The DRAPER Felt.......HELP????

[ShawnBoss]

Im new at knive colecting ad recently aquired a schrade draper felt (175) but i cant find any info on this kife any where. Can any one please help in this situation?

[ea42]

That was likely an advertising knife made for Draper. They were a textile company specializing in felt for papermaking machinery among other things, and were bought out in 1986. I'd guess the knife was made sometime between 1975 and 1986.

Eric

[tongueriver]

Eric's information is accurate. This pattern, 175, goes way back in Schrade history. Before 1947, under different ownership, the pattern number was different, and was not stamped on the tang. By the late 1970s they had begun using stainless steel for this pattern, which is indicated by the "plus" sign you see. Early knives could have been in ebony and celluloid. Your example is in DuPont Delrin plastic. Many of these were sold to florist shops, and a common handle stamping was "SAY IT WITH FLOWERS." These knives can be looked at as early box-cutters as well. The esteemed old sheepfoot blade has always been very versatile. A forum member here has customized some of these, I believe. Also, if I am not mistaken, over the years there were two VERY slightly different sizes of this pattern.

[orvet]

Cal is absolutely right!

The early #175s, 1963 and earlier were listed in the catalogs as 3-3/8".
In 1964 and there after they are listed as 3-3/4".

The top knife is the earlier version; 1950-1963. The earliest catalog mention of the 175 I can find is 1950, though I have no doubt it was made between 1947 and 1950 since the pattern was carried over from Schrade Cut Co.
The middle knife is the second version; 1964-1973. Note both have the Schrade Walden tang stamp.
The bottom knife is the last version, after mid year 1973, when the Schrade Walden name was changed to SCHRADE. This knife was made until 2004 when Schrade closed.




As you can see, yours would be the third version.
Notice that one of my versions was made for Albany Felt Co. Apparently it was a popular pattern as an ad knife for Felt Companies.