schrade - walden 153UH GOLDER SPIKE

[koldgold]

Dose anyoen owen a Schrade - Walden "Golden Spike"
If so could you please post photos and the serial nummber.
There is a very small amount of the Walden knive about... KG

[garddogg56]

I have a Golden spike but no Walden or serial# on her just Uncle Henry etched in the brass and super sharp etched on the blade

[orvet]

Ken,
The 153UH was introduced in 1973 and the Schrade Walden tang stamp ended in about June 1973 when Schrade Walden changed their name to Schrade. I imagine a few 153s were made in 1972, to see how they looked, iron out any potential production issues, etc, as well as for salesmen’s samples.

The new patterns for each coming year were usually introduced by Schrade at the annual sales meeting, usually held in October or November for the upcoming year. I am sure there were a few made in 1972 to introduce the pattern at the sales meeting in October or November of 1972.

I don’t know when they scheduled the first full production run to begin in 1973. If it was scheduled after July 1st, there may only be a handful of pre-production pieces made to introduce the new model. If they started the first production run in January, there may be several thousand 153s with the Schrade Walden tang stamp, but I suspect that was not the case. I do not recall ever seeing a 153UH with a Schrade Walden tang stamp.

Has anyone else seen a 153UH with the Schrade Walden tang stamp?
Does anyone know for certain if any were made?

[JAMESC41001]

Here is a couple pics. One is mine and second pic is from collectors of schrade web site. I've done a lot of research on this knife including factory memos and talking to ex employees. To date I've see about six or seven of these waldens. No serial numbers over 3000. I have no solid proof but I know schrade anticipated making 3000 pieces for sears( memo dated 1972). My best guess is they made about the same numbers to start filling display cases and samples but that is a guess. Dale's statements and time frames are all accurate. They needed art work early and I believe the whole company shut down for vacation around June and orders need to be shipped shortly after. P.S the 100yr anniversary of the golden spike joining the railroad was 1969. I have a sears knife that appears to be a schrade h-15 maybe with stacked leather handle and golden spike etch that I believe pre dates the walden. I have heard of a possible proto type walden with leather handles that I'm trying to get my hands on.we'll see what happens there.

[JAMESC41001]

Here is a sears craftsman golden spike Bowie I think pre dates the walden 153

[JAMESC41001]

Here is a craftsman golden spike and a walden. Notice the elephant hide sheath!

[orvet]

Thank you for sharing the pictures James.
It is good to have the question cleared up with pictures as opposed to my speculation.

[koldgold]

Hi Dale,
This question has been on "Blade Forums" for some time now.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... e-and-only
I have a NIB Schrade carbon blade example in my collection. Ken

[JAMESC41001]

No problem Dale. Usually you are the one clearing things up for me. Hope all is well

[JAMESC41001]

This is a page from the schrade walden catalog 1972. Someone added the 153uh and other knives that didn't make it to print on time. (Sept) the displays pictured in the rest of the catalog have 153uh's in some of them also. This is a piece of the puzzle that gives some indication of when the production run may have started. The walden and almost all the sears examples I have seen all share the same pale staglon coloring. The knives marked Shrade were intermediate stamps before Schrade+ was used,and none of them share the pale coloring. It appears to be impossible to figure out how many knives were made in the narrow time frame of mid to late 1972. I spoke to people who were there but did not recall. Production numbers I've seen for the year do not break it down that far. They made about 3 million knives that year!

[koldgold]

Someone on AAPN should have one of these WALDEN 153HU GOLDEN SPIKES.
Just trying to find some serial numbers. Please help!

[orvet]

I wish I had one!