G'Day, I'm as happy as a dog with 2 dicks! Ebay#270237564567. Listed incorrectly under 'Other Brands 1970 to Now' is completed auction for Schrade Walden" Frogmans Defender-Made to Government Standards."
I already have Mint in Box Schrade Walden J.C. Higgins Diving Knife <Lrv site My corner pages 41 & 42 photos..sorry Eric!> however it differs from this Schrade Walden model which is not the Sears Roebuck J.C.Higgins model but is the SD 41<SC =Schrade Divers?> Frogmens knife. The differences are the Higgins has the Higgins signature etch and Stainless on reverse side whilst the SD41 has Tang: Schrade Walden N.Y USA with stainless underneath plus the blade etch "Frogmans Defender-Made to Government Standards"<with a neat swimming frogman..Lloyd Bridges??>
You probably think I'm hangin out of my cotton pickin tree paying $176 for this knife without original sheath although it does seem to be in Excellent Condition as Described and certainly never used for its intended purpose.
Here is what I have been able to gleen about this knife and you tell me if you think it was too much.
Mr Levine stated on 6/7/2004 regarding a question on this knife he answered in his "Whut Izzit" column Knife World? November 1998.."Ms Debbie L Chase Schrades unofficial historian said she had to do some digging to find any record of it but eventually found reference in files from early 1960's.
She wrote: Knife is the model SD41 and was manufactured from 1961 to 1965.It is known as the 'Frogman's Defender Deluxe Stainless Steel Skin-Divers Heavy Duty Knife with Knuckle Guard.It was made to Government Specifications which included a salt water resistant plastic handle and a heavy gauge stainless steel blade.There was also an SD40 manufactured at the same time with no Knuckle Guard.
She continues:"Apparently the SD41 never gained in popularity as records show Schrade only received orders for 850 knives total production in its 5 year lifetime.This of course indicates it would be extremely RARE to run across one of these knives today" and although our records only list the jobbers cost for these knives,we estimate that its retail value when new would have been between $6 and $8."<That was in 1998 she stated it would be rare to find one!>
Mr Levine added "although this Frogmen Defender might have been made to Government Specifications this does not necessarily mean that the Government actually bought any of them, and if you have any additional information about these knives particularly about Military usage please share it with me."
He then added in his 2004 post he never did hear any follow up on this knife or on the question of military usage.
Soooo..... 2 knives from a total manufacture of only 850 stacks the value in my favor I reckon,particularly as many would have been used for their intended purpose I presume. I am aware that Schrade had both models SD41 and SD40 in their Schrade Collection but without original sheaths going on past sales of their 'collection' knives without original sheaths.
Trust you found all this as interesting as I do....and did I pay tooo much? Hoo Roo
I already have Mint in Box Schrade Walden J.C. Higgins Diving Knife <Lrv site My corner pages 41 & 42 photos..sorry Eric!> however it differs from this Schrade Walden model which is not the Sears Roebuck J.C.Higgins model but is the SD 41<SC =Schrade Divers?> Frogmens knife. The differences are the Higgins has the Higgins signature etch and Stainless on reverse side whilst the SD41 has Tang: Schrade Walden N.Y USA with stainless underneath plus the blade etch "Frogmans Defender-Made to Government Standards"<with a neat swimming frogman..Lloyd Bridges??>
You probably think I'm hangin out of my cotton pickin tree paying $176 for this knife without original sheath although it does seem to be in Excellent Condition as Described and certainly never used for its intended purpose.
Here is what I have been able to gleen about this knife and you tell me if you think it was too much.
Mr Levine stated on 6/7/2004 regarding a question on this knife he answered in his "Whut Izzit" column Knife World? November 1998.."Ms Debbie L Chase Schrades unofficial historian said she had to do some digging to find any record of it but eventually found reference in files from early 1960's.
She wrote: Knife is the model SD41 and was manufactured from 1961 to 1965.It is known as the 'Frogman's Defender Deluxe Stainless Steel Skin-Divers Heavy Duty Knife with Knuckle Guard.It was made to Government Specifications which included a salt water resistant plastic handle and a heavy gauge stainless steel blade.There was also an SD40 manufactured at the same time with no Knuckle Guard.
She continues:"Apparently the SD41 never gained in popularity as records show Schrade only received orders for 850 knives total production in its 5 year lifetime.This of course indicates it would be extremely RARE to run across one of these knives today" and although our records only list the jobbers cost for these knives,we estimate that its retail value when new would have been between $6 and $8."<That was in 1998 she stated it would be rare to find one!>
Mr Levine added "although this Frogmen Defender might have been made to Government Specifications this does not necessarily mean that the Government actually bought any of them, and if you have any additional information about these knives particularly about Military usage please share it with me."
He then added in his 2004 post he never did hear any follow up on this knife or on the question of military usage.
Soooo..... 2 knives from a total manufacture of only 850 stacks the value in my favor I reckon,particularly as many would have been used for their intended purpose I presume. I am aware that Schrade had both models SD41 and SD40 in their Schrade Collection but without original sheaths going on past sales of their 'collection' knives without original sheaths.
Trust you found all this as interesting as I do....and did I pay tooo much? Hoo Roo
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Nice snag there Larry I had that knife tagged and sort of watched it. I figured it was somewhat rare and would go fairly high, checked back last night and saw the (handle) 
you buy under and hoped it was possibly one of you fellers from the Down Under that post in her regularly that had it won.
