WANTED: Schrade 127UH Uncle Henry etched knife by Dan Maldet
on January 10th, 2012 at 4:16 pmKnife history and collection is very intriguing. Over the past year I've had the pleasure of subtantially increasing my knife knowledge (even though I still don't know diddly) and acquantinces. One of whom was a former Schrade Imperial Knife salesman/product promoter, Dan Maldet. After a few e-mails I finally decided to ring Dan.
As we talked on the phone I came to discover he, well, I'll let you read the story………
One year my wife presented me with a 100.00 Schrade Loveless Knife for Christmas.
I thought it was too much money to pay for a knife so I requested she return it. Keep in mind, my idea of a pocket knife back then was something you invested $1.99 in and when you lost it, you purchased another.
At that time I was working for Woolworth’s and they didn’t carry Schrade knives.
Wondering how Schrade could get their knives into Woolworths I visited the Schrade plant (only 5 blocks from where I was) and witnessed a grandfather, father and son, all skilled craftsman, artfully making knives.
Next thing I knew I was working for Schrade.
I worked in every department at the plant to gain a better understanding of what I would be selling. In addition, I visited the Schrade-Imperial Knife Plant in Providence, RI in an attempt to gear up for the launching of the Frontier Line.
My job would be what was called “missionary” work. I would travel to retailers instructing salesman how to sell the Imperial Line. As a matter of fact Bob “The Deacon of Knives” Ernst’s job was to design the sales pitch and I was field support. In addition I created the Imperial Knife Display Case.
I called on a number of retailers and sales soared. Sales for Schrade/Imperial went from 12 million to 44 million and this was back in 1978. Occasionally I would travel back to the Schrade factory in Ellenville, NY and acid etch scenes on Uncle Henry (127UH) knives and then offer them as a THANK YOU gift for purchasing a Frontier Knives Display.
At that time I thought nothing of the collectible value. As life would have it, my children have gained interest in these hand-etched Uncle Henry’s and I am feverishly searching for them.
Any help obtaining these knives would be greatly appreciated!!
If anybody has a Schrade Uncle Henry 127UH hand etched with a scene signed by Dan Maldet please contact him:
maldet66@gmail.com
Steel Sahlute!
Scott