George Schrade pen-knife questions. Please help!

[bladecollectorr]

I mainly collect Schrade Cut Co, Schrade Walden and Imperial Schrade knives. George Schrade's knives made in Connecticut have never really interested me because I see his nicest ones as being auto knives and they are all illegal in Canada. The wire-jacks just don't do it for me.

I do love to collect little pen-knives. Today I landed one I had not seen before. It is my first George Schrade knife. It's 3" long closed.

I hope someone will be able to answer some questions I have about the knife and George Schrade.

1. I know George Schrade was one of the founders of Schrade Cutlery Company in 1904. When did George leave Schrade Cut Co to form his own company? Was there any period of time when he was working at both companies or did he completely cut ties with SCC when he started his own company?

2. Does anyone know approximately when my knife would have been made? I think it's no newer than the 1950s.

Any other comments regarding my knife would also be much appreciated. Thanks!

[jxr1197]

I hope someone will be able to answer some questions I have about the knife and George Schrade.

1. I know George Schrade was one of the founders of Schrade Cutlery Company in 1904. When did George leave Schrade Cut Co to form his own company? Was there any period of time when he was working at both companies or did he completely cut ties with SCC when he started his own company?

2. Does anyone know approximately when my knife would have been made? I think it's no newer than the 1950s.

Any other comments regarding my knife would also be much appreciated. Thanks!

Nice catch. I was close to grabbing that one myself...

1. George and two of his brothers started SCC in 1904 but George left almost immediately. By 1910 he was in Europe - first in England where his shielding machine revolutionized Sheffield and caused a revolt by the cutlers who refused to work until the shielding machines were removed. Then he went to Solingen and set up shop making his latest version of automatics. The Germans seized his factory for the war effort and by the late teens he was back in the US and went to work for Challenge. Challenge went belly up in 1929 and George took control of the factory and started The George Schrade Knife Co. In 1956 his son (George) and grandson (Ted) sold the company to Boker.

2. Sometime between 1929 and 1956.

[bladecollectorr]

Thanks Jason! I've bought from that seller before and he ships straight to Canada at a reasonable rate so I didn't hesitate. To my eye the knife looked to be in great condition at basically 75-100 years old. 1929-1956 is not too big a range. It will fit right in with my other silver "engine-turned" knives.

[jxr1197]

I didn't know it was difficult to ship to Canada. I wonder why that is? I think G Schrade is most associated with the wire jacks but they also made traditional folders (which I haven't seen too many of) and fixed blades, which are easily spotted. The little bar knife you have there is one of their more common patterns. They were churned out as advertising knives and SFOs. I've never seen one with a shackle before. The oldest one I have seen was from 1939 - but I only know that because it was a Worlds Fair knife. I'm pretty sure the pattern goes back further.

Here's an example of the variety you'll find if you start watching for them. On the left are two soda advertising knives and the other three depict a scene of a bunch of drunk founding fathers - as near as I can tell. There's also a few different tang stamps represented. From the left, the first three have a straight line G Schrade like your new knife. The next one is an arch stamp G Schrade which is pretty rare and the last one is an arch stamp Shapleigh which is unusual.

[bladecollectorr]

It's not at all difficult to ship things to Canada from the US. What is more difficult sometimes is finding ebay sellers who will do it. You'd have to ask them each why they don't. I have heard different reasons like "problems with foreign orders" etc. Perhaps some sellers see Canada and North Vietnam as equally foreign. Another reason could be that they actually want the knives to remain in the US.

Great selection of knives in this pattern! I hadn't seen one with a shackle either and for me it does add a certain something. Another reason why I grabbed it.