Zippo Mini Knife

[Chase]

Anyone ever seen a Mini Knife that Schrade was being asked to quote for manufacture from Zippo?

I recently came across a Quotation Request from Zippo, sent to Schrade on May 13, 1985 asking that they quote on the Zippo Mini Knife. The great thing about it is that I have the drawings, tooling costs, material costs and assembly costs data as well as a sample blade, covers and back spring.

All parts are Stainless Steel!

Neat little piece of history here....although I do not believe Schrade ever produced this knife.

Tom

[orvet]

Tom,
I would love to see the drawings.
I used to be a Zippo dealer years ago, but I have not heard that story.
I know Camillus made some for Zippo, and I would think Case has also, at least since Zippo bought Case.

[Chase]

Dale,

I just scanned the drawings and sent them to your (comcast) email address! Enjoy

Tom

[orvet]

I got them Tom, thank you!
I ran them through Photo Shop and turned them around and darkened them a touch.
I can post them here if you don't object and there is any interest in them.

[Chase]

Post them if you want to Dale! I would be curious to find out who actually manufactured that knife for Zippo, if it ever went into production at all. Appears that it would have been a great little addition alongside a Zippo lighter.

I should just send you the parts and have the little critter assembled....LOL

Tom

[Colonel666]

Hi. Like many contract knives Imperial-Schrade made for many companies like Zippo brand. Sometimes the duty has supervision over the design as well as distribution. Here is a Zippo brand contract mini-knife which like you suppose is most probably made by Schrade:

[Miller Bro's]

I can post them here if you don't object and there is any interest in them.

I am very interested in seeing them

[ea42]

I got them Tom, thank you!
I ran them through Photo Shop and turned them around and darkened them a touch.
I can post them here if you don't object and there is any interest in them.

Seriously Dale? You're joking right? Early April fools maybe?

On a more serious note, I've never heard of that one, mighty interested to see it.

Eric

[orvet]

Here you go guys. Enjoy them & "Thanks" Tom!

Unfortunately part of the first two were cut off, but you get most of the drawing.

[knifeaholic]

I think that those were actually made by Alcas. Case had a similar small lockback which for many years was made on contract by Alcas.

[ea42]

Thanks for posting them Dale!

Tom, I think Steve's right, I spoke with Dave S. and he doesn't recall making then either. They did make a two blade lobster type knife for them though, was kind of egg shaped with the ends chopped off. Had a single blade on top and a file on bottom. Made roughly 100,000 in Ellenville (old plant), and then production was switched to providence where another 400,000 were produced. These were skeleton knives where a shell handle could be attached over them. Zippo had some great embossing equipment and they could emboss virtually anything in any color onto the blank covers. Here's an example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zippo-Pocket-Fo ... 1e79210f9d


Eric