The verdict: bear and sons made schrade waldens

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Jul 29, 2002
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Well, I purchased four of the bear made schrade waldens though smkw. They were the muskrat pattern in amber bone.

I had heard that the blades were 440, the handles were amber bone. Theses things proved to be true.

However, and sadly enough, the quality, or I should say "lack there of" was astounding!

The scales were ill-fitted (one was even too small for the handle!). The backsprings were not ground even, some even portruded well about the liners (one just over 1/32). Some of the bolsters were crooked, not symetric. The blades were sharp on three of the knives. On one, the blade edge was quite dull. One knife did not have the "easy open" groove for the back rear blade ground into it. I also noticed that the scales on a couple were not cerrectly glued on. And had large gaps between the liners and scales. On a couple of the scales, the bone was burned badly, reminiscent of letting the bone sit too long on one part when it was being polished (which causes it to overheat and burn, making it turn uneven colors, discolor, etc.).

After careful consideration of these knives, they were quite dissappointing. There were only two highlights to them. One was the box they came in. A blue two part with a nice black and white photo of the original factory. The box was reminiscent of the boxes that queen uses with their knives these days. The other was the amber bone used, that was bought from the schrade factory closing. It was beautiful! The same bone used on the schrade cigar box knives, and the tennessee trapper (by schrade before they closed). Sad to see such nice bone waisted in "inferior" craftsmanship.

The knives were just plain "poor" quality. They had a great potential to be good knives, especially with the materials chosen, all proven, and could have been well used. Unfortunately, whoever put these together, were either not skilled, or just did'nt care. I would opt for the last. Personally they struck me as knives that were only made to make money, I did not see anything that looked like the people who made them really cared about their reputation. I could see that there was a "slight" hint that someone knew how to do it right as some, but very little, of the polished lines looked decent.

Overall, "four out of four", being poor, is awful!

Really sad to think this happened, ...but then they were commissioned by smoky, licensed by taylor and made by bear and sons :(

All in all, they are a "slap" in the reputation, and memory of Schrade :thumbdn:
 
Oh, I almost forgot to mention. The "free" schrade walden pocket watch that came with the knives, was of course, cheap.

The watch body was a real thin "tin" (type?) material. The watch lid had nice "raised" letters spelling out the old trademark, "everlastingly sharp". However, the watch lid appeared to be a really cheap (metalic) plated cast (felt like plastic?). I ran a magnet over the watch and chain out of curiousity, and the hook was the only part that appeared to be steel. The dial face had a nice color pic of the old factory, and had "taylor llc" printed on the face. And the chain and watch both had a gold "china" label attached.
 
I have a Bear (pre-Bear and Sons) stockman that was very poorly fitted. I was hoping that they were getting better, but it sounds like this is not the case. I keep it to remind myself that just because a knife is stamped USA, doesn't always mean it is a quality tool. My personal feeling is that we should steer clear of the reproductions/replicas/resurrections of the Schrade name used after 2004, when the factory closed. If the makers of such knock-offs had confidence in the quality of their products, they would use their own names (like Buck and Case do), rather than just selling a name that has no connection to quality. What these people are overlooking is the fact that the products sold under a brand name are what give value to that name, rather than the reverse. The association we have with the old Schrade company are not based on the sound of the word but on the soundness of the tools themselves. Sorry to hear you got burned.
 
Bartleby, thanks for saying it, but it's okay. I did'nt get burned. I expected them to be better than the "reality", and they were not, and that's okay.

In all honestly, they bought the trademarks and they do have a right to do with them as they wish. I personally, do not like what they are doing. their helping to "put at black mark" on schrades name, but they are not the first to do it. Knife companies have been bought and sold, gone bankrupt, etc. etc. etc. for years (it's nothing new).

Schrades demise was a great loss, but they were not the first, they wont be the last. The walden name itself was bought by schrade, so that in itself is just a testament to companies "swallowing up" other companies. Just like the old diamond brand knives, they took that line and "cheapend" it also (they were never inoccent of it themselves). It happens.

Taylor and smoky are not the first to do it!

It's just sad when it happens!

I just "chalk this up" to a learning experience and send them back to smoky!
 
Hate to hear that bears knives are not very good. I hope they get better being U.S.A. made.Happy that smokey is making with U.S.A. companies.
 
Here's an idea: We stop bashing Taylor and Smokey and Bear and anyone else profiting off the great old name we all love. There are millions of new and slightly used and heavily used Schrades out there to buy, use, discuss, show off to one another, ect.

Guys, this hacking on Taylor et all is getting old. Almost two years of it now. The best we can do is simply ignore any Schrade made by anyone that is post 2004. We don't need to keep harping, we are bigger than this and there is more than enough Schrade history to learn about rather than dwelling on this tired subject.

This is the 'Schrade Collector's Forum'. May I suggest any comments, discussions, ect about the new issue Schrades be taken to the general knife or traditional forums.

Just a thought..

Phil
 
Phil, I agree wholeheartedly, it does get tiresome and doesn't accomplish a thing. That being said, maybe just days or even hours from now, a new poster will ask about one of these knives that he saw on eBay or bought somewhere else. People come to this forum for answers to those very questions. I haven't tried the search function lately, but it was problematic at best in the past.

I don't know how you can stop it, maybe a sticky titled, "Is this a real Schrade?"
 
You are right, of course, Redshanks. Nothing we can do if someone comes asking about a knife, but be truthful and honest with our answer. As well as tossing in some humor if we can and making the poster feel welcome.

But it is those same new posters, people with a Schrade question, we want to impress with our knowledge, good manners and good humor. I should think that is what we would want visitors to find here--- not slam after slam directed at the Schrade imposters.

No one here has to agree with me. I am wrong sometimes, maybe I am here. I can choose to simply not respond to those threads I find tiresome. Like this one.

Phil
 
I happen to think you are right, tearing down an inferior product doesn't make a Schrade any better. This place should focus on celebrating Schrades for what they are, not what the imposters aren't.
 
Phil, the idea was not to tear down taylors rep, nor smoky, nor to "harp" on the matter. I sincerely apologize if it did sound this way. I was only stating the experience I had with these folders. I was trying to save the heart ache for someone else who may have been thinking about buying these.

That was all.

Sorry guys :(
 
I agree with all that everyone has said.

Rev, don't be sorry...we do knife reviews here all the time, and we all appreciate the time taken to note the info. Thanks for that service, and please continue to post any reviews on Schrade :rolleyes: products. An honest assessment is important, and may save someone from wasting some bucks.

Phil, I agree that we give too much of our precious time and effort to the so-called Schrade products. Someone once said there is no such thing as bad publicity. If we continue to give these non-schrade Schrades a voice, they will continue to tear down the good name of Schrade.

We cannot keep people from asking about those products, but our response can be measured.

Thanks everyone...:)

Glenn
 
I think the best way to answer is to make sure the differences are known.

A simple method is to look for the USA stamp on the front tang for Schrade products. If it aint there question one is answered and if there is a number stamped on the back side of the tang is not an original Schrade.

There are other methods to identify an original that should be a guide for those whom need to know.
Maybe we should open a thread just for that purpose. No bashing just info

TTYL
Larry
 
I agree Glen, an honest assessment of any knife we are asked about is what we need to give new (or old) collectors inquiring about a knife. We may save someone some money from buying a low quality knife, or a knife that is not what the person thought he was buying. In the majority of cases I think we encourage the person and give them a new perspective on the value or history of what they have bought or are thinking of buying. We don't need to waste a lot of time, energy and emotion on putting down the junk, but we also need to let them know if they are being ripped off, after all that is why they have come here.

Just my $.02
Dale
 
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