Codger_64
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I posted a version of this some time back, but since I just acquired another example, I decided to revive it. his series is one which is, for the most part ignored. These were intended to be inexpensive working knives, a role they fill quite well.
Imperial Schrade experienced lagging sales in the late ‘80's/early ‘90's, as most knife companies were. And like most knife companies, they expanded their line with sports oriented designs in an attempt at capturing another few percentage points of the lower price point market. While a lot of companies outsourced these low cost knives overseas, Schrade attempted to do it domestically. Thus were born two series, the “Cliphangers” and the “Lightweights”. Both designs were simple with few parts to be assembled, and both utilized molded plastic handles with stainless blades. Other than the blades themselves, very little machining was required.
The Lightweight series all had Zytel handles and Schrade+ stainless blades. Prices ranged from $15.95 to $41.95. Maroon zytel was used on the handles in the first year or two before black became the norm for the series. The coined shield bearing the cutler and anvil logo was a separate component inserted into a molded recess for the first two years, then it was changed for 1989 to a comolded flush oblong shield with the text “SCHRADE” and the cutler and anvil logo. This part of the mold was later made as a removable insert since custom shielding was common on limited and private editions.
Lightweight Variants
There were eight variants of the lightweight series listed:
SP1 Nighthawk 1987-2004
SP2 Raider 1989-2004
SP3 Firebird 1987-2004
SP7 5" Turbo 1987-1991
SP8 Cougar 1990-1991
SP12X Nighthawk X 1999-2000
SP22X Raider X 1999-2000
SP32X Firebird X 1999-2000
SP1 - The 2 5/8" SP1 Nighthawk was one of the first two Lightweight knives introduced in 1987. It had a stainless drop point blade and the list price for them was $16.95. This model had a seventeen year production run.
SP2 - The 3" SP2 Raider had a stainless drop point blade and listed for $18.95. This model was produced for fifteen years.
SP3 - The second knife introduced in 1987 was the 3 3/4" SP3 Firebird. It had a stainless drop point blade and listed for $24.95. While the model number of this knife changed in1998 to SH3 in the literature and on packaging to denote an included nylon sheath, the tangstamp remained the same. It was offered through the 2004 year, a seventeen year production run. This model became a favorite for special factory orders and special editions.
SP7 - In 1989 Schrade added the SP7 5" Turbo for $29.95. It had a 3 3/4" stainless drop point blade and listed for $29.95. This model was discontinued after 1991, a short three year production.
SP8 - A fifth knife, the 5" SP8 Cougar was introduced in 1990 and had a 3 3/4" stainless guthook drop point blade. It listed in 1991 for $36.95. This model was discontinued after 1991, a short two year production.
SP12X Nighthawk X - Introduced in 1999 was the 2 5/8" SP12X Nighthawk X. It had a blackened stainless drop point partially serrated “dual edge” blade, and an adjustable “sport cord” thong. The list price for them was $22.95. This model was discontinued after the 2000 year catalog giving it a two year production.
SP22X Raider X - Also introduced in 1999 was the 3" SP22 Raider X. It had a blackened stainless drop point partially serrated “dual edge” blade, and an adjustable “sport cord” thong. The list price for them was $23.95. This model was last offered in the 2000 catalog giving it a two year production.
SP32X Firebird X - The last of the three new X-series lightweights introduced in 1999 was the 3 3/4" SP32 Firebird X. It had a blackened stainless drop point partially serrated “dual edge” blade, and an adjustable “sport cord” thong as well as a nylon sheath. The list price for them was $29.95. These were discontinued after 2000 giving them a two year production.
Special Editions and Private Issues
SGS-5, SGS-5CP - In 1987, the Lightweight’s introductory year, the SP1 and SP3 were offered in a brown leatherette boxed gift set (SGS-5) for $39.95, and a nylon sheath was provided for the Firebird. This set continued to be offered in the catalogs through 1997 when the price was $46.90. The knives in the first sets were maroon Zytel. Subsequent sets were black Zytel. The set was also offered in the ‘I-Beam’ Clampacks (SGS-5CP).
Now, back when I first posted a portion of this, I had just acquired the first edition of the SGS-5 gift set.
and today, I got the SGS-5CP, the clampacked version.
These are your basic 'under the radar' Schrades, and represent some very good buys. I am not under the delusion that they will ever be high dollar collectables, I just... like 'em!
Michael
PS- All you closet lightweights, now is your chance to show me yours!
Imperial Schrade experienced lagging sales in the late ‘80's/early ‘90's, as most knife companies were. And like most knife companies, they expanded their line with sports oriented designs in an attempt at capturing another few percentage points of the lower price point market. While a lot of companies outsourced these low cost knives overseas, Schrade attempted to do it domestically. Thus were born two series, the “Cliphangers” and the “Lightweights”. Both designs were simple with few parts to be assembled, and both utilized molded plastic handles with stainless blades. Other than the blades themselves, very little machining was required.
The Lightweight series all had Zytel handles and Schrade+ stainless blades. Prices ranged from $15.95 to $41.95. Maroon zytel was used on the handles in the first year or two before black became the norm for the series. The coined shield bearing the cutler and anvil logo was a separate component inserted into a molded recess for the first two years, then it was changed for 1989 to a comolded flush oblong shield with the text “SCHRADE” and the cutler and anvil logo. This part of the mold was later made as a removable insert since custom shielding was common on limited and private editions.
Lightweight Variants
There were eight variants of the lightweight series listed:
SP1 Nighthawk 1987-2004
SP2 Raider 1989-2004
SP3 Firebird 1987-2004
SP7 5" Turbo 1987-1991
SP8 Cougar 1990-1991
SP12X Nighthawk X 1999-2000
SP22X Raider X 1999-2000
SP32X Firebird X 1999-2000
SP1 - The 2 5/8" SP1 Nighthawk was one of the first two Lightweight knives introduced in 1987. It had a stainless drop point blade and the list price for them was $16.95. This model had a seventeen year production run.
SP2 - The 3" SP2 Raider had a stainless drop point blade and listed for $18.95. This model was produced for fifteen years.
SP3 - The second knife introduced in 1987 was the 3 3/4" SP3 Firebird. It had a stainless drop point blade and listed for $24.95. While the model number of this knife changed in1998 to SH3 in the literature and on packaging to denote an included nylon sheath, the tangstamp remained the same. It was offered through the 2004 year, a seventeen year production run. This model became a favorite for special factory orders and special editions.
SP7 - In 1989 Schrade added the SP7 5" Turbo for $29.95. It had a 3 3/4" stainless drop point blade and listed for $29.95. This model was discontinued after 1991, a short three year production.
SP8 - A fifth knife, the 5" SP8 Cougar was introduced in 1990 and had a 3 3/4" stainless guthook drop point blade. It listed in 1991 for $36.95. This model was discontinued after 1991, a short two year production.
SP12X Nighthawk X - Introduced in 1999 was the 2 5/8" SP12X Nighthawk X. It had a blackened stainless drop point partially serrated “dual edge” blade, and an adjustable “sport cord” thong. The list price for them was $22.95. This model was discontinued after the 2000 year catalog giving it a two year production.
SP22X Raider X - Also introduced in 1999 was the 3" SP22 Raider X. It had a blackened stainless drop point partially serrated “dual edge” blade, and an adjustable “sport cord” thong. The list price for them was $23.95. This model was last offered in the 2000 catalog giving it a two year production.
SP32X Firebird X - The last of the three new X-series lightweights introduced in 1999 was the 3 3/4" SP32 Firebird X. It had a blackened stainless drop point partially serrated “dual edge” blade, and an adjustable “sport cord” thong as well as a nylon sheath. The list price for them was $29.95. These were discontinued after 2000 giving them a two year production.
Special Editions and Private Issues
SGS-5, SGS-5CP - In 1987, the Lightweight’s introductory year, the SP1 and SP3 were offered in a brown leatherette boxed gift set (SGS-5) for $39.95, and a nylon sheath was provided for the Firebird. This set continued to be offered in the catalogs through 1997 when the price was $46.90. The knives in the first sets were maroon Zytel. Subsequent sets were black Zytel. The set was also offered in the ‘I-Beam’ Clampacks (SGS-5CP).
Now, back when I first posted a portion of this, I had just acquired the first edition of the SGS-5 gift set.
and today, I got the SGS-5CP, the clampacked version.
These are your basic 'under the radar' Schrades, and represent some very good buys. I am not under the delusion that they will ever be high dollar collectables, I just... like 'em!
Michael
PS- All you closet lightweights, now is your chance to show me yours!
.
