All About Pocket Knives

My uncle gave me this knife in the early 70's. I've been looking online and don't see anything like it. I'm not sure what style this would be considered. There was a spring in the bottom of the knife that pushed the blades out when the button was pushed. The little slides were used to lock the blades shut. It has some rust, and the spring broke off (both sides) years ago. I'm thinking about selling it on eBay, but have no idea what it might be worth. Comments would be appreciated.

If the other side looks as good as the one in the pic I'll open the bidding at $40.00 .

Bob R.

It is always easier to give info if the closed length is given, and exact tang stamps. This is a small switch blade pen knife which is probably made by Schrade Cutco, Walden, in the time frame from the 1920's to (possibly) 1958, when switch blades became nationally illegal at the hands of well-intentioned foolish people. A good-hearted soul probably broke your springs on purpose. The handles are an early plastic called celluloid, which is flammable, is often unstable, and often "gasses off", releasing acidic gases which rust and destroy cutlery metals. Sometimes these handles last very well, even for 100 years or more, if they had been originally well stabilized by proprietory curing techniques. To the right buyer, your knife could bring $100 or more, but this value would be driven by the mystique of forbidden fruits. The broken springs make your knife sellable on ebay by their rules but seriously compromise its true value.

Tend to agree with Bob, if the other side looks good (like your button side pic) and would display nicely, someone would still pay good money for it.

I don't think ebay will allow it to be sold even without the springs.
If they realize what it is, they will no doubt pull it and slap your hand.

With the springs broken I would be less optimistic about the final price.

Just my 2¢,
Dale

Oh I did'nt realize this Dale, did they just start this recently?

singin46 wrote:Oh I did'nt realize this Dale, did they just start this recently?

It has been that for years as far as I know.
It is actually against the law to mail them through the post office, (I.C.C. regs).
I am not sure if that applies to UPS or not.

Thanks to all you guys for responding. tongueriver - the closed length of this knife is 3.5". I have posted another picture. Is this what you mean by tang stamp? Again, thanks to all who took the time to respond.

Your knife was mfg, between 1946/7 and 1958.

Ebay can pull these auctions, but they usually do not.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schrade-Walden-Spri ... 45f8d85a29

I see one or two get sold every week. They always get a lot of traffic too.

It's called a Equal End.The length should be either 3.125" or 3.375".If there is a model # on the tang,it can be researched in a collectors guide.I only have the four digit codes(7404).If it has only three digits,it's a later model.

I found a gentleman in my town with 15 of these. I looked at his and didn't see any pattern numbers only patent dates and the normal schrade Walden NY stamps

I have noticed that if you have it in a lot of knives for sale on ebay, sometimes they won't notice it.