Flock of Schrade 165 DU prototypes on eBay

B

Bridgeman

Joined
Oct 1, 2005
Messages
820
Okay...
My momma always said my lil'bro got the brains, but I thought I was smarter than this. In the past month I have seen several unique Schrade 165 knives with slight variations. The first was a "Schrade Factory prototype MIB BLUE 165" blue handled version advertised as "one of kind Custom made for a prototype Ducks Unlimited 165 sheath":

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190166994914&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009

The next one was a "Schrade Factory prototype Craftsman 165", a "one of kind Custom made for a prototype Ducks Unlimited 165 sheath". Seems a common theme.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schrade-Factory...ryZ88910QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The one that is currently running is listed as a "Schrade Factory prototype MIB red 165" listed as a "one of kind Custom made for a prototype Ducks Unlimited 165 sheath"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190175179186&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009

I had no idea that Ducks Unlimited ordered so many one of a kind knives for prototype sheaths.

Can anyone shed some light on these knives and sheaths?

Thanks
 
The seller is the clue. He evidently bought up some surplus DU sheaths and anything he can stick in them becomes a DU prototype. I would consider this when it came time to read his descriptions and the origins of the knives he sells. If you like the knife, fine. Buy the knife. Or if you like the story fine. Buy the story. But the knife and the story don't go together.
 
And while we're at it... we should learn to differentiate between a sample and a prototype, nevermind what sellers call them. I guess the "P" word makes something more valuable though.
 
I just did a bit more searching and I am finding these "prototype" sheaths for $12.99 shipped from an eBay store not affiliated with the seller of the knives referenced above. The store is listing them as old warehouse stock. No mention of the "p" word. And you're right Codger, the knives are nice, but the stories seem to be just that... stories.
 
If I am remembering correctly, that blue handled 165 was one of about four or five SAMPLES made for submission to SMKW along with the orange ones. It was the latter that were chosen for a limited SFO production. A PROTOTYPE of the 165 pattern would date to 1965/66 or so. Proto meaning first of a kind, not a sample of a knife with a custom feature submitted to a customer for approval. Some sellers guess. Some tell you up front they don't know. Some "suggest" and let buyers fill in the blanks and some lie outright. The sheaths were likely production overruns or rejects that, as noted, can be bought by anyone.
 
G'Day, What about his "geenuinne" factory display board straight from the factory floor which happens to have a painted price for each knife painted on board. Did they give clients a hard hat and sell from the factory floor??...and tell them to dodge the machinery..........?...and..and.. did the prices never change? Hoo Roo
 
as one who spends too much time on ebay, i find this info most interesting.
initially i disliked the deceit in the knife world, but i am coming to appreciate that this is why "sleuthing" is such fun. roland
 
I'm pretty sure the factory sales tours were guided by Dee Holder Loveless.
 
Yeh Codger ..they tell me she was of Slim Premium Stock 61OT and could do amazing tricks for Grandads 106OT and his Drop Point Hunter 154OT not to mention his Ramrod 98OT and Pocket Beast 43OT... using only her Lit'l Finger 156OT ...she was a regular little GuideMaster 142OT...although some considered her a Mini-Pro Hunter PH2...!!
Michael have those Aussie 'Billy's' arrived yet mate? Hoo Roo
 
It'd be nice to be able to take everyone at their word, but alas... Buyer BEWARE holds as true now as it ever did!

Skye
 
No billy yet friend. Are you sure you didn't mark the box "POT"??:eek:

I expect it will arrive any day now though.
 
Thanks! The package arrived today looking like it had been rassling gators, but the duckbill tape held and the billys were in perfect shape. I can't wait to burn them and swing them overhead til I'm tuckered and fulla cuppa!

Michael
 
Codger_64 said:
Thanks! The package arrived today looking like it had been rassling gators, but the duckbill tape held and the billys were in perfect shape. I can't wait to burn them and swing them overhead til I'm tuckered and fulla cuppa!

Michael
Click to expand...
sth2.jpg


The Australia Post contractors love dodging big mud geckos....
They don't always get around them tho :D
 
:o

Wierd things happen when you mix Southern U.S. countryboy humor and Australian humor. Aussies are sometimes so well practiced, they leave us countryboys gasping and grasping!

What happened is this: I asked my Aussie mate to look at a billy (Australian camp cook/coffee/tea pot) on ebay and tell me it it was good tucker... er... the real deal. Instead, he bought it for me and shipped it to me along with a more traditional version. Postal employees and inspectors both there and here are like those airline luggage handlers in the old suitcase commercials (remember the gorillas?). So anyway, what I call gators they call crocs (I think they may be the Aussie national bird) and the damage done to packages sometimes looks like they were involved. Whenever a package actually makes it from there to here, or here to there with the contents unpilfered and uncrushed, it is a cause for celebration and jocularity (and maybe a cuppa tea or coffee).

And the "swinging" reference? It is the traditional way the tea leaves (or coffee grounds) are settled in the billy, swinging it in a vertical arc overhead. This is how it was related to me. However it may just be like the American sport of snipe hunting and a way to poke fun at the noobs though.

Oh, and in return, so as not to cause a polar shift, I sent my mate a copy of a Schrade reference book he had been needing for some time, also apparently arriving unscathed.

So now you understand? I know you understand the part about knife dealers/sellers not caring how they sell as long as they make the sale.

Michael
 
Bridgeman said:
Okay...
My momma always said my lil'bro got the brains, but I thought I was smarter than this. In the past month I have seen several unique Schrade 165 knives with slight variations. The first was a "Schrade Factory prototype MIB BLUE 165" blue handled version advertised as "one of kind Custom made for a prototype Ducks Unlimited 165 sheath":

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190166994914&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009

The next one was a "Schrade Factory prototype Craftsman 165", a "one of kind Custom made for a prototype Ducks Unlimited 165 sheath". Seems a common theme.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schrade-Factory...ryZ88910QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The one that is currently running is listed as a "Schrade Factory prototype MIB red 165" listed as a "one of kind Custom made for a prototype Ducks Unlimited 165 sheath"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190175179186&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=009

I had no idea that Ducks Unlimited ordered so many one of a kind knives for prototype sheaths.

Can anyone shed some light on these knives and sheaths?

Thanks
Click to expand...

This guy also sells new production Weidmannsheils as if they were old stock. Almost every Weidmannsheil listing says something about them closing in 1991.
 
I am sooooo pleased now.
I have finally gotten my very own "prototype" sheath for my 165,
and I didn't have to sift through a bunch of duck doodoo to get one!
Happy girl Happy girl!

duckyprototype.jpg
 
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