Question; Old Schrade 'switchblades'.

J

jackknife

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Oct 2, 2004
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I recall seeing these around when I was a kid, and the stores sold them. They were available in one and two blade models. But I can't quite remember if, on the two blade models, if both blades were spring driven. Before Senator Keefauver they were totally leagal.

Any traditional members have photos of these to post to jog my cobwebbed memory?

Thanks, I'd appretiate it.
 
Does this help? :D

DSCF0565.jpg


Yes, both blades were spring driven, operating on a single spring.
 
I was fortunate enough to see a nice collection of these old Shrade pushbutton knives in Janesville this spring. Some had some really nice jigged bone scales. Imho it don't get more traditional than these.

Ken
 
Heck yes yablanawitz. Thanks a bunch:thumbup:

Now my only question is; were they around in the late 1930's to early 1940's? That was a tiny bit before my time, but I do recall seeing them around when I was a kid in the late 40's and 50's. I just don't know how much earlier they were around.

The bad part of getting old is, I have a very hard time finding someone older than me who can still remember what they had for lunch yesterday, let alone what knives were avaiable back then. :(

Would a P.I. in 1940's New York City have one?
 
I have a couple with jigged bone scales as well, but this is the only picture I have uploaded at the moment.

DSC_1107.jpg
 
jackknife said:
Heck yes yablanawitz. Thanks a bunch:thumbup:

Now my only question is; were they around in the late 1930's to early 1940's? That was a tiny bit before my time, but I do recall seeing them around when I was a kid in the late 40's and 50's. I just don't know how much earlier they were around.

The bad part of getting old is, I have a very hard time finding someone older than me who can still remember what they had for lunch yesterday, let alone what knives were avaiable back then. :(

Would a P.I. in 1940's New York City have one?
Click to expand...

Sorry, this post wasn't showing when I posted my previous reply. :o

The patent dates on the tangs of the small blades range from 1906 to 1916, so I'd say they were certainly around in the 1940's. Heck, it could have been his father's knife.

Edit to add: according to a reference book I just dug out, the tang stamp used on these was adopted after World War I and used until 1948.
 
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[QUOTE
The patent dates on the tangs of the small blades range from 1906 to 1916, so I'd say they were certainly around in the 1940's. Heck, it could have been his father's knife.[/QUOTE]

Thanks bud.:thumbup:

I got the bit of an idea rattling around in my head, and just needed some clearing up of a historical detail.
 
scattershot said:
The ones I remember from the 50's had two separate buttons, one on each side.
Click to expand...

You are correct. In this picture, you can see the buttons on both sides of each knife, and the single spring that runs both blades (well, sorta).

DSCF0594.jpg


Close up of the tang stamp

DSCF0596.jpg


The patent dates

DSCF0598.jpg
 
Very interesting pictures thank you.

Do these knives still work? Is there some kind of safety, or can they open in the pocket..........
 
Yes, yes and yes. ;)

Yes, most of mine are still operational. A few have broken springs and a couple have replacement springs, but the two in those last pictures are original and work quite well. Each button has a slide that moves under the button to lock it, preventing accidental opening. Unfortunately, the slide has no detent to hold it in the safe position, so anything else in the pocket with the knife can move the slide, releasing the safety so a push of the button will fire the blade.
 
Obviously nefarious blades that are only good for criminals and punks like the Jets, and the Sharks. Fortunately in Indiana they have banned these very dangerous instruments of the underworld...I am so glad my government is taking care of me. :barf:
 
George Schrade actually invented the press button knife around 1892, although the earlier ones lacked the lock. They had the single button through the bolster design, and were initially made by Walden Knife Company in partnership with Schrade. In 1904 he formed Schrade Cutlery Company with his brothers and developed the knives in their above form, among others. The later patents had to do with different variations of the locking mechanism.

To greatly prolong the life of those springs, store the knives with the blades open, it takes the tension off the spring.

Nice knives guys!!

Eric
 
jackknife said:
Would a P.I. in 1940's New York City have one?
Click to expand...

Could be. The first in-real-life switchblade I recall seeing was carried on the job by an NYC cop who retired in 1960. I miss that old cuss; he had some really great stories. Until we looked, he couldn't remember whether he carried a Smith or Colt, but that knife was in-and-out of his pocket a dozen times a day for 30 years so he knew it was a Schrade.
 
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