Question about a Schrade 3rd Generation C641

3

3rdGenC641

Joined
Jul 8, 2011
Messages
28
Hello - newbie here with a general knowledge question about my old Schrade pocket knife. From what I've been able to research on my own I know this particular knife is not all that common, but I also believe it's not all that valuable either. There's one bit of info that I just can't track down on the internet. It has 'Hoffritz' etched into the blade just below the nail mark. I bought this knife new at Paragon Sports in Manhattan back in 1983 or 1984. Unfortunately I didn't save the original box but I did manage to hang onto the horizontal belt sheath that it came with. What I'm wondering is if the Hoffritz branding adds to, or detracts from the overall 'collectibility' of this knife. I was planning on giving this to my son - but after doing a little research I'm thinking maybe I should hold off for a few years until he's old enough not to trash it.

I'd really appreciate any information that anyone has about this great little knife. Here's a pic:
schrade1.th.jpg
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Hi 3rdGen and WELCOME!!

Thank you for posting a picture with your question :thumbup:
I watch for the various 3rd Gen auctions on the auction site.
The C641 comes up 'less often' than most of the other models in the sub-group.

Kinda hard for me to tell - Does yours have the 3rd Generation etch and a Hoffritz etch?

A Google of Hoffritz shows me that they were/are a cutlery related company.
I'll go out on a limb and say this one was an SFO or subcontract Schrade, made to sell under the Hoffritz name.

(Still on the limb ......) Logically, I'd think there are many more standard Schrade C641's than those with the additional Hoffritz etch.

Add / Detract - Well, I collect the 3rd Gens and look for the standard models with the a strong '3rd Generation' blade etch, boxes and paperwork.

Besides any blade scratches and loss of blade due to sharpening, Desirability for other people on this knife will fade along with the quality of the blade etch.
That's the problem with the etched knives - gotta be real careful with 'em.

Real nice knife to save for your Son and maybe it'll get both of you guys posting on Bladeforums in the future. I look forward to seeing that very cool 3rdGenC641 moniker of yours posting again.

-- Howie
 
Thanks for the reply Howie. The 3rd Gen & Hoffritz are not worn at all and the blade has never been sharpened. It's not an unused knife but it has spent 99% of it's life in a plastic bag. I'm going to hang on to it until my son's a bit older. In the meantime I'll be keeping an eye out for the 641's siblings at upcoming gun & knife shows. When it's time, maybe I'll have a few 3rd Gens to pass on. I'll be sure to post pics as the 'collection' grows!

- Jason

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Hey Jason - Great Pics!! Wish I had the photo equipment to get good closeups like that.
Great that you're going to hang on to it !!

Here's a link to the collectors-of-schrades-r.us site and more 3rd Generation info so you know what to look for: http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/3rd-Gen/index.htm

Every so often you see the 3rd Gen display case up for auction - worth watching for it
I've only ever seen the folding soft case on the collectors site and (I think?) one time here on the forum.

-- Howie
 
Good luck finding the others Jason. They are a competative lot, but fun to chase down.

I've had this set for a while. It is an interesting set. I picked it up on the Exchange Forum about 4 years ago. Just the knives and the green boxes they came in. They survived Hurricane Katrina, the seller was from Louisiana. I'd like to have the wooden platter he shot the picture on.

3gen_open.jpg

Sellers picture

3rdGen_Case.jpg

Got the soft case from LT a year later

3rdGens-2.jpg

Found the display case sometime after that. I get a kick out of the description "arced". I think they meant arched.

The two bladed C642 might be the least seldem seen of the different patterns. They are an odd knife, and I've never used them, but they do feel comfortable in my hand, and I really like the stubby little wharncliff blades. The C641 though, with the lockback and the drop point blade, is the key knife in the set.
 
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@thawk

I like that display case. I'm guessing there aren't a whole lot of those floating around and I probably wouldn't pay what they are demanding - but it is nice. I'm curious about the other 3rd Generations. One of the things I don't like about the 641 is the lack of 'snap' when I close it. When I close my Buck 110, for instance, the blades own tension will take part of your finger off if you're not careful while it snaps shut. The 641 is the polar opposite. As I'm closing it and the blade passes that 'beaking point' it does close on its own, but verrrrry slowly and gently. It's not a friction issue - the blade is free of debris and it's oiled. It's not attributable to wear - I've barely touched the knife since it was new. It's just the nature of the 641. This personality trait makes the knife feel dainty, even though I know it isn't. Do the slipjoint versions have a bigger bark or do they share this soft touch?
 
My C641 is similar to what you describe. Typical of most Schrade lock blade knives I've handled. The slip joint knives all have normal snap on the blades.
 
FYI on Hoffritz; they were a knife retailer and I have a few knives I bought from their store in Plantation Florida before they went out of business. All the knives I bought from them have "Hoffritz" on the blade. Like this Gerber I bought in 1988:
DSCN0757.jpg

You can see it on the blade if you look long enough.
 
I mainly collect Schrade lockbacks and I've found they usually snap shut by themselves very well but the odd one I get just doesn't and I'm not sure why. I'm of the opinion that folders should be stored fully open or fully closed (I know this has been discussed before) so that the spring isn't weakened but this doesn't explain every example. "Lazy" folders are definitely a pet-peeve of mine!

Hoffritz info? From what I've read they started in NY in 1930 and reached their peak in mid-'80s. In 1984 they had 52 locations in 15 States. In 1994 the parent company (C.W. Acquisitions) filed for bankruptcy. They sold higher-end kitchen-ware and cutlery etc.

Their knives always had "Hoffritz" or "Made Expressly For Hoffritz" etched on them.

The family that ran it now run International Cutlery. "International Cutlery is run by the same family that ran Hoffritz for Cutlery for more than 60 years": from their website.

It seems "Lifetime Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq:LCUT)" now owns the rights to the name and is still selling cookware branded as Hoffritz.

Some folks collect Hoffritz items themselves so to them these knives are very collectable. To someone else the etch may be undesirable. It depends on the buyer and what they collect.

Cheers!
 
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I vaguely remember the Hoffritz chain. Since I started posting here I realized I have a number of knives with Hoffritz branding. Most of the knives I have were acquired in the 80s and 90s in NYC. Thanks for all the info.
 
howieareyu said:
Hi 3rdGen and WELCOME!!

Thank you for posting a picture with your question :thumbup:
I watch for the various 3rd Gen auctions on the auction site.
The C641 comes up 'less often' than most of the other models in the sub-group.

Kinda hard for me to tell - Does yours have the 3rd Generation etch and a Hoffritz etch?

A Google of Hoffritz shows me that they were/are a cutlery related company.
I'll go out on a limb and say this one was an SFO or subcontract Schrade, made to sell under the Hoffritz name.

(Still on the limb ......) Logically, I'd think there are many more standard Schrade C641's than those with the additional Hoffritz etch.

Add / Detract - Well, I collect the 3rd Gens and look for the standard models with the a strong '3rd Generation' blade etch, boxes and paperwork.

Besides any blade scratches and loss of blade due to sharpening, Desirability for other people on this knife will fade along with the quality of the blade etch.
That's the problem with the etched knives - gotta be real careful with 'em.

Real nice knife to save for your Son and maybe it'll get both of you guys posting on Bladeforums in the future. I look forward to seeing that very cool 3rdGenC641 moniker of yours posting again.

-- Howie
Click to expand...
 
My two Uncles were instrumental in the design and samples for the Original 3rd Generation Knives. They along with 6 other folks from Schrade came up with these little gems. I have a photo of them all in a group picture in front of the Schrade Factory when it was located on Canal Street. The name 3rd Generation came from them being 3rd Generation Cutlers. They are nice little knives. I happen to have two sets in the wooden display case along with two of the 3rd Generation pouches, same as what Thawk posted above.(I also got these pouches from LT).

Tom
 
My favorite stockman knives ever are either of the 3rd Gen stockmen....the C648 or SS648.
 
Stelth said:
My favorite stockman knives ever are either of the 3rd Gen stockmen....the C648 or SS648.
Click to expand...
I know of no other stockman-type knife sturdier or more comfortable than my C648. It feels like a well-worn
piece of tumbled agate or jasper. It's my 'worry knife', I suppose. The folks at Schrade designed and made my favorite pocket knife. None of my other knives
comes close.
Regards,
Dorman
fingerpickingfool@gmail.com
 
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