Ireland knives the chinese of their day?

[timsclips]

Everyone seems to have little regard for knives made in China with few exceptions. The few that have seem be of decent materials and the care of manufacture relates to the price point that the knives were made. My Browning knife is much nicer than my Remington sportsman slippie. Were the knives made in Ireland held in small regard during the time period that they were made? The couple that I have picked up have been made very simply but the blades were very sharp, not sure of the grade of steel since I have not given them heavy use as of yet. Can anyone comment on their experiences with the Imperial Schrade knives made in Ireland?

 

[Ulster]

Tim:
I have the "swiss army knife" copy Schrade had made in Ireland right before they closed. I use it as a desk tool, rather than an edc. It is well made, keeps an edge great, and sharpens to scary sharp. I wish they were still making them, ( I am assuming they are not, as I have not seen any anywhere)
For what it is worth, I really like it. One thing I do not understand: the box says Ireland, the blade says ISC, under that Stainless, but under that, Germany????

 

[timsclips]

Further question, does anyone know what grade of steel was used for the knives made in Ireland? The knives I have bought all have come sharp out of the package and I have not used them to the point of needing resharpening yet. Did the Ireland made knives used the same grade of steel as the USA made Schrade knives?

 

[Codger_64]

I am not sure of the steel used in the Listowel, Ireland factory, but assume it was 400 series.

IKAC purchased the Stag Cutlery in 1977 with Henry Webber placed in charge. Not long afterward, Baer bought the other stockholers of IKAC out (circa 1983), and began moving the Providence, Rhode Island works to Ellenville. Until some time after that, the production from Ireland was mainly sold in Europe. Then the Ireland plant began producing low price point knives to replace those previously made in Providence circa 1990 (Jackmaster, Apex and others such as the Tradesman lines). By 2003 there were labor and financial problems which made production and importation from Ireland unprofitable, and ISC began moving production of some items to the U.S., Taiwan and even China. In further cost cutting measures, on March 18, 2004, Imperial Stag/Imperial Schrade Europe, a subsidiary of US-based Imperial Schrade Corp. laid off the last 13 workers of the 70, and closed the Listowel, County Kerry Ireland factory after 43 years. Alas, it was too late to help ISC's financial woes. The company went into forced bankruptcy in July of 2004 during their 100th year.

 

[relodr36]

Michael,
So,knives like this were made in the 1990-2004 era?

These knives usually sell cheap so the general public apparently has a low opinion of them.
Ebay buyers seem willing to pay more for the Chinese stuff than they will pay for these Irish knives.
I personally feel that,for utilitarian usage,these are pretty good knives.
Ron