NAHC 15th Anniversary (1993) Sambar stag LB9-type guthook

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

My NAHC (North American Hunting Club) 15th Anniversary burnt Sambar stag LB9 arrived and it's a beautiful knife in pristine condition. The stag is well matched and I'm a happy camper! The ephemera is also in mint condition and here are pics of the whole package except for the open display box.

Curiously, Larry H's example shown here: http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/corners/LarryH/pages/NAHC-15th-Anniv (2).htm seems to differ from mine in that my sheath is a totally different colour but the display box as well.

The knife and cardboard box have the matching serial number of 0579 as marked on the mark side bolster. There are also some mystery numbers engraved on the pile side bolster. Here we find "SCB" over "42746". If anyone else has one of these knives I would really like to hear what, if anything, is engraved on the rear bolster. My guess is maybe that's the initials and NAHC membership number of the original owner of the knife. I'd really like to solve this mystery so please help me out here guys if you can. Thanks!

The booklet that comes with the knife is pretty cool describing all the steps in making these knives as they made their individual journeys through Schrade's custom shop. I never knew Harold Buley was the foreman of the custom shop back then but I do now. Thanks Harold if you are out there! Nice work!

Here are the plentiful pics. Enjoy!

 

[tongueriver]

Great job on the photos of a great set. This is an example of archival material that should go to Larry V.'s site.

 

[howieareyu]

Dave -

I agree with Cal - Another excellent presentation and thanks for the great pictures. :thumbup::thumbup:

"SCB" over "42746" = Maybe first owners Initials and NAHC Member number?
Though a forum search only brings up this current thread, I'd swear I've seen SCB used before in talks of Schradealia.

Congrats!!

-- Howie

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Thanks for the encouragement and kind words guys. It does take a bit of time to do these up but it's fun. I like photography and if others enjoy seeing them as much as I do then I'm extra pleased. The originals I scanned at 600dpi and I tell you when I display those hi-def pics on my 50" plasma it's pretty amazing. Giant microscope kinda thing.

I see now I didn't post a pic of the COA (signed by Harold Buley) but I will edit that in shortly so it is a complete photo record of the set. Cheers!

 

[Larry303]

G'day Dave..a little bit more thinking required mate and you will see why.....refer my photos below,my knife set is a common garden variety NAHC Official Member,whereas you are a high faluting Life Member knife set....your numbers no doubt refer to his Life Member status and perhaps he was a bit of a SOB in their Club!..:foot:..my 'Certificate of Authenticity' is No 3183/10,000 and my Registration Certificate is NAHC Official Member and yours is Life Member Commemorative. I get a common brown sheath with the same logo whereas you get a black one as a Life Member....the tops of our wood boxes are different as well....mine states only 75th Anniversary and yours has Life Member Commemorative below that....
I have both sets Official Member and Life Member of the NAFC <Fishing Club> and have noted similar differences between Ordinary and Life Memberships....I think they are on my collectors corner as well.......Hope this helps.....Yours is a great set,thanks for showing.....Hoo Roo
P.S. Its too wet here in Victoria to go gold detecting so you have my company for the day!..like it or not!

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

G'day Dave..a little bit more thinking required mate and you will see why.....refer my photos below,my knife set is a common garden variety NAHC Official Member,whereas you are a high faluting Life Member knife set....your numbers no doubt refer to his Life Member status and perhaps he was a bit of a SOB in their Club!..:foot:..my 'Certificate of Authenticity' is No 3183/10,000 and my Registration Certificate is NAHC Official Member and yours is Life Member Commemorative. I get a common brown sheath with the same logo whereas you get a black one as a Life Member....the tops of our wood boxes are different as well....mine states only 75th Anniversary and yours has Life Member Commemorative below that....
I have both sets Official Member and Life Member of the NAFC <Fishing Club> and have noted similar differences between Ordinary and Life Memberships....I think they are on my collectors corner as well.......Hope this helps.....Yours is a great set,thanks for showing.....Hoo Roo
P.S. Its too wet here in Victoria to go gold detecting so you have my company for the day!..like it or not!

Two editions of this knife? Who knew? Larry did!

Thanks Larry for posting the pics for comparison and pointing out that difference. I was kind of thinking it might be "SOB" not "SCB" but I think that's open to interpretation. Tough call.

 

[Larry303]

So Dave the obvious question re your COA...does it show how many Life Membership knives were produced...or was the whole batch produced 10,000 knives including both forms of membership?..Hoo Roo

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

My sincere apologies to Harold if he is still with us.....
So Dave the obvious question re your COA...does it show how many Life Membership knives were produced...or was the whole batch produced 10,000 knives including both forms of membership?..Hoo Roo

The knife, the scanner and all the original pics are at a friends for safe storage so I will have to double-check tomorrow but I think my COA says "of 3760" but don't hold me to it. I will confirm that as soon as I can because it is indeed "the obvious" question.

I wasn't aware that there were two versions of the NAFC birds-eye maple drop point so I guess I will have to add another to my wish list. I'm an OG Bass Master of epic proportions lol having caught massive smallies on many occasions. Two over 5 lbs landed and I've lost a couple over 6. Had to talk the trash... sorry if I digress

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

I added the COA to the original post; it says a series of 3750. Whether or not this is part of the 10000 or if there are 13750 knives total I can't really say. What do think guys? Anybody have any Schrade in-house order info about these?

 

[Larry303]

My guess is 3750 knife sets for you Toffs and 10,000 for us more Common folk...Total 13,750...no doubt lrv will chime in....Hoo Roo

 

[ea42]

Well I guess I could ask Harold..... he's still hard at work, here he is at the glazing wheel glazing a bolster on one of his creations about a month ago. I'll see if I can sneak a picture of him tomorrow if he comes in:

[/IMG]


BTW, that arm above him belongs to Alex H., who was the sample maker at the Schrade plant at the time they closed. He was with the company since around 1975, started in the very same room he's working in now, talk about going full circle!

Eric

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Well I guess I could ask Harold..... he's still hard at work, here he is at the glazing wheel glazing a bolster on one of his creations about a month ago. I'll see if I can sneak a picture of him tomorrow if he comes in


BTW, that arm above him belongs to Alex H., who was the sample maker at the Schrade plant at the time they closed. He was with the company since around 1975, started in the very same room he's working in now, talk about going full circle!

Eric

Well that surpassed all my expectations. Small-world-after-all. I'm glad these guys are still doing what they love to do and I am once again thankful to be a member of this community. I meant what I said before: Thanks Harold!

Thanks Eric!

 

[bwnj42]

G'day Dave..a little bit more thinking required mate and you will see why.....refer my photos below,my knife set is a common garden variety NAHC Official Member,whereas you are a high faluting Life Member knife set....your numbers no doubt refer to his Life Member status and perhaps he was a bit of a SOB in their Club!..:foot:..my 'Certificate of Authenticity' is No 3183/10,000 and my Registration Certificate is NAHC Official Member and yours is Life Member Commemorative. I get a common brown sheath with the same logo whereas you get a black one as a Life Member....the tops of our wood boxes are different as well....mine states only 75th Anniversary and yours has Life Member Commemorative below that....
I have both sets Official Member and Life Member of the NAFC <Fishing Club> and have noted similar differences between Ordinary and Life Memberships....I think they are on my collectors corner as well.......Hope this helps.....Yours is a great set,thanks for showing.....Hoo Roo
P.S. Its too wet here in Victoria to go gold detecting so you have my company for the day!..like it or not!

hey Larry,, I came across a NAHC 15th ANN. knife its states as having a "BOVINE" handle material which is cow bone, as you probably know, should I be concerned to both the no SERIAL # & Bovine handle compared to the "GENUINE STAG" handle.. Thank You

 

[bwnj42]

hey larry hope you can help me I've come across the same knife "HOWEVER" there is NO serial# or MEM.#,,,, should I stear clear of this one??