All About Pocket Knives

Hi all,

My grandfather gave me this Old Timer 4" twin blade pocket knife back in the 70's or 80's. I can't remember when exactly. It's been in a box for 40 or 50 years and now I'm starting to clean house. Before I sell it in a garage sale or ebay, I thought I'd see what it's worth. I see people selling them for dirt cheap on Ebay, but they all have the "SCHRADE" stamp at the base of the blade. Mine doesn't have any kind of stamp.

So, question is, is it worth something or should I just offload it at the garage sale?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Jim

Captn Jim wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2026 8:15 pmMy grandfather gave me this Old Timer

because of this, your knife is truly priceless clean, sharpen and put her back in service.

I see nothing about the knife that makes more valuable than any other Old Timer. If I had a knife that was given to me by my grandfather I sure wouldn't be selling it! If I didn't want to keep it I'd give it to a family member who would appreciate having a family heirloom.

Ken

Captn Jim wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2026 8:15 pm My grandfather gave me this Old Timer 4" twin blade pocket knife back in the 70's or 80's.
Jim

bestgear wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2026 8:20 pm because of this, your knife is truly priceless clean, sharpen and put her back in service.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2026 8:48 pm I see nothing about the knife that makes more valuable than any other Old Timer. If I had a knife that was given to me by my grandfather I sure wouldn't be selling it! If I didn't want to keep it I'd give it to a family member who would appreciate having a family heirloom.
Ken

Jim, I concur with the advice given by Tom and Ken. I lost my grandfather at ten; but I have a couple of my grandfather's positions that I would never sell.

No way I would put that out on a garage sale. Valuable family heirloom.

+1 vote for keep it. I cherish my grandfather's knives.

You could also have it rehandled and turned into something snazzy

The knife may have sentimental value to you. Keep it. If for some reason
you do not want it, sell it at a garage sale. Someone will come along
and clean it up, then use it as a EDC ( everyday carry)

Bob

It is hard to tell from the picture, but I think that the tang stamp might have been ground off. Schrade did this to factory Second knives - they usually had a minor defect that did not affect the knife's function. It sounds like your grandfather may have been a smart man who knew how to save money!
I also urge you to keep the knife!

A pocketknife is a personal thing. Your grandfather sharpened it, worked it and carried in his pocket handy for use because he was man that knew how to get things done. Ken’s right, if you don’t want it pass it to a family member that does.
Froe

Captn Jim wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2026 8:15 pm [...] So, question is, is it worth something or should I just offload it at the garage sale?

We are all selective about which of our relatives' pieces of junk we keep. Naturally all the members here would keep a pocket knife. My mother's knitting needles, bundles of yarn and large garbage bags full of fabric for making quilts? No way. I donated them to a thrift store along with most of her art. I only kept her Singer sewing machines which I might use a little. A collector a few miles away has a large lawn on which he displays horse drawn farm equipment. There's a hay bailer, a huge combine, a manure spreader, various plows, and machines that I have no ideal what farmers used them for. Will all you keep the heirloom guys advise his kids to keep the antique farm equipment on their lawns in the sub-burbs?

That said I can answer the question. The inexpensive Schrades that are not stamped USA are from China. Since the tang stamp was filed off yours a buyer would be skeptical about its origin. Even if they trust that it was US made it's a factory second from a product line that sold for 1/2 to 2/3 the price of a Buck or Case. Separated from your family its value is low.

Even though they're duplicates of my other hand tools I keep a few of my father's. They were not special to him but storing them is not an issue and I occasionally use them. I'd do the same with your grandfather's Old Timer.

To everyone who has replied,

Thank you for all of the great advice.

Although we are clearing all the "junk" we no longer need (we're calling it the big purge of 2026), this is clearly an item that I would forever regret giving up. I will take the advice of cleaning him up and giving the Old Timer a new life.

Sincerely,

Jim

Captn Jim wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2026 11:55 am To everyone who has replied,

Thank you for all of the great advice.

Although we are clearing all the "junk" we no longer need (we're calling it the big purge of 2026), this is clearly an item that I would forever regret giving up. I will take the advice of cleaning him up and giving the Old Timer a new life.

Sincerely,

Jim

There's no right or wrong answer here but....seems like a wise choice

3in1 oil can bring back oxidized delrin somewhat. Just a drop or two rubbed in with a cloth and left to sit for a while can bring back some color.

Captn Jim wrote: ↑Wed Jul 22, 2026 11:55 am To everyone who has replied,

Thank you for all of the great advice.

Although we are clearing all the "junk" we no longer need (we're calling it the big purge of 2026), this is clearly an item that I would forever regret giving up. I will take the advice of cleaning him up and giving the Old Timer a new life.

Sincerely,

Jim

If you need advice to clean up the blades, oil the joints, sharpen the blades, etc. let us know. We could point you to
some posts here on AAPK to get you a great start.

Bob