Question about: Harry Gant Commemorative 2-blade trapper

D

Dave Thinkstoomuch

BANNED
Joined
Jun 15, 2009
Messages
1,196
I recently bought this online and wondered if anyone had any info or better pictures etc relating to this knife. I can't tell what handle made of, what's etched on it or even if that's a stone in the box with it. I have seen other Schrade/Gant offerings (at least 4 others come to mind) before but never this one. The pic is lousy, description minimal. Maybe that's why I was the only guy to bid on it or maybe cause it was overpriced. On this one, I have no clue. Comments from anyone who does greatly appreciated. I am a big Nascar and "Mr. September" fan so I took a chance. Personally, I think $35.00 and free shipping was tantamount to giving it away. I can't wait til it arrives!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...51931&_sacat=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1
 
Last edited:
After further research I have answered many of my own questions.

Write-up inside box says knife was released when Gant had finished 13 full seasons in Nascar dating it to around 1994. It was a special sold at Smoky Mountain Knife Works only release. The tang is stamped Schrade+ USA 296Y. The handles are green delrin with an inset of "The Bandit"s car #33. Both blades are etched. Most of the 5000 came with an unsigned COA (I have seen pics of a half dozen other examples now) but this example (0010 out of 5000) is extra-special in that it's COA is hand-signed (autographed) by both Harry Gant and Walt Gardiner. I see this as an extra-special knife on many levels. Gant is a retired racing Hall-of-Famer (one of the all-time greats, check out wikipedia for more info on him) and is turning 80 this year I think. We all know what company Walt Gardiner used to run. Skoal (Gants long-time sponsor) had long history with Schrade independent of Gant. I will post a link to a couple pics I found for reference but they are all of other examples of this knife and not #0010. Was this released in '94 as I guessed? How much did it go for? How many had the double autograph? I have tried to find vintage S.M.K.W. catalogues to answer this for myself but haven't had any luck on that front.

http://s772.photobucket.com/albums/yy9/MesmerToads/Harry Gant knife/
 
Last edited:
and for only 35 nice find and get! Harry was a special guy sportsman and gentleman. Nascar needs more like him again.
 
I will check my catalogs pretty sure i remember that one,ive got alot of 92 to 96 catalogs might take a couple of days to respond but i will. thanks
 
Well i pulled a couple of catalogs out found it in 2 earliest so far winter 1992 catalog earliest,retail 49.99 limited to 5000 serial numbered pieces.Also they made Harry Gant SP2 lockback 12.99.thanks
 
tthman said:
Well i pulled a couple of catalogs out found it in 2 earliest so far winter 1992 catalog earliest,retail 49.99 limited to 5000 serial numbered pieces.Also they made Harry Gant SP2 lockback 12.99.thanks
Click to expand...

They also made at least 2 LB-7 type Gant commemoratives "Bandits' Last Ride" Cope (can't find example right now), a beautiful gold-etched one (http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/harry-gant-schrade-knife-gold-lettered-walnut-case) and a 3 blade trapper with a model car too (http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/harry-gant-nascar-schrade-display-knife). Again, thanks for your efforts. (addition: I don't endorse Worthpoint. Lookups way too expensive. Keep your own stats.)
 
Last edited:
Knife arrived today serial # 0010 as described. Solid wood box is really attractive and functional display too with its spring-loaded brass hinges and nice thumb notch in lid. A little "0010" sticker is on side of wooden box too (never removed).
It came with all bling including blue standard registration/survey form, original plastic sleeve knife came packed in from factory and the two separate COAs.
I have both the "standard" COA for this knife and the sweeeeet bonus one with the dual signatures in black pen. "Walt A Gardiner" signature matches (but not copied from) those in 1992 catalogue etc and Gant's looks very real too. No phonies here.
The only kinda weird thing is that the blades appear to have been oiled (not sure if at factory or later) and this oil has kinda "stickied up" and yellowed over the years though it's also likely part of why the knife is in absolutely mint condition. To me it looks like olive oil goes if you apply it and don't touch it again for a decade as if someone put that on it but just on blades. It will wash off easy and WD-40 will replace it as recommended by Schrade. There is none inside knife.
I will post series of pics when I get them taken.
 
Last edited:
tthman said:
Well i pulled a couple of catalogs out found it in 2 earliest so far winter 1992 catalog earliest,retail 49.99 limited to 5000 serial numbered pieces.Also they made Harry Gant SP2 lockback 12.99.thanks
Click to expand...

Thanks for your work. Any more info as to how many with double autographed COA?

Oh, and can you believe Gant raced this year in a Seniors race?!? He's too much! He is truly "the answer to every [racing] trivia question". I hope he is still racing at 90!
 
Last edited:
Finally found my info on the Harry Gant knife. Model 296HG
It was a special order by SMKW in 1992. 2000 were ordered to be delivered in August of 92
Blades were 440A SS and the back springs High Carbon steel. In 1994 SMKW ordered 2500 HG80's
 

Attachments

  • 296HG.jpg
    296HG.jpg
    19.2 KB · Views: 7
  • HG80.jpg
    HG80.jpg
    27.3 KB · Views: 9
Last edited:
lrv said:
Finally found my info on the Harry Gant knife. Model 296HG
It was a special order by SMKW in 1992. 2000 were ordered to be delivered in August of 92
Blades were 440A SS and the back springs High Carbon steel. In 1994 SMKW ordered 2500 HG80's
Click to expand...

Nice work. You really came through with dates and details right down to blade and spring composition. That's the kinda detail that helps me obsess away happily.
I guess the rest of the 5000 must have shipped soon after. I was wondering what the shield was made of because its very dark and could be almost anything.
It is a beautiful and nice hand-sized knife. The walnut laser-etched display box is outstanding quality. Even the bottom of it is made of one solid piece of walnut. Grain is beautiful. The paper write-up and plastic insert really don't do the box and knife justice imho. I love the green of the delrin. The back of the knife is very well finished: those carbon springs look great between the brass liners and it's as flush and even as could be. Great walk and talk. Will be even better after I gently clean and oil it. I've seen others lately. Get one people! It's a keeper.

SMKW had some great "specials" back in the day.

I just noticed that the clip blade on this 4" knife looks very much like the clip blade in the Frontier 4" Sportster lock-back as seen in the 1979 Florida gift set thread I started. Compare for yourself and you too will see it I think. Here's some Schrade/Imperial blending on display perhaps.
 
Last edited:
Dave, The blending went much further than Providence.. Camillus made many of the Frontier knives during this time frame. Albert and Co were masters of supply lines. The tie between Camillus and SMKW was more than just knife supplier.
 
This seems like an appropriate thread to show my little Harry Gant/Schrade collection.
14ce99h.jpg
 
Larry: these knives we collect and research are like little mysteries it seems I like that. My problem is the more I learn the more knives I want to have in my collection. Catch 22! I can't buy them all. First I was Schrade Bear Paw Family only collection and now I want every knife by Schrade, Parker-Frost, Camillus, Imperial, Hoffritz, LL Bean... on and on. Life is tough.

Upstream: NICE! I was pretty sure I wasn't the only Nascar and Schrade fan round here. Great that you have an example of the second knife Larry profiled: the HG80 3-blade one. Thanks for posting the pics. I figure the more we share here the deeper the wealth of knowledge available to future collectors and to our own memories when they fail.
 
Hey Dave, Thanks for giving me an excuse to get them out and take a look at them, reminds me why I collect. As you can see, I'm lacking the trapper model. Once my knife budget makes a rebound, I'll keep an eye out for for one.
Thanks Rick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top