All About Pocket Knives

Calvin might the "pen" blade be a sharpened down spey ? If you look at my 890 the spey almost looks pen like and it would not take that much to make it into a pen profile.
kj

kootenay joe wrote:Calvin might the "pen" blade be a sharpened down spey ? If you look at my 890 the spey almost looks pen like and it would not take that much to make it into a pen profile. kj

I might think that a possibility, but there are extenuating circumstances that would suggest otherwise. I have two of these knives, identical except for minor usage condition. Neither has a pattern number stamped on the back (pile) side, but does have the U.S.A. in the mark side stamp. This MIGHT place manufacture date of circa 1953. Now then, even though I can't find them in the Walden catalogs, Schrade CutCo DID make them; they are pattern number 8923 in bone stag, 8924GP in Golden Pearl pyralin, and 8924AC in Assorted Pyralin handles. Here are scans of my other Schrade Walden: and here is an example of the Schrade CutCo 8923 (earlier version):

Calvin this seems to indicate that early S-W 890 had a pen blade which later was replaced by a spey blade. Or do you think both versions were made at the same time ?
kj

kootenay joe wrote:Calvin this seems to indicate that early S-W 890 had a pen blade which later was replaced by a spey blade. Or do you think both versions were made at the same time ? kj

I think they were both made at the same time; the pen blade version is really just a holdover from the CutCo days and as you may notice, the pattern # was not stamped on the knife. I doubt if many were made, but quien sabe? Just for fun, here is a great photo of a great example, by our friend Hal B.:

Cocobola bare head jack with arched stamp, 1904-c. 1917-1920. Cleaned to mint (haha) a long time ago and has re-acquired a silky lovely patina. Ferocious snaps and half stops. Some blade loss.

Lovely early Schrade Cut Jack Cal Beautiful Cocobolo handles really make this vintage folder come to life Very desirable arch tang stamp example. Thanks for posting photos.

Beautiful knife Calvin. We don't often see wood handles this attractive or so 'clean', not dinged.
kj

Great looking knife Cal! I find that the wood handles on those vintage knives are always beautifully rounded, right to the liners all the way around. That's a bit of craftsmanship that you don't see on the modern jacks.

Eric

Just picked this one up yesterday at a pawn shop. It has some flaws but I really like it. There was a Crown Zellerbach plant out in French town years ago, I expect it came from there. Thanks
Bruce

Bruce, that's a fine lookin' ol' Schrade! Always enjoy figuring out who and what the company was on such knives, not that I'll remember, but it's still interesting.
Treefarmer

Nice Rope knife ! Are there numbers on the back side of tang ? I think it is a 136, although i get this # confused with 163 and 186, all of which are big work knives.
kj

Thanks guys, I sure like it. When we were drivin' home Gordon says "jeeze are you lookin' at that knife again". But he's the guy that got me hooked in the first place, so he gets it. The tang stamp is 163. there are also 3 pins 2 steel 1 brass. From what i saw that makes a difference but not sure what. Thanks
Bruce

Nice knife, good tool. Be careful; it has no mercy if closing on a finger! If it does't snap hard get some Quick Release. Get it anyway.

Can someone help me out. If this is a 163, what is a 136 ?
I am away from my knives so i can't go and find one.
thanks, kj

Edit to add:
The AAPK Schrade info from Dale in "Open Stock"
136: Lineman's Skinning knife/Hawkbill blade/4 7/16"
163: Rope or Hawser knife/large square point blade/4 7/16"

From the Schrade Cut Co Cat. E:
1361: Large Pruning knife/Hawkbill blade/4 7/16" (same as 136 above)
N1361:Rope or Hawser knife/large square point blade/4 7/16" (same as 163 above)

So in the Cut Co days 136 was used for this 4 7/16" frame whether with a Hawkbill or a Square Point blade.
The basic pattern numbers were carried over into Schrade-Walden days for most of the knives. However for this frame, S-W created a new number, 163, for the Rope knife version.

Easy to see how one can get confused as to which knife gets what number with this frame.

Uncle Henry small stockman

George Schrade Salesman Sample

Keith

That's a beauty Keith.

A couple 340Ts and an 80T

Added this Schrade Cut Co pruner, nice wood on it.

Looks like rosewood maybe? Beauty, I love the depth of color in the wood!

Thank you Glenn.

Picked up this lightly used Schrade Walden split spring whittler this week.

Nice John.I like the 804.

John, you've been snagging some beauties!

Eric

Oh boy John, another beauty!

You have to love an 804; they beg to go into a pocket or hunt for a stick.