Schrade Walden 204 S

[313 Mike]

I just got in this cool old Schrade Walden 204S Electricians knife. In great shape, cocobolo handles are what got my attention. Someone at some point rounded off the tip of the screwdriver blade, so now it has two cutting blades intstead of one, but that's ok with me. Both blades have solid half stops, and fantastic snap, with no side to side wobble at all, and of course the linerlock on what was the screwdriver blade.
I was researching some history on the knife here on aapk, and found that the Schrade Walden 204 was manufactured between 1946 and 1973...although I couldn't find any direct mention of the 204S. As near as I can figure the S must refer to the shackle, which was not available in the 1946 catalog, and makes it's first appearance in the 1948 catalog. So that would further narrow it down to between 1948 and 1973.
Does anyone else here have this old knife in their collection? If so, do you have any more info on it than what I was able to find out? I was only able to successfully attach this one picture, but here is the link to the ebay auction I won it from that has some much better pics.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120844509795?ss ... 1439.l2648

KGrHqJHJwE7oIik3BPE4WB4FQ60_14.JPG (1.17 KiB) Viewed 5622 times

[chetr1200c]

i have one unused, it has the shackle and is stamped 204s on one side and schrade walden, ny usa, on the other. and it has the same shield as yours. other than that i am no help to you. sorry.
chet

[TripleF]

Chet.....you killin me without pics...

Knice knife Mike

[chetr1200c]

i know scott. but i am buying a new one. all i will need is some of your terrific skills to show the pics. i enjoy looking at everyone else's knives. i would relly like to show some of mine. i have an old camera now, i just can't seem to get the hang on putting them into my comp and then posting them where i want to. i can view the pics on the screen when i plug in the camera usb cord. but everything from there is all greek to me.
i will conquer it some day.....

[313 Mike]

Yep Chet, sounds like you've got the same one. Very nice that yours is in unused condition. How have the wood handles aged on yours? Since mine was a user, I'm thinking the one you have might have lighter coloring to the cocobolo from not being used? Or are they dark on yours as well?

[orvet]

I think I have a couple, I will have to do some digging to find them, when I get time.

[chetr1200c]

Yep Chet, sounds like you've got the same one. Very nice that yours is in unused condition. How have the wood handles aged on yours? Since mine was a user, I'm thinking the one you have might have lighter coloring to the cocobolo from not being used? Or are they dark on yours as well?

yep, mine isn't dark like yours, but very light colored wood. so different in shade that i didn't think it was the same wood as yours. now altough the shield looks like it came straight from the factory, the blades have a nice aged patina.

[thawk]

204(S) 3-3/4" closed length. Electrician's knife; Cocobolo handles; Spear blade & screwdriver - wire scraper blade; center liner-lock, brass liners; N/S bolsters & shield. Old Schrade Walden pattern was C2041SD and 2042 (don't know the diff), which went back to the mid 1920's, and was offered with a shackle too. The Schrade Walden version of the 204 came out in 1946, and they sold them until 1975. Last retail price was $8.00.



I have one of each, and the Schrade Cut example has no shield, and steel springs, pins, bolsters, liners, and lock. Probably military issue.



The Walden version has much thicker springs than the Cut, and both have really strong springs and half stops.

[313 Mike]

Great post thawk, the Schrade Walden does indeed have strong springs and half stop. In reading the catalog description there, I am left wondering what exactly it means when it says the main blade is "crocus polished" on one side? That is a term I am not familiar with.

[thawk]

Great post thawk, the Schrade Walden does indeed have strong springs and half stop. In reading the catalog description there, I am left wondering what exactly it means when it says the main blade is "crocus polished" on one side? That is a term I am not familiar with.

Crocus finish is done with a powder. It gave the blade a mirror finish. In the 1960's, they pretty much went to a glazed finish on all blades, which has a visible look. Glazed finish shows grind lines perpendicular to the length of the blade. The crocus finish is tougher to capture in a photo for me.



Examples of glazed vs crocus finish on the master blades of two Schrade Walden knives. Both are 1095 high carbon steel.

[chetr1200c]

nice knives hawk, and great info.

[trail]

Mike, here's one of the pictures from the auction. The seller not only had a great knife but posted a beautiful picture. I think you got a deal on it.

[trail]

Here's my Schrade Walden electrician's knife.

[tongueriver]

Those electrician knives are intriguing; it is one pattern I have not held. I think Dale has turned one or more of them into a custom knife. That yellow (835Y) Schrade stockman of Hal's is a cute li'l feller. I have one, but mine is in celluloid and has shrunk. Meanwhile, not long ago, I took several deep breaths and then pulled the trigger on this Daddy Barlow from Herman Williams. He is the Man! He even fileworked the TOP of the liners. These pics are off the site, as they are as good as I can do.

[garddogg56]

Here's mine,user, Schrade 204,delrin got it around 1978

[tongueriver]

Guard Dog: That particular brand of Delrin finish on your electrician knife was also used on the Schrade 832 stockmans for a time. I don't recall seeing it anywhere else.

[garddogg56]

Ya I like the finish it's differant than jigged or grooved.It must look good in a stockman

[orvet]

Awesome Barlow Cal!
Herman Williams is the master!

[ea42]

Here's a little info on the changeover from wood to delrin on the 204, circa 1969, see item #4 (memo dated 10/21/68):

[orvet]

Great info Eric, but it does raise a few questions.
First what is the “63” referred to there?
I can find no record of a Schrade knife by that number.
There are a few other numbers that I cannot find in my lists of numbers.

Do you know if the catalog number is different than the number used internally in the factory? Tom Williams said that was the case at Camillus.

Thanks Eric!
I am looking forward to any more memos you can find!

[ea42]

Dale, I think he's referring to the Ulster 63, which was a smaller balloon frame whittler. Matches the Schrade-Walden 863, Sears 9494, and a Belknap too but I forgot the numbers on that model.

Eric

[orvet]

Are these the same as the Camillus #72?

[REDTROUT]

screw driver

[ozzie marie]

REDTROUT,

I've never seen a 204 with the phillips screwdriver

Thanks for sharing

Keith

[313 Mike]

I haven't seen one with a phillips screwdriver either, and those handles are beautiful, love the wood grain. Did you use anything special to polish them up and bring out the grain?