My latest Schrade

[Chase]

That is a beauty, excellent condition! I need to find one like that for my gathering.

Tom

[KnifeSlinger#81]

Heck of a fishing knife.

[Quick Steel]

Verry impressive.

[tongueriver]

Minty and knice! Don't let that beautiful lemony celluloid get away from you. They are known to turn rogue.

[Mustanger]

Thanks, guys. Truth be known, it's not real minty. My pictures nor the auction pictures show the discoloration on the back springs or a few scratches on the blade. I determined from a recent discussion with Dale that these were just cataloged from 1961-1963 with that blade etch. There are other 208 models with different blade etches including one for Craftsman that make one wonder when they were made. But the one to get is the Schrade Cut. Co. Fisherman's Special. It has a different style fish scaler. I found it in the 1938 and 1940 catalogs, and on ebay recently.

[Dinadan]

Mustanger - I like that #208: very fine knife. The scaling blade with the inch marks and very fine teeth reminds me of the current Rough Rider fish knives.

Here is one of my latest Schrades. An #804 With Schrade stamped on the shield. This is the only knife I have with the name on the shield - anyone know if that dates it to a particular time?

[KnifeSlinger#81]

An #804 With Schrade stamped on the shield. This is the only knife I have with the name on the shield - anyone know if that dates it to a particular time?

I would like to know the answer to this as well.

[Mustanger]

Is an 804, tang stamped Schrade, Ny, a one year only knife? Did the 804 end in 1973?

[Dinadan]

Good point about the tang stamp, Mustanger. NY versus Walden. I bet that if I really research this forum I will find the dates ... maybe tomorrow night I will see what I can turn up.

[Mustanger]

The catalogs on schrades r us show the 804 in 1973, no catalog for '74 and in '75 it shows an 804 but has "DISCONTINUED" stamped over the picture.

[Schradenut]

Doug, that 804 is by far the best one i have laid eyes on. Not only that but you horse traded for it at the Oregon Knife Show. Well done my friend.
Tony.

[kootenay joe]

The "Schrade N.Y." stamping was used from 1972 when Schrade-Walden" became "Schrade" up until some time in late 1970's. The exact date of the final "Schrade N.Y." is not known. Likely it was phased out over a couple of years time as already marked blades got used up.
kj

[kootenay joe]

Here is a Schrade Walden 735 Stainless, aka "Marlin Spike Rigging knife".
This knife is designed to have a locking spike that is released by depressing a "Spike Release" lever. This is the weak feature of this knife. With many used examples the spike lock does not hold the blade in the open position, so a push on the open spike and it begins to close.
This 735 looks little used. The original factory edge is present. The spike does not lock at all. It feels like a normal slip joint blade. There is no sense of any engagement at all. To me it looks as if the detente in the spike tang that would be where the locking 'tab' would engage, has been ground off. i.e. this is not a case of frequent use wearing out the engagement mechanism. It is a 735 that was made to NOT lock.
Has anyone got a similar 735 ? or knowledge of changes in the Schrade Walden production to eliminate the lock ?
thanks, kj

[Dinadan]

Joe - that is a tough looking rigging knife. Looking at your photo I wonder if someone at the factory just forgot to cut the locking notch. Question: does the spring have a lock tab? I realize that is hard to determine without taking the knife apart, but it would be indicative of the intent of the maker.

Thank you for the info on the Schrade N.Y . stamp. I never intended to become a Schrade collector, but it seems that my collection is trending that direction.

[kootenay joe]

I just found 3 more used S-W 735 Stainless knives in a container in the basement. All are just like this one i have posted: no locking engagement of the spike, not even a hint of a worn out locking mechanism. The open-close feeling of the spike is just like that of a regular slip joint blade.
So, did S-W at some point change this pattern to a non locking spike even though the spike release is still present ?
kj

[FatCity67]

The catalogs on schrades r us show the 804 in 1973, no catalog for '74 and in '75 it shows an 804 but has "DISCONTINUED" stamped over the picture.

To note something I observed a few years ago several of sheets in the 75' catalog that have discontinued stamped over a few of the knives are labeled Schrade Walden Cutlery. We all know that 73 was the last year for that name configuration. My guess is that some catalog sheets from 73 got mixed Into the 75' pile somewhere along the way. Couple that with your observation of no 804 in the 74' catalog.

Phil.

[jerryd6818]

I just found 3 more used S-W 735 Stainless knives in a container in the basement. All are just like this one i have posted: no locking engagement of the spike, not even a hint of a worn out locking mechanism. The open-close feeling of the spike is just like that of a regular slip joint blade.
So, did S-W at some point change this pattern to a non locking spike even though the spike release is still present ?
kj

Locking marlin spike = Riggers knife
Non-locking marlin spike = Yachtsman's knife

[kootenay joe]

O.K., so question is: did Schrade-Walden change from making a Rigger's knife to a Yachtsman knife ? and left the lock release there even though is was now useless ? (except for lanyard attachment)
kj

[gwelker62]

I have one of those rigging knives or marlin spike 735, and the spike doesn't lock on it. The spike release is a bit unnecessary since it can be closed without depressing it. I have to assume this is by design. All the release does is make the spike easier to fold closed.

[kootenay joe]

I think the early made S-W 735 were locking. You could not close the spike without depressing the spike release lever, just like you cannot close a lockback without first depressing the lock release bar.
So what happened ?
Why/When did Schrade-Walden stop making the spike lock ? Somebody here must know !
thanks, help solve this Rigger Mystery, kj

[Dinadan]

Here is a Schrade I*XL that I just got. It is a big knife and very cool At 4 7/8" closed it is by far my biggest wharncliffe body knife.

[kootenay joe]

Yep, that Texas Stock Knife is an old Wostenholm pattern. Sometimes they show up on ebay and could be as much as 100 years old; i.e. i am speaking of the Wostenholm original, not the Schrade-IXL collaboration. both are the same size & pattern.
kj

[kootenay joe]

I just found this old Schrade-Walden 225 with saber grind and carbon steel blades and rather nice original handles. Dis one she is pretty & rare.
kj

[Dinadan]

Yep, that Texas Stock Knife is an old Wostenholm pattern. Sometimes they show up on ebay and could be as much as 100 years old; i.e. i am speaking of the Wostenholm original, not the Schrade-IXL collaboration. both are the same size & pattern.
kj

Joe - It was after seeing the Texas Stock Knife that you posted in your Herman Williams thread that I started paying attention to the pattern on Ebay. I really like the body of those knives and that very large sheepsfoot is unique as far as I know.

[KnifeSlinger#81]

I just found this old Schrade-Walden 225 with saber grind and carbon steel blades and rather nice original handles. Dis one she is pretty & rare.
kj

That's a fine, fine, fine example!