Schrade Imperial Ireland

[bikerdoc]

Spent a few days deep in the woods of West Virginia visiting a double brother(Nam and the M/C club) He has a house on a mountainside 18 miles from town (POP 392) Went with him to town and was wandering around a real gas station , general store, post office and saw the knife display.

I saw a fixed blade 4 inch zytel handle, three inch blade. Blade is marked Imperial Ireland Stainless
Price 9.99

Intriqued by the feel, fit, and how sharp it was, I bought it.
Gentlemen I am impressed. It was sharp but after I finished touching it up and polishing it is equal to my old lb7 and that is a sharp knife.

Whittled 2, 4 foot walking sticks of oak and it is still sharp. all my knives are working knives and I am not saying it will replace my more expensive knives of better steel, but over all I am impressed, and if I loose it in the woods I am only out 10 bucks.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Pop 392

Uh, you get on down that-a-way again, do me favor, pick me up couple them there blades.

And get yerself a spare.

And I'll pay for my two and your spare.

Why two?

Well, I'll get the first one, and I'll start usin' it, and then I'll be impressed, and then I'll start thinkin' I should have a spare. And right about then, that store won't have any more, and nobody else anywhere will ever have heard of them.

So, two.

Provided, of course, the gas station & store is still in the town, and the town is still there.

 

[sm]

Yep,
Back then , some them old Shrades made in Ireland were good ones.
Later on they let some patterns slip down and then the rest of them and the line went to pot.
So be careful what era of these one gets.

Carbon Steel blades, and I don't recall what steel but some I think were 1075 and some were 1095.
Heat treated such for the steel, the blade would bend, still not break.

Folks bought these for an inexpensive knife to use, or for a kid and abused them, and the knives took the abuse.
Better knives broke, these Ireland ones did not. *lol*


Small towns with stuff like this are a gold mine.
Heck, I'd tote an old Imperial pocket knife , about 3 1/8 " closed, with two blades that opened on each end with brown handles and just whittle, and do everything with it.

Strop on a dry leather and keep on going.
They came sharp and ready to go.
After a bit, just freehand on a Norton combo stone, and back in business.

Enjoy that knife, and keep that small town in mind, of how it used to be, and cherish the thoughts and memories.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Irish Imperial Barlow

Got a couple of Imperial Barlows made in Ireland.

Still in the package.

I should probably spend some time with them.

 

[Piraticalbob]

I think US knife consumers lost a lot when the major cutlery factories switched to stainless steels. Old traditional patterns like Barlows, Boy Scouts, Trappers and Stockman patterns just seem more traditional and downright American when they are made with carbon steel in the 1075-1095 range.

I think that Schrade was the last of the US factories to use 10-series carbon steel, before they went bankrupt; the stuff they produce now in China is stainless.

Case still makes some patterns in Chrome Vanadium steel, which is carbon steel, but I don't think it's 10-series; if it is, it doesn't seem to get a proper heat treat, because the one Case knife I have in CV is rather brittle. I'd be willing to bet that they heat-treat it to the same specs as their stainless line.

Come on, US factories! Give us a choice: both stainless and carbon steel knives in traditional patterns.

 

[kevenn]

Arfin/Bikerdoc

Is this the knife? It's available here for under $6, I bought 4 and they are a bargain. It states no sheath, but mine did come with a cheap nylon model w/plastic insert. It's is higher carbon SS and sharpens very easily! I think they have the barlow too!!

http://www.bladematrix.tv/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=44977

 

[bikerdoc]

Thats the one ! wait till Arfin and SM see this the wont be one left on the shelf but are they old Irish stock or chinese

 

[kevenn]

They are the old Irish stock, again they will come bulk-packed new, not in a box or clam-pack.