Schrade Open Stock Knives

All Information Courtesy of Dale Vincent - AAPK Username: orvet

Long before Schrade began producing the Old Timer and Uncle Henry knives they made other knives. They continued to produce many of these knives after they introduced the Old Timer and Uncle Henry lines. Indeed, many of these patterns were the forerunners of Uncle Henry and Old Timer patterns. These knives are known as Open Stock knives. Some of these patterns go back many decades. Among these knives are specialized patterns such as the grafting knives electrician knives, florist knives and the fruit knives.

The knives listed in this list are from the Schrade catalogs, Shortline catalogs and price lists from 1948 through 2004. I have split these knives into 4 categories because Schrade split them into 4 categories. There are the general Open Stock knives, the Horticultural Knives, Fixed Blades and the Razor Blades Stainless Knives. I have added a couple additional categories for the sake of simplicity. These were all categories that Schrade used in their catalogs at one time or another.

I have listed the last date of that patterns appeared in Schrade catalogs or price lists and the last MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price). Since most of these knives had their origins long before 1973, I have not included their introduction date, as I do not have catalogs that old. I suspect that many of these knives were discontinued because of the introduction of the same knife with the Old Timer or Uncle Henry name on it. Although, the 834 Open Stock was produced until 1984, long after the introduction of the 34OT, despite the fact that they are obviously the same knife. This may simply have been because it was such a popular pattern that many of the people who had carried an 834 for so many years did not wish to switch to a 34OT, such is marketing.

These knives are older and harder to find in mint condition than the more recent knives. As a collector I find the older, used knives have more appeal to me personally. It is like holding a piece of history in one's hand and imagining all the stories that knife could tell if it could speak.

It is necessary to abbreviate when making a list of this nature. Here are a few definitions of those abbreviations:

Bone Stag: Bone handles jigged, sometimes to resemble stag.

Marine Pearl: A pattern of celluloid that looks like Mother Of Pearl.
  It IS celluloid – It is NOT real Mother Of Pearl.
  This is the way Schrade Cut Co & Schrade Walden used the term.

N/S: Nickel Silver

SS: Stainless Steel

Alum: Aluminum

Notes:

Some patterns disappear from the lists I have, only to reappear a year or two later. I don’t know in fact that they were not made during those missing years. I think it was most likely an error in the catalog department. The catalogs often contradict one another, even in such seemingly critical matters as blade length, etc. A knife shown with Staglon handles may be shown with leather handles the following year, only to appear the very next year as Staglon.

The term Stratawood was used in 1953 for an enhanced wood handle. Likely this was much like the resin-impregnated woods used today in the knife industry. The terms Wondawood (also Wonda-Wood) was used soon after for the same product. You will also see the term Stratawood. Though I do not have examples of each to lay out side by side, I think these 3 names refer to the same enhanced wood product.

You will notice some patterns have a number in the Old Number column. This is a pattern that was continued when Schrade changed their numbering system circa 1948.

Due to the fact that I do not have a catalogs for all the years from 1948 to 2004, a date will sometimes be given for the first year or last year that a pattern appeared in the catalogs.

While this list is the most extensive list of the Open Stock knives I have seen, it is far from exhaustive. Feel free to email me if you have catalogs or documentation (Preferably something Schrade printed), and I will add the new info to the list.

Thank you and enjoy collecting Schrades!
Dale Vincent
Orvet Customs
orvet@comcast.net
Salem, Oregon
March 16, 2009