All About Pocket Knives

Hey guys,

I picked up a few knives at an auction, but can't find a match to the models online. Stamped on the base of the blades are schrade USA 20S on one and 3050S on the others. They are certainly in new condition. Any info would be greatly appreciated. I'll be happy to post pics if needed. I'm expecting bad news so don't be afraid to deliver it.

Many thanks
Rick

Those names don't ring a bell for me.
Please post some pictures & we will go from there.

There is an oily coating on knives that makes them look funny. That is the best shot I could get of the name and numbers. Underneath schrade it says USA and then the numbers I mentioned earlier.

Thanks again
Rick

For what it is worth, I would bet real money that those are Chinese (or other imported) knives. If they have USA stamped into the tang metal, they are illegal imports if I am not mistaken. This is a new one on me. Taylor imports Schrades from China, but I would be shocked if he ever had USA stamped on them.

Hard to tell from the pictures because they are not very clear of the Tang...

They may be made here in the USA by Bear or the former Camillus before they shut down. SMKW has done some stuff for Taylor as well here in the USA.

They do not appear to be the Schrade USA knives that were manufactured in the Schrade Plant in Ellenville NY. I would bet that Taylor commissioned a USA Manufacturer to mke those with the Schrade name.

My thoughts

Can you post some clearer photos?

Tom

Looks a bit like someone might have been doing some custom work if those scales aren't some kind of nice looking plastic.

Chase wrote:Hard to tell from the pictures because they are not very clear of the Tang...

They may be made here in the USA by Bear or the former Camillus before they shut down. SMKW has done some stuff for Taylor as well here in the USA.

They do not appear to be the Schrade USA knives that were manufactured in the Schrade Plant in Ellenville NY. I would bet that Taylor commissioned a USA Manufacturer to mke those with the Schrade name.

My thoughts

Can you post some clearer photos?

Tom

I agree with Tom, the pics are not clear enough to tell anything for sure.

Another US company like Bear may very well have made them, but I don’t think Camillus made these particular knives.

If you have a flatbed scanner you could probably get some cleared pics of them.

Thank you guys for the replies, but i'll be honest, after getting these out in the sun I may have screwed up the numbers. I'm not as young as I used to be. Even with a scanner I can't get the photos clear enough. I'll try it with a magnifier tomorrow, or have a jeweler tell me what they say. I'll report back with what I find.
Thanks again
Rick

Not to dispute what you say is on the tang, but can it be 206 and 506 maybe the 506 has SC before it, or even after the 506? You really have to look sometimes very closely at the tang under a good magnifying glass as sometimes when the stamps got older they were not so clear when used.

The 506SC would of been an original scrimshaw Barlow.

Russell

You are correct Rusty, I really butchered those numbers(sorry guys i'm learning). I am now the proud owner of a nice magnifying glass. The white knife is indeed marked 206. The other three are marked sc506. Here are a couple better tang photos that I hope will clarify things.

Thanks again guys
Rick

Well, I obviously spoke too soon; I apologize for my hasty remarks; they are USA Schrade alright. With custom handles. Can't tell without digital calipers, but it looks to me like the "Celtic" design on the bolsters has been ground off. They are very nice knives. The red stag looks like Herman Williams' work, but there are those who know how to duplicate that look now.

Tongueriver, np my friend, I appreciate your time and BOTH your replies. I am the one who screwed up the numbers and made this far too complicated, and i've learned from it. This was my first knife purchase other than for personal use. First off, i'm quite happy these are real knives(they just looked too new to me to be real). But not being a collector i'm a little confused; From your explanation, I take it these knives used to look like the sc506's on ebay and someone took a grinder to the "fancy work" on the bolsters, cut the handles off and installed new ones? To me it seems like that would destroy the value of the knife or maybe i'm looking at this all wrong? BTW, I used to do metal work and have plenty of measuring tools if you wouldn't mind telling me what to measure, i can do that. I bought these knives trying to pay for my gas to the auction after being outbid on every gun, metal detector, and anything else I wanted that day, but i've had so much fun learning about them and the history of schrade I may keep them and start a new hobby. Any ideas what the "custom" handles are made of? I know I have more questions than a 2 year old and I apologize, but this has turned into an exploration mission for me into the world of knives. I may be hooked. Any further info on these knives would be greatly appreciated and may save me a ton of leg work. This website has been a dream.

Thanks again to everyone
Rick

Rick, we have all been there when trying to identify knives and no apologies are needed. Tang stamps can be misleading on many counts. I hope you enjoy your knives!! the stag model looks very nice and could be a Herman Williams as mentioned as well as being a stand alone custom. I think these four have been customized by the same person as they are too similar not to be.

all the best

Russell

Rick,
Are the bolsters of all 4 knives the same thickness?
Also what is the closed length of the knives?

Thanks,
Dale

I'm not sure at what point to measure the bolsters as they are tapered. The closed length appears to be 3.35 on all the knives. The bolsters measured at the smallest point appear to be .48 on the bone, .50 on the black, .50 on the striped, and .53 on the 206 knife. This was measuring where the tensioners? ended on the underside of the knife.
Hope that helps
Rick

OK, time to admit how I bought these things....As stated earlier I attended an estate auction(living) hoping to buy a few items. The guy was a knife collector. It was in fallston, NC in case anyone here went to the auction. Many knife collectors attended the auction from the surrounding states. I watched knives go for hundreds of dollars....sets go for several hundred each. It was impossible to buy a knife there..... One set had a reserve of $1300.. It did not sell. Once the auctioneer announced the guns were gone, 30% of the crowd left, same with the knives, another 30% left. I must have watched 30k worth of knives sell and thats a minimal estimate. Anyway, a few knives were found late in the auction, after the knife and gun guys had gone home, I knew it was either a bargain or a bait and switch by the auctioneer. I gambled and bought my pick for $12 and took the lot since noone else was there to bid. There was not a knife there that day sold for less than $40 before that. I'm not saying these are worth that, I just know I did really well or really poorly. I just thought it was time to admit that info while people were helping me find out about the knives. I also picked up an 80th anniversary (big one) can't remember the name, but the auctioneer didn't let me steal it, I had to "pay" for it. On the second day I picked up a big bag full of taylor knives with nice handles but they are made in japan so I dont think i'm allowed to mention them here. Thanks again guys.
Rick
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thanks guys
Rick

wncrick wrote:I know I have more questions than a 2 year old and I apologize, but this has turned into an exploration mission for me into the world of knives. I may be hooked. Any further info on these knives would be greatly appreciated and may save me a ton of leg work. This website has been a dream.

Welcome aboard

A word of warning, once you are hooked on collecting knives there is no cure

It has been alot of fun Millers bro!

I am not up on "New" knife prices, as I only collect "Old" knives, but I would say you stole them at $12 each

Very good buy, this is how it starts

That sounds like a warning bro

At $12. each...you stole them...Good Job!

Welcome to the site...come on out and join us in the Chat room on Thursday nights....Free Auction night, let's you sell for free and buy a few along the way!

Tom