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A Melon Tester

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:34 pm
by FRJ
What a nice knife this is. It just looked good on ebay and I won it. Got my eye on another one.
Very well made, but you would expect that from Schrade. Don't see them too much on the forum. There's some chat on them though. I've got a Japanese piece that is pretty bad. I'm impressed.
Any one else got melon knives?

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:37 pm
by steve99f
That's a beauty for sure Joe. Nice MOP. Got one but not in that class. How long is the frame on that?

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:43 pm
by jerryd6818
I also have a couple. Both are Sabres. I also have three of the GEC 89s. They are also sometimes called sausage knives.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:54 pm
by wazu013
Here's a couple of mine :)

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 11:29 pm
by Joe Dirt
Great lookin testers, guys!

Hay waz, I believe the blade etch on yours was first used by
Imperial in 1953 - soon after it was, for some reason, changed
to "Super" Razor Blade Stainless.

That's only the second Schrade I have seen with that same etch!

EDIT: I ment 1963 for the date.

Joe

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 2:23 am
by treefarmer
FRJ,
I have the same Schrade "melon tester" that you posted, only I carried mine for a while. On the handle is the name A. Duda & Sons. They are a very large agricultural conglomerate that is home based in Oviedo, Florida. My wife worked for them in the mid 1960's as a computer programmer, when the computers were as big as a pickup truck. My knife was given to me at one of the Company's Christmas parties. The male employees got the same knife but it had their name on the pile side, mine as a spouse was just marked with the company name. I've owned this one for about 47 years. They are great knives if all you're cuttin' is a cabbage, lettuce or watermelon for inspection, other than that it is too light for most knife work. I wish I had not carried mine and messed it up ::nod:: .
Treefarmer

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 2:58 am
by zp4ja
Nice one Gents!

Is the OP knife not cracked ice or some variation? Not MOP?

I have a couple. Gave one away to a friend.

For now, how about a 2 bladed melon tester.

Mint CASE XX 6296X.

Regards, Jerry

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 3:03 am
by FRJ
Thanks so much for all your responses.
Steve, the handles are a celluloid of some sort.
wazu, the Albertsons knife is neat with that birds eye pivot. Albertsons is a big grocery store in Spokane where I'm from.
Treefarmer, that's the twin. Mine says RITZ DISTRIBUTING CO. These knives have a lot going for them with the swell center frame and stainless steel spring with brass liners and great walk and talk and a swedge on each side of both blades. A lot went into these knives. And your right, I wouldn't put them to real hard work.
Jerry, very nice Case with square bolsters.
There's more of these in my future, I can see it.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:36 am
by knife7knut
Here are a few:
Eller 3 blade.
Three Gersons marked France;Germany;& Japan.They have different addresses so the company must have moved over the years.
A Sabre Japan
Three Schrades;one marked on bothe sides of the scales.
A group shot.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:39 am
by knife7knut
Four Colonials.One has a serrated blade that is concave ground.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 11:08 am
by jerryd6818
Oh, yeah. I forgot the Queen #53.
Queen '58-'60 Melon Tester.jpg
So here's the Sabre's. A #8 and a #677/
Sabre #8 Fruit Knife - Open.JPG
Sabre 677 Fruit Knife - Open.JPG
The GEC #89s.
Great Eastern Melon Tester Pumpkin Patch - 892309.jpg
GEC Riverboat UN-X-LD 8-16-10.JPG
GEC 890310 Tidioute Executive Whittler Ivory Acrylic #13 of 25 Mark Open.JPG

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 2:27 pm
by FRJ
Many great contributions!
Thanks so much for posting them here, guys.
I'm more impressed than ever with these knives.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 3:09 pm
by wazu013
Here's a couple Colonial Salsiccia knives that were given to me by the meat packers when I worked as a butcher sometime between 1969-1980.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:47 pm
by thegreedygulo
H. Bokers

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2014 6:10 pm
by FRJ
Thanks waz. never heard of a Colonial Salsiccia. Nice knives.

And Greeds, just can't say enough about those beautiful Bokers.

Thanks a lot, guys

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 7:27 pm
by wazu013
FRJ wrote:Thanks waz. never heard of a Colonial Salsiccia. Nice knives.

And Greeds, just can't say enough about those beautiful Bokers.

Thanks a lot, guys
Salsiccia is just Italian for sausage :)

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 10:01 pm
by FRJ
Thanks, wazu. We're always learning here.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:00 am
by MTURBO
Strange how such a simple and inexpensive type of knife can just catch the eye.
I just think these knives are cool!

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:44 am
by FRJ
Thanks, MTURBO. Nice one.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 5:30 am
by singin46
I've got a couple of the last melon testers that were ever produced by Fightn Rooster knives. Guess I'll have to get some more pics up.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 3:14 pm
by FRJ
Looking forward to the pictures, Perry.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 3:06 am
by MTURBO
Got a 2010 GEC TIDIOUTE MELON TESTER: #892210 with red abalone looking glass handles coming in the mail! They look pink to me?? :lol:

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 3:16 am
by singin46
Oh there's a lot of color in those! You'll be very happy.

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 3:27 am
by FRJ
I hope you guys will post some pictures. ::tu::

Re: A Melon Tester

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 5:44 am
by singin46
I'll get mine shot and posted tomorrow, Joe! I promise