factory "seconds"

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Mick57

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May 27, 2004
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I've recently seen some Schrades that we're packed in plain white boxes. Very different from what I'm used to seeing with Schrade, which made me wonder if they we're "seconds" Does anyone know if these in fact, are factory "seconds" ? If they are, would it (or should it) be labeled as such anywhere on the box or knife? Thanks.
 
What knives are they and what markings do the boxes have? If you bought them from a place like smoky they could be a second, but usually seconds come without boxes in plastic slip covers (wrappers, etc.). Also sometimes when a company would do special runs for other stores, etc. They would use different packing material. Schrade made many knives for other companies, knife manufacturers, etc. I know I have seen schrade knives come in many different types of boxes. if it is a plain white box with no manufacturer no.s then it could be the place you bought it from packed it in those.
 
I'm not sure this will answer any questions, maybe just add to the discussion....... I bought a 100th Anniversary bone stockman off the website during the time the online store was working ( a SHORT time :( ) and it came in a one piece white box, 4 3/4" long and 1 1/2' wide. It did have a sticker with the model #A80BN on it, but maybe Schrade just used those plain boxes for some orders, without any ID on them, near the end. Just conjecture, of course.

Bill
 
Ah boxes, no the white box does not of itself constitute the knife being a second. Neither does not having a box. Schrade sold them in box ( a large group in one box ) lots as well, I love when a buyer asks does it have a box and papers. Then instead of looking at the knife walks off indignant. the last group of knives I bought from Schrade ( unfortunately it will be the last ). I was given 4 boxes of ( guess what just BOXES ). So that I could put the knives in them myself. I took them however have not used them. I was told a lot of people feel better with a box.

There is one way to see if a knife is a second look at it see it it has any flaws or imperfections see if it functions correctly. If it is a second so good that you cannot see what is wrong with it then why would it be a second. In any event even if it is, who do you complain to at this point. In the old days Schrade would grind off or strike over there name and that ment the knife was a second ( these strike overs are now collectables. Often overuns of perfect knives were discounted and sold as seconds because they had to many in stock ( perhapes another reason why Schrade is gone ). In any event The white box was just another box they used. I have bought 2 cases of the same knife and gotten a couple different boxes in them. LT
 
OK guys, thanks alot for the input. The 1st time I saw these was in Galyan's last year. They had a few of the 171UH's in stock. ($39.95...pretty cheap I thought, since I recently saw what prices used ones we're bringing on Ebay) ) I asked to look at one & the knife looked fine, except there we're no markings at all on the tang. I asked to look at a 2nd one & the same thing. I asked the sales clerk about it & he was stumped as well. As far as he knew, he didn't think they we're seconds. They had one in the display case that was properly stamped. I remember the box being marked171UH...don't recall if Schrade was anywhere on it. (no paperwork either) Bottom line, it made me a little uneasy about the white box & especially no marking on the tang, so I didn't buy it. After that, I always wondered about those plain white boxes & if they had any significance, since they we're so different from the boxes I was used to seeing from Schrade. BTW, anyone know why the tangs wouldn't be marked at all?
I also recently picked up a PH2 online that came in a white box with no paperwork. I didn't like what I saw after looking it over. The handles we're very thin & there we're obvious gaps around the finger guard. There was also a very visable seam (opened up actually) down the middle of the finger guard. I compared it to another one I bought in a store some time ago & the difference in the 2 was very apparent. Hard to believe they we're both made by the same company. That made me wonder again about these white boxes & if the knives in them we're in fact, factory seconds. Thanks again. I appreciate it.
 
Ive looked at some of their seconds before, no tang stamps on some, wrong pins, ill fitting bolsters, no shield in the hande, backsprings not flush. Some did have the name "xed" through, some did not.
 
The 171 UH models you mention were made and put away a while ago ( the 171 pattern has not been made for some time ) these were stashed for people who returned or claimed to have lost there knives under the guarantee. It was another attempt at keeping the guarantee, while stopping freeloaders from abusing it, because as you say without the tang markings the value is much less and people usually only tried it once when they received a free replacment, but one that was unmarked, while when they sent the regular versions with the stamp people tried it 3 or 4 times ( The guarantee was another nail in there ( Schrades ) coffin). A while back they Schrade started selling these to various outlets ( perhapes seeing the writing on the wall.) and wanting to deplete there backup stock of replacments. I have a few in fact I retired my other ones and now have a couple of unmarked ones that are my users. I really like the pattern and the way the knife feels and works. They were not seconds except for the tang markings. The PH model you mention was it would seem, a second ( especially if the handles were in stag there were a lot of problems and seconds with this pattern and handle material ) however the box is after the fact and by itself does not necessitate that it would be a second. Schrade used white boxes especially the last few years unfortunately while the white boxes cost less any body else can get white boxes in fact anyone can change a second for a perfect knife and put it in the older box. So again it boils down to inspecting the knife or trusting the seller. Especially now. LT
 
lt632ret,
Thank you for your input. No doubt there we're freeloader's who took advantage of Schrade's guarantee. Sad, but really nothing surprising about that. And certainly true that anyone can switch knives with boxes. Wish I had known at the time the reason the tangs we're unmarked. Had I known why, I would of picked up a couple at that price. But, like I said, seeing the unmarked tang & the white box we're red flags I couldn't ignore. Like you, I also like the knife alot. Picking up a nice one on Ebay has been on my list for awhile. It'll happen eventually, I'm sure.
As for the PH model, no, it was the standard black handle. I actually did pick up a nice NIB stag one recently. It's super nice...I'm very happy with it. This other one just had too many flaws, & in my mind had to be a second. It was nowhere near the same quality as the identical one I have or the stag handled one. Thank you again for the education......& everyone else for your input.
 
Here is another nasty fact which I hope will give you a chuckle. They ran out of sheaths for these so if you get one now it will probably not have one. luckily for the few I got, I got some obsolete sheaths that were made for this pattern for a very rare and very few sold DU edition of this knife. The sheaths I got do not have the stone pouch but fit the pattern perfect. I consider myself lucky. Schrade items will eventually be like car parts in Cuba. Items like this are the beginning but I am sure it will not be for a long time still this is an older pattern and shows it starting. How quickly we take for granted how nice it was when you needed a new sheath just to give Schrade a call and half the time they gave it to you for free. They always portray dinosaurs as mean aggressive horrible beasts. I do not think they were I know Schrade was big, kind and gentle a friend to all. Now it like the dinosaurs it also is extinct. John Wayne in the high and mighty ( "Good Night You Old Pelican" ). LT
 
I picked up a nice peachseed bone trapper on ebay with carved bolsters. The box it came in said, knife made in USA, box "printed in china". The knife was from 2000. A "short" shadow of what things were coming too.
 
I guess this one, with the Schrade mark overstamped with an XX is a true factory second. I've seen a couple of others. Still, if it's just a cosmetic thing, it's a great knife for the hunter.
Ebay PH
 
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