Imperial Schrade or Camillus? Sears Craftsman 9500 Senior Stockman.

[Larry303]

G'day,
Craftsman knives are often overlooked and I always wonder why as they seem of equal or better presentation than their more famous 'Brand' name equivalents.
I've got some questions concerning this Craftsman 'American Eagle' 9500 Senior Stockman Style knife.
Do you believe Camillus or Schrade made? What year of manufacture?
It has the original Sears Sales sticker on box cover $10.00.
Is this knife part of the Sears Series Fixed Bladed ' Sears Craftsman American Eagle Collection' "Hunting Knives"?
This knife box even came with its own sharpening stone tucked away at the back unlike the traditional Stockman.
Question for Codger: The Patent Numbers shown on the fancy box hinges on the box..would those numbers have related to the actual hinge or the whole box design?
This is a substantial and attractive Stockman which is worthy of either Camillus or Schrade Collection depending on who made it. Photos attached....
Hoo Roo

 

[Larry303]

photos of the paperwork and hinges.....

 

[thawk]

Larry - Judging from the swedge, blade grind, and serpentine shape to those handles, I'd say the knife is a Schrade Walden. I'd also bet it might come from the same era as those original Buck 301's too. It looks just like an 8OT. I think the serial number in the liner, Uncle Henry style, is a Schrade sign too.

The hinged box puts it in there with the Schrade Walden's around the later 1960's. Uncle Henry and Old Timer boxes have that same hinge patent. I also think this was a time in history where the blending of parts between Schrade, Ulster, Camillus, and Craftsman knives was at its peak. Bet that knife of yours has a Swinden rocker pin construction.

My 2 cents worth.

 

[edbeau]

Larry, I have a few 5" locking back Craftsman knives that are like you stated are either Schrade or Camillus. One way or another they are fully American made and made just as good as a LB7 or 886.

 

[Codger_64]

Without looking them up, the folders appear to be Schrades (some were made for them by Imperial), and the folding hunters all appear to be Camillus knives. The shape of the front bolster is a dead giveaway, even discounting all of the other details. Note that Sears did buy come cheap Colonial Coyote Folding Hunters from time to time, most that I have seen were promo knives for their mufflers and batteries.

 

[edbeau]

Recently, I bought a Coyote off the bay and you are right about the cheap. It is cheaply made and I only need one.

 

[Larry303]

If the Craftsman above was made by Schrade in the late 60's then the Sears represented better value to a purchaser than the common or garden variety 8OT being its equivalent. The Sears sticker on the bottom of this box shows $10 whereas the 8OT at that time I believe was $7.95?...with the Sears you got the fancy box,the sharpening stone and an upmarket version 8OT...should have sold in droves but by their scarcity I dont think they did......maybe the name Craftsman didnt excite the buyer like the famous name 'Old Timer'.....Hoo Roo

 

[Codger_64]

If the Craftsman above was made by Schrade in the late 60's then the Sears represented better value to a purchaser than the common or garden variety 8OT being its equivalent. The Sears sticker on the bottom of this box shows $10 whereas the 8OT at that time I believe was $7.95?...with the Sears you got the fancy box,the sharpening stone and an upmarket version 8OT...should have sold in droves but by their scarcity I dont think they did......maybe the name Craftsman didnt excite the buyer like the famous name 'Old Timer'.....Hoo Roo

After WWII, sales of Craftsman knives by Sears never approached the volume of knives sold under the Schrade names. Most likely because every small town hardware store, gun shop and bait shop could sell the Schrade brands, but only the big town Sears stores could sell the Craftsman brand.

I do agree that 90% of the time the Sears buyer got a good deal since, for the most part, the Craftsman branded SFOs they sold were upscaled variants of the standard Schrade/Ulster/Camillus production items.

 

[rprocter]

Hi Larry, quote: "maybe the name Craftsman didnt excite the buyer like the famous name 'Old Timer'.....Hoo Roo"
In North America the "Craftsman" line of tools WAS highly regarded until relatively recently. These were USA made tools and always very high quality and often preferred by tradesmen. The "Craftsman" branding was definite plus.
roland