Schrade Clasp knife, Sears Roebuck & Co

Rusty1

Rusty1

Joined
Nov 6, 2005
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Picked this up on e-bay last week, I have seen other Clasp knives with the etching on the blade, I also have several in my own collection although I have never seen this particular model, The etching has two initials on the side of the etch F G which I assume means Frank Giorgianni.

Anyone seen these before or know how many were made and roughly what year of manufacture, a guess would be late 70's early 80's

Russell

srclasp1em0.jpg
 
I've not seen that one before either. Very interesting to say the least. While the blade etch art is very detailed and apparently complete, the handle art appears to be only an outlined sketch. To me, with no definate knowledge of fact, it appears that this may be a prototype sample prepared to be shown to the Sears buyers. They had a very large anniversary promotion program for their 100th and most of the knives I have seen were produced by Camillus.

For bonus points, who are the three men from Sears history portrayed on the etch? I know, do you?:)

Michael
 
Russell,

Would you believe I was thinking about that very knife last night, and what a dolt I was for not bidding on it? And now you have to go and show an incredibly detailed picture of it, thanks!:mad::D:D Very, very nice snag buddy, especially at that price!:thumbup:

Michael, I'm thinking two of them are Richard Sears and Alvah Roebuck, but I'm not sure about the third, maybe Tom Dunlap:confused:;):D

Eric
 
I didn't realize the picture was this bad but here is my Schrade clasp knife.

DSCN0063_e.jpg


it is part of this set. again...another terrible picture. I'll have to go take some good shots.

DSCN0061_e.jpg
 
Tom Dunlap, while important from our prospective as the head hardware buyer (and thus knives) and his relationship with Henry Baer, Alfred Kastor and Frank Kiethcart, was a very minor player in every Sears history book and web site, if even mentioned at all. No, not Dunlap.

Alvah Roebuck, while co-founder, bailed out early on and really played a far less significant role in the company's development and success than the three gents shown. Alvah's main lasting contribution was his last name, surviving on company catalogs and letterheads even today.

Richard Sears is the one on the right. He was the one who not only started the enterprise and set it's direction, but chose his successor who, though his name appears nowhere on the company name, recieves credit to this day for innovation and exemplary philanthropic work. That successor is one of the other two gents. The third one is the human dynamo who made the company thrive.
 
Here is a better shot of the etch on my clasp knife. It's from the 13 Colony Series Bicentennial Set.

46396-3.jpg
 
ea42 said:
Russell,

Would you believe I was thinking about that very knife last night, and what a dolt I was for not bidding on it? And now you have to go and show an incredibly detailed picture of it, thanks!:mad::D:D Very, very nice snag buddy, especially at that price!:thumbup:


Eric
Click to expand...

Come on Eric, don't be jealous, we trounced Russell while he was on holiday last week. We have to keep his interest up. :p

Nice one Russell !:thumbup:

BTW Isn't it about time to have Eric take us to his secret shopping spot ? :D

Fran
 
Nice Morrow, not many folks have the complete set. I love those stag clasps, they're beefy as heck.

OK Michael, I had to take a trip to the Sears archives, but I think I've got it now; One's Julius Rosenwald, who came in shortly before Roebuck left and helped organize the company and run it more efficiently, and the other is Robert Wood, who pioneered Sears' retail expansion to cities all over the country. I believe he eventially held the lofty position of Chairman of the Board. If I'm wrong at least everyone gets a little history lesson.:D

Eric
 
Fran, well...alright , you guys come on up and we'll skeedaddle on over there, she's been holding a couple knives for me for about two months now anyway, so I'd best pick them up before they're gone. I did get a visit from your special mail lady yesterday as well, and she did leave a few goodies, I'll snap some pics and post them later.

Eric

Russell, sorry, I just realized that was a blatant thread hijack, to get back on track, has anyone noticed that some of the clasps have scrolled rear tips, and some have smooth? I wonder if there's a timeline involved with that.
 
You got it right, Eric. It seems to me, after many hours of study and research, that the two gents whose names the company bears, had far, far less to do with the growth and success of the company (and revolutionizing the retail industry as a whole) than General Robert Woods and Julius Rosenwald. As wealthy and powerful men, their reach went far, far beyond the results of their efforts for Sears Roebuck & Co. in making a difference in the development of the nation last century. While Rosenwald was more conservitive than Woods in his business life, it was he who chose Woods and hired him away from Montgomery Ward in spite of Woods view of Jewish people such as Rosenwald himself. Through a lot of foresight and accumen, he was able to put that defect into proper perspective as a not-so-unusual viewpoint of a West Point graduate from the early part of that century, and officer during the recent World War in Europe (WW1).

Both gentlemen make for a very interesting study in business dynamics and their involvement in politics.

Michael
 
Nice pickup. I saw and considered that knife, but don't know enough about the clasp knives. I was hesitant because I thought a legit Schrade would have "USA" on the tang stamp. I see so many Taylor Scharade clasp knives on the bay anymore I don't know what's real.
 
Thanks for the replies guy's and a Q & A courtesy of Michael (that Avatar) makes me cringe, where's that from it looks familiar?

I had to Google the third man also!

Eric, I thought the knife may of gone higher although like Dave mentioned some might be wary of the fact that it could of been a Chinee Schrade.

Fran, you are correct, although it seems Eric has now invited us up to view his secret gem palace :D

Morrow, nice set of the 13 colonie series, those Stag Clasps are awesome!

Russell
 
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