Question:Schrade Old Timer knives, Stainless?

wildromanian · Post by **wildromanian** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:09 pm

I have two folding Schrade Old timer knives made about 1980, one is a stockman and one is a single blade locking 1940t. Were these knives stainless or regular steel?

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:41 pm

Old Timers from that time period, in those patterns, would have been 1095 Carbon steel. Schrade usually marked regular production knives that were done in stainless (for a long time in 440A, nearer the last in 420HC) with SCHRADE+. In the final years, however, many patterns were changed from 1095 to 420HC, even without changing the tang stamping, (and much to Ms. Debbie Chase's chagrin), because they could be blanked from coiled steel at considerable cost savings. Some folks have reported mixed blades in the same multiblade knife, especially near the very end in 2004.

Bill

EDITED: To add a reference.

alexander · Post by **alexander** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 2:19 pm

El Lobo wrote:Some folks have reported mixed blades in the same multiblade knife, near the very end in 2004.

Wow! Now, that, I didn't know!
Learn something new every day around here.

Don Luis · Post by **Don Luis** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:52 pm

El Lobo Bill is right as usual, I have a late 34OT with all stainless blades, though not marked so.

I have an older (probably mid 80's) 98OT stockman with stainless blades stamped Schrade+, I believe that this particular model was originally made in stainless as were others such as the 3OT and 5OT lockbacks.

Interestingly I have an Imperial Ireland Camper from Schrade's facility in Ireland with mixed blades, main blade, screwdriver and punch are carbon, can opener is stainless. The Imperial Ireland plant was closed before the USA plant.

Luis

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 6:51 pm

Luis brings up a good point about those models and stainless.

When wildromanian mentioned OT stockman, I forgot about the 98OT Ramrod, (also the same frame as UH897 and open stock 825, maybe a couple others from the Custom shop as well...

). These 98OTs might have been produced only as Schrade+, so all three of these could use the same blades, or maybe for some other reason. Who knows with Schrade? The management felt stainless was the premium blade material. Whatever.
I guess MOST non-locking, non fixed OTs were 1095, might be a better answer.

So, wildromanian, what is the pattern number of your stockman?

Bill