heres a question why do uncle henry knives sell so well

N

novaflare

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Dec 14, 2000
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Ok not so many years ago for about 3 or 4 years i passed on so many good deals on schrade uncle henry knives thinking ill never carry it. I did buy one a 124 uh modle. I payed 15 bucks counting shipping and just for the heck of it i searched on ebay and found it selling for a current bid of 38 bucks. Ive had this knife maybe 5 years. I always thought the uh schrades were the lower end of the schrade line so why is it these knives are selling so well? many of the UH knives i passed on i could have gotten at kmart for around 15 to 30 bucks new and are now selling for as much as 110 on ebay.

I am some one who doesnt normally sell a knife instead i tend to trade with a friend down the road from me etc.

At any rate more curious about the uncle henry line than any thing else.
 
There were about four levels of knives branded Schrades. Bottom was the old fashioned "Open Stock". Next was the "Old Timer", then the "Uncle Henry Signature" series. Top of the line was the special editions like the Grand Dad's Old Timers and other limited editions with fancier bone scales and etches, and commemoratives. The UH line was quite popular from it's start in 1967. The unbreakable Staglon Delrin handle had a nostalgic "burnt stag" look, most of the series had cryo treated stainless blades and nickle silver mountings, all combining to make them handsome users. And they were always modestly priced, and superbly guranteed. Why the popularity now? New collectors trying to get examples of each pattern, speculators buying hopeing to cash in on future rises. And dwindling stockpiles from the factory closing and remaining retail stocks. Supply and demand.

Michael

PS- I forgot to mention there was a lower priced line, the Imperials, mostly made in Ireland since the 1980's.
 
I think the reason that Uncle Henry knives (and OldTimers) are so popular is because they are instantly recognizable. And their brand names are familiar to everyone, even non-knife people who have never owned a Scrade.

-Bob
 
Codger_64 said:
There were about four levels of knives branded Schrades. Bottom was the old fashioned "Open Stock". Next was the "Old Timer", then the "Uncle Henry Signature" series. Top of the line was the special editions like the Grand Dad's Old Timers and other limited editions with fancier bone scales and etches, and commemoratives. The UH line was quite popular from it's start in 1967. The unbreakable Staglon Delrin handle had a nostalgic "burnt stag" look, most of the series had cryo treated stainless blades and nickle silver mountings, all combining to make them handsome users. And they were always modestly priced, and superbly guranteed. Why the popularity now? New collectors trying to get examples of each pattern, speculators buying hopeing to cash in on future rises. And dwindling stockpiles from the factory closing and remaining retail stocks. Supply and demand.

Michael

PS- I forgot to mention there was a lower priced line, the Imperials, mostly made in Ireland since the 1980's.
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Heh i have a couple imperials to. My brother bought one at the local big lots to open a tool kit with paid a whopping 99 cents for it and split him self real good with it and gave it to me. I got a big laugh out of the incident it was just to strange. You see he got the knife because like 3 days before he opened another clam shell and split him self on the plastic so figured the knife would be so much safer :)

As for my little 124 uh i love how the knife backspring aged on it. Its this really rich black typical of carbon steel but it is just so evenly done that a little rubbinh on the back of it to polish the liners and it just gives a really nice offset. I dont think ive ever owned a non lock back or liner lock that i like more. But as is the case with me i just cant stand not having a pocket clip on my EDC knives.

Ive had dozens of shrades including a double blade switch blade (sharade walden new york stamping).

I figure ill end up just keeping this knife basically till the day i die. Still always curious about values on my knives and such. Just wish i had not passed up on all those other uncle henrrys now though in hind site it would seem they would have been a very worth while investment.

P.S
My 124 uh is in absolute mint condition i only carried it for a few week over the years at most and never touch the blade to a stone. A little polishing of the bolsters with a nice mirical cloth and the knife would look like it was fresh from the box heh
 
Bob W said:
I think the reason that Uncle Henry knives (and OldTimers) are so popular is because they are instantly recognizable. And their brand names are familiar to everyone, even non-knife people who have never owned a Scrade.

-Bob
Click to expand...
Well while true it just struck me as a little odd that the uncle henrrys should be so collectable.
Esp when you got so many other trade marks in shrade that are more well known (or at least i thought). I suppose that fact could also have somethign to do with as well. High collectability makes a patern harder to find so people will tend to go down in expectation and get the closest they can. Now the liner lock version (125 i beleive) on ebay has really grabbed my eye. Just wish i had a good enough job to let me to a impulse buy or 3 but oh well such is life i suppose.
 
Maybe Uncle Henry's could be a "safer" bet for some of these new collectors who plan to do what Codger mentioned - buy and hold with the hopes of profit... If not properly stored or cared for, a high carbon blade will tarnish - and probably lose a little value. The Uncle Henry knives with their stainless steel blades are a little easier for these profiteers to store without worry.

They don't really care that you can get an Old Timer sharper with less effort than the Uncle Henry counterpart - they're never going to use the knife.

This is just a thought - I could be totally wrong...
 
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