This makes me a lot less sad than what happened to the Schrade brand names and Camillus.
Yeah ... among other things like dropped models being brought back, the Swinden Key construction is finally history.
A sad state of affairs, to be sure.
After the Imperial plant burned down in 1988, with the exception of Camillus, Schrade moved production of most of their knives across the board - not just the Imperial line - to Europe.
(I understand Their "modern" liner lock one hand openers of the period were made in China.)
How is that any different from having most of the production made in China? Either way, they were not "Made in USA".
(there are a couple Schrade branded fixed blades made onshore. I don't know who makes them. Bear and Son, maybe?)
The difference can't be management, or ownership.
How many times did the management and ownership change between the time Mr. Schrade founded the company in the 1890's(?) 1880's(?) and the bankruptcy in 2004?
Can't be "not made here"/"Not made on the same machines"/"not made by the same people."
From 1988 to 2004 most of the Schrade knives were made in Europe.
Schrade bought established cutlery concerns. They didn't ship the old machinery over to Ireland, England, or Germany.
I doubt few if any of the workforce were transfered to the European locations. Doubtful any of the plant or corporate management were sent over.
That murders the "not same labor force"/"same machines" argument.
Not to mention that everyone employed by Schrade prior to 1988 is either retired and/or long dead now. Even if all production was brought back to the states in 2004, the workforce wouldn't be the same pre 1988 workforce now.
I can't speak on the quality of the offshore Camillus products, as I've never seen or owned one. To be honest, none have called to me.
I can say the BTI Old Timer and Uncle Henry stockmans, Old Timer Trapper, 4 blade Scout/Camp knife, Barlow, 2 blade slipjoint folding hunter, and 7OT are all high quality. At least equal to my '78-'86 858, my 4 pin and 3 pin 7OT, and 1990's 6OT.
