The Schrade-Holub Connection

[ea42]

Many of you have probably seen the Holub electrician's knives around, some with brown handles and some with yellow. These were made by Schrade Walden for Holub Industries in the sixties and seventies (maybe earlier). These were numbered 248 and 247, and were based on the K27 and K29 electrician's knives respectively. After the success of the two previous models, Holub approached Schrade for a third, to be called the 249. This one was to have a number of extra upgrades, such as wire cutter and stripper built into the screwdriver, the newfangled tungsten carbide blades, etc. I'll let the Memo explain:

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I've had that memo for a while, and never really seriously considered finding the knife until one popped up last week in it's original packaging! It's kind of difficult getting a clear picture through the plastic, but you can definitely see what the results were, and how they followed the letter requirements quite closely. I believe the manufacture of this knife was started around early 1970, with the only real change being the initial ommission of the UL symbol on the handle, as requested by Holub in a letter dated Jan. 1970.

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Enjoy!

Eric

 

[waynorth]

What a great find, Eric!
It is amazing to have the story of the knife's creation, and a truly mint
specimen!!

Was the letter found on the floor of the factory during one of your fact-finding covert operations??

 

[ea42]

Yes it was Charlie, with Fran and Russell as part of the team. We had to abort the mission when one of the guard dogs picked up our scent and alerted the SWAT like security team. Bullets were ricocheting all over the place, but we eluded them when Russell kicked over a barrel of quenching oil and sent 'em flying. His handy mint condition DU Flyways stag handled, blued blade, 24k gold etched typical knife show bowie knife did a great job of hacking holes in the barrel before he upended it!

OK, here's a letter dated Jan 9, 1970 from Holub to Schrade requesting the removal of the UL symbol from a card (which I believe would be the carboard backing that the knife is attached to). I don't know which card they're referring to as it doesn't mention a model number.

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And lastly a letter to Uncle Henry himself requesting an adjustment to shipment dates on the 247's and 248's. This one's dated Jan 25, 1968. Note the old NY address and the old Ulster Knife Co. stamp:

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Eric

 

[ea42]

If you're wondering who Pete D. is in the CC forwarding notes, I believe it would be this gentleman right here:

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Eric

 

[Sauconian]

Yes it was Charlie, with Fran and Russell as part of the team. We had to abort the mission when one of the guard dogs picked up our scent and alerted the SWAT like security team.

" I know not dink ! NOT DINK !! "

Let's take Milk Bones and another flashlite, and try again !

 

[waynorth]

Yes it was Charlie, with Fran and Russell as part of the team. We had to abort the mission when one of the guard dogs picked up our scent and alerted the SWAT like security team.

" I know not dink ! NOT DINK !! "

Let's take Milk Bones and another flashlite, and try again !

You guys really ought to go back!!:thumbup:
Then you can regale us with your exploits!!

 

[ea42]

ssshhh!!!​

 

[Rusty1]

Russell