mainly blue while the last box I have is Tan & Black with 2 red stripes and a red banner with the words "A Sharp Idea".
Does anyone have info or a link that shows the box changes and dates?
What do the new Taylor (made in China) boxes look like?
I see some "new" knives on eBay that have a predominantly black box - are those American made?
Thanks!! You feller's have a great forum!
 
I don't know of any sites where this information can be found. I have been working on developing a timeline for the box changes, but it is slow going. The order is easier than the dates, however. The woodgrain slip top box was earliest, then the fold down woodgrain box, then the tan "Sharp Idea" box with the black stripe. That changed circa 2001 to the blue stripe box, then to the blue topped beige box with the flag (made in U.S.A. text beneath) and gray end. Taylor copied this last box right down to the flag, but left off the "U.S.A." text, and substituted their name "Taylor Brands LLC" and address in the place of "Imperial Schrade Corp" over the address and website. I have not seen the Chitaylors in a clampack yet, so perhaps they are a safe buy for now.

Codger
PS- Taylor is not duplicating the tangstamps, so if you have one saying "U.S.A.", you have a real McCoy.
 
Thanks,Codger !!
I have also seen two styles of clampacks(?),apparently the last one is predominantly blue.I stopped at the local Kmart yesterday and darned if they didn't still have a 104OT in stock,discounted to $10.Couldn't pass that up.

There is China box shown on eBay #6572993830 auction,that is 80% Black with a dark gray end.
I queried the seller about it and he confirmed that it was manufactured in China.
Are there any publications that cover the Schrade history/line that you would recommend?
 
relodr36 said:
Are there any publications that cover the Schrade history/line that you would recommend?
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The definative volume of Schrade history and paterns has yet to be written. Richard V. Langston wrote a book with a lot of the history information,"The collector's guide to switchblade knives", and Robert Clemente wrote his compilation of Old Timer & Uncle Henry catalog information, "A catalog history of Schrade knives". I reccomend both highly. And then there is Mr. Levine's book, vol. #4 which covers limited editions. I do not have that one yet. And George Schrade's decendant wrote "George Schrade- The man and his accomplishments" back in the eighties, I believe.

This gives you a starting point. But an awful lot of information is found here in this forum and it's archives that is not yet available anywhere else.

The clampacks designs pretty much mirrored the shelf box designs at the time they were produced, with the exception of the green "bonus" clampacks.

Codger
 
The woodgrain slip top box was earliest, then the fold down woodgrain box, then the tan "Sharp Idea" box with the black stripe. That changed circa 2001 to the blue stripe box, then to the blue topped beige box with the flag (made in U.S.A. text beneath) and gray end.
Click to expand...
Where do the black boxes fit in this timeline? One is a black box with a wide blue band. The other is a black box with narrow red band and "A Sharp Idea" logo.

I too would like to see a dated timeline of this information.

Best Wishes,
Bob
 
Welcome to the forum, reloader!

Thanks for bringing up the box timeline thing again. Maybe this time we can nail something down once and for all. "new in box" is so important to some collectors.

Phil
 
Also due to long production runs of some Schrade patterns, the packaging is often the only clue to the knife's age.

-Bob
 
Bob W said:
Where do the black boxes fit in this timeline? One is a black box with a wide blue band. The other is a black box with narrow red band and "A Sharp Idea" logo.

I too would like to see a dated timeline of this information.

Best Wishes,
Bob
Click to expand...
I have a Sharpfinger 512OT box like this one with a 1991 copyright date on it.
http://tinypic.com/esvp0l.jpg
My black "Sharp Idea" 296Y box has a 1989 copyright date
Codger
 
Codger - thanks for the reference books info!
I've sure learned a lot in the few days that I've been on this forum.
Haven't had a chance to open the archives yet,either!
I checked out Codger's "hold-out knife" on ebay.Based on what other 8OT's sold for,that sure was a good deal!
Thanks again!
Ron
 
relodr36 said:
....I checked out Codger's "hold-out knife" on ebay.Based on what other 8OT's sold for,that sure was a good deal!
Thanks again!
Ron
Click to expand...
Here is the "8 for 8" I mentioned. Yes, it is a deal I'll not likely repeat soon. I put this one down to Granpa's old saying "Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then."

Codger
 
I have no idea when that was made. It looks to be in too good of condition to be old. Maybe LT has seen those before. COuld be newer repro??? Schrade did use some leatherette covered boxes in the early-mid seventies at about the same time they were using the slip-top wood grain boxes for the OT line, but they were dark brown leather grain. My two Sears Craftsman Schrade boxes from the mid seventies have a lighter colored leather grain.


Codger
 
Still trying to nail down the years different boxes were used. How about this one: Has the white outer sleeve, the woodgrain open at the end box, 'Schrade Cutlery Corp". Also, look at this sheath... note the shoe-lace type 'thong' with it. And note decorative edge groove on sheath. Has clear plastic blade protector.

I was hoping this was an first year issue Sharpie, but no.. the paperwork with the knife shows among others, the LB7, which we know was first issued in 1979. Other Schrades illustrated is 206 barlow and 787 Muskrat.

Phil
351806.jpg
 
Some of the logos Schrade was using by year.
Hope this helps a little.
TTYL
Larry
 

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Unfortunately, the folder enclosed with the NIB's I have do not have a printing date, and neither does the box. That is interesting Phil. The tangstamp is like the earliest, but I've never seen the nylon thong before. If we back up the date of first production on the LB7 by a year or so, it could have been introduced on the folding brochures before being listed in the catalogs. We know that the 165OT was produced before it's catalog appearance, and also the 152OT. So that 152OT could be a 1977-78. You will note also that the sheath has dark brown stitching, instead of the earliest white, but still retains the tool lines on the belt hanger, and the choil retainer strap. The fold-down flap boxes were post-Walden, we know for a fact. And the slip-top woodgrain boxes were continued for a while with the Schrade Cutlery logo. As Andy Griffith would say, "curiouser and curiouser"!!

Thanks for posting that, Phil!! Next!???

Codger
 
Thanks, Larry. Within ten years is good enough for me. Again, I was sure hoping it was a very early model.

What's next you ask, Codger???!! How about a matching Honesteel?

I got lucky and got 3 of each. One pair for my collection, one to set aside for my two year old grand nephew.

I'm still wondering about that red box.

351957.jpg
 
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