SCHRADE experts!! Any insight on this Schrade Switch-Blade?

[freshmangreen]

Hello everyone,
I am new to the site, and I am writing to inquire about a Schrade knife that came to be in my possession recently. The knife was passed down from my Grandpa who lived in Little Rock Arkansas, and since he was born in 1920, I believe the knife was probably passed down to him by his father. I have included some pictures of the knife. It is a Schrade 2 blade switch-blade knife. The Handle of the knife is stamped "sterling" on both sides. One blade is engraved: "Schrade Cut Co. Walden N.Y." And the other blade is engraved: "U.S. PATS DEC. 21.09 SEPT 13.10 JUN 6.16" the knife also came in a small leather case. I have tried to do some research about the knife, but could not really find anything specific about this model, or anything that even looked very similar. Most of the knives I could find had inlaid handles, not the engraved sterling like this knife. Since the knife appears to be stamped with a patent from June 1916 and is from the Schrade Cutlery Company I was guessing from my research that it was probably made after Schrade returned from Germany and was also working at the Challenge Cutlery company? One website said that his brother was actually running the Schrade Cutlery Co. at that time? Does anyone know if the leather case would have been an original accessory or would that have been something made or added later on?

I would really appreciate any info you might have to offer on this knife as it is an important piece passed down to me and I would love to have some more info to include with it when I pass it on to my kids.

Thank you very much for your time.

[1967redrider]

Sweet knife! Had to be made after 1916 and I have seen a few of those leather knife purses, nice addition. All I can say is you have a sweet premium press-button, I'm sure someone will be along with more info.

[dannyboy3002]

I had one similar to this once.( I think it was Imperial). Do the blades open kind of slow for a switch-blade? If so my research on the one I had showed it to be a "secretary's knife". Not really a switchblade-just so the ladies could use the knife without chipping their fingernail polish. Don't know if this is the same but the dates are about right

[dannyboy3002]

did a little more research. Since it says "sterling" I think it is PATTERN #740SSD. a 3 &3/8" equal end Schrade safety push-button pocket knife (sterling silver). This info is from " The official price guide to collector knives" 14th edition by C Houston Price pg397. It shows a mint price of $280, but doesn't mention a sheath. As always, I stand to be corrected. Dan

[tongueriver]

dannyboy, your information coincides exactly with the Schrade Cutco catalog, pattern # and all. We don't know what kind of tang stamping aligns with certain dates, except that the "straight" line stamping is generally acknowledged to start after WWI on at least most of the larger knives. I believe that Schrade made the frames and blades for these cute little knives and either sent them out to be fitted with the sterling handles or else they ordered in the sterling handles and put them on themselves. This is speculation on my part, but I know this sort of thing was common practice for SOME little knives. Also, I don't think anyone could put a LAST made date for this knife. Although I doubt that it was made between 1945 and 1946, and I KNOW it wasn't made during WWII, it may have been made as late as 1941. There is a great article in KNIFE WORLD magazine about the knives that were and were not made during WWII. Production was controlled fairly stringently to support the war effort, and only a few patterns were allowed. The comment about slow blades on a secretary knife is interesting.

[dannyboy3002]

The one I had opened slower than a regular switchblade, and it didn't seem to be due to condition, but that is the only one I have had any experience with. Dan

[wiseguy]

i think your knife is from the last production run of these ( by the tang stamp) and I would put it at the 40s , cool little Gent knife .... I dig the pouch here`s mine in nickel silver same stamp , yours is sterling

[orvet]

The one I had opened slower than a regular switchblade, and it didn't seem to be due to condition, but that is the only one I have had any experience with. Dan

It is probably dirty inside and needs lubrication.
The best knife oil I have found is Quick Release Oil.
It is formulated specifically for switchblades.
It also works well on slipjoint knives. I have had slipjoint knives with very little snap that had good snap after oiling with Quick Release and working it in by opening & closing the blades a few times.

http://quickreleaseoil.com/

[Dragunski]

Lubrication is important. I usually use machine oil rather than one with solvents like 3-in-1 oil. The springs can also be carefully adjusted. If the blade is too fast and bounces back without locking, you can slightly bend the spring by applying pressure with a skinny screwdriver. If it's too slow or worn, you have to get underneath the spring and pry it out just a touch, it's trickier. The factory had a special tool for this, but you can use something like a dental pick or a skinny bent piece of metal.

It has to be done carefully. Start by bending it ever so slightly and increase the pressure bit by bit until the knife locks up the way you want. If it's totally worn out though, you'll have to take the knife apart and replace the spring. Good luck finding one. I've heard of people who machine new ones out of spring steel, but I don't know any, sorry.

[knife7knut]

A beautiful little Schrade double! I would give it a good cleaning inside;flush with brake cleaner(you don't have to worry about plastic parts being damaged)and blow dry with compressed air.Don't polish the handles;it will just wear them away.Normal handling will usually keep a reasonable shine on them.A couple of drops of 3-in-1 oil or equivalent on the blade pivots is sufficient.Make sure you don't overdo it if you are storing it in the purse(which looks to be original to the knife)because oil tends to darken leather.I would leave the blades alone as far as cleaning them up.If there is any rust present use a #2 lead pencil to clean it off and wipe down with oil.
I wouldn't worry about monetary value(unless you want to insure it)because I doubt you would ever sell it given it's family history.I have my grandfather's knife and it might be worth $5-$10 on the market but you couldn't buy it for ANY price.