Codger_64
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Here is a knife with conflicting details:
It is a Schrade Walden 146. The "No. 146" is an etch on blade right, and the knife is tang stamped "STAINLESS" on that side. "SCHRADE-WALDEN / N.Y. U.S.A." is tang stamped on blade left and the blade on that side is etched "Wonda-Edge / Patent Pending". Odd. This knife does not sport a "Wonda-Edge". Quoting my notes on the Wonda-Edge dates:
The idea of adding scalloped serrations to one side of a knife blade was patented by Albert H. Baer, USPTO utility patent #2,825,968. The patent was filed in September of 1956, and issued in March of 1958, and assigned to Imperial Associated Companies, Inc. The name Wonda-Edge associated with Mr. Baers invention was trademarked as well, #72,023,627, in February 1958.
This Wonda-Edge feature was used for the next few decades on a variety of hunting knives, pocket knives, and horticultural and sampler knives. As the assignment of the patent indicates, knives of all three of the associated companies, Schrade Walden, Ulster, and Imperial at one time or another made use of this patent.
Serrated blades were not unheard of prior to the Wonda-Edge, but they more resembled saws in that they were toothed, with angular serrations, and usually symetrically groved evenly on both sides. Mr. Baers invention used rounded scallops to increase the length of the cutting surface, and placed the scallops all on one side of the blade to facilitate easy sharpening from the back, or plain side, rather than trying to sharpen the scallops themselves.
The very earliest mention I have found of the use of the Wonda-Edge feature is on the Schrade Walden 1957 price list, SW157JA. There I find listed 145WE, 147LWE,148LWE, all fixed blade hunting knives.
Now, quoting myself quoting the notes of Mr. Hourin from Schrade Walden's production in the mid to late 1950's:
The #146 was the same pattern, but with grooved Stratawood handles (like the #140) and the birdshead pommel. First seen in 1953, it had an 8 1/4" overall length, hollow ground stainless steel 4" blade, aluminum alloy guard and birdshead pommel. It listed in 1955 for $4.95, appeared in 1957, but was gone by 1959.
Hourins Notes:
#146
4 1/4" Fixed Blade Hunter
with Plain Aluminum Butt
__________________________________
13 Ga. SS Hollow Ground Blade
Aluminum Guards
Fibre Lock Washers
Grooved Strata Wood Handles with
6 Black Fibre Washers per Knife
4 White Fibre Washers per Knife
Black spacers? This one has red spacers. Hourin specified red and white washers for Sears Roebuck special factory order knives.
So what exactly do we have here? A prototype? A photosample? A Sample? A mockup? Error? Lunchbox? Beginning of days?
I need a certificate to go with this one.
There. Now I feel better. Don't you? Yes, I knew that you would.
Codger
It is a Schrade Walden 146. The "No. 146" is an etch on blade right, and the knife is tang stamped "STAINLESS" on that side. "SCHRADE-WALDEN / N.Y. U.S.A." is tang stamped on blade left and the blade on that side is etched "Wonda-Edge / Patent Pending". Odd. This knife does not sport a "Wonda-Edge". Quoting my notes on the Wonda-Edge dates:
The idea of adding scalloped serrations to one side of a knife blade was patented by Albert H. Baer, USPTO utility patent #2,825,968. The patent was filed in September of 1956, and issued in March of 1958, and assigned to Imperial Associated Companies, Inc. The name Wonda-Edge associated with Mr. Baers invention was trademarked as well, #72,023,627, in February 1958.
This Wonda-Edge feature was used for the next few decades on a variety of hunting knives, pocket knives, and horticultural and sampler knives. As the assignment of the patent indicates, knives of all three of the associated companies, Schrade Walden, Ulster, and Imperial at one time or another made use of this patent.
Serrated blades were not unheard of prior to the Wonda-Edge, but they more resembled saws in that they were toothed, with angular serrations, and usually symetrically groved evenly on both sides. Mr. Baers invention used rounded scallops to increase the length of the cutting surface, and placed the scallops all on one side of the blade to facilitate easy sharpening from the back, or plain side, rather than trying to sharpen the scallops themselves.
The very earliest mention I have found of the use of the Wonda-Edge feature is on the Schrade Walden 1957 price list, SW157JA. There I find listed 145WE, 147LWE,148LWE, all fixed blade hunting knives.
Now, quoting myself quoting the notes of Mr. Hourin from Schrade Walden's production in the mid to late 1950's:
The #146 was the same pattern, but with grooved Stratawood handles (like the #140) and the birdshead pommel. First seen in 1953, it had an 8 1/4" overall length, hollow ground stainless steel 4" blade, aluminum alloy guard and birdshead pommel. It listed in 1955 for $4.95, appeared in 1957, but was gone by 1959.
Hourins Notes:
#146
4 1/4" Fixed Blade Hunter
with Plain Aluminum Butt
__________________________________
13 Ga. SS Hollow Ground Blade
Aluminum Guards
Fibre Lock Washers
Grooved Strata Wood Handles with
6 Black Fibre Washers per Knife
4 White Fibre Washers per Knife
Black spacers? This one has red spacers. Hourin specified red and white washers for Sears Roebuck special factory order knives.
So what exactly do we have here? A prototype? A photosample? A Sample? A mockup? Error? Lunchbox? Beginning of days?
I need a certificate to go with this one.
There. Now I feel better. Don't you? Yes, I knew that you would.
Codger
