Good question. And one that I might just have an answer for. While factory records say how many, they don't differentiate the details, i.e. etches, stamps, etc. Unless it had an identifiable Sears number. And these did not have them on the knife. I cannot make out the number on the box in my picture archives. Do you have your box?
The patent for this knife, # D-202,780, was uncovered. Henry B. Baer, New York, N.Y. is the listed inventor. The patent was assigned to Imperial Knife Associated Companies, Inc., Providence, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island. It was filed on August 7, 1964, and the design patent issued on November 9, 1965. Exclusive rights (Term of Patent) were granted for an initial term of 14 years. The patent is a design patent, i.e. the ornamental appearance of the item, not function. Function would be a utility patent. Also, the length of time between filing and issuance is noteworthy. 8/7/64 - 11/9/65. That fifteen months is the time frame for the actual production of the patent pending knives.
I believe that Ted WIlliams became Sears spokesperson in 1961, and he knew both Baers. The earliest number I can locate for the Schrade/Sears 15OT is #10600 from 1964 with 836 ordered. 2,552 were ordered in 1965, and 6,598 in 1966.
Earliest production was marked with a "PAT. PEND."on a left blade etch briefly, then added to the left hand tangstamp. The early Walden 15OT's were serialialized on the left tang perpendicular to the blade beginning well before the patent issued in November of '65.
The lowest serial number I have seen so far on a Patent Pending knife is # 000494. The next earliest serial Ive seen was #00563. It was, as all other serialized knives Ive seen, a Schrade Walden. It came with the earliest tooled laced sheath, and the Patent Pending stamp. It had a Ted Williams Signature blade etch showing that it was retailed by Sears. I believe your #10318 is the highest I've yet seen.
Since the difference between the #10600 Sears version and the regular Schrade production was only the etch and packaging, they likely just pulled the knives from regular serialized production for the Sears orders. For 1964, there were 5,346 shipped, for a total of 6,172. In 1965, there were 6,244 shipped, for a total of 8,796. So it is probable that of these first 14,968 or so knives which were patent pending, about 3,338 were Sears Williams signature knives.
Michael
PS: That will be $100 please!
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