Schrade 100th Anniversary Knife

UnknownVT · Aug 4, 2004

It's sad in the year Schrade should be celebrating their 100th Anniversary - that they've gone out of business.

This is one of their 100th Anniversary knives - the model 34OT Old Timer Middleman/Stockman - comes in a special tin box -

Detail of the knife with 100 year pin -

QUOTE:
100th Anniversary Knife
Imperial Schrade
The most popular knife ever produced by Schrade is the model No. 34OT Middleman. Treasured and used by farmers, construction workers, and businessmen alike, its fitting that this piece of cutlery history has been chosen as Schrade's centerpiece 100th Anniversary collectible. This simple but stunning piece features an official antiqued 100th Anniversary handle shield and is housed in a nostalgic 2-piece tin. A 100th Anniversary pin is also enclosed. Limited time offer. Comes clam packed.
UNQUOTE

I got mine from AG Russell -
http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_...rade/schrade_100th_anniversary_stockman_.html

But I've just seen it listed on WalMart.com

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2676616

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/

BOILER · Aug 5, 2004

Hi Vincent,

I bought the last anniversary knife at my local Rural King store on Monday. I also picked up two model 8OT Stockman knives for my sons to carry when they are old enough.

The man behind the counter said they were trying to empty one of the Schrade cases (the only brand they carry). I told him that once they emptied it, there wouldn't be anymore. He had a hard time believing Scrade had closed the doors. He even asked me, "Why didn't they just move production overseas?"

My first two "big" knives (bigger than a pocketknife) were Schrades. My Mom and Dad gave me an LB7 lockback (who needs a Buck 110

) and an Uncle Henry "Golden Spike" fixed blade hunter. I am sorry to see Schrade go. Thanks for some great knives.

Dave

rev_jch · Aug 5, 2004

I just ordered a couple myself from AG Russel the other day.

The irony of this knife is too much!!! Im not sure whether to cry, or laugh, or both. The first knife my dad gave me was a 77ot muskrat, 1975, 0r 76 I believe. Broke my heart to hear that their doors closed. I have to admit at the same time though, I had not been a "staunch' supporter of schrade in years though. I think I had bought about 3 of their cigar box knives in the last 7 years, or so. Seeing them leave is just reminding me that I am starting to get older. I grew up using their knives, the waldens, the old timers, unlce henry's, the heritage schrades. wow an era gone!!! Theres many factors it seems have taken place here, not just the foreign market, but factors here as well. Think of this one also. When tactical, one-handed folders were not popular go back about 15 years ago, or so SJ's sold really well, then came the changes in the knife marKet, and that helped change things also.

an era gone, just breaks my heart.
Well, farewell schrade, a truly american icon of cutlery., definitely be sorely missed

UnknownVT · Aug 5, 2004

I'm pretty sure the AG Russell page on the Schrade 100th Anniversary knife has an error -

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_...rade/schrade_100th_anniversary_stockman_.html
QUOTE:
This first 100th Anniversary knife is the ever-popular small stockman. The handle measures 3-1/4" with nickel silver bolsters and special 100th Anniversary inlay, brass liners and saw-cut delrin scales. The 2-1/2" clip blade, 2" spey and 1-3/4" sheepfoot blade are 420HC cutlery stainless at 55-57 Rc.
UNQUOTE

Schrade Old Timer series used 1095 high carbon (non-stainless) steel.
Schrade blades using stainless steels, like the Uncle Henry series, are tang stamped Schrade+.

Schrade Handbook -
http://www.rangercamping.com/Knives_Handbook/Knives_Handbook_Schrade.htm#Blade_Theory
QUOTE:
Over the years we have settled on two steels that we feel give the best all around results in our knives. One is a high carbon steel and the other is a stainless steel.

We use AISI 1095 high carbon steel in our Old Timer knives (except where noted). This is a very traditional cutlery steel which has a carbon content of between 0.95 % and 1.05 % .1095 steel is famous for both its edge hold ability and resharpening ease. One of the characteristics of this steel is that it will darken or discolor with use, especially if used on meats or fruits. Care must also be taken with a carbon steel knife in order to prevent rust. The blades should be kept dry and lightly oiled occasionally.

On our Uncle Henry line and Heritage line we use AISI 440A stainless steel. Knives with this steel will have a Schrade+ in their tang stamp. 440A gets its stainless properties from the inclusion of 17% chrome with 0.7% carbon in the steel. We have found that 440A is equally as good a cutlery steel as 1095, as well as having the added benefit of a high degree of stain and rust resistance.
UNQUOTE

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/

rev_jch · Aug 5, 2004

Im sure it is a mistake, you are right. They do put the + on the blades that are stainless (rust resistant that is). I noticed that myself when I was ordering those yesterday.

I have to say my heart is truly broken, for schrade and their workers. Especially for the ones that were there for many years and counting on a retirement. Nothing is for certain in this life, only that fact that we are born and we die. like a vapor.

jayharley · Aug 11, 2004

I just located a 4" (closed) two blade 100 Yr Anniversary with a matching money clip. It is also in a tin. I have not seen one before. I am only familiar with the smaller 3 blade as described and pictured in this thread.

I am curious why no one has mentioned this anniversary set. I presume it also is a bit common right now.

El Lobo · Aug 11, 2004

Just a heads up.....
There were quite a few 100th anniversary knives and patterns from Schrade.
The one with the moneyclip was closed out at WalMart for like $15 IIRC. The one in Vincent's picture is pretty common on eBay. There is still a Peanut shown on the website. As well as a fixed blade.

I have a jigged bone stockman, with a blade etch and an Old Timer escutcheon (serial#10) that was offered on the site for about 30 seconds, direct from Schrade for $39.95 including shipping. It is a tribute to the kind of knife that Schrade COULD build for just a "Few Dollars More" (apologies to Clint Eastwood

). Don't know if it will be worth any more in the future. My point was just that there is not ONE hundredth anniversary knife, so be cautious if you buy.

Best,

Bill

jayharley · Aug 12, 2004

El Lobo said:
Just a heads up.....
There were quite a few 100th anniversary knives and patterns from Schrade.

My point was just that there is not ONE hundredth anniversary knife, so be cautious if you buy.

Best,

Bill

Good point. Most likely Schrade knew that they would be going out of business and made high quantities of the various 100 Yr knives as a way to assure some income for some creditors and added value to their inventory, for liquidation purposes.

El Lobo · Aug 12, 2004

I don't believe that is a misprint about the steel on A.G.'s site. There may be some with carbon steel, but near the end, Schrade began blanking the blades out of coiled 420hc (not only for Schrade+, but the Old Timers as well) to save some money, much to the dismay of many of us

. That doen't mean that you may not find some in carbon steel since things were "loose" near the end, so it appears, but look carefully.

As I mentioned in another thread, it appears the rangercamping site is a bit dated.

Just trying to help here.

Bill

UnknownVT · Aug 12, 2004

El Lobo said:
I don't believe that is a misprint about the steel on A.G.'s site. There may be some with carbon steel, but near the end, Schrade began blanking the blades out of coiled 420hc (not only for Schrade+, but the Old Timers as well) to save some money, much to the dismay of many of us . That doen't mean that you may not find some in carbon steel since things were "loose" near the end, so it appears, but look carefully.

As I mentioned in another thread, it appears the rangercamping site is a bit dated.

Many thanks for the info, appreciated
(FWIW - the rangercamping link was posted here before I posted it in that other thread
where I was informed it was out of date.)

I know that there were some Old Timer models that were stainless steel -
but their blades were stamped Schrade+
Did they stamp all the 420HC blades with Schrade+ on the Old Timers -
or were they just stamped without the +?

2 other 100th Anniversary knives are shown on the Schrade web site:

http://www.schradeknives.com/anniversary/index.php

A72OT and A156OT

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/

El Lobo · Aug 12, 2004

Well Vincent, that seems to be at least a $64 question.

Some folks who visited the Schrade Forums and maybe elsewhere (IIRC) spoke of getting multiblade knives with no + marking, but found that 1 or more blades took on no patina, while the others did oxidize.

Soooo, in discussions, it SEEMS as though it was quite possible to have two steels in the same knife. And a former employee mentioned some changes in the steel being used near the end of the line. Old stock mixed with newer stock and all that......don't know for sure, of course, but sounds like a possibility.

Maybe A.G. even had his made up that way?

Schrade seemed to think stainless was what most folks wanted. Several of us have serpentine stockmans, made in the Custom Shop at Schrade, with no shields, real stag scales, but Schrade+ blades. Go figure. I'm sure most of us traditional users/collectors would have opted for carbon rich steel.

There are some very knowledgeable Schrade collectors around here, maybe one will have more to add. (LT, lrv, Phil, Don Luis.....?)

Bill

At least we're still talkin' Schrade.

Don Luis · Aug 12, 2004

I have one of those 34OT with all stainless blades without the "+", bought late 2003 in Texas, some people have mentioned getting mixed blades, my guess is that they started using all stainless and some got mixed until the carbon stock run out, after that they all were stainless.

Interestingly I have three older Imperial Ireland campers, one has mixed blades, the can opener being stainless, the other blades and all blades in the other campers are carbon.

Luis