SEARS KNIFE WORLD

[knowtracks]

What a rare example Duncan!
That bone jigging and that COLOR!
Beautiful! !!


Dave

 

[Campbellclanman]

Thanks Dave! Pretty cool these smaller ones - so well built - I imagine that smaller Shatt you posted just before is amazingly built as well

 

[Silverbeard_EDC]

Don't know much about Sears knives, but I picked up this 9549 a while back. I think that makes it a 1966? Built by Ulster? It was rough when I got it but I think it cleaned up ok.

Terry

 

[Campbellclanman]

Nice one Terry!
Your bang on with the information, My catalogs show that one showing for the first time in '67, Thank you for sharing

 

[TheChunk91]

The previous owner saw fit to keep the box around and carve his name into the bolster of this craftsman 9547. This adds a very cool personal touch to an otherwise plain old used schrade walden era 8ot. When not in use I keep the knife stored in it’s box.

 

[lambertiana]

Here you go Duncan. This was given to me by my grandfather in the mid 70s. When he gave it to me he said it held an edge better than the fancy brand that would supposedly cut a bolt, which I took to mean Buck.

 

[Old Hunter]

My newest Craftsman, a 9470 Premium Stockman (4") based on the Schrade-Walden 881, ca. mid 1960's - early 1970's. From Jon's recent GAW, a wonderful addition for me. OH

 

[Campbellclanman]

Nice 80T there Paul, not so plain - being the earlier it has the Matchstrike Pull on it which I love on those Knives!

Lambertaina, Thank you for showing us your treasured Knife my friend!

Bruce, that's a knife that will last a lifetime isn't it! nice win from Jon, he's a good Rooster that chap!

 

[Old Hunter]

Bruce, that's a knife that will last a lifetime isn't it! nice win from Jon, he's a good Rooster that chap!

You are 100% on both counts!

 

[JonMcD]

My newest Craftsman, a 9470 Premium Stockman (4") based on the Schrade-Walden 881, ca. mid 1960's - early 1970's. From Jon's recent GAW, a wonderful addition for me. OH

Nice 80T there Paul, not so plain - being the earlier it has the Matchstrike Pull on it which I love on those Knives!

Lambertaina, Thank you for showing us your treasured Knife my friend!

Bruce, that's a knife that will last a lifetime isn't it! nice win from Jon, he's a good Rooster that chap!

Thanks kindly gents! Those are wonderful photos Bruce! It looks right at home in the pines .

 

[TheChunk91]

One of my very favorites, a nice 1950’s schrade walden 881 with craftsman etch.



If I were around in the days you could walk into sears and buy one like this it’s very likely I’d have spent all my hard earned money on a full 1/2 dozen box like a fool.

 

[Campbellclanman]

That is a real beauty Paul, I was going through my Sears the other night - As I need to because of the humidity and checking each knife - te- waxing and oiling - I was blown away just how much I have gathered up in the way of real quality knives made by the likes of Schrade and Camillus +.

I love that one of yours, it’s a beauty
Thank you for sharing your favourite with us
I too would have many, many, MANY boxes from Sears - and would be on a first name basis with the staff in there no doubt.

 

[Campbellclanman]

I mentioned before that I sometimes like to get comparisons to show the Knife what it is like on the outside of Sears World, the same Knife with different Markings - and at times slight changes to the knife for Sears.

Here we have a nice Lockback, not overly put together to make it a premium Knife- but a Knife that will do the job at a darned good price.

I have seen some people in the past ask who made these particular knives for Sears, and one day I was looking through an auction and came across a very cool display - I thought that I must grab this to place alongside the Sears- simply as a matter of interest.

Here's the Craftsman Lockback, that has the Craftsman Tang Stamp,

And here is what I also grabbed, this is the Original Shop Counter Display - completely intact and also it has a compartment at the back of the frame to store the Knife Boxes - which, believe it or not - the boxes for the Knives were still tucked in there!

I was rapt with this, so it gives a nice tweak to my Sears collection to say ......... "and here's the Imperials that were sold in and out of the Sears Stores" same Knives - different Markings and different Marketing!

 

[Campbellclanman]

I picked up the Mint Craftsman 9540 Barlow a while ago, sure- it has Bonite Handles but it's very nice to get a superb example of the different types of Sears Knives available. You see this one advertised by itself in 1969 for $2.39, a decade before you would have picked up a Barlow similar but with Black Plastic Handles, the knife but it came with a rule Book and that package was numbered 94572 for $0.89 cents.

Our very good friend Paul Hilborn gave me one like this that has been used, full blades etc, Oh man that thing sharpens up to be like a Scalpel!
( Thank you again Paul ).

This example has not ever been out of its package for any kind of work whatsoever.

 

[SteveC]

Very nice Duncan, Ulster sure made a nice Barlow

 

[Campbellclanman]

Yep - they sure did Steve my friend. - even ones that had what I call the “ Blue Collar” dressings- they were and are such good knives.

Oh to turn the clock back eh!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Some time ago Cal posted some Stunning / Rare Schrade Sheath Knives still in their original packs- that post really made me sit up, also Cal recently in the amazing Elusive Schrade Thread shared a very rare full handled 165 Craftsman with a very hard to get sheath.

This big fella - I picked up because of the hard to get Sheath. This Knife is as we recognize it as the Uncle Henry 171. But this is marketed as a Craftsman and bears the Craftsman Tang Stamp, the ACA EDGE Etch, as well as the Leader CRAFTSMAN Etch. Full bladed but unfortunately poorly stored, in saying that apart for a couple of dark areas on the blade- there is no severe pitting of such and overall a nice example to view imo.

 

[Campbellclanman]

A nice little Craftsman Peanut- Sharpening Marks that didn't quite Conquer the Etching on the Blade- just a little example of a nicely Bone Handled Coin Pocket buddy..

Here is a example of the nice Knives put out by Sears, This is a STA-SHARP in script of the Tang of this marvelous Trapper by Camillus late in the 30's or 1940.

There were a couple of versions of these Trappers, one Etched version sporting the wording " Sportsman" , the other like this example did not come out with any etching, nor a stamped number, simply the STA-SHARP script Tang stamp, have nothing but the tang stamp makes it hard to really nail down the advertised year- as the Catalogs had of course corresponding number to go with.

The very Glary, poor lighting leads one to thing that this Knife has severe Sharpening marks,- it actually doesn't but even sharpening marks are present, I could remove these - but I kind of like the Knife to be honest, it still ( imo) looks gorgeous with Camillus's stunning Bone that they adorned on their Knives at that time, now and then there was super nice Bone, Augie displayed his version of this Knife that is dead Mint.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Going back to the Composite family that I started this Thread on, the marvelous SEARS World of Knives covered every budget.

So Sears had basically a 3 tiered selection of multiple pocket Knives and in every pattern imaginable, man they had some outstanding knives, and please forgive for "uptalking" these 3rd tier level Knives, why? because the Knife had what I often call the " Blue Collar" clothing that surrounded the very good Blades that were in the top tiered Knives.
Kwik Cut wasn't around for that many years, and because of the more affordable handle materials used - these knives were used, so getting some of these lower tiered Knives which I think is important when trying to own a realistic representation of Sears Knives- and not just the pretty " blingy" ones ( although I want them to ).

So when I see a lower tiered Knife from the Sears Family in relatively good condition I pick it up- this example is a nice example of a knife that blows out 85 or so candles on it's Birthday Cake.

I imagine it may be hard as a viewer to take interest in the more economic built knives compared to the outstanding Bone handled examples from these companies, but they are such an integral part of Sears & Camillus's History.

 

[Campbellclanman]

On page 10, post number 197, I posted a five bladed Utility Knife, I am pretty sure if I was going out on a day - or several day hike Camp etc, I would have this guy with a Sheath Knife to boot- I would be well equipped in the blade section there.

So 1966 this Knife first came out, always advertised with a Nice Sheath accompanying the Knife.

Sears, always chipping away, not letting anything in the Marketing go stale added a small sentence at the bottom 3 years later in 1969 " Comes in Gift box"

So here is that Gift Box and its unused contents.....