Schrade Cutlery Company was founded in 1904 by George Schrade, and his brothers Jacob and William Schrade. In 1946 Imperial Knife Associated Companies, (IKAC; an association of Ulster Knife Co and Imperial Knife Co) purchased controlling interest in Schrade Cut Co and changed the name to Schrade Walden Cutlery. In 1973 the name was changed to Schrade Cutlery. In 2004 Schrade closed due to bankruptcy.
This forum is dedicated to the knives that are the legacy of this company. This forum is not the place to discuss the replica knives currently being imported using the Schrade name.
And I usually do myself as well, because for the most part, they are inferior, but more expensive than most traditional Rough Riders. Typically if I don't see "USA", it's definitely Taylor. But, keep in mind, they did use (I mean, rip off) the Schrade Walden NY USA tang stamp quite a lot. I thought that went totally against import laws? Chinese Camillus sucks big time as well. I got pretty ticked when not long after I bought a "Granddad's Pocket Knife" (basically a penknife in a Large Stockman frame) for $10 at Tractor Supply, only to find they just rebranded an $5 knife from Walmart's Ozark Trail line. Besides, that knife was awful. I've had one-dollar Frosts that took and held an edge better.
I am really debating getting a more premium line of Taylor Old Timers. Steel is supposedly 9Cr18MOV, which is even better than 8Cr13MOV. But, I don't think Taylor hardens their blades as well as say, a Rough Rider or basically any Chinese Kershaw. Grinds are cleaner, and the bone they use is just beautiful. At $20, they're no more than the regular (ugly) Taylor Old Timers are locally. But, I think I'll save my money and go for an American-made Lumberjack, or 125/25OT. At present, I have no Old Timers larger than an 8OT, and my biggest American Schrade is a CH-7. Besides, my local knife shop has a loose, but unused American-made LB-7 for twenty-five dollars. Figure I'll just spring for that one, as it's only $5 more than a Buck 110LT. And, made in Ellenville, not some place in China. When I buy Chinese, I mostly stick to Rough Rider. Most of the patterns I buy are $10 or less, and I've never been disappointed. They hold their edges as well as anything American, and they sharpen up quite easily.
I have a couple of the Rough Riders (elephant toes) but for the most part, I just want to buy American if I can.
AND... since I am mostly in Schrade and Old Timer mode right now, I avoid the chinese OTs like the plague.
For one other thing...... When it comes to the shields on the chinese Old Timers, I have noticed they fall out a LOT.
(They must have gotten their glue recipe from Boker.....)
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Meridian_Mike wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2020 2:22 pm
I have a couple of the Rough Riders (elephant toes) but for the most part, I just want to buy American if I can.
AND... since I am mostly in Schrade and Old Timer mode right now, I avoid the chinese OTs like the plague.
For one other thing...... When it comes to the shields on the chinese Old Timers, I have noticed they fall out a LOT.
(They must have gotten their glue recipe from Boker.....)
Happened on BOTH of the Chinese ones I had, 12OT that my Granddad bought me when they introduced the Chinese Schrades (it is etched "First Production Run"), and an 834UH. I have only seen missing shields on a tiny number of really bad and abused Schrades. Part of the reason I personally won't touch the Chinese ones with a ten-foot pole. Only import Schrades I am interested in is the Irish-made Jackmasters, the German-made ISC Discovery Series (Swiss Army-type knives), and the sorta rare Mexican Imperials.
Mike if you are looking for a minty Schrade U.S.A. 125OT, send me a PM. I still have a few of them. I prefer it over the 2 blade 25OT. But the 4" 123OT is also a very fine knife, but only made for 3 years in late 1980's, so a bit rare.
kj
I've got a USA made one, fresh out of the box. It is sad that a knife maker like this was moved to overseas production. I just hope other USA knife companies are able to keep production here.
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Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
1967redrider wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2020 6:40 pm
I've got a USA made one, fresh out of the box. It is sad that a knife maker like this was moved to overseas production. I just hope other USA knife companies are able to keep production here.
That is a NICE 125OT your have there!
While looking into knife companies histories, you can see that most of the major knife companies here in the US were put out of business because they just couldn't keep the doors open. The average American consumer would rather buy a knife at a cheap price than a QUALITY knife at a FAIR price.
Heck, when a knife comes here from china and it sells for $19.95.... what chance do the American knife makers stand?
The chinese pay their "workers" (ie slaves) fish heads and rice to put knives together. Then, they pocket a HEALTHY profit, ship these knives to the US and they STILL have a low price tag attached.
I ain't buyin' no chinese knives if I know what I am doing at the time.
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
c-crap 
