Schrade SAK

[glennbad]

Hi,

Since I am new here, I figured I should contribute a little.

I am a huge lover of the Schrade brand, specifically the "open stock" offerings. Don't get me wrong, I love the OT and UH lines, I just prefer the more unique patterns, handle materials, etc.

I have always been intrigued when a company tries to reinvent the wheel, and Schrade is no exception, producing their own version of the swiss army knife. Schrade did, IMHO, a darn good job.

Here are a few pics of some that I own:





The second pic, showing the opened knife in the middle, is interesting to me because it is a different pattern with less blades than the others, showing there was more than one pattern option available. I own one other example of the pattern without the can piercer.

BTW, all are SW tangstamps, dating them to pre '73.

Thanks for letting me share.

Glenn

[El Lobo]

I'm with you Glenn, as I like the open stock and custom shop Schrades the best. I don't have any of the SAK style knives, but yours are very cool examples.

Good to see you posting here as well.

Bill

[knifeaholic]

Those are very interesting pics of some RARE Schrade knives, especially the one with the fold out spade-type can opener.

Brings back memories of when I was a kid circa 1966 when I could buy a can of "generic" orange soda for 7 cents at the corner store, and you ahd to use that type of opener to make two openings in the lid, one to drink from and a smaller one opposite to let air in.

[whittlenut]

WHOA!

I did'nt even know Schrade made an SAK. I just recently figured out what a SAK was and was brousing through old threads and came across this one. I'm sort of a SAK nut myself. These are cool knives. All I have is Victorinox and Wenger. Somebody post some more pics and tell me about brands and makers.

[Don Luis]

Aitor (from Spain) makes some good ones.

Luis

[glennbad]

Okay, so here's another one I like. This has been shown "elsewhere".

This is an Imperial "Super Kamp King"



I think it's a neat piece, even if it is the shell handle construction.

Glenn

[ilikeknives]

We gots another 2-N Glenn here. I'll have to start using my miniker I guess.
Glenn, first off, welcome .
Second, never had any idea that Schrade-made (that rhymes) a SAK knife, cool . I have just recently found Schrade (+ & USA) after selling a consignment of 70+ knives and saving some for me. I have some unique Schrade pocket knives, I'll get pics and show you soon. I also have a couple of PH1E's in stag, an SDH02, 03, and several other OT and UHs too.
Welcome,, and to avoid confusionnnnnnnn. I'll use my moniker,that being,,ILK (I-LIKE-KNIVES)
Take care Glenn, and keep those pics coming, always interested (all of us) to see new KNIVES, KNIVES,KNIVES, KNIVES,, ooops sorry knife brain-block there, happens kinda frequently.
ILK

[justold52]

glennbad i to am new here.Welcome to a super place with kind and helpfull people.
I love the Schrade Co. I was just cleaning one of my sets and saw your knives Super nice. We both have a lots to learn and I fell this is one good place to learn. I have one Question for you Please dont take it the wrong way its just because I not know things ok. Why do you not make the knife shine like NEW is it because its like old wooden things they are best to leave them old looking and if you stripe and refinish them the value goes down ??

[Gr8Scout]

Hi Glenn, glad to see you here. You'll like the place and the members, I sure do. Please do show these guys some of your great old open stock Schrades... too many people think Schrade = Old timer + Uncle Henry > Period.

Justtold.. Like Glenn (and he will answer for himself here), I don't 'clean' my treasured old knives. I mean, if there is dirt on it, I get that off, but naturally occuring patina and other signs of honest and honorable use??? No way! One of the dirtiest phrases in the knife collecting language is "Cleaned to Mint Condition". Now how in the world can that be, particularly with a very old, used knife? What is the point? It does not enhance the knife or improve the value.. to me and many other collectors, it ruins the knife.

Just my opinion, a few others may disagree.

Phil

[j5109]

hey guys&gals i`ll bet you would not drive around in a dirty caddy or wear
dirty diamond ring by cleaing them it does not take away the value of it.it makes pertty and makes you proud to own it. [/img][/url]

[Gr8Scout]

Not to be argumentative nor overbearing, but, J5, you are comparing apples to oranges. If one were to use the metaphor of your caddy or diamond, it would be along the lines of using a body shop type hand grinder to 'clean' those apples.

Buffing to remove patina and stain
also removes the material which is the steel, nickel silver, bone, iron, or whatever else the knife is consturcted out of. It ruins the original lines of the knife, all the nice sharp edges, and blurs the tang markings. Experienced collectors will look at such a well-cleaned knife and think 'fake'. Or just shake their head at the ruination of what might have been a fine collectible.

I have a old George Schrade wire jack, and it is completely rusted, all of it, but you know what? It works perfectly and all I did was oil it. Fine walk and talk, no blade wiggle or such. In it's heavily rusted condition, the knife is a perfect example of the economical manufactoring genious of Mr. Schrade that put a decent quality knife in the pocket of even the most poor consumer. That is the true value of this very inexpensive collectible.

We are only temporary custodians of the knives we own. We owe it to the original manufacturers and future owners to not ruin them.

[glennbad]

Sorry, I have been on vac. Thanks Phil, for answering the question about "cleaning" knives. There are many schools of thought, and if collector value were important, you might still get different answers. It depends on what collector school you went to.

People that know me know that I don't collect knives for their value. I accumulate knives that interest me and show the craftsmanship of yesterday.

The only knives that get a cleaning to mint condition might be one that will be a user, or a project knife.

I prefer to "stabilize" my knives. That is, remove the cause of any damaging corrosion or dirt, and attempt to prevent any further damage. They get rust inhibitors, and wax for the handles perhaps. No sharpening, sanding, reprofiling, etc.

If you found a beautifully bound antique journal, would you erase all the writing in it? It's like erasing history, or in the case of a knife, the story that the knife has to tell.

Thanks for the words and the welcome, gang.

Glenn