Knife Informer: Schrade Radok Review

H. Clay Aalders
Knife & Accessory ReviewNewsfeedProduction Knives
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We know what you’re thinking. Schrade still makes knives? Actually, it would be more accurate to say that Schrade is making knives again.  The history of the brand is long, storied, and troubled.  Dating as far back as 1904, the cutlery company founded by George Schrade eventually became part of a conglomerate of 5 other cutlery brands including the Imperial Knife Company, becoming Imperial Schrade in 1985, operating out of Ellenville New York.  George himself was a forerunner in the automatic knife market, with a patent for his design for a push-button automatic knife back in 1892, another patent in 1907 for a push button automatic with a sliding safety switch, and a nearly 50 year span of being a dominant force in the switchblade market in the US before Congress outlawed the sale of switchblades in 1958, ruining a good time for everyone because they saw West Side Story and got all scared.

I am disappointed to hear that this knife seems to be a bit of a dog. I know we all have high hopes for the return of Schrade.

Read the whole thing:

Schrade Radok Review

 

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H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

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One Response

  1. I am big, big fan of pre-2004 “SCHRADE, USA”, Ellenville, NY. In June of 2023, I visited the “Wawarsing Knife Museum” in Ellenville. My host was Eric Albers, “Albers Cutlery Co.”, a former Schrade employee; and, a cutler with “Canal Street Cutlery” (2005-2015, . . . or thereabouts). I had a outstanding great time at the museum.

    Now, “Schrade” is back in the USA with its “Alpha”-line of knives (5 listed) manufactured by an “OEM” somewhere in the USA. I think this “OEM” is “Bear & Son” in Jacksonville, Alabama . . . Makes me wonder why “Schrade” did not disclose “who the OEM” is . . . I visited the “Schrade” webpage: The “Beta”-line (9 listed) manufacturing site could be Taiwan, Japan, Germany and/or the USA . . . others?; and, the “Delta”-line, which the “Knife Informer” states as “high value affordable knives” lists “77 items” from folders, fixed blades and axes to a fire-starter. The “Schrade” enticement for this wide-range of “things” is the “incredible value proposition” . . . the price range is $30-60. As I cruised down through this assortment, I came upon the “Little Ricky” fixed blade!! Eureka!! I have a namesake knife. My given name is “Ricky” (. . . remember Ricky Nelson? “Ozzie and Harriet”). Of course, “Lucy” had “Little Ricky”, too. So, the specs on the “Schrade Little Ricky” are: It costs $60. Blade steel is “65Mn” (Huh?) and it weighs 28oz.
    I am pretty sure that the “Delta” knives and “things” are made in Jiangjiang, China. I got to look up “65Mn” . . . might be the new “Magnacut” with extra manganese!

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