Schrade Cutlery Company was founded in 1904 by George Schrade, and his brothers Jacob and William Schrade. In 1946 Imperial Knife Associated Companies, (IKAC; an association of Ulster Knife Co and Imperial Knife Co) purchased controlling interest in Schrade Cut Co and changed the name to Schrade Walden Cutlery. In 1973 the name was changed to Schrade Cutlery. In 2004 Schrade closed due to bankruptcy.
This forum is dedicated to the knives that are the legacy of this company. This forum is not the place to discuss the replica knives currently being imported using the Schrade name.
black mamba wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 2:00 am
Looks like a first year (1973) '49er's series 498S with a leftover SW 148 blade. A pretty rare bird.
Cool.... THANKS for the reply!
The more I looked yesterday, I did see those '49ers and, you are right, that is as close as I could find that looked like this one.
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Yes; those are great knives, Ken. Except for you and me, I don't think I have ever seen one of the DH&LW display sets. They are really rare and special.
From 1975-1976 Schrade made a Bob Loveless designed knife called the Schrade-Loveless Hunter (RL-2) I believe the blade was made from 154CM although there is some confusion on the blade steel and it retailed for $100. the knives of 1975 & 1976 had handles of burgundy delrin and had the laser engraved R.W, Loveless/Schrade oval on the blade.
Then in 1991-1995 two knives called the Pro Hunter are introduced. The PH-1 (which based on its profile) looks like a clone to the 1975-1979 models. A smaller version called the Mini Pro Hunter (PH-2) is also offered. The Mini has an overall length of 7". These "new" knives had black delrin handles instead of the original burgundy.
Lots of versions and variations of those loveless pattern Schrades. SFOs, commemoratives, etc. I have more than one re-handled by Herman Williams. R.I.P. Great knives.
This bad boy is ready for the most recalcitrant dandelion or dismembering marmots. Better (I think) as a collectible. It is very large and heavy. It was marketed as an 1861 Bowie. Doug Webber posted two different examples sometime back before he passed away, and that alerted me to their existence. Yes, it was made by Schrade, but there were some later ones made overseas for AG Russell as well. They were not as good (LOL). The blade is hollow ground, but the sabre-ground top section is not quite what you think; that section is ALSO hollow-ground! Even so it is still a heavy whacker. I wish it came with the sheath. It did not but I will post Doug's image of the proper sheath. The handle on this one is micarta, but apparently there were other materials, including ironwood and some kind of stabilized burl. I disremember the steel. Guys, keep posting here so that it will be allowed to remain a sticky!
Thank you, sir.
You, also, were the first to greet me on the other site and I sincerely appreciate it. It's always reassuring, when you're new, to find a friendly face there to acknowledge and welcome you.
Those hard sheaths were made by a company in southern California and I can't think of their name. I tried to find something on the internet a few years ago but I could not. Michael Little (Codger) knows the name, or did. The snaps on those sheaths tend to break out of the leather. Best not to flex their program. Great and beautiful collectible Schrades!
Was it "El Cid"? I have heard these sheaths referred to as "El Cid" sheaths in much earlier discussions. The snaps do tend to pull away, especially on the lower side. I have noticed that the part that breaks away is usually still stuck to the upper portion on the flap. It can be carefully pried apart (I use a smaller Jewelers screwdriver) and separated at the seam. Then I clean the lower portion with water and glue the lower snap back using Gorilla Super Glue GEL making sure the leather is wet before applying the glue. It dries fairly quick. I haven't had one fall apart yet but as a rule I try not to snap any of these sheaths closed.
Very nice fixed blade. There is a good chance it is a Kinfolks made for Schrade CutCo, and that the number is a Kinfolks pattern number. Kinfolks is reputed to have made all or nearly all the fixed blades for Schrade CutCo, which is believed to have made NO fixed blades (There is a tiny exception which is not relevant to this discussion, ie. horticultural knives). If you run these pic's by GUNSIL in the fixed blade subforum he probably knows the answer.
Never really considered Schrade fixed blade knives and owned only a Sharp Finger I picked at at a gunshow years ago for 20 bucks. It's actually a Guns & Ammo promotional item. How can you go wrong for 20 bucks? Anyway I picked up this OT Lil Finger 1560T from the 'bay for something more than 20 bucks. The design caught my eye. Anyone have one or use one? This one may go into the woods this fall.