Uncle Henry comments on Commemoratives

Codger_64

Codger_64

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Henry Baer Memo dated February 4th, 1974

Comments on another Commemorative

The Commemorative Limited Edition Pocket Knives have helped swell the bonuses for *( Schrade salesmen).

The Liberty Bell, LB-1 and Paul Revere, PR-2, were far oversold before we produced the knives, and no. 3 on the “Hit Parade” the “1775 Minute Man” is illustrated and described on the page which was sent to you from Ellenville yesterday.

Knife collection seems to be a growth avocation, as shown by the sales far in excess of our production of the Liberty Bell and Paul Revere, which we limited to 2,000 dozen per pattern.

Upon receipt of the catalog pages, kindly contact prospects that you feel could benefit and sell these Limited Edition knives.

You will recognize the pattern as Schrade 855RB. The blades are stainless and the cover is black Delrin.

On previous production of the two Commemoratives we could only ship 2/3's of the orders that were placed, and we’re quite sure the “1775 Minute Man” will follow suit. The total number of knives that we will make on this Limited Edition will only total 480 knives per state.

These knives are offered for shipment in March. Note the brand - S.W. Cut.

Sell from the catalog page using 855RB to show blading, size, etc. All orders must be in Ellenville before February 28th, 1974.

Yours truly,
Henry B. Baer

Codger

From the Codger files
 
3 5/8" Stockman 24,000 pcs., Issue price $12.50


Tangstamp S.W.Cut PR-2 U.S.A.

 
3 5/8" Stockman 24,000 pcs., Issue price $12.50


Tangstamp S.W.Cut MM-2 U.S.A.

Black Delrin, double shielded
 
Codger,
How did you find a Paul Revere with engraved bolsters? I've never seen that before, it's a beaut!! Here's a shot of my "average" one along with a liberty bell:
2ywaivo.jpg
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Eric
 
Nice knives, Eric! The picture came from my files. It may well have been one made for Mr. Tractenberg, like the other "Schrade Museum Collection" knives engraved by Ralph Alpen.

Codger
 
I thought so, wasn't sure if he had them engraved that far back. I've noticed the "laddie" selling off quite a few of the engraved Trachtenberg old timers. He just sold off a beautiful engraved 51OT.
BTW, funny you should show that minuteman, it's the only one I need to round out the trio.
Eric
 
Codger,
I've never seen one of the covered wagon knives before, was it a more limited edition or are people just holding that one a little closer to the vest?
Eric
 
The early commemoratives (1973-78), sometimes called the Bi-Centennial Commemoratives, are an interesting study. Not much is written about them, and not that many are floating around on the market, that I've seen. Sometimes it is hard to even dig out the proposed production figures and years of introduction for one of them. The fliers didn't always list the Limited Edition quantity. My 1995 issue of Voyles book on Commemorative knives doesn't even list the CW-1, but then it was not intended to be a comprehensive study on Schrades, which were at that time not high on the list for collectors anyway.

In the case of the CW-1, less than 10,000 were made between 1976 and the last year they were shipped, 1980. I suppose it was less popular than the "American Hero" themed editions, since during the hubub of the Bi-Centinial, people were more attuned to the events of the Revolutionary War than the Westward expansion that came later.



I'll eventually ferret out the actual production figures for most of these early commemoratives, but one must remember that what Schrade announced as a goal, the "upper limit" of production didn't always happen. Some projects fizzled, either failing to catch the imagination of the buying public, or too much competition for the same dollar from competitor's, or even Schrade's own products. Conversely, sometimes demand led to production overruns which might be released over a five or six year period. Or a LE Commem pattern might be ordered for an SFO by some customer, maybe produced with no serial number, causing the actual production figures to exceed the stated quantity, or the year we think of the issue being made. And don't forget the economic conditions from 1972-80. While some of the first of this series debuted for $12.50, the CW-1 listed at $20. The U.S. economy was very dynamic in those years with the value of the dollar changing rapidly.

Codger
 
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