Help Me Out here...

L

LFH

Joined
Feb 24, 2005
Messages
469
Help me out here Guys, without me having to search for half the night .

I was in a small very out of the way country hardware store this morning and there was a Schrade Display with only two knives missing.

I asked the girl running the place if she would be interested in selling the whole thing since Schrade folded.

She told me very serious like that Case bought Schrade and was still making the knives in the US.
Said she had some paperwork.

I just went on and didn't say anything else.

So help me out, Whats the scoop?

I am going to be back there Next Saturday and that display sure would make a nice collectable. Didn't count the knives but must have been 20 or so... I am not a Schrade collector and so the only one that really caught my eye was the mint 77OT since I love a muskrat knife.
 
No one bought Imperial Schrade. It was dismantled in a bankruptcy sale in October of 2004. Machinery went to the four winds. Truckloads of knife stock went to two high bidders. The factory collection went to one bidder for a fraction of it's value and is being broken up on eBay. Taylor Cutlery bought the intelectual property (names, copyrights, patents, trademarks) and is importing copies of genuine Schrades made in china for them to distribute here. The Schrade knives out there now are all there will be. No more can or will be produced. Except the cheap chinese copies.

All you can do there is act like you are buying her story about Case ownership, ask ernestly to see the papers, if you dare, and make her an offer below retail for the complete display. They came in a multitude of sizes and shapes, held from ten to thirty knives or more, and some had storage for more stock in the back. No way I could begin to guess the value.

My advice? if she won't easily come around from believing she has a gold mine, just cherry pick the knives you want, and leave the rest. Maybe someone else here has a better idea?

Codger
 
It don't get no better than that !! Sound advice Codger.....

And oh yeah LFH, I wouldn't tell Codger the location, I'm pretty sure that's him I can hear drooling !!!

It surely ain't me!!! :D

dannyb
 
dannybee said:
It don't get no better than that !! Sound advice Codger.....

And oh yeah LFH, I wouldn't tell Codger the location, I'm pretty sure that's him I can hear drooling !!!
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Yeah,, I am keeping the location secret for the time being.

Thanks Codger for the great info... That is basically what I tried to tell the lady, but she was pretty headstrong in her belief that Case picked them up. Adamately discounted Taylor and China..... Oh well.

This case was fairly small with the usual compartment that holds inventory in the rear. I may pop in there needing other things and see if a different person is there to talk to. She is very uninformed.

I appreciate it guys!!!!

Thanks!!!

On Edit: This is a small town, basically low to very low income. Very old hardware store with a flea market store attached. I bought 4 chairs that matched an old set we use daily, for 12 bucks apiece. Had stuff marked really cheap and we questioned her about it. She said it was just too poor an area to charge more and too expensicve to get it to where it would bring more. I guess her spiel works... She had a register full of bucks and we spent about $65.... :rolleyes
 
I have a related story.

Just today I went to a hardware store. As I was checking out my jaw dropped. I saw a Schrade display case just a few yards ahead of me! It was one of the larger ones but missing some knives. I walked up to it and checked it out. Old Timers and Uncle Henrys, both folding and fixed blades from each series. Interestingly I noticed some bone-handled knives as well as a yellow plastic knife. Upon close inspection I saw that they had put a few Case knives in the case. I'm not exactly sure why.

There were clam packed knives hanging on the side that had a nice layer of dust on them. 33OTs and a couple of other smaller patterns. A sign hanging from the case promised 50% off all Imperial Schrade knives in the display case only. So I decided to pick up a couple of Uncle Henrys from the case. I waited a few moments as an employee retrieved the key and opened it.

It was the kind of case that allowed for storage of extra knives. Inside there was a mishmash of Schrade and a few Case knives. But what was particularly remarkable was that many of the Schrades were the older black boxed models.

So at the moment I have a black boxed 897UH and LB7 for $15 and $20 respectively. I attempted to get an 8OT but the woman said they had just sold the last one. I regret not asking about the price of the display knife in the case. Yes, I'll be going back tomorrow and I want to buy everthing they have, including the display.

The problem is that this is a chain hardware store. It's not like I can haggle with the owner over the display. And they're storing some Case knives in the case, indicating that they are still using it to an extent. So what do I do?
 
Ryan,
You might make an offer on the case and leave your name & phone number (as well as checking back often) for when they decide to part with it. They may sell it or even give it to you. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I hope you get it. If you get a 61OT out of the case that you don't want........I can help you get rid of it!!! :D :D :D

Good luck!
 
orvet said:
Ryan,
You might make an offer on the case and leave your name & phone number (as well as checking back often) for when they decide to part with it. They may sell it or even give it to you. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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I will do that. Thank you.

orvet said:
I hope you get it. If you get a 61OT out of the case that you don't want........I can help you get rid of it!!! :D :D :D
Click to expand...

If I ever get a time machine you'll be on the list of people to buy things for :D

Seriously, I'll see if there are any scarcer models of course. I didn't REALLY look. Some of the boxed knives weren't seen in the display case and vice versa.

Thanks for your advice.
 
Great going you guys! Like buried pirate treasure, the stuff is still out there waiting to be discovered. I've bought a few display cases, most store owners realize the truth, that Schrade is no more and the display case is simply taking up valuable space. My standard offer is to buy all, or most of, the knives and get the display for free. Didnt work last time, I showed off here the Schrade tough tool display I got, but didn't get the big floor case as the owner was converting it to a Frost display. What an insult to the fine old name. I think these things make great collector displays and storage places.

Phil
 
orvet said:
Ryan,
You might make an offer on the case and leave your name & phone number (as well as checking back often) for when they decide to part with it. They may sell it or even give it to you. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I hope you get it. If you get a 61OT out of the case that you don't want........I can help you get rid of it!!! :D :D :D

Good luck!
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Actually that's "Life" - As the old saying goes.... :(

In the very few times I've come upon such treasures, they've already gone, been promised or most often proprietor has gotten wise and wants the proverbial "Arm and Leg".....:eek:

But it's really neat to hear the adventures and good fortune of others - Thanks for sharing - wishes for continued success and as long as I'm breathing, I'll be LOOKING !!!! I'm bound to get lucky eventually ...:)

dannyb
 
Ryan8 said:
The problem is that this is a chain hardware store. It's not like I can haggle with the owner over the display. And they're storing some Case knives in the case, indicating that they are still using it to an extent. So what do I do?
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Ryan, You might be surprised at the haggle factor in the chain stores. They are probably just franchises that are individually owned.

But if all else fails, I am going to simply try Begging :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :o
 
We Schradeophiles have honed the art, and it is known as the "Schrade GROVEL" (search grovel in the search bar). You must be careful using it though, and the more familiar "begging" as well. You will telegraph to the seller that the items have value far beyond real value. And that you are an easy mark. I learned this buying antique cars and trucks. Pokerface, lowball, cherrypick, and be prepared to walk away. But leave them contact info just in case they change their minds and want to deal.

Codger
 
Codger_64 said:
We Schradeophiles have honed the art, and it is known as the "Schrade GROVEL" (search grovel in the search bar). You must be careful using it though, and the more familiar "begging" as well. You will telegraph to the seller that the items have value far beyond real value. And that you are an easy mark. I learned this buying antique cars and trucks. Pokerface, lowball, cherrypick, and be prepared to walk away. But leave them contact info just in case they change their minds and want to deal.

Codger
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Well put Codger. Your method worked for me yesterday buying the chairs I mentioned. Wanted 75, got them for 50. And there is a fantastic table supposedly waiting, promised to another buyer for $35 bucks. We left a card.
Now, if only the lady with the Schrades will get edukated I might be in business. She did mention that most every one around there bought the chinese stuff, because they loose them, instead of the expensive stuff. Can't wait till next Saturday... :D

I will not be anxious, I will not be anxious, I will not be anxious.
 
Rent some old movies this weekend to practice. Watch Dustin Hoffman in "Little Big Man" practicing his snake eyes. Maybe the classic sphagetti western with Eastwood and his cigarello squint (Fistfull of dollars, a few dollars more, etc.) Another good ploy is to fan your antie (not fan your fannie). Arrive with your first antie in crisp new greenbacks, fan them out as you make your offer. Keep a small "raise" in another pocket to add to the fan. Lay it on the table as you talk. Most small businesses work on a tight budget, and holding inventory investment for two years or more is a killer. They might decide a "bird in hand" strategy is better than waiting another two years for the "bird in the bush".

Codger
 
Sometimes the merchants aren't as naive as you might think. Last year, I visited a local lumberyard and they had a clearance table set up near the register with a sign that said, "Half Off." On it was a fairly large number of Schrades, mostly Peanuts and Middlemans, in the older brown and tan boxes.

When I asked if they had any of the larger Schrades, the clerk said that, "someone bought them all because he said he could sell them on eBay for 2 to 4 times what I was selling them for."
 
First I'll apologize to LFH for sort of hijacking his thread. I was just excited. Get that display!

I went back to the store today and realized that the display was not exclusively a Schrade display (doh!). It had a Schrade logo inside of it but Case as well. So that one is a no-go.

In total I managed to get an LB7, a 77OT, an 897UH, a 12UH, a 152OT, and a 6OT.

The 152OT was a display model. They had the box with the sheath and papers but no knife in it. The 6OT and the LB7 were out of their plastic and had been stored in their pouches inside the box but the price was right. Neither of them were in the actual display case but inside of the storage section. I just happened to spot them.

It's funny what redshanks said about the larger models. Yes, the large fixed blades and a number of others were all sold.

I saw an 804UH, 807UH, 15OT, 18OT, 108OT, and a 158OT for sale. Maybe a few others - there was definitely a 34OT in the diplay but not in a box. At least some of these are display-only. There are still plenty of clam packed 108OTs at the original price. So the obvious question is "what do I buy next?". :D
 
Ryan8 said:
First I'll apologize to LFH for sort of hijacking his thread. I was just excited. Get that display!
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Absolutely not a problem !!!! All great info and experiences! :thumbup:
 
Ryan8 said:
So the obvious question is "what do I buy next?". :D
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What do you want next? What can you afford? Which are patterns you don't have? Which are the hardest to find?
Those are the questions I ask myself when I stumble across a treasure trove like you did.

Happy buying! :D :D :D :D

Dale
 
Buy all the 150T's they have in stock, those have been out of production longest and if you are going to sell down the road will probably give your best return. Remember to save one to use and one to keep mint fot your collection.
 
To be honest guys, I don't collect Schrade knives as a collector.

My first Schrade tho was a couple of 77OT 's with the Improved Muskrat on the blade. Bought way back in the 70's. It is in the drawer here next to me. And I have a couple others that I have picked up along the way.

Just gave bro in law a new Old Timer Tan sheath for a Schrade that he found when we were fishing back in the late 70's. Its the big lockback but not the stainless 6OT. I just knew he didnt have a sheath for it. At same time I gave his son a nice 6OT in an off brand sheath.

But when I saw this full (minus two) display I knew it would be worth something.
I wish I would have asked if she had inventory other than what was in the display.
I will take a fistfull of cash with me when I get back up there Saturday. It's about 50 miles from here.

Like I said above, the 77OT caught my eye and I may try and buy it, if she doesn't want full price. Even if I had to pay full price there are enough knives there that would start a heck of a schrade collection.

Thanks for the inputs guys!!!!!
 
Welll,,,:grumpy:

We made the run up to the kids place today, and stopped in the hardware store with the Schrade display.

The lady running this old place just wouldn't budge on my offers to buy her display case and all the knives.

Got the offer up to $300 bucks cash and she wasn't the least bit interested in selling. She wouldn't make a counter offer. I bet she hasn't made 300 bucks in a whole week.

Son in law says very few people stop in there, only out of desperation when they don't have time to go the 12 to 15 miles on down the road.

The knives were all slipjoint folders. No fixed blades or lock backs.

I just didn't think it worth going any higher. Might have tried if she hadn't of been so adamate in her refusals.

So, up the road aways from here, in Shepherd Texas is one nice display case of slipjoint OT's with only two missing. I believe a 5OT and a 34 .
 
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