Schrade Treasure Chest

Pygmalion

Pygmalion

Joined
Oct 7, 2007
Messages
988
When I was a young boy growing up in the 1960's, I lived on my grandparents farm for a few years. The farm is located in Rimini, South Carolina, right on the Santee Cooper River System. My Grandfather came from a large family, with 9 siblings, 8 boys and 1 girl. They all grew up in the town of Rimini, and all were farmers of one sort or another. One of my Grandfathers brothers, my great-uncle Doc, owned and operated a store until his death in the early 1970's. His store was a typical country store, selling everything from groceries to clothes to hardware items, and yes, Schrade knives. I couldn't tell you the times I stood in that store begging my grandfather to buy my a Barlow knife. I think they were about a dollar then. I finally was old enough to buy my own, and over the course of years, I bought many from Uncle Doc.
Upon Uncle Doc's death, the store was closed. The clothes and perishable items were removed by his son, and the building was locked up, and is still locked up. No one has been allowed in the store for anything since it was locked up. Uncle Doc's son has decided that he will let me inside to see what knives are still in there, and he said he has no interest in them, and will sell me whatever knives I want.
Who knows - I could walk in there and find no knives, or there could be a drawer full of collectible pocket knives. There may even be a mint 2OT!
I'm wondering, too, what kind of shape they will be in, having been stored in a non-climatized building for the last 35 years.
Here is a picture of the store as it stands today.

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Looks like there is some humidity in the area, but if the knives were kept inside a drawer, or cabinet, inside boxes... or even better, plastic tubes, they could still be in great shape. I would be chomping at the bit. Americas last stash of bone 2OT and 8OT knives just waiting for Pyg to show up.

How populated is it? It looks kind of remote, and would have been a target for ransacking. Good luck. even if there are not any knives left, getting to go back into that store will bring back a flood of good memories.
 
Pyg, the air is so heavy with excitement, you could cut it with a... ummm... knife. :) Don't forget to take your camera back; Pictures of the inside and of the back of the store might be a wonderful treasure as well.
 
AWESOME!!! Make sure to take lots of pics and share them with us. I've been trying myself for 2 years now to get into an old hardware store back home that has been closed and locked for 15-20 years. The owners were my brother's landlord for several years. I was told last week they are finally considering letting me see what is in there knife-wise. The anticipation is killing me, so I know how you feel.
 
Pygy you'll have UL eating out of your hand .

Go into the store mate and collect your plumbs .
 
Holy cow Pygmalion, I hope you set up a security perimeter before you posted the addy and pics, Schradeaholics are probably casing the joint right now:eek:;)

Good luck on the hunt, gotta love rootin' around a place like that, likely a treasure around every turn. Talk about a time capsule!

Eric
 
ea42 said:
Holy cow Pygmalion, I hope you set up a security perimeter before you posted the addy and pics, Schradeaholics are probably casing the joint right now:eek:;)

Good luck on the hunt, gotta love rootin' around a place like that, likely a treasure around every turn. Talk about a time capsule!

Eric
Click to expand...

I found it on Google Earth in 15 minutes this morning. There is already a big hole in the roof. :eek::eek:
 
This is the kind of story dreams are made of. Don't forget to bring a FLASH LIGHT!! Probably have to make two or three trips to the car. Good luck, hope your dream comes true! Barry
 
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I won't tell them Pygy . Thanks for the photo's 4 wks ago .

The side door stuck a bit . The fourth floorboard in has a bit of dry rot so watch your step mate .
Nice old fishing reels as well... wow .

Oh yeah mate thanks to the building being up off the ground and gaps in the floorboards the place is dry as .
Just like the old grain sheds/produces were made exactly like that so as to reduce moisture .
Bit of dust some mouse shit / chew marks on a few they'll clean up . Thanks mate
 
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Great! Assaults from the air, Aussies coming in from underneath (downunder:D), mice chewing on the handles.......it doesn't look good for Pygmalion, he's likely tied up to one of the floor to ceiling Schrade display cases.

Seriously it sounds like a great opportunity, keep us posted!

Eric
 
Hasn't anyone else been there to get Pygy out .

All I did was tie a 2OT to the ceiling fan aerator .

Last I saw was Pygy standing there in a trance with a 2OT spinning around above his head on the end of some twine .
 
There is actually a good bit to the story. After Uncle Doc's death, his oldest son closed the doors to the store, and was soon bombarded with requests from family members for store items and things like the coca cola signs that adorned the front of the store. He was adament about leaving all but the clothes and perishables in the store. No one really knew why, but I suppose it was to keep some remembrance of his parents alive. At some point, someone stole some of the old signs that were hanging on the building (the store is located in the middle of family owned acreage, so I guess he thought it would be safe from pilfering). When that happened, he removed the remaining signs and the old gas pump that was out front, and vowed that no one would see the inside of the store for a long time.
I was one of the few family members that never mentioned the store, and during a conversation a few years back, I was invited to "visit the store and have a look around the inside". Subsequent conversations lead up to my interest in knives, and the invitation to have first dibs on any knives I might want. This has taken a lot of time, and it is the kind of thing where I have to wait on the invitation to actually go get the knives (if there are even any knives there). I don't know exactly when the visit will take place, but I'm hoping soon.
There is another old store that belonged to another of my Grandfather's brothers, and a tale of hidden coins, but that is a story for another forum!
 
Thanks for the tip! I didn't see too many knives, but the selection of tools was amazing!

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These will do great on Ebay!

- Charles
 
...so Pygy when the conversation with Docs eldest son led to discussion about your interest in knives did he not make a comment about his possible interest in knives??.......I may have your mint box of Ulster 10OT's mate.....is it near a fishing lagoon?..the closed store I bought my set from also sold heaps of fishing flys and associated tackle...all very old and totally original in its packaging......all sold some time after the store owner passed and the store was boarded up in similar fashion....<couldnt you suggest you will go up and help him sweep the floors and perhaps carry out a stocktake...and carry out as much stock as you can when he's not looking..Hoo Roo
 
I am sorry if I am straying too far afield, but I am hoping that your friendship with your kin blossoms into something good, and if there are any nice knives in there, I am hoping you encourage his interest. I would trade all my knives for another really good friend. Well.... maybe not all of them. :)
 
Pygy i suggest you show some leadership here. the man who has kept this place sealed, basically has a 'problem' and he is stuck.
perhaps go to his home, uninvited, (you are kin) and just have a talk and then suggest you both go over and open up the place together. "let the fresh air in".
This could well help him in letting go and be open to moving on with all the other wonderful possibilities that make up "Life".
Go with openness and love and an attitude of giving, not "what can i get".
you might already know all this, so "if not you, who ? and if not now, when ?"
roland
 
This is exciting. :) And very :cool:.. Looking forward to Pyg's upcoming adventures here.. :thumbup:

I must admit though, I am worried about the condition of that roof. Inclement weather over time will have taken its toll on the interior to be sure. One can only hope its water damage was limited to areas less important than others...

.. OK, just sent a fervent prayer to ensure intact treasures abound at your kinfolks old General Store.

Yes, and please photograph areas inside for prosperity and in the hopes you'll share them with us here too.

Take Care and I am hoping for a rapid and prosperous follow-up here for you.

Many Blessings to you, Pyg!


Best,
Anthony
 
Looks like the date is set! We have a family reunion every July 24th, and this year that date falls on a Saturday. The plan is that we will go into the store the weekend after the family reunion. So it looks like the weekend of July 31.
I asked about the roof and was told it did not leak. We'll see.
 
I finally had a look in the "Schrade Treasure Chest". You've heard the saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it usually isn't"? Well, that saying is so true in this case.
It turns out that most all of the store items have been removed for quite some time. The building has been used for storage, and it is loaded with boxes stacked wall to wall floor to ceiling. It was dark and hot in there, and I would imagine one could scare up a snake or two if you really tried. I saw some snake skins, but no pocket knives.
I kinda wish I had never looked, and just went on believing what I'd been told.
Oh well.
It turns out the "legend" was perpetrated by my mother's cousin's sons many years ago, and as many stories do, it grew in awe and wonder each time it was told and passed on.
One of my cousins had even heard that there was still the old cash register left in there full of dollar bills and coins!
 
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