All About Pocket Knives

This knife sold to someone last month (not me). It is a Schrade Walden barlow made between (about)1953 and 1960. That it is genuine bone I am about 99% sure. It does not appear in any Schrade Walden literature. It was, however, made for decades before 1947 and appears in the 1926 Catalog E with sawcut bone, from which I know that the correct pattern number is 215½S. In the old numbering system, the spear blade is always the default. To change it to a spey, a sheepfoot or a clip, 1/8, 1/2, and 3/4, respectively were appended to the pattern number. So we have a 215 1/8 S, a 215 1/2 S, or a 215 3/4 S. Schrade Walden must have made enough of these to have a stamp for them; they are clearly a rare bird.

Calvin, thank you for this bit of teaching, interesting and helpful with future knives. I watched that auction but was already bidding on others so gave it a pass. I did not know it is a rare one.
kj

This 876 lobster...called "The Banker" was possibly a gift from Uncle Henry and wife.

Greta snag dweb, not many people have a knife with the owner of the cutlery and his wife's name on it, VERY cool! I'm curious what the significance of that date is. Anniversary perhaps? I've heard about the wedding but not sure when it took place.

Eric

I have no clue at this point and was hoping someone on the forum here might have an idea. The date is only a few days from my birthday...maybe it got lost in the mail.

I believe that exact knife or another DIFFERENT pattern knife with the same or similar inscription on it was in a thread on the 'other' forum a few years back. And I believe there was some knowledgeable info on it, or at least plausible theories.

How's this?

Nice peanut. I think it is a peanut. Looks like a peanut. Probably doesn't taste like a peanut. Good knife Thanks for showing it!
I got in a budding knife with genuine ivory spud. Looks like 1947 to 1949 manufacture.

Been chasing one of these for awhile.

Sears Craftsman #9481

Fat City nice one! I have an Uncle Henry branded trapper exactly like yours with of course a different shield. It is a perfect specimen with nice action, very sharp out of the box (which I have), no gaps on the back springs, perfect transitions from bolsters to handles, perfectly centered blades etc. I got it for a song a number of years ago and I have been mesmerized by the quality of build on this one. Yours looks to be of equal outstanding construction and quality. Congratulations, Lloyd

Hey FatCity67. that's a really nice one. Wouldn't mind having one myself.

Oh, and by the way...........

Thanks Lloyd and Jerry for the feedback and welcome!

Yes the craftsman trapper is in perfect condition except for the few obvious pepper spots and a very slight gap between the front bolster and mark side cover.

Some may recognize my screen name and avatar from BF. Same guy.

Another one of Uncle Henry's lost souls and a Schradoholic.

Seems to be a real nice group of active Schradophiles over here so I finally took the plunge and came out of the closet.

Here are a few more pics for your enjoyment. Not sure if the insert that came with the knife is original as it identifies it as a skinner and not a trapper. Also the Sears Craftsman logos on the insert don't match the crown on the box or knife. Its my understanding though that both logos were used by Sears at the same time for awhile during the early 70's.
Anyway.

Phil.

Well, we're glad to have ya Phil. My Dad carried a Sears Craftsman. Now I wish I had been more observant (I think it was a 4" stockman) but back in those days I was more interested in the forest than I was in the trees.

Hi Phil, i also came from BF after about 8 years and 8,000 posts, but i was "Banned Forever" by an unhappy moderator. I noticed on BF it was/is the moderators themselves that cause ALL the problems there. AAPK might be moderated, i don't know which shows how seemlessly it works here, very smooth, open & accepting. Plus some in-depth knife knowledge gets shared so for me it is both friends and learning that i get here.
O.K., on with the show !
do you collect Craftsman ? or only the Schrade ones ?
I have a Craftsman collection with a focus on the bone Sta-Sharp made by Camillus before WW II, but i also have newer ones some of which are Schrade made.
kj ( "rprocter" and then "kootenay joe" on BF)

Here is one you might like Roland Sta Sharp stockman Stag, has etch it might not show in the picture.

Harold

Thanks for the welcome kJ.

If it was made by a Schrade or Schrade affiliated company I'll collect it, if I can afford it. I've become very selective very quickly when I earnestly started collecting in 2009. I also have a few Bucks but only pre 70.

stockman wrote:Here is one you might like Roland Sta Sharp stockman Stag, has etch it might not show in the picture. Harold

That is a real beauty, Harold. Looks like Schrade Cutco or pre-1941 Ulster instead of Camillus?

tongueriver wrote:

stockman wrote:Here is one you might like Roland Sta Sharp stockman Stag, has etch it might not show in the picture. Harold

That is a real beauty, Harold. Looks like Schrade Cutco or pre-1941 Ulster instead of Camillus?

Thanks, I was guessing Camillus.

Harold

STOCKMAN

that is a nice knife!

stockman wrote:

tongueriver wrote:

stockman wrote:Here is one you might like Roland Sta Sharp stockman Stag, has etch it might not show in the picture. Harold

That is a real beauty, Harold. Looks like Schrade Cutco or pre-1941 Ulster instead of Camillus?

Thanks, I was guessing Camillus. Harold

You are probably right. Both Camillus and Ulster were furnishing pocket knives to Sears just before WWII, but I am not aware of Schrade doing so. The swedge on the clip blade doesn't look like the modern Camillus stockmans, but that wouldn't necessarily mean much.

tongueriver wrote:

stockman wrote:

tongueriver wrote: That is a real beauty, Harold. Looks like Schrade Cutco or pre-1941 Ulster instead of Camillus?

Thanks, I was guessing Camillus. Harold

You are probably right. Both Camillus and Ulster were furnishing pocket knives to Sears just before WWII, but I am not aware of Schrade doing so. The swedge on the clip blade doesn't look like the modern Camillus stockmans, but that wouldn't necessarily mean much.

I don't know who made it, but that is a nice swedge.

Harold

Wonderful knife Harold. Here's what I've been seeking lately, the barlow will be going in my pocket.

stockman wrote:

tongueriver wrote:

stockman wrote: Thanks, I was guessing Camillus. Harold

You are probably right. Both Camillus and Ulster were furnishing pocket knives to Sears just before WWII, but I am not aware of Schrade doing so. The swedge on the clip blade doesn't look like the modern Camillus stockmans, but that wouldn't necessarily mean much.

I don't know who made it, but that is a nice swedge.

Harold

I collect Camillus knives and the swedge and the way the long pull on that knife are cut sure don't remind me of Camillus, the blade actually does look a lot like Schrade. What about those grooved bolsters, they do remind me of Camillus, but, again, that master sure is a puzzler.

Is the tang stamp Sta-Sharp/S.R.& Co.?

JMO

msteele6 wrote:

stockman wrote:

tongueriver wrote: You are probably right. Both Camillus and Ulster were furnishing pocket knives to Sears just before WWII, but I am not aware of Schrade doing so. The swedge on the clip blade doesn't look like the modern Camillus stockmans, but that wouldn't necessarily mean much.

I don't know who made it, but that is a nice swedge.

Harold

I collect Camillus knives and the swedge and the way the long pull on that knife are cut sure don't remind me of Camillus, the blade actually does look a lot like Schrade. What about those grooved bolsters, they do remind me of Camillus, but, again, that master sure is a puzzler.

Is the tang stamp Sta-Sharp/S.R.& Co.?

JMO

Thanks for the comments, nice group Paul. It is marked Sta Sharp/S.R.&Co.on all blades. I also have a old rough knife Marked Sears Robuck/& Co./ Chicago in a arc. Pile side Napanoch /Knife Co./NY

Harold

Here is a new OLD one for me....

Schrade Walden Electrician Knife...this thing is PRISTINE, still has the original cellophane wrapper....she is a beauty