tongueriver wrote:
Old Hunter and I both have 858s without the "plus" sign in the tang stamp. So, is they or isn't they?
Just because there is no + sign it cannot automatically be assumed that the blade is carbon steel.
The first mention of Schrade+ steel I could find on a quick search is in the 1978 Short Line catalog.
It says the following about the Uncle Henry knives:
Folding Knife Blades of Rust Resistant SCHRADE+ STEEL.
This is the flyer for the 858OT which was printed in 1977 for the introduction of the 858OT in 1978.
There is no mention of SCHRADE+ steel in this ad. The steel is referred to as "finest high carbon tool steel" which could be either carbon or stainless steel.
In the 1978 Short Line the term SCHRADE+ STEEL is used in reference to the Uncle Henry line of knives.
The 1978 Short Line is the same catalog in which the 858OT first appears and is listed as "
NEW", however the type of steel in the 858OT is not listed until the 1982 Short Line catalog which were an expanded version of the earlier Short Line format.
tongueriver wrote: Even though the "plus" sign is missing, some of the later Schrades had unmarked stainless blades. Maybe you could do a little test on it?
There are two quick tests that will tell you if the blade is carbon or stainless steel:
#1- Sharpen the knife on a belt sander or stone wheel. Unless you are accomplished at sharpening knives on a stone wheel or a belt sander and do so normally,
I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS METHOD.
However; when carbon steel is put on a fast turning stone wheel or belt sander it gives off a shower of sparks. Stainless steel does not spark unless it is poorly made. Pakistan stainless will spark, and I have even seen sparks on some of the Chinese stainless, though that usually depends on the quality of the Chinese knife.
#2-
Recommended method for testing for stainless steel:
This is the method I use to test a knife to see if the blade is carbon steel or stainless.
IIRC, I got this one at Wal-Mart or at a local gun store for $2 or $3.
I usually just make a mark on the spine of a blade and wait a few seconds to see if the blade turns dark where I marked it.
If the blade does not turn dark where I marked it then it is stainless steel.
If it turns dark I know it is carbon steel.
If I don't want the mark there I just buff the mark off with my buffer.
This is a simple, easy, inexpensive method to check whether a blade is stainless or carbon steel and it does not damage the blade.
Of course it's an 8OT
)
