Need help with this one

M

Mick57

Joined
May 27, 2004
Messages
1,846
I need some help with the experts here on IDing a Schrade knife I recently saw at a flea market. I'll give the description as best I can & hopefully someone can help me out. The knife is approximately 4 & 5/8'' closed. The frame is sort of toothpick shaped & skeletonized (?...for lack of a better word) The frame appears to be aluminum, but not sure. There are some scallops inletted along the frame. Inside part of the frame is some kind of reddish handle material...not sure what it is. On the tang is marked,
george schrade knife co.
pat. 1-27-42
b port ct
Anyone have a clue as to what it is & it's approximate value? Very scarce? The seller is asking $85. It looks to be in very good shape. Thanks in advance.
Mick
 
hi Mick...

Scroll down a bit in our forum and find the thread: Wire Jacks. You'll see a pic I posted.

Sounds like that is what you are asking about. $85 is a little steep unless it is in say 'excellent", mint or pristine condition. Last one I sold on Ebay went for $45. These are not real scarce, but they are interesting for the historical value. Gives you an idea of the genious of George Schrade.

Hope this helps. If not, post again, we've got some well-educated Schrade guys here.

Phil
 
Thank you Phil. I knew someone here could help me out. The knife I saw looks like the one on the bottom left in your pic of the 6 knives. The only thing different from the knife I saw is it had some handle material inside part of the frame. And it had the inletted scallops or grooves along the frame. Would that be non factory? Do you know what years these we're made? With the patent year of 42 on the tang, would it have been made in that year? Or sometime after? Thanks again for the help. I appreciate it.
Bruce
 
Bruce,

This design was originallly patented in 1926 (#1,600,602). The 1942 patent was for an additional improvement of the knife (perhaps it was the scallops to make it more 'grippy', but I do not know for sure. The scallops were factory done), which was done one year before the 1926 patent was due to expire. Geo. Schrade was a shrewd businessman, and he protected his good selling, cheap product. Unreal how well all of these I have seen still work. Like that photo in the thread below of the very old and corroded one I found. Sstill walks and talks.

Geo. Schrade sold out to Boker I think in 1956, and these knives were still being made then. You will find some (if you look) with Boker-marked blades. Boker made these until 1958. So the knife in question is 1942-1958 vintage.

Inserts: I looked at the original photo I scanned for the 6 knives I posted, and it does show the inserts. These were not well attached, they would pop out, and so many did that many casual knife collectors are unaware they ever had them. But every knife produced did. This was a popular scouting item... Boy Scouts used Red inserts, Girl Scouts used Green. Some of these knives were advertising items, and the company that commissioned them could have any color they choose. Once more, it would be fascinating to try and collect them all. The article I pointed out in Knife World was very fascinating and showed lots of variants.

I submit all the above as fact as I know it. Perhaps one of our other guys may want to correct or improve on my answers.

Phil
 
Phil,
Once again, thanks very much for all the info. You covered it well & answered all my ?'s. Take care. :)
Bruce
 
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