No canoe pattern from Schrade. Why not?

Dave Thinkstoomuch · Apr 28, 2013

The canoe pattern is widely seen and made by many manufactures. I like it and since I love canoeing it makes even more sense sometimes. As far as I know the only canoe pattern offerings Schrade had were the bone I*XL-Schrade "Heralds of the Sea" shown below and a stag version, the GS-50, and they weren't made by Schrade.

What's the deal? Am I missing some canoe pattern oldies? Did Uncles' Albert and Henry hate the pattern? Did it cost five times more to make for some strange reason?

I've wondered about this often but never posed the question. Today I am

thawk · Apr 28, 2013

It is not a very traditional pattern. It is an interesting question I don't know the answer to. Schrade, Camillus, Imperial, Ulster, Utica, Western... did any of them make a Canoe? I don't think so, but I could be wrong. Case makes them now, but I don't think they have made them for very long, but I am not sure.

I don't care for the pattern much, but it would be a very functional pattern. That stockman with the lighthouse is a looker. :thumbup:

Dave Thinkstoomuch · Apr 29, 2013

thawk said:
It is not a very traditional pattern. It is an interesting question I don't know the answer to. Schrade, Camillus, Imperial, Ulster, Utica, Western... did any of them make a Canoe? I don't think so, but I could be wrong. Case makes them now, but I don't think they have made them for very long, but I am not sure.

I don't care for the pattern much, but it would be a very functional pattern. That stockman with the lighthouse is a looker. :thumbup:

Case was making the pattern as far back as the '40s http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/price_guide/wr_case_xx/knives-131.php .

Another almost-Schrade canoe is the 1978 NKCA knife also made by Rodgers Wostenholm (stamped Rodgers Wostenholm England) but it's listed and sold online as being a Schrade because they had just bought them.

NKCA link: http://www.nkcaknife.org/page75.html

Since the 1940's lots of manufactures have tried to sell a canoe pattern or two. Maybe when the data got crunched it was everybody's worst seller and Schrade fought the impulse. They just made so many different knives over the years it surprises me that they never added one to their manufacturing options when others were to see if it would fly. Maybe the GS-50 and Heralds experiments scared them off.

afishhunter · May 4, 2015

Schrade is making the Canoe pattern under the Uncle Henry and Imperial lables now. "Stagalon" handle on the Uncle Henry, "Cracked Ice" celluloid on the Imperial. There may be other flavors, as well.

tongueriver · May 4, 2015

This sub-forum generally is confined to the American-made Schrades 1904-2004.

Saddlebum · May 5, 2015

thawk said:
I don't care for the pattern much, but it would be a very functional pattern.

My thinking is just the opposite. I think they look cool and I like spear blades, but in the little bit of handling I've done with mine, it seems like they would be uncomfortable to use. When one blade is in use, the other is biting your fingers as you grasp the knife. You really don't get to take advantage of the canoe swells for gripping because there is a single folded blade filling up the gap between the swells. I haven't used mine because I want to keep it nice and unused, but it seems pretty uncomfortable to use and bulky too, from a practical standpoint. Actually, if I think about it, I think just about any of the traditional patterns would be preferable to me over the canoe pattern for any usage. They just look cool to me, and that's about it. Maybe I'm not the only consumer that feels that way.

tongueriver · May 5, 2015

It is true that a folded blade sticks up when another is in use, which is also common with stockman and cattle knives, and perhaps with most multi-blade knives. I guess it depends a bit on the skill of the cutler and his 'blueprint.' Some of the canoes are indeed quite purdy, such as this Schrade/IXL/Orgill, which I do not plan to use. It has three blades.

thawk · May 5, 2015

Saddlebum said:
My thinking is just the opposite. I think they look cool and I like spear blades, but in the little bit of handling I've done with mine, it seems like they would be uncomfortable to use. When one blade is in use, the other is biting your fingers as you grasp the knife. You really don't get to take advantage of the canoe swells for gripping because there is a single folded blade filling up the gap between the swells. I haven't used mine because I want to keep it nice and unused, but it seems pretty uncomfortable to use and bulky too, from a practical standpoint. Actually, if I think about it, I think just about any of the traditional patterns would be preferable to me over the canoe pattern for any usage. They just look cool to me, and that's about it. Maybe I'm not the only consumer that feels that way.

I made that comment without using one

, based on the blades I think. I thought the blades looked functional and I like spear and pen blades. Still to this day, I've never used a canoe pattern. I had one of the Schrade Wostenholm with thick stag handles, but did not use it or keep it. Still don't fancy the look, I think because of so much of the blades are exposed, and prefer sleeker folders, both for appearance and feel.

Saddlebum · May 6, 2015

That is a beauty, Tongueriver. I guess because there is only one blade portruding so much from the handle on a 2 blade canoe, it seems to bite the fingers more than other knives to me, hard to get a grip on it and it just feels odd in my hand. I get what you're saying, Thawk, about the blades and agree. The fancy ones are nice collector knives and Case has made some really beautiful ones too. My meandering thoughts about the canoe pattern I thought might give some insight as to why Schrade Cutlery didn't produce one, maybe not. It appears, at a glance, that they are more collector knives than practical users and therefore not as profitable? I'm pretty satisfied with just the one stag handled Schrade/Wostenholm canoe that I have. I really enjoy looking at everyone elses beautiful canoes though. Nice artistic craftsmanship is always worth a look. Thanks for posting them!

tongueriver · May 6, 2015

I collect Schrades but ironically usually don't carry them. However, this will be my main squeeze, along with my bicycle, goodwife, and van, for an upcoming 6K road trip. It is a survivor with no snap to the clip and various other signs of age, much like myself. But it has a toothy sharp edge and will do most tasks. In my front pocket 16/7 for the last few weeks. Got a Camillus scout knife with a phillips screwdriver in it in the jockey box and a Schrade Walden Craftsman scout knife with a saw blade in my bike bag. I will leave my customary fixed blade in the car; the sheeple grow faint at the sight of such things. Since I will be on a military base part of the time I will leave my firearms at home. This makes me nervous but I predict that I will arrive home safely.

Saddlebum · May 6, 2015

tongueriver said:
I collect Schrades but ironically usually don't carry them.

Funny you should mention that. I'm the same way alot of the time. I've been carrying a Camillus made Moore Maker 4 1/8" yellow trapper on my belt in the Moore Maker 'holster' sheath for quite a while. It's just so handy and convenient I hardly know it's there. But I'm not that fond of the grind. I reworked the edge with a Lansky and changed the angle. It's still a pain to sharpen and doesn't cut through things easily. I have been thinking of a Schrade subsitute in the holster sheath, but I haven't decided which one. Maybe a 4" stockman. I recently bought a 881Y cuz the price was right and I wanted to use it. When I got it, it was so perfect and clean that I wound up wiping it off, oiling it and stashing it in the loose collection. I'm either going to transition to the 881Y or a loose Founder's Edition 881 that I have. They fit in the holster pretty good. Otherwise I have a well used 855 and a 58OT if I need to carry in my pocket. I have Schrade knives stashed everywhere too. SP3s and SP7s in my pack, duffel bag, fly fishing vest, sometimes my back pocket. My letter opener is a 280 Mac Tools big barlow. There is a blue Saf T Grip 141OT Outfitter and a XT1B Camp knife under the back seat. A blue XTimer one handed knife in the console and 3 different Leathermans in my truck. I have one or more guns in the truck at all times. If I feel the need to tip-toe through a sensitive area, I will unload and keep the ammo separate and both well hidden in the under-seat compartments in my truck. I guess I could stash the ammo in the crossover box in the bed. I hope you have a safe trip and have some fun. Having our gadgets and toys along for the ride is comforting.