Question about Scrade DU Big Sky Carvers

S

spinout

Joined
Oct 15, 2006
Messages
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I recently purchased a Schrade DU muskrat SDU77 mounted in a Big Sky Carvers carving of a Surf Scoter sitting on a nest and a brass federal duck stamp to the side. The duck stamp says expires on June 30,1997. The blade on the knife has a duck head and 2002 on it. Is this a correct set or did somebody switch out the knife?
 
A picture always helps. However, from your description, you have a 1996/97 Federal Duck Stamp DS10LTD display with a Ducks Unlimited knife. The correct knife should be a knife like this with bird hook blade:



To fit in a muskrat blade, it appears they would have had to cut the display? Does the knife cavity look altered?

You can see the original company flyer for the set here:

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/1990s/pages/SC96-SS10.htm

Michael
 
That is it, the muskrat does have the bird hook but on the blade there is the DU logo head with 2002 next to it. How can a 2002 blade etch be with the 1997 duck stamp. Guess that is my question. I have no way of taking pictures at this time, need camera. Thanks for info so far.
 
After making a couple phone calls I was told the brass duck stamp image is the same used on all the LTD knife sets. When it comes to knives you can learn something new everyday and still not know much about them. Great site for us struggling newbies.
 
The Federal Migratory bird conservation and hunting stamp program is a seperate entity (U.S. Dep. of Interior) than the private Ducks Unlimited organization. Your knife should be burnt stag handled and NOT have a Ducks Unlimited shield. DU did use the same birdhook pattern, but with Fibron wood handles. Also there was a less expensive DS10 knife without the duck decoy display which used fibron handles, but not the DU shield.



The Duck Stamp plate was different each year, and used on only Duck Stamp issues, not Ducks Unlimited knives, and not all LTD knives.

Michael
 
Please be patient with me as I am trying to get this information thru my clouded brain. You are saying the knife with the big sky carving should NOT have a DU logo but a duck stamp logo? Thanks. PS My handles are wood. PPS OK, it finally sunk in and I see what you are talking about. Somebody put a DU knife in a DS display.
 
Not necessarily....DU did put out some knife collections in this array. You'll see them from time to time on E-bay. This is, however, the first scoter I've seen. I've seen redheads and mallards before though. DU often uses the federal duck stamp with their merchandise since DU is the keeper of the federal duck stamp archives.
 

These are the five Ducks Unlimited decoy limited editions that I am aware of. All five use DU shielding on the knives, none of the five have the Federal Duck Stamp plates. All are Big Sky Carvers. So is the DS10LTD Federal Duck Stamp decoy, except that the knife has the Duck Stamp shield and brass stamp replica.

2000 SDU1LTD Canvas Back Decoy Statue with burnt stag handle, SS polished blade, 24K gold filled Baron blade etch, PH2 pattern knife - 500 serialized pcs.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/1990s/pages/SC99-CP152.htm
2001 SDU2LTD Mallard Decoy Statue with stagged bone handle, SS polished blade, 24K gold filled blade etch, lockback pattern knife - 500 serialized pcs.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/2000s/pages/SC00-CP172.htm
2002 SDU3LTD Pintail Decoy Statue with stag bone handle 24K gold filled blade etch Badger 164UH pattern knife - 500 serialized pcs.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/2000s/pages/SC01-CP186.htm
2003 SDU4LTD Wood Duck Decoy Statue with stag bone handle 24K gold filled blade etch, - 500 serialized pcs.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/2000s/pages/SC02-CP205.htm
2004 SDU5LTD Redhead Decoy Statue (the decoy with the black background above - no flyer found - anyone have one?)

Michael
 
Thanks Codger64 you hit the nail right on the head and saved me some money. The wrong knife was put into the display. I called the store that sold it and they will refund my money. Someone put together 10 of these sets and all but one was sold. It seems there is confusion about the Duck Stamp and Ducks Unlimited. I see on ebay other D.S. items being sold as D.U.. How would you put a value on a nice Big Sky duck carving with the wrong handled and shielded knife? I paid $179.99 for it. Thanks blade forum for being here.
 
Hmmm... I usually don't wander into the "how much is it worth" territory. With these, I'd say considerably less than the correct set with the correct papers. You can do an eBay ended auction search and see what the "right stuff" sells for, though with them being such a limited production, none may show. Another option is to ask Bernard Levine if he has a grip on the market for these. If you could buy the display alone for $100 (if it is perfect and complete except for the missing knife) and then add the correct knife at a future date for a reasonable amount, it could be a decent deal. Most of the original DU decoy sets retailed for $350. The SDU77 alone (2002 DU birdhook) retailed for $42.95. I don't have the MSRP for the DS decoy set.

Michael
 
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