Schrade Knife Reviews:
Schrade Frontier SCHF52 Review
Sometimes, you just need a big, dumb knife. Thus was the rationale behind my purchase of the Schrade Frontier SCHF52, a tool designed “with extreme wilderness survival situations in mind.” While I don’t consider myself an extreme sort of guy, I do certainly enjoy both the wilderness and the thought of surviving. Buy the Schrade ...
Schrade 735RPB Mariner’s Knife
Last Updated: August 14, 2019 folding knife with a large bale on the end (a large lanyard loop so you can attach the knife to your person with a length of cord so if you drop it, it won’t fall into the water), a good sized blunt edge blade (blunted for safety on the the ...
Schrade Old Timer – 160OT Mountain Lion
I’ve been in a bit of a fixed blade mood lately so today I am taking a look at the Schrade 160OT Mountain Lion. This is small to medium sized skinning / hunting knife with a 4.3″ blade and an overall length of 9.3″. This knife has a weight of 6.9oz and comes with ...
Schrade XT2B: X-Timer Drop Point Knife 9 1/2″ Fixed Blade
Last Updated: August 30, 2019 Today I am taking a look at the Schrade X-Timer 9 1/2″ Fixed Blade Knife. This is my first review of a knife in the X-Timer Series and I am very excited about this line because I think they provide a lot of knife for the money. Dimensions The Schrade XT2B, is a ...
Schrade SMEDB/SMEDY California Issue Knife
The Schrade SMEDB California Issue is often referred to as a large version of the Schrade SCALY a very popular small folding knife that can be easily converted in to a “California Legal” automatic knife. Model Name / Nomenclature It took a little digging around before this really clicked for me but I am fairly ...
Schrade Extreme Survival Assisted OTF
I was at a gun show outside New Orleans when I first saw the Schrade Extreme Survival Assisted Out The Front (OTF). I think I said something like “Dang that is COOL” when I first shot the blade out the front of the knife. 5 minutes and $35 later the OTF was heading home ...
Schrade SCHF9 Extreme Survival Knife
Last Updated: July 31, 2019 I’ve always been into big survival knives. I especially like a large, “do it all,” survival knife because it can substitute the need to carry an axe and a smaller knife. One such knife that has been getting a lot of attention lately is the SCHF9 Extreme Survival Knife. I really ...
Schrade SCHF1SM Extreme Survival Knife
The Schrade SCHF1SM is the SCHF1’s little brother. If you are unfamiliar with the SCHF1 I would consider reading my Schrade SCHF1 review to get some background information to put this smaller version of the knife in context. Buy the Schrade SCHF1 at BladeHQ Background and Dimensions So basically, the SCF1SM was made to counter one of ...
Schrade SCHF1 Extreme Survival Knife
Last Updated: August 5, 2019 The Schrade SCHF1 is a hollow-handled survival knife. The SCHF1 is almost exactly like the Schrade SCHF2 (I have a Schrade SCHF2 review here) however, the SCHF2 has a drop point blade shape, while the SCHF1 has a spear point shape. If you have already read the SCHF2 review this isn’t ...
Schrade Old Timer 152OT Sharpfinger Review
The Schrade 152OT, more commonly referred to as the Schrade Sharpfinger is one of Schrade’s most iconic designs. The Sharpfinger was originally produced in 1974 and has been in production now for over 35 years. It’s distinctive blade shape has been copied by a number of knife makers, a testament to the knife’s enduring ...
Schrade Extreme SCHF3 Survival Knife
Last Updated: August 12, 2019 The SCHF3 is a survival knife from Schrade. It weighs 13.8 oz, has 6.4″ hollow ground drop point blade, and a 5.6″ Micarta handle. Buy the Schrade SCHF3 at BladeHQ The Schrade SCHF3N is the non-serrated version of the knife. I generally prefer a non-serrated or fully serrated blade to a partially ...
Schrade SCHF2 Extreme Survival Knife
Last Updated: August 10, 2019 The Schrade SCHF2 is a popular survival knife from Schrade. What intrigued me about this particular knife is it’s close resemblance to a blade made by a high profile custom knife maker selling for over $300. Considering that the SCHF2 retails for only $50, I felt it would be interesting to ...
Schrade SCALY California Issue Pocket Knife
The Schrade SCALY is small knife that has received a large amount of attention. There is a lot of interest in a discrete, legal, automatic knife and the Schrade SCALY claims to be just that. Below is my review of the knife. Blade and Construction The Schrade Scaly is a small knife that can be ...
History of Schrade
The Schrade Brothers Joe, Louis and George started the Schrade Cutlery Company in Walden, NY in 1904. They employed unique practices to mass-produce fine cutlery in addition to making and selling high end folding Pocket Knives.
Meanwhile the Mirando Brothers, Felix and Michael, established the Imperial Knife Company in Providence, Rhode Island in 1916. They manufactured a full range of folding pocket knives and were successful in mass producing inexpensive Pocket Knives up through the late 1930′s.
In 1941, Albert M. Baer bought the Ulster Knife Company out of Ellenville, NY and merged it with the Imperial Knife Company. This created the Imperial Knife Associated Companies. They produced all kinds of knives for the military throughout World War II and well into the Vietnam War. This marked a period of substantial growth for the company.
In 1946, Albert and Henry Baer bought the Schrade Cutlery Company from the Schrade Brothers and renamed it the Schrade Walden Cutlery Corporation, a division of the Imperial Knife Associated Companies group. The Schrade Walden division was moved from Walden, NY to Ellenville, NY as part of the consolidation.
Imperial Knife had positive economic growth up to the late 1970s, but as the conglomerate entered the raider-trader 1980’s, a geographic consolidation took place and the company divested itself of various national and international holdings in order to streamline management.
In 1983, Albert M. Baer purchased the stock of all shareholders in Imperial Knife Associated Company’s and became the sole owner of the corporation. The company changed names in 1985 to Imperial Schrade Corp. and Walter Gardiner was named President and COO. All U.S. operations were combined under one roof in Ellenville.
The company entered the multi-tool market in the 1990s. Early success in this market with the Schrade Tough Tool laid the groundwork for the award winning i-Quip and Navitool performance products.
In 2004, Imperial Schrade Corp. celebrated its 100th anniversary. The company’s world headquarters in Ellenville, NY had more than 548,000 square feet of manufacturing space and employed more than 500 people.
Today Schrade is owned by Taylor Brands, LLC a knife manufacturer and distributor in Kingsport, TN.
Schrade Today
While the remakes of the classic penknives and pocketknives that made Schrade famous will never be as good as the original USA made Schrade versions, the new Schrade has made a name for itself with their popular collection of survival knives.
The Schrade Survival knives are actually pretty well built.
In 2016, Taylor Brands, the company that owns Schrade Knives, was sold to Battenfeld technologies, Inc. Here is a link to Battenfield’s contact page.
are the taylor brand old timer pocket knive made with both sides having edges or just on one side thanks ed in Valdosta ga 31606
I have a Shrade Walden 3 blade with the number 881Y on the back of the largest blade and wanted to know the age of it. It has plastic handles with brass pins. I would appreciate any info. on this if possible.
Thanks
The locking mechanism on schrade is the worst design ever thought up. One time of having to screw with trying to unlock, a locked blade will assure that you never but buy this idiot designed, multi-purpose tool. Oh, I understand how to unlock it, but why would I waste my time…I plan on never using it again.
I have owned a few schrade knives and a schrade multi tool proudly. I recently bought a Schrade bolo and used it in the woods of Alaska and loved it. However I took it out at -10 to limb my green firewood for seasoning. I took two swings at limbs no bigger than my thumb and two huge chunks of the blade fractured out. I hit the limbs right on the sweet spot and was shocked. I have to depend heavily on my tools for my survival this was the first time I have ever been disappointed by a schrade. I would like to share the photo of my bolo.
Pretty harsh words for a very good medium priced knive with very high end blades and ultra Sharpe edges at 58 HRC blades. It sucks that this American classic is no longer American. Believe me, this pains me as well. But the price has dropped and the quality, not so much. I have a SCHF 28 Little Rickey Full Tang and I bought my dad a 32 OT larder Old Timer Lock Back folder. I showed the “idiot designed” comment and he wondered if the person’s fingers worked. We found the lock to work just fine. It is a case of an idiot operator instead of being “idiot designed” mechanism. Oh, try the Gerber Strong Arm Coyote. It is very well priced with a superior blade at an excellent price point. The sheath is modular and can be mounted in numerous ways for any use. I much prefer fixed, full tang blades. I’m sorry to call the “idiot designed” person but to admit that you have difficulties o berating the lock back showed that you took the short bus to school.
Can anyone give me a phone number to contact the company to order a sheath for a Schrade 143 OT. I bought the knife Oct 2018 and the sheath is nylon and coming apart. Any help will be appreciated.
Grey Bear,
Apparently the Schrade Brand was bought by Battenfeld Technologies back in 2016. Their number is listed as 573-445-9200. Here is a link to the contact page on their website: https://www.btibrands.com/contact/
Good luck.
Dan
I have inherited approximately 12 Limited Edition of Schrade Cutlery Inventory. I am looking for an appraisal of this collection.
Information appreciated.
I purchased #834 Schrade Walden pocket knife. Is that knife made in New York? Also could someone provide the approximate dates the knife was made. Thanks I’m new to this and can be taken advantage of quite easily.
Why will the offshore produced knives (quote)”Never be as good as the original USA Schrade made versions” (end quote)?
In some ways, the offshore produced knives are better: No damned Swindon Key!
I have both old USA made and off shore made Old Timer 7OT lock backs. (Schrade’s copy of the Buck 110).
My USA made have “Schrade +” on the tang, so have 440A blade steel, rather than the 1095 carbon steel Schrade did so well.
Guess what? Fit and finish of the offshore 7OT’s I have is just as good, if not better than that of my USA made 7OT’s. The offshore made will take just as fine and edge, and when field dressing and peeling a whitetail deer, hold an edge maybe 1/8 deer longer than my USA made will. (both hold an edge long enough to field dress and peel 2.5 deer before needing stropped to restore the edge.)
Your comment must be based on prejudice against the country Taylor had and BTI has the knives made, not from personal experience with both old and new production knives.
FWIW, the company used by Taylor and/or BBTI (I don’t know if BTI changed manufacturers after buying Taylor Brands) can, like Camillus USA and Schrade USA make knives to whatever quality the contract calls for. Taylor and BTI call for quality at lease equal to that of the old Schrade USA knives.
If you’re going to say “It isn’t Schrade since they went bankrupt and aren’t made by the same people, or on the same machines!” (I’ve heard that “argument” more than once)
Invalid argument. By that “reasoning” Schrade USA ceased being “Schrade USA” when the first of the original employees retired or died before retirement, when one of the original machines was replaced because it was worn out, unusable, and unrepairable, and again when George Schrade sold the company, and there was a 100% change in upper management. (no doubt some of the floor managers/supervisors were changed as well)
Imperial Schrade is still “a USA company”. Like Cold Steel, they just don’t produce any knives in the USA.
Not happy with the quality of the metal the blade is made with, dulled and gapped quickly. You get what you pay for.
I have a Schrade folding filet knife. I guard it VERY ccarefully. I wish they would make them again.
I agree that the Old Timer and Uncle Henry knives were much better quality. But Taylor Cutlery did really step up to the plate in the early 2010 decade on making Schrade a good brand of modern knives. I’ve always liked the “pistol grip” handle shape of their SCHA3 and SCHA5 personally. Aluminum and TPR inserts on steel liners made their knives comfortable but slightly hefty. Bronze pivot washers and their M.A.G.I.C. assisted-opening was the best design out there. They made a lot of these nicer knives in Taiwan. Both their use of 4034 and AUS-8 had good results pertaining to heat treatment. If you’ve used the same stainless-steel grades from various knife brands you can tell when you’re sharpening if it’s heat treated to a lower of higher Rockwell hardness. I’d say both the 4034 and AUS-8 by Schrade fell in the range of 57-58rc so performance wise they’re as good as Cold Steel (who also uses Taiwan manufacturing). If anything, the modern knives by Schrade don’t get enough recognition or praise.