Schrade Button Knife

[RSL]

I've had an old Schrade Fishtail button knife passed down to me and I'm trying to get an idea of it's value. Forgive the exposure on the pictures. It's not pristine condition by any means, but it's an old knife with some character. It works. Spring is fine.

There's a crack in the handle on each side near the bottom, but it remains solid. There's also a small crack running from the right side of the release button to the edge of the handle. None of these are really bothersome, other than they DO exist.

Any information would truly be appreciated. 3 7/8" blade length.

Thanks! :thumbup:

 

[Don_Luis]

Sorry, I thought that you would get a prompt response here...

If you are interested there's a smaller forum where some good Schrade collectors hang around, you may try the Knife Lore forum at All About Pocket Knives forums.

Luis

 

[Upstream]

Yea, all of the good collectors took thier marbles and went home.

 

[Codger_64]

Hi RSL! I don't collect these and in fact, very few people can or do. Most states have laws regarding the posession, buying, selling and transport of automatic knives. This pretty well restricts who can and can't own them, and what they can do with them.

Your knife appears to be a Schrade Cut. Co. from pre-1946, before the company was purchased by Albert Baer the name changed then to Schrade Walden. The patents represented on the blade are those of the Schrade brothers who originally began the company in 1904. I first see this knife illustrated in the 1938 supplement to the Schrade catalog, and again in the 1940 catalog. The knife is a G1514K Safety Push Button knife, "Dagger Type", with "brown lined cream Pyraline handles", a trade name for celluloid. This likely accounts for the corrosion on an otherwise excellent knife. Cell outgasses over time and the fumes are corrosive. Pin cracks and handle shrinkage are not uncommon in knives of this vintage.

I am sorry that I am unable to give you an estimate of value for your knife. I do know that whatever the value, you will lower it if you deep clean and polish it. And that eBay rules forbid selling these. In my best judgement, your knife dates from 1938-1946. You might get an estimate of the dollar value and an offer to buy it by following the link provided by Don Luis. A major automatic knife collector frequents that forum and knows this subject quite well.

Michael