All About Pocket Knives

Can anyone tell me when exactly did Taylor start importing and marketing Schrade knives? I got burned on an E-bay deal but that I chalk that up to live and learn. When the description says it came from of an out of business hardware store and the pictures are poor I will avoid it next time. I am now wanting a Schrade multi-tool and am trying to figure out what year they became Chinese made. Thanks!

2004 was the year that Schrade went bancrupt and dissolved. Soon after was the bancrupcy auction where Taylor bought the Schrade names. They began importing Schrades from China almost immediately.

One other trivia bit, Schrade themselves began importing some knives from China shortly before bancrupcy. I think that explains how Taylor was able to begin importing and selling Schrades so quickly - the Chinese production facilities were already running.

Best Wishes,
-Bob

Morestag, I've got some of the Schrade USA knives, and even with that familiarity it is getting difficult to avoid the vague techniques used to push the Schraylors.
If in doubt AT ALL I just pass & move on. The folks selling USA made are usually pretty sure to emphasize that fact.

When I sell a schrade knife, I make good and sure that people know that it is a USA model. From what I have seen, There are only 2 reasons that you would not state whether an item was USA made or not. One being you honestly did not know the difference, and the other being that you are trying to be a bit deceptive. I personally wouldn't sell a China made Schrade on Ebay. I picked up 2 of them in a box lot at an auction , and I sold them for $5 a piece at a flea market.
HOWEVER, I heard a little rumor (very well founded) the other day that a USA company is producing a new knife for Taylor with the Schrade stamp.

If I am not mistaken Mike has a couple on his site and they look ok to me but I really don't know how good they are

justin hosier wrote:When I sell a schrade knife, I make good and sure that people know that it is a USA model. From what I have seen, There are only 2 reasons that you would not state whether an item was USA made or not. One being you honestly did not know the difference, and the other being that you are trying to be a bit deceptive. I personally wouldn't sell a China made Schrade on Ebay. I picked up 2 of them in a box lot at an auction , and I sold them for $5 a piece at a flea market.
HOWEVER, I heard a little rumor (very well founded) the other day that a USA company is producing a new knife for Taylor with the Schrade stamp.

I heard that GEC was making a few or a limited run for them. I thought that I saw one the other day, but I'm not real sure about that.

Hukk, I do not think you were not mistaken, there were two on e-bay for sale last week with no takers, these must be the ones that you were refering too, also SMKW have them for sale, see links below,

http://eknifeworks.com/webapp/eCommerce ... KU=SCTUSA2

http://eknifeworks.com/webapp/eCommerce ... KU=SCTUSA1

Rusty1

HOWEVER, I heard a little rumor (very well founded) the other day that a USA company is producing a new knife for Taylor with the Schrade stamp.

Camillus did make some of the Schrade-Waldens for Taylor. Those are easy to spot because it says right on the paperwork.

I believe Bear made/makes some also, but I don't know how to spot those.

The new Schrade-Walden brand from Taylor can be found by looking at the handles. Bear is the only company I know of using only one pin in the handle. Check out the new Keen Kutters and you see the same thing.

To tell the difference between China & the American made Old Timers & Uncle Henrys, you have to check the tang stamp. If the tang stamp says USA it is an old Schrade. If it does not say USA, avoid it; the chances are 99.99% that is made in china. Notice I said that is only on the Old Timers & Uncle Henrys. To the best of my knowledge, Taylor has not had any of the Old Timers or Uncle Henrys made in the USA.

The other way to tell is to know the old Schrade patterns. Check for the patterns numbers in the Research Section here at AAPK. I have posted lists of most of the common Schrade patterns of the last 30+ years. I am working on expanding them to include most of the Schrade Walden years.
Those that appear to be GEC knives on ebay are not Schrade trappers. Schrade hasn’t made a knife like that in the last 60 years, if ever. It is a bit trickier with some of the ones made by Camillus for Taylor, but as Bob pointed out, the paperwork says Camillus made them for Taylor.

You can find examples of the patterns on Larry's web site: http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/

Another way to tell the difference is by the box, if it is shown in the ebay auction. If all else fails, send a question to the seller. They will usually answer honestly. If they don’t answer, it is probably made in china.

Hope this helps,
Dale

Yes the box can be a clue to origin, but verify with tang stamp.

Just this morning I saw a Heritage 83-86 blue top box & papers
with a non Heritage knife enclosed. Seller mentioned the 3 heritage colors of bone so I would think they are familiar enough to know the differences of a Heritage from a regular Schrade USA.
Must have been a 'parts' knife since had lined bolsters but no shield,
no etch, and wrong tang stamp.
Like the Park Rangers advise: "Bears Beware"