Schrade 171UH

S

SleepingBear

Joined
Mar 25, 2005
Messages
273
I'm seeing these Schrade bowie's hitting the market that have
SCHRADE
U.S.A.171UH
etched on the blade where this is always STAMPED into the blade. Also the SCHRADE Super-Sharp is also sometimes etched...that just doesn't look like the original etching on most 171's I've seen.
There is currently a 171UH on eBay that is done up like this...missing the Stag derlin handle..and has a wooden handle in its place. Only on this one they etched SCHRADE+
U.S.A.171UH
which would suggest this is a stainless steel blade...and I had the impression all the 171UH knives were carbon steel.
Am I right in assuming these knives are reground and fancied up to sell? Some of these sellers are claiming to be original owners, and these knives were bought new like this. These knives are selling for a lot of money..so I can see a guy fixing it up to get a better price....but claiming them to be original, slightly used seems to be an outright deception.
 
Maybe there will soon be a "pseudo-Schrade" category? Or, a pre-08/2004 and a post-08/2004 determination?
It seems like there are some "weird & wonderful things" emerging lately.
 
Sleepingbear, I ran across another Schrade knife from the same era with a wood handle, a 13OT if I remember correctly. I questioned it's authenticity as well, but Larry contacted one of the experts, Mr. Clemente, and he confirmed that he had one like it and it was indeed genuine.

As far as the etch as opposed to a tang stamp? Sharper minds than mine will have to answer that one.

On the blade steel: Here is an excerpt from the listing of one NIB now on:

"5½" blade (10½" overall) made of 400 series Schrade+ stainless steel valued for superior edge holding ability and rust resistance"

So perhaps the 171 IS supposed to be Schrade + stainless, as most all UH blades are.


I do forsee a lot of "reconditioned" knives being passed of as genuine untouched originals in the future. The same thing happened with valuable Colt pistols and collector cars. Dollars attract soundrels for sure.

Complicating things a little bit more, I see a couple of additional catagories of Schrades we will see:

1. Genuine Schrades.... pre 8/'04 authentic ISC production (including inplant stock sold in auction)

2. Near Schrades.........Schrade production and limited edition overrun stock missing a shield, etch, or other factory details but sold at auction after 8/'04

3. Post-Schrades.........knives using WIP parts finished by other entities after 8/'04 (including knives using aftermarket ground blanks)

4. Psudo-Schrades.......redesigned copies by other makers (ex. Camillus Gran'Pa)

5. Erzatz-Schrades......knockoffs of genuine Schrades

6. Taylor Schrades......when (not if) Taylor resumes Schrade production

Anyone want to add to the list?

Codger :confused:
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=88910&item=6523373408&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

I think we need another catagory for knives like this, Codger: Customized Schrades. Take a look at the last few items the seller sold.. and where the seller lives. Perhaps a former employee who put a handle on an unfinished knife?

Just my opinion, this kinda customizing adds nothing to the knive's value as a collectible. If the wood is not stabilized or very well finished, it wouldn't even be a good user.

But I have gotten a little fascinated by some of the off the wall Schrades coming to the surface. Standard patterns with wierd blade combinations. Here's one: A 80 stockman pattern with one clip blade, one awl, one scalloped serrated blade. The serrated blade seems mighty close to what Camillus put on one of their yello jackets a few years ago. The wood seems very close to that on my beloved Imperial Frontiers. Both sides of the ends of the awl have been ground down some to fit.

Thanks for bringing up this subject, Sleeping Bear. No doubt we'll be seeing more of these strange ones.

Phil
 
RE: Seller - Yup, as a matter of fact, I bought his Lands End Schrade dress shirts! :D

As for whether that particular knife is a genuine Schrade, or a rehandle job, I guess only the likes of Mr's Levine and Clemente can tell us with any certainty.

You are right that customizing can detract from the value or add to it depending on the materials and skill of the "craftsman". Search "David Yellowhorse Knife" for an example of the upper end of the spectrum.
I will edit and add that to the list thusly:

1. Genuine Schrades.... pre 8/'04 authentic ISC production (including inplant stock sold in auction)

2. Near Schrades.........Schrade production and limited edition overrun stock missing a shield, etch, or other factory details but sold at auction after 8/'04

3. Post-Schrades.........knives using WIP parts finished by other entities after 8/'04 (including knives using aftermarket ground blanks)

4. Custom Schrades.....Refitted and/or reshaped factory Schrades

5. Psudo-Schrades.......redesigned copies by other makers (ex. Camillus Gran'Pa)

6. Erzatz-Schrades......knockoffs of genuine Schrades

7. Taylor Schrades......when (not if) Taylor resumes Schrade production

Anyone else want to add to the list?

Codger
 
I am sure Mr Levine and Mr Clemente will be of great service Just check the archives and you can see all of the contributions they have made to this forum over the last few years. I will anxiously await there response. It is good to see all the postings and action on this forum it is to bad all this interest comes after this companies demise. Perhapes if we had this kind of participation in years gone by Schrade might still be with us. Several years ago I made mention of the fact that one of the great things about collecting Schrades is that you may find anything out there this was due to Schrade contracts and various special editions and several other reasons which was mentioned then. I will be interested in following the continued contributions and observations that are posted. Good Hunting LT
 
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