schrade walden hunter

[W5RWU]

I have been looking for one these and thanks to LT, He found me one !
Schrade walden 4 7\8 hunter OUTSTANDING knife!bone handles too
thanks LT!!

Randy

[Rusty1]

Wow Randy that is in fantastic condition, don't come across many looking as sweet as that one, superb!

Rusty1

[stockman]

Randy that is nice. What is a ball park figure it takes to own one? Not wanting to pry just would like one.

Stockman

[jonet143]

nice button randy!

[lt632ret]

I am glad that the big Texan posted that particular knife since it is quite unusual . Now you may say OK it is in great shape but what makes it different than any other similar knife. It is unusual because it is one of the few knives of which all its owners and complete history is known. Did you ever look at a knife and wonder what it would say if it could talk? This particular one has told its story although it did not volunteer the information but as in most things in life the information was there for anyone who cared. So on that note this is the story.

You would think that Walden would be abounding in old knives considering its history and I suppose it does have its share. One must remember that to those who worked on them built them and used them they were not the icons of today but simply tools. I know people who tell of passing Westermans Hardware on the way home from school where if you had saved or accquired a quarter you could go in and pick from a giant fishbowl the knife of your choice ( A SECOND a knife the company SCHRADE deemed flawed and would sell for pennys to the store ) . Your choice cell bone whatever. It must have been a tough choice to pass by the soda shop and penny candy to spend a whole quarter for a knife. However I do know some who did. Some who even still have some of them.

Now Randys knife is a Schrade Walden so that means that give or take a year on the front end it was made in or around 1946 until 56. ( When Schrade moved from Walden to Ellenville and aside from military issues stopped making automatics. ) Prior to that it would have been a Schrade Cut which as we all know was used in various styles from 03 till 46 APPROX. Randys is in genuine Jigged bone sometimes it is difficult to tell the hand jigged bone from the early composition jigged plastic production which Schrade went into on the later Schrade Waldens. If you have trouble decerning this if you look close you will notice the jigging on the real bone often goes over the edge or side of the handle where plastic being a molded piece would be smooth. This was due to the bone jigging being done ( at that time ). by holding the bone upon a spinning jig by hand. This was one of the toughest jobs ( and it was often piece work ) in the factory those hands that did it ended up callused, scarred and stained.

Now back to Randys knife. We have in our area several auction houses. In this situation I received a call from a friend that one of these had some automatics which would be coming up in the next auction and asked if I wanted to view them. ( Just to step aside for a minute I want to comment on what has happened regarding old knives people such as my self and you guys as well are part of what i find to be an amusing situation since the prices on some of these have skyrocketed as collectables people with limited knowledge often think they have gold instead of knives on the other hand some think they are worth nothing as a result when dealing with people you often run into those who over value or under value. ) That is one reason I wrote a price guide which was just that a guide. Value is whatever someone will pay due to how much it means for them to have something . Believe me as a guy who once bought a knife with a 10,000 price tag I understand this more than most.

I obviously am always searching and buying collections I often retain only a couple of pieces for my personal collection and sell the rest. However it must be remembered that some people for many reasons ( some I have already mentioned ). In an area that once supplied 50 to 80 percent of all the knives being sold in the country often I do not find or am not privledged to these knives. That being said I went to the auction to view what was there. There were perhapes a dozen automatics and a similar amount of folders. Immediately it was obvious that the knives were from the same source and fell into the Schrade Walden era . The automatics were all in unused condition however they had been stored in a closed box where a Candy striped fishtail was one of there number, the cell had broken down and caused the usual damage. The knives had also been stored closed so mechanisms were stiff. Blade were full of course with various degrees of damage due to the nitric acid given off by the cell breaking down. Some pieces were minimal in damage and some were much worse.

Going through the auction which it turned out was from an elderly woman whos husband had past many years before. Her complete WWII army nurses uniform was also there intact with medals ect. There was a lot of old note books ect with a ledger ( from Schrade) which when opened had a weekly entry of usually 10 dollars each entry signed usually by Louis Schrade ( or at least his name entered ) as having received the money. So obviously the employee who had the ledger owed money and was paying it back weekly to Schrade. He had also been the owner of the knifes. At some time it would seem he accquired one of each of some of the models they produced. He had apparently put them in a box and there they sat in a basement until his wife passed and the family brought in the auctineer who upon finding them knew enough to realize that this was the type of box you look for . Actually I am sure the old lady either did not know she even had them and certainly would have had no idea of present value.

I checked with some old timers who remembered the man I believe I may have met the elderly lady over the years at the VFW. However the story is typical The knives went from inexpensive tools to forgotten junk to now being at the auction where when word got out went for the most ridiculous prices you could imagine. In fact the only automatic I bought was the one I sold to Randy. I had examined the blade and while a bit stained was not damaged or pitted. The action was slow and partial however I felt that it also was undamaged . Other wise the knife was in new old stock condition. It had come from the factory and sat in that box for 50 or 60 years. In fact I was at the top of my range on bidding when for some reason the other bidders who were buying these knives in much worse condition than this one ( for pristene mint prices ) stopped. Again it was the only auto I bought from the group. I took it to an old friend ex Schrade employee cutler who using an original Schrade machine simply buffed the blade to original factory condition. Getting the throw back on the blade was as I suspected not a major problem. Here is a hint WD 40 then after a day or so use TENN GUNN or a similar Teflon in solution lubricating solvent. The blade fires like a man released from a 10 year prison term. All that being said it is the story of a knife and 60 years of its history.

Just as a note when Schrade phased out automatic production in 56 they offered the people ( employees ) a chance to buy automatics doubles ect brand new individually or in boxes of 12 . The price for a box of your choice of doubles was 13 dollars a dozen. Today if you could find a new box full 3 to 5 thousand would be the price range. Most of the employees did not buy the boxes full but purchased individually since 13 bucks was just out of there price range. at the auction the little broke cell destroyed fish tail ( which essentially was junk ) brought over 200 with the premium. Luckily at this point in my life except for a couple of very high end expensive pieces I have most of the knives regarding this history so it is nice to sit back with amusment just to see what happens next. LT PS I am attaching a pic of an ad which shows Deckers Hardware from Walden the pic of the knives is not very good. However it is a display of the wares of all three knife companies in Walden at that time in the window. ( This pic was made into a well known postcard showing them better ) . it includes Schrade, NYK, Walden (including press button ). All three boards ( has a then value of 1000 can you imagine what they are now ). What the hell am i going to do with these dang boards sitting in my cellar. NO NO JUST KIDDING I sure wish I did have them . I thought I would just give you a chuckle. I hope you enjoy the pic.

[upnorth]

It is quite fascinating to hear this tale from a man who has "been there and done that".
Indeed I have been one of those fools who has paid too much for a knife, at the cyber auction we are all tuned into at various times. And I have felt the "smirk" of satisfaction out there somewhere, as someone unknown chuckles at my folly!
Was that you LT??

[lt632ret]

No it wasent I distinctly remember because I was busy over bidding several others at the same time and did not get back in time to over bid your over bid. LT PS this is the same analogy as to why they always make the reformed alcoholics and drug addicts the counselors for rehab and anti abuse programs. You see they really understand .

[orvet]

Great history LT!
Randy is lucky to get a knife that has it's history so well documented.
Maybe he will even use it.

Well, I have to run. An auction is ending on ebay & I feel a need to overbid!

Dale

[ea42]

That IS a beauty Randy, and a great story behind it too LT. Sorry I haven't been contributing lately, I've been nursing a wicked cold that I just can't shake. I think I need to stop by and get that Alaska hat to cover my bald head! Too much heat loss

Eric

[W5RWU]

That is what I like ,A GREAT KNIFE WITH GREAT STORY,using LT words "The blade fires like a man released from a 10 year prison term. "
Ya got love it!!
LT thank you for the knife and the story, you da man!!

Thanks everyone Randy

[Paladin]

That was a fascinating story, LT. Thanks for sharing!

Ray