schrade's heat treat...

T

TimeConstant

Joined
Oct 15, 2005
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48
How is the new schrade knives in 440c doing? I'm looking to get a 165OT for kicks and giggles but does anyone have the skinny on how the new products are holding up?

Thanks
 
It sounds like you are refering to the Taylor Brands Limited Liability Company's new Chinese made knives. I would suppose you would have to contact them to ask about their steel/heat treat/cryo processes. I don't have any direct knowledge of those.

I do have a few of the Chinese knives either "oopsed" while trying to buy real Schrades, or sent to me by other collector's who did likewise. I found the quality of fit and finish to be lacking somewhat. I haven't tried using them, just tossed them together in a box after reviewing them in comparisons to actual Schrade knives. Maybe someone else can give you a better answer about their utility.

Michael
 
Ahhhh... I see. Well, in a nutshell, Imperial Schrade Corporation was forced into bankruptcy dissolution by creditors at the end of July, 2004. In October, 2004, an auction was held in the Ellenville factory where the machinery, tools, office furniture, company knife collection, finished knives and parts, and material inventory was sold. Stewart Taylor bought the IP, Intellectual Property which included the patents and trademarks. Not long afterward, he began importing inexpensive copies of popular Imperial Schrade knives from China, stamped with the Schrade trademarks. The packaging was very nearly a knockoff of the Imperial Schrade packaging (he had every right to do this). The problem was...the packaging includes the American flag, leading buyers (at least on the retail level) to believe they are buying American made Imperial Schrade knives. These first knives were not stamped Taylor. Or China. Since then, I've seen the packaging changed so that at least knowledgable buyers can tell the difference. And the latest knives I have seen have a tiny 'China' stamp on one side.

The good news is that there are still a lot of original Imperial Schrades out there, many still new in the box. And for the most part, they are still reasonably priced, common ones selling for about their last listed MSRP of 2004.

Michael
 
Taylor claims 56-58 Rockwell on the Chinese Schrades. IMHO, if you're patient and use eBay's search utilities efficiently, you can find a nice user Schrade USA 165OT at a reasonable price. You'll be real happy with the carbon steel, the fit and finish will be better than the knockoff's, and you'll have a piece of history. There is lots of info on this forum on how to take care of the carbon steel.
 
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