Hey Everybody...Hot off the Presses!!!

Joined
Oct 19, 2004
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Article in today's Times Herald Record....
Ellenville – Ellenville has its edge back.
Barely three months after longtime knife-maker Imperial Schrade shut down, a new knife company has forged its beginning in the village.
One of the two principals behind the rebirth is former Schrade President Wally Gardiner. He spoke last week by cell phone from the factory where the new Walden Knife Co. will locate. Ironically, the building on Canal Street was the home of Imperial Schrade for years before it moved to larger quarters on Route 209.
"Why Ellenville? Because we have some very talented craftsmen here, that's why," Gardiner said, "and because I want to continue the tradition of fine pocketknives here."
Village Manager Elliott Auerbach said he is excited about the endeavor. "We feel Ellenville has always been the home of a first-class knife manufacturer. We see this as the business coming back to its roots. We see it as the beginning for not only the knife industry, but also for the community at large."
Gardiner is not looking to replicate Imperial Schrade's mass marketing approach. Rather, he said, the Walden Knife Co. will focus on high-end, "boutique" folding and rigid-back pocketknives.
Craftsmen will fashion the knives by hand from natural materials like mother of pearl, ram's horn, ox horn and the like. "They will be very beautiful," Gardiner said. Prices will range from $40 to $300. The United States, Canada and Australia are the primary markets, but Gardiner said the company will market its products worldwide, particularly in Germany.
Right now, the company has three employees, including Gardiner and Joe Hufnagel, the other principal in the company. The numbers will grow to seven to 10 as sample production gears up next month. Regular production will start in January, Gardiner said.
Eventually, the company may employ as many as 50 people. Imperial Schrade, in contrast, employed as many as 450.
"We will be very nimble," Gardiner said. He hopes to be able to produce as few as 25 units of a knife design if that is what the customer wants.
James Economos, another former Schrade executive, now works as a consultant. His prediction of success: "They have a great chance."
 
Best wish to the boys (and girls ;) in Ellenville! Looking forward to making out next year's Christmas list!

I'm sorry to see that 50 looks like the max number of employees for the foreseeable future, but 50 is better than 0.

Someday soon, this might need to change the Walden and Original Schrade Forum.
 
This should be really exciting. Judging from the names of the people who I have heard are involved, these should be some of the best-made, highest quality knives to hit the market in a long time. I know one of them has been making knives with Schrade for over 50 years, the other over 30 years and the third person was personally trained by both of these men, and he's probably been there for around 30 years himself.
 
When can we sign up for the catalogs and mailing lists..

Great news just in time for the holidays.

:D :D :D :D :D

TTYL
Larry
 
I don't think they've gotten that far yet. So far,they don't even have an office staff. I'll keep you posted.
 
Gr8 news. I daresay the new company could do a good business just with we few hardcores right here, if we're talking issues as low as 50. I like the sounds of this. Seems a bit similar to the Xicar operation... small, nimble, ultra-high quality and pure class.

Don't worry, Guys.. I'm sure we'll be the first to know when something is available.

Debbie, this is premature, but can you, when the time is right, approach Mr. Gardiner and have him stop in here and type a few words to we faithful lost souls. You may mention such illuminaries in the knife world, such as Sal Glasser from Spyderco, Busse, AG Russel, that Randell kid from Orlando, Chuck Buck, that all realize the importance of the two main Web/Knife forums. We're not a large consumer group, but we are the most likely to buy what they offer. I do understand he is a busy guy...

Thanks for sharing this with us. You've been an invaluable addition to our little web community here.

Phil
 
Who is this guy Erdelyi. This is the best quote I have seen "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Tequila in one hand - lime and salt in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming - WOO HOO! What a Ride!"

I always said that I want all the body parts to go together nothing for someone else to recycle. That is why I always felt we should have been born with two livers and a sort of valve so we could switch from one to another and let one heal while using the other. Auntie Mame always said that life was a smorgasboard and people were starving because they just did not realize that now is the time to partake.

By the way Deb I read the article this morning as well and appreciate any info you might be able to give. Lets hope it works out. I hope to be going up there this week please contact me and let me know where I can leave the map you wanted. LT PS Don't forget the contest as it stands Phil and Deb have come the closest I find them both invaluable additions.
 
lt632ret said:
Who is this guy Erdelyi. This is the best quote I have seen "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Tequila in one hand - lime and salt in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming - WOO HOO! What a Ride!" ...


Nobody special, just an opinion. :D :cool:

Erdelyi AKA The Mad Hungarian AKA Hippie Gypsy
 
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Tequila in one hand - lime and salt in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming - WOO HOO! What a Ride!"


I Totally agree. This Erdelyi guy is ok. Pass him a shrade, & a marguerita, a ping pong ball, a sock and lemme touch him twice on each shoulder with my big and bad Imperial Schrade XT1B

There ya go, pal. You're an official 'Uncle Henry Lost Soul'

tisztelgés!
Phil.
 
No problem Phil. I have only seen Wally a couple times since the shutdown, but I'm sure I'll be seeing him a couple more. I will be sure to let him know that everyone would like to hear a little bit of anything. Debbie
 
UH Fan, I'm glad to hear that . Everytime I drove past the factory after the closing it was very depressing . It's good to maintain the traditions of knife making in the area and good to see at least some of the talented people will go back to work. And we need every job possible here in the Catskills.
 
You can say that again. I've been looking since the factory closed in July, and there is really nothing around here that pays anywhere near what we were paid at Schrade. (We were spoiled) It is depressing, but it is sooo exciting that the good guys are still going to be producing, and however it ends up, it sounds like the Schrade name will live on. It would be really great if these guys at the new Walden Cutlery Company would make commemoratives and limited editions for the new Taylor Schrade Company. I'd love to see some of their best work come out with the Schrade name on them (even if it is contract stuff). If Taylor moves ahead with overseas Schrades, they're going to need all the help they can get, and if they do it that way, they can at least keep the quality stuff American made. Haven't heard anything...I'm just thinking out loud.
 
textoothpk said:
...I Totally agree. This Erdelyi guy is ok. Pass him a shrade, & a marguerita, a ping pong ball, a sock and lemme touch him twice on each shoulder with my big and bad Imperial Schrade XT1B

There ya go, pal. You're an official 'Uncle Henry Lost Soul'

tisztelgés!
Phil.


nagyon köszönöm
 
This is great news to me. :D


Hope they will build a yellow handled Walden Trapper with carbon blades. One of my favorite slip joints is a simple Schrade yellow trapper with SS blades. It has been used on everything from fish, ducks, deer, and hogs.
 
and how about some nice tradtional patterns like the "splitback" serpentine whittler, swell end jack, swell center whittler, lobster, cattleman, barlow, teardrop jack, congress, etc. and How about some nice tradtional jigged bone colors and patterns, with some carved bolsters like the ones from the "golden age" of cutlery?


Are you listening Wally????? :)
 
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