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SHOW YOUR 5 FAVORITE SCHRADES

Ken Spielvogel started "Show us your 5 favorite knives" in 2013 under General Knife Discussions. I'm just bring his idea to the Schrade Group and re-posting my favorites here.

SHOW OFF YOUR SCHRADES.

I am going to revise the rules here. I picked my 5 favorite Herman Williams Schrades...I collect the muskrat pattern so what about my 5 favorite Muskrats. Post as many 5 Favorite Groups as you are inclined to...by pattern, handle material, gifts, best deals...whatever..just so they are Schrades, made by Schrade...some Ulsters for example, or even made for Schrade..GEC made the fixed blade Trail of Tears knife.

There are quite a few knives in my collection that are pretty special to me, some because of the circumstances of the deal, some for what they remind me of, and some just because the knife sparks something inside me. Herman Williams has not only greatly influenced my collection, but has become a very good friend. Here are my 5 favorite Herman Williams Schrades

This Schrade Walden 233 in Sambar Stag is a customized version of my very first knife..a birthday present from my Dad, and the first knife that Herman re-handled for me.

This 897UH in jigged bone was 1 of 5 Schrades that Herman customized in the 80's for Uncle Henry's birthday. It was in Irv Trachtenberg's collection, who was the Assistant Production Manager for Schrade Cutlery. The file work and attention to detail on this one hooked me as a fan.

This Schrade Bowie in Sambar Stag was my first full custom knife from Herman.

This Schrade Heritage 2941 trapper started my White Bone collection

This 227UH was a gift from Herman. He rejigged a set of Schrade's 100 Anniv. rope jigged blue bone handles.

3 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on September 26, 2015 at 10:27

Great idea to bring this to the group! Wish I had 5 Schrades to share!

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on September 26, 2015 at 13:33

I made an error in the description of the 897UH. The handles are stag...not bone.

Doug

Permalink Reply by Ricky L McConnell on September 26, 2015 at 23:56

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on September 27, 2015 at 20:33

Those are some good ones Ricky. The improved muskrat always intrigued me, was it different from any other Schrade muskrat?

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on September 28, 2015 at 2:59

Ricky,

At first I thought the 2nd one down was a 766, but the 766 was only made until 1969. Enlighten me please.

As to the question of the "improved" muskrat. After quite a bit of reading it appears there are at least 2 schools of thought. Around 1934 - 1936 the muskrat got a Hawbaker blade, described in the 1936 catalog as an improved skinning blade. After that, with or without the hawbaker blade the knife was referred to, and marked, as an "Improved Muskrat". Another plausible explanation is that "Improved Muskrat" was simply a marketing ploy...as in New and Improved. A combination of the two explanations seems likely. Someone trying to boost sales saw the description in the 1936 catalog and suggested that they etch Improved on the muskrats. In 1936, a pocket knife was a tool, just as it is today. If someone says they have an improved version of a tool I use...

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on September 28, 2015 at 14:33

Doug,

You may very well be right there. During that time NEW & IMPROVED was a great add on for your advertising campaigns.

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on September 28, 2015 at 15:35

Well I only have three Schrades so I will show my three favorite Schrades.

The first is a Schrade 12OT. I carried it for several years and then lost it for a year. I found it and carried it some more. A few years ago I was at SMKW and talked to the guy at the Schrade counter. He recommended that I put it in my collection which I did.

The next two are a matched pair of scrimshaws. They were a service award from TVA on my tenth anniversary in 1997.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on September 29, 2015 at 4:25

The 2 scrims are a nice set. I had seen the 2 pine cones on a Schrade before, but never knew who or what they symbolized. After some searching, It appears that was a symbol of the Tharpe Co. that did recognition awards.

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on September 29, 2015 at 5:50

Thanks for that info Doug. I didn't know that. And yes Tharpe was the company that TVA used to present their service awards.

Doug Webber said:

The 2 scrims are a nice set. I had seen the 2 pine cones on a Schrade before, but never knew who or what they symbolized. After some searching, It appears that was a symbol of the Tharpe Co. that did recognition awards.

Permalink Reply by Tom Chase on September 29, 2015 at 9:54

These are all great knives! I am having a very hard time selecting which are my 5 favorites. I have some one of a kind Schrades that my Dad customized for me at the Schrade Factory as well as some Rare specimens that I have been fortunate enough to gather up. I will have to give this some more thought before I actually post the pictures.

Tom

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on September 29, 2015 at 10:50

Tom,

I would be very surprised if the 3ot was not on your list

Permalink Reply by Tom Chase on September 29, 2015 at 11:07

The 3 OT is definitely on the list due to it's Rarity and the fact that it was Herman William's Knife and then added to the Schrade Collection at the factory. I also have his 2 OT although these aren't as rare, it is definitely one that is being considered.

I have a few custom Schrades that Dad made up for me and some of those will be on the list as well....I just have so many Schrade Knives, and my head is spinning as to which ones should be posted as my top 5....LOL

It's like having to select your best child or sibling.....they are all special and dear to my heart!

Tom