Schrade loss guarantee

H

Hedger

Joined
Jun 20, 2006
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183
Here's an interesting question. If you lost your knife or if any of you lost a knife and received one back from Schrade would they or did they include paperwork to fill out if you lost your knife again? Would they send a reman knife of similar quality or would it be brand new in box with sheath?
 
i lost and had two knives replaced. the first one came with the paper work indicating guarantee loss replacement. the second one the replaced came with a notice indicating that loss of that knife would not result in a replacement. These were LB-7's and they came with the box and sheath.
 
Thanks for the reply. Did the replacement have a serial number. I would think it would not if it was replaced once.
 
Schrade quit using serial numbers in the 1970s, but when they did do replacements they still might have used serial numbers... and that specific serial number would have been indicative of a replaced knife. Only the Uncle Henry series had serial numbers to my knowledge. Uncle Henry knives always carried that guarantee. I also believe they used the serial number on LB7 knives longer that the other knife patterns. I'm not sure of any of this, just what I would I would guess if someone asked me. There might be a much more official answer.

I always like checking inside the liners of Uncle Henry knives. I think 897UH, 885UH, and 285UH are the only Uncle Henry slip joints I've seen with a serial number inside the liner. If anyone has another pattern with a serial number I'd like to know. I'm sure the 127UH and 227UH have them if they are old enough. I do not collect the fixed blades, but pretty sure they stamped a serial number on early production for them too.
 
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my first replacement had the number the second one did not. i know at least from my feelings that losing a knife was much worse than being able to replace it. once you get it just the way you want, opening easily with a nice snap of the wrist and perfectly sharp you didn't want to have to do it all over again. it was nice being able to get that replacement but it was not the same as the one you lost with all the time you put in it to make it just so. oh yes, as far as the sheath goes i never used one but carried mine right next to my billfold. the space in my levi jean butt pocket was perfect for that and i still carry mine there today.
 
delmas2nd said:
my first replacement had the number the second one did not. i know at least from my feelings that losing a knife was much worse than being able to replace it. once you get it just the way you want, opening easily with a nice snap of the wrist and perfectly sharp you didn't want to have to do it all over again. it was nice being able to get that replacement but it was not the same as the one you lost with all the time you put in it to make it just so. oh yes, as far as the sheath goes i never used one but carried mine right next to my billfold. the space in my levi jean butt pocket was perfect for that and i still carry mine there today.
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I never carried an LB7, but I can imagine what you are saying. That is one nice hunk of knife if you need to do some serious cutting. :thumbup:
 
This is all very interesting. The reason I bring up all these questions is because I recently obtained an LB8 with no serial number. It is a Schrade + B.C. (non signature blade). I was informed that this could be an end of days knife or a surplus blade from the Bear Claw series that was used up to produce replacement knives. The knife to me looks to be original factory unused. I will try post pictures today. Thanks again for the replies.
 
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Ok, I searched through one of Schrade's old catalogs and could not find a Bear Claw. Could this be a scrimshaw perhaps?
 
I remember that guarantee. I thought it seemed ludicrous. No wonder that company failed. Too bad too I really liked their knives, designs, and quality. I just picked up a new, in the package, Schrade USA made Minuteman the other day at an old hard ware store. It was the last schrade they had. The guy ran it in the computer and said it had been their unsold for since 05 or so. Very cool find and a very cool knife.
 
didn't seem ludicrous if you lost yours, like it did. i appreciated their trust immensely. i've carried an LB 7 now for lo these 30 years and have always felt not fully dressed when didn't have on in my back pocket.
 
DrivebyTrucker said:
I remember that guarantee. I thought it seemed ludicrous. No wonder that company failed...
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Actually, the UH loss replacement policy was a brilliant marketing strategy which bolstered buyer confidence for many, many years. It was a policy devised for a basically honest consumer market in a different time. I doubt that it would work in today's society. But it was not the reason Schrade failed and if it contributed to the failure at all, it was not significant compared to the other reasons.

Even the more liberal Sears Craftsman "forever" warranty wasn't the killer, though that became a burden. Poor business decisions after the deaths of the Baer Brothers was the main culprit. IF a warranty played a signifficant role it would have been the Walmart "no matter what" return policy. That tail eventually wagged the dog.

Schrade was renowned for their customer's brand loyalty for good reasons. When my (late 60's-early 70's) hunting knife's shield fell out and the sheath was in tatters, I sent the knife to them asking for a replacement shield and sheath, and to be billed for the (non-warranty) costs. I specifically did not want a new knife as mine was an old friend, a Schrade Walden 165OT with serial numbers and memories. The knife was returned promptly repaired, sharpened and with a new sheath without charge. I doubt it cost them much to do the work, but it earned them my loyalty.
 
DrivebyTrucker said:
I remember that guarantee. I thought it seemed ludicrous. No wonder that company failed. .
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Not really a valid argument when you take into account the HUNDREDS of other companies that went out of business due to offshore labor being cheaper.

Take textiles for example. I can remember several textile plants that made clothing in Alabama. I have family members that worked in the "sewing plants" for most of their adult lives.

Until they moved all of that to other countries for cheaper labor.

Add into that Americans changing from folks that bought quality items once and took care of them (sharpening a good knife with good steel) to folks that want the cheapest item they can find and buy it several times over. Disposable is "easier" than learning to hone a blade. Buy a cheap five dollar knife and when it gets dull just pitch it.

Schrade probably had a small percentage of folks that took them up on the replacement policy and the marketing benifit outweighed the cost. It was only good for a year and folks back then weren't apt to lose things like they are today.

Better times.
 
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Back in the day, I had some Old Timers and Uncle Henrys, and so did my friends. I never lost an Uncle Henry, but two of my friends did. None of the three of us took advantage of the offer, either honestly or dishonestly. Among the people I count as friends, that just wasn't done. If you left your knife at the gut pile, you deserved to have to buy another one. It is ironic that Schrade stuggled and died, and NOW I am buying the old ones like crazy, and they are not getting a penny.
 
tongueriver said:
Back in the day, I had some Old Timers and Uncle Henrys, and so did my friends. I never lost an Uncle Henry, but two of my friends did. None of the three of us took advantage of the offer, either honestly or dishonestly. Among the people I count as friends, that just wasn't done. If you left your knife at the gut pile, you deserved to have to buy another one. It is ironic that Schrade stuggled and died, and NOW I am buying the old ones like crazy, and they are not getting a penny.
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I try to buy a Case or two a month to keep some of my cash going to a company still making them in the USA.

I am looking at some other "made in USA" knife companies and may start sending them a little love too.
 
Codger,

One of my Uncles worked hundreds of hours of overtime work when he finished his regular work day to do the warranty repairs for Schrade. There were 2-4 guys that got the overtime hours to do this work as needed. They worked nights and weekends to get the repairs out the door..........customer service was indeed one of Schrade's key attributes not to mention quality!

Tom
 
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