Picked up some OldTimers last night

Z

ZeonZaku

Joined
Dec 12, 2004
Messages
63
Now let me preface this by saying I am not a slip joint fan. Never have been since I had a SAK close on me in Boyscouts (my fault). Nonetheless when I heard Schrade was going the way of the dinos I send the GF to Wal-Mart while I was at work for a little recon. She reported that indeed Wal-Mart had Schrade knives and they were on clearance. She also noted that she didn't think they were "My Type Of knife". As I carry Spyderco, Camillus, and Emerson.

After a late day at work I headed over to the Wal-Mart. I asked the clerk pull out whatever Shcrade knives you have in stock. He looked below the counter and returned with four OldTimer seniors. I opened the package looked for the "Made USA" on the tang. Then checked the rest for cosmetic details. Satisfied with my inspection I purchased them all.

I brought then all home and began my small review. Couple cuts here and lots of closing and opening checks. I ran one down the sharpmaker a few times (blades a bit dull and off ground).

This is my opinion. For $15.00 I don't think you can find a better old fashion slip-joint. The knife is very sturdy, and the blades seem of a very good quality. My only gripe is that the middle blade? (carving?) is bent a bit too much to provide clearance for main blade and small blade.

All of that aside the OldTimer is sitting in my back pocket as we speak and will be main utility knife. Alowing me to keep the Emerson Commander for SD. One has been given as a gift and the rest I am going to hang onto for a while.

Anyone think these things will be big collector’s items? If so I am going to try and track down the smaller oldtimers. The senior is a bit big a slip joint for my tastes.

Anyways, I am glad to have found out about these knives later then never.

Thanks for reading,
 
Right now eBay prices on the OldTimers seem a little high. Those knives were mass-produced by the millions and as soon as the Schrade news was official months ago people started hoarding them. Sharp/lucky people like you are still finding them in stock at retailers, sometimes at discount prices.

As far as long-term collecting, they're just too common to ever be real treasure. But it's my guess that the OldTimers will always be worth at least twice what you paid.

If you're interested in bagging a few more, Smoky Mountain Knife Works bought the remaining Schrade factory inventory. You got lucky with the Senior, that's one model that SMKW hasn't had in stock.

Good Job,
Bob
 
I think there are plenty of them out there. For Christmas I got my dad an OT. He asked where I got it and I told him the local ACE store. He called the next day and said he had gone to ACE and they had marked down the Schrade knives (Ot and UH) so he just bought what they had. He brought home 8 or 9 knives and asked if I had room in my collection case for them :) That puts me at about 14 or 15 Schrades and even though I think they are plentiful, I have had a hard time bringing myself to carry and use them. Hopefully I get over that as they make such fine utility knives.
 
I had that problem too but I solved it by getting a user or beater of every new one I acquire. So far, the users are ahead, but the NIBs come slowly and steadily.
 
I must admit I am a software engineer so the reasons to use a knife are reliativly slim at work.. However it remains in my pocket or in my bag. I am still a boyscout at heart.

Honestly I started thinking I would buy a bunch of these and Ebay them. I think I might have changed my mind. It gives me a warm feeling to know that I bought a knife for $15.00 from a company that was in business for 100 years and it is top notch in terms of quality. Are their people who modify their schrades? I might be interested in getting some real horn put on these puppies.

EDIT...

WOW.. I just put in an order for whatever I could get my hands on over at eKnifeWorks. Looks like some great deals.
I ordered:
SCAL114 Imperial Peanut (white handle)
SCWM219B Imperial Jack Knife
SCAP23 Imperial Pen knife (factory error)
SCA94B Trapper with jigged delrin. (my favorite)

For those who know ever so much more then me on these knives tell me please where they were made?? All in the US? or some in Ireland? I just hope they are all not from China.. I have read the posts on these knives.

Thanks!!!
 
The Imperial Peanut is made in Ireland. Mine is pretty good quality, certainly worth $1.39. Heck, I think it's actually worth as much as $5.00. The spring on mine is very strong and the blades are straight.

The Imperial Jack Knife is also from Ireland, and again it's worth every bit of $1.99. Mine has fairly strong springs, one of the blades isn't perfectly straight but it doesn't rub, and it has a "Frontier" logo on the handle.

The "factory mistake" knife also cost $2, and it might or might not be worth that. It's a rather flimsy-feeling knife. Mine came in a "Diamond Edge" box and is the same knife as a DE552. It's also made in Ireland.

One of the US-made knives is the Melon Tester. At $9.99 it's a little high compared to the Irish knives, but it's a fair deal for ten bucks.

The Irish Imperial Camp Knives for $1.99 are good knives too. Would be great 'beaters' or knives for a kid to carry and probably lose.

The green Imperial lockbacks are made in Ireland. Both of the ones I handled are rather loose.

The Schrade Uncle Henry knives, if there are any left, are made in the US.
The OldTimers are also made in the US, and are the best of what's available at SMKW.
The SimpleSimon are made in the US, and the closeout price of $10 is probably what they're worth - I'd have been disappointed if I paid full price for one.
The Apex is made in China, but maybe still worth $5. The quality of the Chinese Apex is the same as the older Irish ones.

You'll have mixed results with the Tradesman knives. Most are fine, but both of the small lockbacks I've handled were very loose. I picked up a few Tradesman knives just to say I did. No reason not to, since they're $2 - $4 each.

Best Wishes,
Bob
 
So the trapper is a US knife?

Also it looks like the melon tester is sold out, thats a bummer.

Thanks,
 
Phil,
How many of those Melon Testers did you buy? looks like their prices are bound to climb now that SMKW is out ;) :rolleyes:
Its going to be like playing the stock market back in the 90's.. Watchout its going to crash...

TTYL
larry
 
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