The Schrade Walden 153 Uncle Henry...Golden Spike & Schrade 153UH variations..

15xpgz7.jpg

Took apart a craftsman 153. Going to post some pics
 
Meh. As you will note, I typed it out filling in the missing numeric with X's like on a gun. Easier to visualize the whole number that way.
 
More-Schrades%20(30).jpgMore-Schrades%20(31).jpg...and we are still discussing known Schrade Walden Serial Numbers are we not?....that Golden Spike knife carries Schrade tang stamping only......I've owned at least three brown box 153 UH's with serial numbers starting just higher than 2000 and they were all Schrade not Schrade Walden....I believe UP TO 2000 Schrade Waldens' manufactured still stands as likely...and we know at least 8 still remain for Schrade Walden posterity...that we have accounted for on this Forum...

Here are low #02616 and my highest # 403419 both Schrade only,... in brown box with bling for examples......Hoo Roo
 
Last edited:
Again, thanks for the serial numbers Larry. As you know, the #02616 Schrade is 1973 production and the #403419 is 1992 production. That gives us our most current high and low for Schrade 153UH serializations. 2000? Hmm. If other production runs of patterns are any indicator, they liked to make production overruns of 10% or so for warranty replacements and to cover rejects. So perhaps 2,200 or so Walden 153UH? Also it appears that serialization may have ended either with the change to stainless or shortly before. Records indicate the change to stainless was done in mid to late 1995.
 
We know from Larry Vickery <lrv> who quotes from the end of year Schrade Walden report that only 1 153UH escaped in 1972 and 3485 were shipped in 1973 so it follows from our known serial Numbers, it's likely the 3485 shipped comprised of the Walden tang stampings AND the new Schrade stampings.....and in all likelihood those 3485 were shipped in both 'Bear Skinner' brown box's, Golden Spike 'Sticker' brown box's and maybe some of the new fangled Golden Spike gold embossed new box's if they were ready sometime in 1973......how does all that sound.....if we didn't have the actual knives and their Serial#'s to view, we would not have got too far in our research would we?.....Hoo Roo
 
A fairly accurate summation of the facts as we know them to be at this juncture. There is nothing wrong with supposition, IMHO, as long as we identify it as such and separated from facts that we can prove by records or by examples. In fact it is supposition which has led us to this juncture. I am reminded of prior examples where supposed supposition, accepted as fact in the absence of contrary proof. Like "All Old Timers were carbon steel and all Uncle Henrys were stainless". Remember that one? And then the pattern introduction dates. At one point all we had to indicate those dates was Robert Clemente's book. Accurate as it was considering the materials he had to work with, a collection of Schrade catalogs, over time we have seen several introduction dates changed due to emerging records and examples. The latest being this 153UH pattern.
 
Codger you sentiments are exactly what I was thinking. The interest in the golden spike goes beyond one knife pattern. By following the progression we learn much about the schrade organization, their buisness practices and many other things that provide at least insight if not answers to many other questions.Even small details help our understanding as to how a concept such as the 153 became 30 years and a million or so knives produced ,sold an used around the world. My interest in Schrade has helped me understand a little more about knife making in the USA from the beginning ,From Waterville CT to companies like canal st. Today. Always my focus is on the amazing innovations and quality knives that came from NY manufacturers.
 
Remembr the almighty sears catalog. Today it is amazon.com. That happened in the blink of an eye. The same vehicle that facilitated that change also provided for other changes at the same time. Today you can drive from NYC to Walden and watch the curve. That's not to say others weren't on board. Just how on board and how fast. Some jumped on an opportunity for cheap labor and inferior craftsmanship, while others stood by their people and quality products. That to me was the shift. Mainly after sept 11 when fear replaced integrity and the great money grab began. If I got this wrong id love to hear another perspective. It would have to be pretty convincing though.
 
Interestingly, in my research on Schrade I was led to also research Sears, Woolworths and Kresge. There was much more written about Sears than Schrade or the other two retailers. Sears has had a very interesting history and Baer played a role in that history from his first years in the cutlery business. Yes the markets have evolved greatly over the years. Some companies had leadership which adapted and thrived while competitors went by the wayside. The same could be said of cutleries. All of them that I have studied found their prime years during periods when they went above and beyond in both their treatment/rewarding of employees and their philanthropy in general. Am I the only one here who owns Craftsman, Imperial and Vulcan safety razor blades?
 
Preceeded it by a bit actually. Walmart and other discount retailers stomped Sears' market shares beginning in the 1980's. Since that time the retailer has been in constant decline. Even the merger with their old nemesis Kresge (K-Mart) has not slowed the decline and store closings.
 
Maybe the reason they survived at all is because they had a more diversified product line. I purchase a 1969 catalog recently. I wonder how many of those items were made domestically. How about today? When was the biggest transition period between then and now? Was this corporate survival. Their size and diversity bought them more time?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top