Thrift store vintage SCHRADE....

D

Drum4fun

Joined
Mar 21, 2018
Messages
371
Asked the bride if we could hit a few thrift stores this afternoon. Walked in to one
(Hospice), behind the locked glass case had 3 levels of pocket knife mediocrity.

On the bottom level I viewed this blade sitting in the very back... I was not familiar
with this SCHRADE logo (was familiar with the brand history) but, assumed it was "early" .
I donated $20.00.

A quick review of the web (and this site) indicates this blade is late 1800's to early 1900's
I think...(please correct if I am wrong). An on-line "collector" considers this logo one of the earliest
and "rarest". It is a totally functional knife. And, I am already humbled by the history.

Any additional history/opinions is/are gratefully accepted. (and, if you have any like
this I'd appreciate seeing them). Just a lucky find (i.e. no skill involved) ... this kind
of history keeps me rummaging thru the junk. (Sure is skinny ! seems it would be easy
to lose). The hunt continues.

Charles
https://imgur.com/a/Na3dq5L
 
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Fantastic Score!
Congratulations. :)

The boys 'n girls in the Schrade Collector's sub forum here would go bananas over that one. :)
 
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Super find! :thumbsup:
It appears to have the same construction, with the addition of scales, as a Douk Douk or Squirrel knife from Cognet in France.

Michael
 
Thanks to all for the appreciation of George's creativity. Must admit to over the top
excitability when I opened the blade and saw the identifier.... and, that the blade
was completely intact. Does anyone know if this style knife had a numerical designator
or other nomenclature attached to its' design ? Thanks anyway, Charles
 
l1Lyh4CBZ2tR0Ggx6ugKGymveqx-w_0XgWMAFQw8Jhk6DAqQdB2XsvS_w1sqbSfvN4cgyFAVaR8pNUY_mdlLoimD8y7_Ml1zVKgyOPPni7vI4zmvzjLh1HH-Q4a6WYBvSEc-RwZT


These are the known tang stamps from 1904 forward
 
Thank you Mr. Boggs. That chart & and an on line Schrade history is what I used to age range this blade . Amazing to think this survivor could be in the 120+ year age range. Cool history.
 
I’ve seen a lot of Geo Schrade stamped folding forks and spoons from the Boy Scouts. In fact, I have a couple of sets on the way to me now. But I’ve never seen the stamp on a pocket knife.

It looks like Geo Schrade may have been started in 1929, and eventually acquired by Boker USA.
 
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Mr. Buzz .... I must misunderstand your last paragraph ? From what I have read this tang stamp is 1900 or earlier . Maybe I’m mis-reading your post ? Charles
 
Buzzbait said:
It looks like Geo Schrade may have been started in 1929, and eventually acquired by Boker USA.
Click to expand...

Yep, I think this knife is probably closer to the '29 timeframe. I'm in Levines Guide right now trying to make sense of it all (and someone PLEASE correct me if I'm missing something) but Schrade Cutlery Co stamps would be separate from George Schrade Co stamps.

In 1904 George and his two brothers started the Schrade Cutlery Company. In 1910 he sold his share, and left for Germany. He returns to join Challenge Cutlery co in Bridgeport, CT around 1917. Then in 1928-29 when Challenge closed due to the owner passing, George bought it to form the Geo Schrade Knife Co.

***regardless, you found a really nice knife!!
 
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Sabercat .... thank you very much ... helps explain why I’m having a hard time finding this logo on line . (Images). Appreciate all the history . Thank you . Charles
 
Drum4fun said:
Sabercat .... thank you very much ... helps explain why I’m having a hard time finding this logo on line . (Images). Appreciate all the history . Thank you . Charles
Click to expand...
My pleasure Charles. It truly is a nice knife. It's possible that it is made from parts from the Champion factory, but that's pure speculation on my part.

Here is a link to a page that's mostly focused on Geo. Schrade's wire jacks, but it does give some history and shows your tang stamp at the bottom, as possibly the earliest Geo. Schrade stamp.

http://www.guycard.com/wirejack.htm
 
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Thanks all for the insights (esp. Mr. Buzz, Sabercat, and Glennbad !). Great history.
I am currently trying to locate an on-line catalog from the era to see if any similar
are listed. I am not familiar with the "fishing knife" reference but will dig around here
to educate myself.

observations....if you look closely at the back of the knife case ridge line you will
notice an elevated nib. It appears to function as an aide to the blade stop. Also, not
sure the inserts are brass...all metal appears to be either carbon steel or nickel .
(just a guess) . I assume the scales are stag (beautiful).

Charles

*** I forgot the "tape measure" shots in the original post , so I added those .

https://imgur.com/a/Na3dq5L
 
I could certainly be mistaken, but I'd guess the handle covers are some type of synthetic material.
 
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