Info on Schrade Presto Knife?

W

WallkillRiver

Joined
Jun 25, 2005
Messages
26
Hello,

Could someone tell me the aprox. value of this knife? Both blades are automatic, the larger blade is marked "PRESTO PAT.JAN30.40 MADE IN U.S.A."
The smaller blade is marked in a cresent moon shape "G. SCHRADE KNIFE Co B'PORT. CT."

Thank You!

Presto.jpg


84bfd6d4.jpg
 
WallkillRiver,

We probably need a little more info for a good guess-ta-mate.
(I'll await LT for the $$ answer)

Do the springs, buttons and locks still function properly?
Does the blade lock open and close well?
Does the blade sit high when closed or does the point of the blade stick out when closed?
Small blade looks to have been sharpened.

Thanks
Larry
 
Hey Larry,

Sorry for the lack of info, kinda new at this.

The springs and buttons work perfectly, both blades snap into place when fired. They close fine, blades lay even when shut. The small blade looks to have been sharpened a little but not extensivly.

The handle is in mint shape as well.

Thanks again!
 
WallkillRiver,
No problem. Welcome to the group. Please stick around.
Are you in the Walkill area?

After reading LT's book about Presto I think you should await his remarks.

He'll pop in here pretty soon.
TTYL
Larry
 
No, not from the Wallkill region, I'm actually in S.E. Mass, near Providence, RI. My father recently passed away and he handed down his knife collection to me. I'm in the process of cataloging them and I ran across a Wallkill River Works knife that struck my interest.

You'll def. be seeing more of me, trying to find out info on well over 5,000 knives is gonna be one hell of a process. Fun though.

Once I get more knowlegable, hopfully I'll be able to give some input myself.

Thanks again Larry!

And thanks T. Erdelyi for the price range.

Steve
 
Like Irv said
Irv said:
After reading LT's book about Presto I think you should await his remarks.
Click to expand...

I'm no expert by any means, those were prices I've seen on EBay.
 
Wallkill,
If you have any ?'s on the NY area knives this is the group to come to.
While we are the Schrade group that covers a lot of other knife companies too. Please let us know of your progress during the cataloging.

T. Erdelyi: I didnt mean to sound like I was picking on your range. EBay is fickle about these types of knives.

TTYL
Larry
 
Your knife is a 3,3/8" double switch spear and pen brass lined jigged bone handles when You decide to sell for 80 dollars I would like to buy 100 of them. Your knife (RETAIL) is a minimum of 200 and considering condition perhapes 300 or more. Presto was in business from 1929. This was Geo Schrades last knife company and he died Sept 9 1940 ( ie from my book The Collectors Guide to Switchblade Knives ). His son continued the business through the 40 tys. The bone suggests to me that this knife was made in the 40 tys. The prices on these varys to wide range. They were made by several companies and the various factors such as tang marking condition ect can cause the variations in price to go from ten to 25 dollars for a parts knife to several thousand for a really rare mint variation. ( Ie mint Schrado european made Schrade ). If you have any further questions please email me. I am sorry for my tardy response however for a while I will be a bit busy so my apologys to all . The fact is you can probably all use the respite from my continual drivel. PS as I am sure you are aware Wallkill river works was a line of knives produced by NYK in Walden. It was a lower end product line and is said to be one of the contributors of the demise of the company. Sorry there I go running off it is ( to me) an interesting point of history the Wallkill name does not come from the village where I live 3 miles from that factory but rather the Wallkill river which originally powered NYK machines and flows within sight of my house. LT PPS here is just something to remember. If I did have the reference or written the book how would I know it was bone and not cell or composite? See the white ring around the holes that is unique to Presto bone handles and knives made by them I say made for them because they like Schrade contracted to other companies like Remington. But that white ring says bone. Just a note in case any of you were unaware of this and find a bargain at a flea market.
 
Well by golly wha happened to the knife pics. Well anyway that is what it was honest. Thats weird.????? Are the computer Gods angry????. Like I always say it is all magic to me. LT
 
Thanks for that wealth of info It632ret! What delay are you talking about I submitted this thread this afternoon! And who stole the pictures?? Here are some more.

Steve

Presto3.jpg


Presto2.jpg


Presto1.jpg
 
Unless that is a reflection you should polish those blades ( medium scotchbright belt or wheel.) Just a touch shaping would help also. But do not mess with it unless you are mechanical. It might be reflection since I did not see it in the other pic. I usually answer auto questions pretty quickly but like I said life bullsh-- has me occupied. LT
 
lt632ret said:
Your knife is a 3,3/8" double switch spear and pen brass lined jigged bone handles when You decide to sell for 80 dollars I would like to buy 100 of them. Your knife (RETAIL) is a minimum of 200 and considering condition perhapes 300 or more. Presto was in business from 1929. This was Geo Schrades last knife company and he died Sept 9 1940 ( ie from my book The Collectors Guide to Switchblade Knives ). His son continued the business through the 40 tys. The bone suggests to me that this knife was made in the 40 tys. The prices on these varys to wide range. They were made by several companies and the various factors such as tang marking condition ect can cause the variations in price to go from ten to 25 dollars for a parts knife to several thousand for a really rare mint variation. ( Ie mint Schrado european made Schrade ). If you have any further questions please email me. I am sorry for my tardy response however for a while I will be a bit busy so my apologys to all . The fact is you can probably all use the respite from my continual drivel. PS as I am sure you are aware Wallkill river works was a line of knives produced by NYK in Walden. It was a lower end product line and is said to be one of the contributors of the demise of the company. Sorry there I go running off it is ( to me) an interesting point of history the Wallkill name does not come from the village where I live 3 miles from that factory but rather the Wallkill river which originally powered NYK machines and flows within sight of my house. LT PPS here is just something to remember. If I did have the reference or written the book how would I know it was bone and not cell or composite? See the white ring around the holes that is unique to Presto bone handles and knives made by them I say made for them because they like Schrade contracted to other companies like Remington. But that white ring says bone. Just a note in case any of you were unaware of this and find a bargain at a flea market.
Click to expand...


This is why you need the opinions of the experts, I'm always learning and info gathered here is extremely valuable.

I've always been facinated by the press button knives made pre 57 in this country, there were so many companies making them back then, it just they usually are outa my price range for a collectible instead of a user.

Irv said:
T. Erdelyi: I didnt mean to sound like I was picking on your range. EBay is fickle about these types of knives.
Click to expand...

Not a problem :) , I've seen some unbelievable things sold on EBay for next to nothing just because someone described an item incorrectly or listed it in the wrong category.

I've spent the last 2 years tryin' to figure out what makes an Item desirable/sale-able on EBay, so far all I have is accurate desciptions, sometimes you have to educate the buyers), clear good quality pics,(most people won't even look if there's no pic), and listing an item where the most interested people will look, one last thing, if you try to sell junk, people usually will buy something else.
 
I just recently bid on a broken knife no spring did not function I bid 400 on it and my bid stood until the last minute (tonite, as I knew it would ) then in its broken condition it went for 786 ( and was a steal ) If I had not dropped a couple of thou this week ( and had everything go wrong car, mower, ect. I would have gone 1000 ) it was a broken Schrade press button Guardian it ( this model )was only made for 7 years by this company. The fellow who bought it is a very well known collector. There had never even been a photo of this knife printed in a book, before mine. They would use the old black and white catalogue drawing in books. Now a similar knife from the same company with out the perm crossguard would bring from 100 to mint 7 or 8 hundred. This knife repaired ( under 100 dollars ) will bring 2000. It is like everything else. You cannot know everything however it is just as hard to know nothing. I saw paintings this week at an auction where I left enough money for a trip to the caribean. ( I did not buy paintings)This one painting started at 7000 dollars not knowing scata about paintings I would probably have bid 50 dollars it was a pretty picture. Eh what the heck I have the guardian in the book the most well known and referred to in the world. These knives are so rare that they are given names like the New Hampshire guardian which if you were insane like my self you would know came from a farm in New Hampshire to Mark levine to Art Green and is now in the Langston collection and the one in the book. Kind of like the Hope diamond NUTS RIGHT I agree. By the way when the light is just right and the knife is tilted just right way and the moon is full and all is right with the world you can see the barest etch of the Guardian eagle on mine. Damn I love that etch however faint. It is the same eagle used by the local Walden newspaper and the Bordens milk company ( which was between Walden and Wallkill but that is a whole other story in fact I believe it is in the archives). LT
 
LT:

How long have you been collecting??? Dropping that kinda cash on a knife sound rediculus to me... Thats awesome though, finding rare and old collectables that have made it through the test of time over a 50, 60, 70+ year period... especially pocket knives considering what they're made for, makes finding these particular collectables in near mint condition such a true treasure.

Thanks again, I truely appreciate your input.

Steve
 
50+ years you are correct it is not normal I agree. In fact it is pathetic there was a time I cared about family and all the normal traditions . Now I have nothing but a small piece of history I wish to keep from being lost at least until we destroy ourselves. Money is only important if you need a certain amount for something particular it is a medium nothing more it only should be treated as a higher entity if you have a real need such as food (including alcohol) clothing shelter or KNIVES or a poker stake the basic five. 70 year old knives are really only old to the very young. Often condition is secondary to the rarity. I mean would a palantolgist ( spelling?) pass up a rare early human remnant because it wasen't perfect. Of course condition is a value consideration but only one of the factors. I dont know, I have spent over 10,000 for a knife but I have lost and won well over 40,000 in various poker games in one sitting and I would give 100,000 to have one more day knowing what I know now, with friends who have past on. History, time, they really dwarf money ( as long as you have enough to stay warm, not hungry and safe ). Values change I sadly remember many years ago when I offered to break a mans arm for 20 dollars. That was a lot of money then ( beer was 15 cents) . I had 2 children was 19 and used to arm wrestle the local butcher for sausage. 3 lbs against a dollar. Oh well you asked sorry I tend to wander . LT
 
LT I apologize for even answering, I need to get your book and learn a lot more before I give my two cents worth in regards to old autos, I watch them sell on the internet and based my uneducated, uninformed answer on that, still I apologize for giving such a quick generalized answer.

I bow before the masters and will continue my own education on the forum.

Thanks for all you info guys you are the best. :cool:
 
Sorry if I seem mauldlin, contenscious, bent, warped, solicitious, and in general a cranky old fart but, come to think of it that seems to be exactly what I am. As the Duke would say TO THE PURE LIFE. LT PS without every ones two cents including yours and mine this forum or its future wouldn't be worth a plug nickle.
 
I spread my 2 cents like fertilizer in other areas of BFC.

In the old time pre 57' autos I've much to learn.

As far as, mauldlin(nah), contenscious(nope), bent( :D no comment), warped(ain't we all), solicitious(possibly), and in general a cranky old fart(definitely). :D :)
 
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