Craftsman Knives

[Doc B]

That's a sweet looking one, Mike!

[KnifeSlinger#81]

A craftsman whittler I picked up . Not sure who made it ?
Thanks for looking .

Mike

Great knife!

Not sure who made it, but maybe ulster.

[TPK]

A craftsman whittler I picked up . Not sure who made it ?
Thanks for looking .

Mike

Looks good Mike! Nice pick up!

[stockman]

That is a nice older whittler!!

Harold

[doglegg]

A craftsman whittler I picked up . Not sure who made it ?
Thanks for looking .

Mike

That is a really great whittler. Would never guess Sears without the blade open. Great looking knife. Did not know anyone used Chrome Vanadium moniker but Case.

[kootenay joe]

"Chrome Vanadium" is seen on a few different patterns made by Camillus for Sears. Not sure of the years, maybe 1940's ?
kj

[doglegg]

Thanks Roland. I learned something.

[New_Windsor_NY]

This knife arrived yesterday. A Schrade 863 (SCHRADE WALDEN), CRAFTSMAN, 3 blade, swelled center, 3 5/8" closed, "whittler" pocket knife. This is my first and only, so far, Schrade 863 with a CRAFTSMAN shield. Or, is it my first and only, so far, CRAFTSMAN pocket knife that has a SCHRADE "863" tang stamp and not a CRAFTSMAN "9494" tang stamp. "Maybe" that's the way this knife was actually constructed. It received a minor, gentle cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is. Sorry about the picture quality, my camera is on the way out.

[ScoutKnives]

Thanks every one , and I agree that it’s probably an Ulster made knife .

Mike

A craftsman whittler I picked up . Not sure who made it ?
Thanks for looking .

Mike

Great knife!

Not sure who made it, but maybe ulster.

[Papa Bones]

I got this Craftsman Broke blade EDC and it only Cost me $250.00 . Well..... in a round about way.

This past fall I bought an old farm truck, a 1981 Ford F150. Picked it up for $250. Body is sound, bed is dented internally, but needed some work on the engine, interior and minor body work. Got it running good, and last month I started taking the interior out and cleaning it up inside. It looked like it had at sometime in it's lifetime had oil, and possibly either hydraulic fluid or rear end lube spill in the cab. In the passenger side cab corner behind the seat was a mass of goo about the consistency of hot tar. Pulled the seat,ripped up the rubber floor covering, and started pressure washing. I found this knife. It was a mass of greasy goo, dirt, & crud,

Craftsman U.S.A. 9507, and I know nothing about Craftsman Knives. I thought it looked kind of like a Schrade. If anyone knows who made it I would like to know out of curiosity.

I let it soak in a jar with some WD-40 for two weeks, then started rinsing and brushing with a nylon brush. Blades had a tad of rust, used some brass fine bristle brush on them. The main blade work was already done to it. But I think it cleaned up pretty good. Add it to my other EDC work knives.

On the plus side, the entire time I was cleaning out the truck, I found one 50 cent piece, and $7.31 cents in quarters, dimes, nickles and pennies. Under the seat, in the corners , in the ash tray and in the glove box. So that brings my cost down to $242,19

[New_Windsor_NY]

I got this Craftsman Broke blade EDC and it only Cost me $250.00 . Well..... in a round about way.

This past fall I bought an old farm truck, a 1981 Ford F150. Picked it up for $250. Body is sound, bed is dented internally, but needed some work on the engine, interior and minor body work. Got it running good, and last month I started taking the interior out and cleaning it up inside. It looked like it had at sometime in it's lifetime had oil, and possibly either hydraulic fluid or rear end lube spill in the cab. In the passenger side cab corner behind the seat was a mass of goo about the consistency of hot tar. Pulled the seat,ripped up the rubber floor covering, and started pressure washing. I found this knife. It was a mass of greasy goo, dirt, & crud,

Craftsman U.S.A. 9507, and I know nothing about Craftsman Knives. I thought it looked kind of like a Schrade. If anyone knows who made it I would like to know out of curiosity.

I let it soak in a jar with some WD-40 for two weeks, then started rinsing and brushing with a nylon brush. Blades had a tad of rust, used some brass fine bristle brush on them. The main blade work was already done to it. But I think it cleaned up pretty good. Add it to my other EDC work knives.

On the plus side, the entire time I was cleaning out the truck, I found one 50 cent piece, and $7.31 cents in quarters, dimes, nickles and pennies. Under the seat, in the corners , in the ash tray and in the glove box. So that brings my cost down to $242,19

That's a VERY nice find Papa Bones. I'm 99.99% sure that it is a Schrade product.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Today this knife joins my collection/accumulation. Another Craftsman 9494, 3 blade, swelled center, 3 5/8" closed, "whittler" pocket knife. I gave it a minor cleaning, took pictures and here it is.

[Papa Bones]

Today this knife joins my collection/accumulation. Another Craftsman 9494, 3 blade, swelled center, 3 5/8" closed, "whittler" pocket knife. I gave it a minor cleaning, took pictures and here it is.

Nice find!!

[kootenay joe]

I need to correct my post about "Chrome Vanadium" etch on Sears knives. I have sold nearly all of my Craftsman collection so i contacted Duncan who now has many of them and he did some in depth looking. Here is what he has 'discovered':
There are Sears knives with an etch "Chrome Vanadium" along with "Craftsman" and these have "Forged/U.S.A." stamped into tang.
The bone handled knives with a "Sta-Sharp" etch might also have "Chrome Plated" etch and these are tang stamped "High Carbon Steel".
By comparing the punch blades,the sheepsfoot and the spey blades, Duncan suggests that the "Forged USA" knives that have the blade etch "Craftsman" and "Chrome Vanadium" were likely made by Ulster. Knives tang stamped "High Carbon Steel" with the "Sta-Sharp" etch were made by Camillus. Some of these have an etch "Chrome Plated".
Thank you Duncan for taking the time and effort to sort this out.
kj

[New_Windsor_NY]

Today this knife joins my collection/accumulation. Another Craftsman 9494, 3 blade, swelled center, 3 5/8" closed, "whittler" pocket knife. I gave it a minor cleaning, took pictures and here it is.

Nice find!!

Thank you Papa Bones.

[doglegg]

Thanks for the info Roland. I will probably forget but I know it now. I appreciate your knowledge.

[Campbellclanman]

This is like scratching the surface of a cooled scab with a Mountain of Lava flowing underneath lol

I can only ascertain this by doing many comparisons,and a lot more ground work which has taken months so far, but still when I look back I think.."No...I am wrong there" when I find something else out.
But I am so far 100% sure that you wont get a Sta Sharp Etched Knife or a High Carbon Steel Tang Stamped Knife, that also incorporates the Chrome Vanadium etch as well.
The Ulster built Knives will have the Chrome Vanadium, theres a lot of reasoning and comparisons behind this which I will bring out when time lets me!

There's massive grey areas where Ulster / Schrade worked in side by side- I just wish there was existing Manufacturers Papers around to answer all these questions I have!

Roland my friend - I am just extremely grateful that you were kind enough to let me be the next Custodian of these Knives for the next person some time in the Future, I am no doubt extremely grateful for that kind Sir!

[kootenay joe]

Duncan, any thanks or praise deserves to go to you. I merely managed to acquire a small variety of the bone handled knives sold by Sears in the 1930-1950 years. You have managed to sort out some specific details & comparisons that i have not seen discussed or presented here or in BF of a few years ago. I think your observations will add a tiny amount of new knowledge about Sears/Craftsman knives. It is all your work. I had no part in it except sending knives.
For those unsure about the Sears/Craftsman bone handled folding knives of about late 1920's to early 1950's, these were some of the best made pocket knives in all USA, and they were sold to tradesmen to use.These knives have not received the collector interest they deserve and as such much of the details as to which of 4 manufacturers made which knives is not known or documented.
kj

[Campbellclanman]

Thank you Roland, but in all Honesty a hang of a lot of praise deserves to go your way.

I agree with what you are saying about the Quality, the Sta- Sharp Knives are simply Outstanding in Build Quality - beautiful finesse additions that Sears of course stipulated to make that particular Knife stand out above all.


There are the Ulster and Schrade contracted Knives also that were just amazing Quality!!!
Lets not forget the tiered stages down in Bling to suit every need of the Consumer range! From absolute outstanding Top of the Range - to the Workhorse Knife- where if it's lost, it's not a the end of the World!

Many, many thanks again Roland!

[stockman]

Nice Cattle knife KJ

Harold

[New_Windsor_NY]

Last night, for best offer, I acquired both of these knives. One is a CRAFTSMAN 9494 and the other is a SCHRADE WALDEN 863 (possibly not stamped 863), with a CRAFTSMAN 9494 etched main blade. Both are 3 blade, swelled center, 3 5/8" closed, "whittler" pocket knives. They both look like they're in very good condition and won't need any cleaning. When I receive them, both will get a thorough inspection. I will take some pictures and post them in the appropriate location(s).

[bladecollectorr]

I believe the "HIGHCARBON STEEL USA" tang stamp means this 9493 was made by Camillus. It originally had a faint "Craftsman Sta-Sharp 9493" etch but it was removed when I polished it back to a mirror finish. It is a nice and slim single-spring 2-3/4" senator with shackle.

[Meridian_Mike]

That is sure 'nuff a couple of nice whittlers you got there Skip!
.
And a beautiful senator bladecollectorr!

Congrats on the finds guys!

[doglegg]

Yep, I agree.

[New_Windsor_NY]

That is sure 'nuff a couple of nice whittlers you got there Skip!
.
And a beautiful senator bladecollectorr!

Congrats on the finds guys!

Thank you Mike.

Yep, I agree.

Thank you Floyd.