GEC and Schrade?

C

cultivateitnow

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Aug 21, 2010
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On a couple other forums people are claiming GEC is making a pattern or two for Schrade, as are two other well known USA based companies.

I looked at the Schrade line up and looking at their knives it appears they do have more than one source. Does anyone here know if that is true and if so which models they might be? I'd sure like to buy one or two of the GECs if it is true.
 
GEC did make a few knives for Schrade, just before Schrade unfortunately went belly up a few years ago. The only patterns they made, that I am aware of, are the #23 and #73 "Remington bullet" trapper patterns (GEC calls them "Pioneer" and "Scout" respectively).
 
I have seen the GEC 73 Scout version made for Schrade. I have not seen the larger one. Whether it was made for Schrade or Taylor's version of the company I do not know. Another one that GEC made (and I am sure it was for Taylor) is an auto with bone handles. They are not common. The ones I have seen sell have been going for $200 to $300. Before Camillus went under, they made a "muskrat" with a spey blade on one end and yellow handles for Taylor or perhaps for Schrade pre-bankruptcy (I don't think so). Bear and Sons made a stockman, muskrat and trapper. They are nice knives with very pretty bone. Utica is currently making bone handled trappers and a copy of the 897 UH stockman in bone. I have not seen them personally, but they (and all the rest of these) are usually advertised, stamped and etched in a way that would suggest they are pre-bankruptcy knives. Newbies would usually never know the difference. I know little about the quality of any of these knives.
 
Thanks, I had my hopes up. The other guys made it sound like this was something that just happed this year. I've never really cared for knives with gun logos on them, even though I own and use that manufactures guns. I guess I just thought it was a big over the top. I'll stick to GEC branded knives if that's the case.

The thread said Schrade had already setup shop overseas and that was how Taylor was able to start shipping them, they were already tooled up. The thread said Taylor contracted with three different USA based companies, and made it sound like GEC was a new addition. I believe the other two companies were Bear & Son, and Queen.
 
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tongueriver said:
I have seen the GEC 73 Scout version made for Schrade. I have not seen the larger one. Whether it was made for Schrade or Taylor's version of the company I do not know. Another one that GEC made (and I am sure it was for Taylor) is an auto with bone handles. They are not common. The ones I have seen sell have been going for $200 to $300. Before Camillus went under, they made a "muskrat" with a spey blade on one end and yellow handles for Taylor or perhaps for Schrade pre-bankruptcy (I don't think so). Bear and Sons made a stockman, muskrat and trapper. They are nice knives with very pretty bone. Utica is currently making bone handled trappers and a copy of the 897 UH stockman in bone. I have not seen them personally, but they (and all the rest of these) are usually advertised, stamped and etched in a way that would suggest they are pre-bankruptcy knives. Newbies would usually never know the difference. I know little about the quality of any of these knives.
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Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for these.
 
This is a Schrade Trapper made by GEC and currently for sale by various vendors.

New


After about 6-months use
 
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The Schrade Cut version made by GEC is called the Fire and Ice series. Readily available. Initially they sold for over $100.00 I believe.

fi.jpg


Made made in 2007, in 3 3/4" and 4 1/4" closed lengths. They are 1095 carbon steel too. I also see Ed beat me to the punch.:D
 
I found it for less money in stock where I just ordered two others. I also found a Barlow with a damascus blade marked USA. It has different nail nick then all the other schrades on that site.

So far I've found four different nail nicks and five bolsters within the same brand line. Now I just need to figure out if that means anything. :)

I'm thinking about ordering one of each style to see if I can figure out who is making them and which ones are made best.
 
cultivateitnow said:
I found it for less money in stock where I just ordered two others. I also found a Barlow with a damascus blade marked USA. It has different nail nick then all the other schrades on that site.

So far I've found four different nail nicks and five bolsters within the same brand line. Now I just need to figure out if that means anything. :)

I'm thinking about ordering one of each style to see if I can figure out who is making them and which ones are made best.
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Post some pictures. We gotta have pictures.
 
Let's see if this works...

It didn't but here is the link.

commercial vendor link removed by moderators per guidelines
 
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is any company known as Schrade any more. That brand name is now just an asset that was sold off when Schrade went out of business. Are there workers who tote home a paycheck every other Friday that says "Schrade" on it? If I had the cash and inclination I could buy rights to that trademark and then pay some factory in Asia to pump out a bunch of "Schrade" knives any time. Alas, these would just be "mnblade" knives with Schrade stamped on the side, not the real deal.
 
As could all the manufactures with their current names, which most do.

In my mind I'm looking for a good example of a pattern revived, much like GEC has done. If GEC makes a blade stamped Schrade, Uncle Henry, Old Timer, or even Buck I want one. That is much better than having these patterns lost forever, or only having poor copies available.

Schrades claim to fame was that the designer had an eye for smooth lines, and eye pleasing materials laid out so they simply got the job done. There was better blade made at the time, but they were ugly and I could bring myself to carry them every day. I was willing to put up with honing my Schrade after a good days work to avoid using something ugly that didn't fit my hand or hurt you hand when using it. A blade that look the same, smells the same, and cuts even better is okay with me.

One more thought. Schrade is a thrill for collectors that are in to hunting down rare items and collecting them. A GEC Schrade has value for what it reminds us of. Just today I read about a knife lost to a wife that took it because it reminded her of one an family member carried. I guess that is what some of these patterns do for me, bring back memories.
 
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The original (non-auto) Schrade models made by GEC for Taylor (Schrade) were some of the first knives made by GEC in 2007. I suspect it was a low margin deal struck to help GEC get off the ground and get in some practice making knives. They came in 3-4 handles each in the #23 and #73.

Funny thing was that they were much nicer than the knives GEC was making with their own brands stamped on them. Matchstriker pulls and lined bolsters a good year before GEC did that for themselves. (still not doing matchstriker pulls)

Utica has made some knives marked Schrade or Walden or both. And I wouldn't be surprised if Bear has / will be helping with them as the demand for more domestic knives continues to grow.
 
cultivateitnow said:
Let's see if this works...

It didn't but here is the link.

commercial link removed by moderators per guidelines
Click to expand...

That shield has been used by Bear & Son on knives they have made for Taylor. I don't know whether that continues to be true for this particular knife.
 
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