Schrade/Craftsman

[Quick Steel]

Schrade made this knife for Craftsman. Dale then replaced the original scales with beautifully matching stag. The size, color, and texture of the scales are nearly identical. Virtual twins.

[Schradenut]

That is an incredibly beautiful Barlow you have there. It is a style that is dear to my heart, and like you had some knives re-handled by Dale. The Ulster started out as a two blade TL-29. Dale did an exceptionally good job on it, and he had to invent ways of getting it to the way it is today The Cocobolo handles are excellent. I have a great respect for Dale's customising abilities. Thank you Dale, they are all on display in my Knife Cabinet.
Tony.

[Quick Steel]

What a super collection of Dale's work. Congrats. I have just a couple of his and they are of varied patterns including a fixed blade.

[bighomer]

The man knows his way around cutlery, much respect for his and other of the aapk mechanics skill. They do outstanding work

[orvet]

Thanks guys, I appreciate your kind words and I’m very pleased that you enjoyed my efforts.

[kootenay joe]

How do you know it is a Schrade barlow ? Could also have been made by Ulster or Camillus. Schrade made only a few of the Craftsman knives. Most were made by Camillus.
I do not know how to distinguish a Schrade barlow from an Ulster or Camillus barlow but likely someone here can tell from the slight difference in clip blade profile or the swage or pull differences.
However it is a bit of just an academic exercise as Schrade, Ulster & Camillus all helped each other at times by making knives or supplying partially made knives. Hence with some of the Craftsman knives there might have been more than one maker.
kj

[orvet]

How do you know it is a Schrade barlow ? Could also have been made by Ulster or Camillus. Schrade made only a few of the Craftsman knives. Most were made by Camillus.
I do not know how to distinguish a Schrade barlow from an Ulster or Camillus barlow but likely someone here can tell from the slight difference in clip blade profile or the swage or pull differences.
However it is a bit of just an academic exercise as Schrade, Ulster & Camillus all helped each other at times by making knives or supplying partially made knives. Hence with some of the Craftsman knives there might have been more than one maker.
kj

In 1958 Schrade moved into the Ulster factory on Canal Street in Ellenville New York. The brands were pretty much consolidated at that point in time. I consider these knives to be Schrade/Ulster or Ulster/Schrade however one might prefer to say it but they are in essence the same company every bit as much is the Camillus brand and the Camco brand were Camillus Cutlery Company. Schrade/Ulster is a bit more convoluted because of the involvement with Imperial. Eventually about 1983 Albert Baer managed to buy all of the outstanding stock of Imperial and it became a privately held corporation. Ulster/Schrade/Imperial were all linked together because of their ties with the Kingston consortium they formed in World War II.

Camillus Cutlery Company on the other hand was never tied in with Ulster/Schrade/Imperial. In 1963 Albert Baer purchased the remaining stock Of Camillus Cutlery Company from the Kastor and Wallace families and Albert Baer was the sole owner of Camillus. It was not entangled in the Ulster/Schrade/Imperial Consortium, Albert Baer owned Camillus out right.

I had several extensive interviews with Tom Williams about Camillus and he said the fact that Albert Baer owned Camillus was sort of hush-hush. He was referred to as “Mr. B” and never referred to by his real name. When Camillus made knives for Schrade for Ulster they bought them like any other knife company would. Albert Baer owned Camillus completely but only owned part of Ulster/Schrade/Imperial prior to 1983. Albert Baer personally made a profit through his Camillus Company on knives sold to Ulster/Schrade/Imperial. I have been told that Camillus actually made more parts for Schrade than they made actual knives.

Now to the Barlows…
If you were to take apart a Schrade Barlow in the Camillus Barlow you would find they are constructed entirely differently. The Schrade Barlow has no through pin in the bolster; it has the Swinden key holding both front halves of the knife together. That is why Schrade was able to use the fancy scrolled bolsters and didn’t mess them up when they were pinning them. Most of the knives made after 1961 or so have the Swinden system or part of the Swinden system (like the Barlow). Schrade Barlows made prior to 1961 are made with through pen construction as are the Ulster Barlows made prior to 1961. All Camillus and Camco Barlows that I have seen are made with through pen construction.

I know this Craftsman Barlow was made in the Schrade/Ulster factory because it has the partial Swinden system. Schrade (including Ulster) was the only company to have a Swinden key machine. No other company made knives with that technology and design. Since I had the Craftsman Barlow apart I saw the Swinden key construction of the knife and knew that the only company that could’ve made it would’ve been Schrade/Ulster.

[kootenay joe]

Dale, my sincere thanks for the review of the connection of Albert Baer to Camillus & Schrade/Ulster companies. It is rather convoluted but your explanation is clear and easy to follow.
And of course the Swinden key differentiates Schrade/Ulster from Camillus. I should have thought of this before i posted above. I was not disputing it's Schrade origin. I know that if you say "Schrade" then that is correct. Thanks for stating how you know(Swinden).
I'm sure others here also appreciate this review of the connections you describe.
kj

[orvet]

No problem Roland, I know it is confusing for most people and it is even confusing for me at times.
I have a timeline of Schrade/Ulster/Imperial history that helps me to keep things straight.
Someday when I stop modifying the timeline I will post it for people to refer to, however I make little changes frequently enough that I am waiting until I'm sure it is correct before posting it.

Every time I get a question like this that forces me to do a little research to make sure my dates are spot on, or as close as I can get them, it fine-tunes my timeline. I need to develop one for Camillus as well.

[Duffer]

I am with Joe on this. Thanks Dale for the insight and history regarding the Schrade/Ulster and Camillus connection/differences and the Swinden key assembly technique used by Schrade/Ulster. Very interesting and well explained considering the interconnection subtleties of the key players in all of this. So before around 1961 Schrade/Ulster used the traditional through pin assembly technique like all makers and after this date the Swinden key assembly technique. Good to know! Thanks again, Lloyd

[jerryd6818]

So before around 1961 Schrade/Ulster used the traditional through pin assembly technique like all makers and after this date the Swinden key assembly technique. Good to know! Thanks again, Lloyd

Yepper. What Lloyd said. Good to know. Now if I could just remember that factoid.

[edge213]

Thanks Dale, great information.

[kootenay joe]

This 1960-61 date is doubly significant for Schrade because of TWO big changes: Swinden key construction on most of the knives made and Dupont perfects Delrin and Schrade is the first knife company to use it, and that was 1960. By 1961 most of the knives went from having lovely bone handles to horrid Delrin ones. Two major changes right at the same time.
It's going to be on the exam: "What year was most significant for Schrade-Walden, and why?"
kj

[Schradenut]

Many thanks for the explanation Dale. I knew most of that but the time line keeps letting me down.
Now i won't forget 61' as the significant year.
Tony.