Hardware Store Fun

H

Hinterland

Joined
Nov 9, 2007
Messages
31
So I made it over to the hardware store I saw those old timers at. After having the guy open the case up I examined the 330T, it has two x's stamped into the blade ( I know reject but it seems fine to me). I asked what that meant the guy who opened the cabinet didn't know but the owner of the hardware store was in the back so away we went. The owner did not know what this meant and after digging in the very back came out with a box of random old Schrade stuff. We looked for a box but no dice. But loose in the bottom of the random Scrade stuff box was an Imperial Frontier 4514. I got both at 10% off because of no boxes so I'm happy.

Other than an old price list price I couldn't find anything about the Frontier. It's a single blade lockback with "4514 IMPERIAL U.S.A." This thing is pretty and the action is smooth. It has wood scales and no shields. The blade has no writing on it other than the Frontier stamp on one side and the imperial on the other.

I left the place with a big ol smile on my face and my fiance laughing.:thumbup:
 
Neat finds! Well, the "XX" means it was a factory second, a reject flawed in either fit or finish. Many times it is hard for me to see the flaw that caused the rejection. Most are still excellent users and it does not hurt a thing to include one in a collection. You will also find rejects where all or part of the stamp had been ground off with a dremmel or struck thru with a line by a chisel.

The Imperial is likely one made for Schrade by Camillus in 1984/85 when they were shutting down the factory in Providence after Baer bought that company and consolidated it with the ISC operations in Ellenville.

Michael

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/frontiers/pages/IK85-46.htm
 
Very cool, the Old timer will surely whittle it's fair share of wood it's getting a new edge right now :) The imperfection is that the major grind on the blade does not run out all the way to the edge of the blades top. There is a small flat running along the top edge on the nail nick side. The action, fit and finish on the knife is plenty good. A user for sure.

Don't know what to do with the Frontier seems like something that is that smooth and well made shouldn't just sit in box. It will invariably get put in the rotation too.

Thanks so much for the insight Michael it is greatly appreciated.
 
You're welcome. In spite of all the "ooh's" and "Ahhh's" we collectors do over our knives, it always behoves us to remember that, with a few exceptions, they were intended to be used. How else can elegant designs and craftsmanship really be appreciated? And if you fall in lust with one of those, search out a NIB example to put up and admire. And several more to use.

Michael
 
I am not a Schrade expert by any means. so maybe these questions will help dig the answers out of someone else. I would hypothesize that if you can't see the flaw(s) with your eye, maybe it is a flaw that is not visible to the eye and will only be revealed by other types of testing?

Did Schrade test their blades for the proper hardness on a rockwell scale? Maybe the flaw is one that would be invisible to the eye? One clue, If the stampings are really deep or extra shallow maybe the steel was too soft or too hard respectively. Of course the other variable to that was how hard the stamps were struck, which we won't know.
 
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