3 Old Blanks from the Schrade Factory

[orvet]

I wanted to show some of the work I had done for a fellow in NY. The deal was I complete a blank & I get a blank. Well I made 3 knives for him from blanks he got from the Schrade factory, though I don't think they were ever a knife issued by Schrade. Maybe something they were experimenting with. In turn he actually gave me close to 20 blanks, several sheaths and a bunch of other neat stuff too.

Here are the blanks I started with. The one on the right has been polished, but I hadn't touched the other two yet.



There was a lot of work in them, there were some pits in them. The worst was at the tip of one.


This is what they looked like when finished.


The wood on the handles is Panamanian Cocobolo. We are both pleased as punch with the trade.

Dale

[hammerdownnow]

That was a decent deal for 20 blanks. A finished knife in trade for one blank would not be worth it in my opinion. A "marked" scharde blank only goes for around 30 bucks according to this completed auction.(ebay item) An unmarked blank would be worth far less. Looks like you put a lot more work into those knives than 30 bucks. Good job, thanks for sharing the pics.

[orvet]

Originally Posted by hammerdownnow

That was a decent deal for 20 blanks. A finished knife in trade for one blank would not be worth it in my opinion. A "marked" scharde blank only goes for around 30 bucks according to this completed auction.(ebay item) An unmarked blank would be worth far less. Looks like you put a lot more work into those knives than 30 bucks. Good job, thanks for sharing the pics.

I agree. I really didn't realize how much work would be entailed, until I got the blanks & realized that they were most likely one-of-a-kind or at least very limited production. I thought they deserved my best efforts because they are really special for Schrade, who didn't make fighting knives for the general public, though they made a lot on government contract. I think the Baers did not want the public image of a weapons maker, though they certainly made a lot at their Camillus plant.

The guy offered me money or what ever I wanted and I said, "a deal is a deal." He was quite generous in the end so I am very happy. It was great fun to work on those historical blanks. I really learned a lot. I have only been making knives for about a year, so I still learn a lot with each knife I make.

Ice Tigre's thread on the Schrade Re-Handle was very helpful. http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=36416
I really appreciate the willingness of makers to share their knowledge with those of us who are just starting out.

Thank you,
Dale