Value aside

Liveitloud

Liveitloud

Joined
Jul 1, 2006
Messages
2,901
I know that since Schrade closed its doors, the sales and value of these knives are on the rise. I often wonder why people collect. Is it for resale value? Is it for value/investment? Or, is it for the love of the knife(s) itself.

I have a meager collection of 3 knives. I have a 120OT, 340OT and 897UH.

I love my Uncle Henry 897. I pick it up daily and am amazed by its sharpness and smooth lines. It is in perfect shape. So much so that I don't want to carry it. Right now I'm looking to pick up another one with a little more millage on it so I won't feel as bad.

Anyway, to the point. Is there one knife made by Schrade that you value the most just because of the knife and not that its rare or worth some bucks (no pun intended)


Perhaps as I collect some more Schrades I will find some that I like as much but I really love these UH897's.

So to make a long post longer.....

...whats your 897?
 
As it happens, one of my most favorite Schrades is also an 897UH that I got as a gift from a friend here on the forum. Del Anderson sent it to me back in the "Katrina" days and I value it highly because of the source.

Other than that I'm partial to my various Trapper pattern Schrades. I have two red bone LTD's with the serrated spey blade, a a jigged red bone Ltd with the pinched bolsters and of course, my 296Y, and then the red wood and cherry wood versions also LTD, one of which has the brass bolsters. they are all on display because each one is mint and I don't want to mess them up by carrying. In fact all the Schrades I have are mint except one 885UH that was left to me by an old cowboy buddy when he was called home.

Then there are the fixed blade examples, 150OT 152OT 152UH 154UH 156OT etc. etc. etc. Oh, not to forget the Schrade/D'Holders, the first one in stag and then the Ram and then The Grizzly.

The Barlows are nice and very interesting as are the saw blade trappers and the electrician's knife and the melon testers, and the gut hook "Cope" muskrat.

Oh heck I like them all!....they don't eat much and they are nice to look at..................but that little 897 from Del has a special place with me.

Paul
 
I've carried one daily for many years. I have quite a few now. But there is usually one in my pocket. Right size, shape, blade shapes. Collectability and value have nothing to do with that.

I have the same affection (affliction?) for my 165OT fixed blades and 152OT Sharpfingers. They just simply work for me. Like the 897UH, I owned and used them for many years before I ever thought about collecting knives.

There are as many different reasons for collecting as there are collectors. Some think of the monitary value, some nostalgia, and some just like the art of the knife. And a lot of us are users who began picking up extras. Thus the fever begins.

Michael
 
I'm easy I like any of the fixed blades but especally the 171UH birdsheads.Oh and the Indian series scrimshaws,and the oh hell if it says Schrade and was made in the USA I like it.:D Arnold
 
Good post LiveItLoud! I have thought often about why people collect things generally and knives specifically. When you really start meditating upon the subject, it takes a very long rope to draw from the well. I suppose there are as many reasons for collecting knives as there are collectors. I had pondered my reasons some time back and wrote them down:
  1. Serve all aspects of my family's utilitarian needs relative to knives.
  2. Help me develop a working knowledge of knives generally, and specifically: the different designs and materials of knives and their most appropriate applications, and knife and sheath construction and care.
  3. Pass on to my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren the collection itself as well as the objective knowledge and subjective understanding associated with the collection, as a legacy.
  4. Preserve the history of certain knives and the way of life associated with their making and use.
As to my favorite Schrade; I am partial to the Old Timer cream/brown handled fixed blades generally and the Sharpfinger specifically. The ergonomics and utilitarian aspects of these knives are hard to beat, in general. IMHO it would be hard to design a better skinner than the Sharpfinger. As to my favorite knife overall; it would have to be my Lakota Lil Hawk G-10 folder. My wife gave it to me for my birthday sometime back (got to love a woman who will go to a knife show by herself to get you a knife that's $90.00 wholesale); its my constant companion; it feels like it was custom made for my hand; its the perfect OAL and blade length for about everything; and many of my favorite tall tales involve that knife directly or indirectly. That said, if I'm not in an impromptu situation, I leave that folder in my pocket and go get my Sharpfinger to do my skinning with. If it was convenient to carry a fixed blade I would probably carry the Sharpfinger; but, fixed blades draw more attention from the mob and besides, it interferes with my pistol belt.
 
The LB7. It's too heavy and generally too big. It will always be my knife for some illogical reason.

Second place is the 197 (OT,Scrim,Cope, whatever). I guess I'm a single locking blade guy?

I like everything else, but these two have always commanded my attention.
 
QUOTE] I have two red bone LTD's with the serrated spey blade, a a jigged red bone Ltd with the pinched bolsters [/QUOTE]


:D :D

Wow, I don't think I have seen one of those. Thanks for all the replies. I see that most of you seem to be coming at it from the "love of the knife".

Yes Codger.. the fever begins. :)

sheathmaker thats a great story and sentiment behind your knife.

My Grandpa left me his old case trapper after he passed. The old yellow handles are stained and worn and there isn't enough blade left to sharpen. But, I wouldn't trade that knife for a million dollars.

When I think of knives that I consider an institution (for lack of better word) I think of old case and Schrade knives. They're just the standard of American I guess.

Oh and did I say that a pic of these favs wouldn't hurt my feelings, especially that red bone. :D

I'll start out. I guess I jumped the gun just a wee bit so my meager collection didn't look like to odd knives haha. The 340T I ordered earlier this morning so all I got is the pic from ebay. Here they are! Go easy on my photo skills. I only took about 20 to come up with these.

8973copy.jpg



8975copy.jpg



1201.jpg



340T.jpg
 
Anyway, to the point. Is there one knife made by Schrade that you value the most just because of the knife and not that its rare or worth some bucks (no pun intended)
Click to expand...

The 34OT is my favorite pattern. That's the knife my grandfather gave me, my very first pocketknife ever.

If I were to buy a Schrade for EDC, it would be the 61OT. Perfect size, great blade choice, and the most comfortable in my hand.

-Bob
 
I think that the 897 is my favorite, my EDC is an 807 - It's small and indescrete. I work in a hospital and the larger ones just are not politically correct in that environment. I have yet to find a Schrade USA that I didn't want to own at least one of...

Tj
 
I recently started collecting knives and decided to start with CASE folders because :1) lots of patterns 2) lots of handle materials 3) Made in USA and respected quality - they look good and feel good 4) good reputation among collectors 5) will hold their value or increase as time goes by.

While looking for CASE, I found some SCHRADES and was happy to see they were made in USA and have an interesting history. I now have 14 CASE and 8 SCHRADES. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against most foreign countries, but I like to see a well made American product. I hate to see concepts like craftmanship and workmanship fall by the wayside. I recently ordered a BOKER folder and am looking forward to receiving it, so I don't intend to collect 100% USA made.

I also have a 897UH but my favorite SCHRADE is the 89OT Blazer...I flipped out when I saw that serrated blade.

Take Care,

George
IMG_0394.jpg
:cool:
 
Hey George nice knife. I hear what you say. I like several makers, Boker being one of them. I own a few of them and are very happy with their quality. So far, I have pretty much stuck with American made or German made.

I'm sure there are a lot of other good manufacturers out there. I just haven't got around to owning the or researching them yet. Then again, I haven't found much research that beats having one in your hand for knowing where the quality is.

I am pretty fond of Spyderco as well but that is like comparing cats to dogs as they are in another realm compared to the good old slip joint folder. Just scored another 897 off the bay last night for around 23.00. Hopefully it will have a little wear on it so I can feel okay about sporting it around.

One of the guys on this forum posted once something to the effect of why anyone would buy a knife and not use it. Makes a lot of sense but when I pull out that brand new knife with its perfect blade I often find myself wiping it down and putting in back in the box.

Someday perhaps I'll get past the angst if it all. :)

2nd8972.jpg
 
I carry the 897UH every day, and I really like the 197UH and the 194OT too. I can't carry an 858 because it would pull down my trousers :p .
 
194OT Gunstock Trapper. Had one as my EDC in the '80's, bought a second when I heard Schrade was closing its doors.
 
I have carried a 34OT for many years so I guess it is my favorite. I didn't begin collection until I heard of the sad demise of Schrade. Not being in any way connected to the company, it's hard to explain why I got a lump in my throat and a sadness in my heart when I heard the news.As far as I knew growing up, Old Timer was the only knife to have. This was more than a company. Schrade was the perfect example of American pride and workmanship. A bit of each American worker went down with Schrade. This is why I collect U.S.A. made Schrade knives.
Dave
 
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