All About Pocket Knives

I have seen them marked Schrade Walden over N.Y USA over H-15 on one side and with the H-15 On the reverse tang. Is one version earlier than the other? The knives look virtually identical from what I can tell, only in pictures, except for the tang stamps. I don't currently own one, just wondering which version would be the older of the two and what time period they each would date to?

Thanks

There are examples on the bay but none with clear enough pictures to post here as examples, not of both versions that is.

As soon as I can find clear pictures of both i'll put 'em up.

In the 1958 catalog there are 2 variants of the H-15 listed:
The H-15 sold for $2.50.
The H-15 WE sold for $2.95. I believe 'WE' denotes "Wonda Edge" Schrade Walden's name for a serrated blade. Eric or Hal may know for sure on that.


These are two I have, the H-15 & the Craftsman version made for Sears & Roebucks Co. This is a 1963 set sold as a Bowie Hunter and an 8OT. It lists the length of the 'Bowie Hunter' as 9-3/4".
The H-15 is listed as 9-3/4" but the 138-L (leather) is called a "Bowie Hunter" but is listed as 9-3/8".
The guard on the Bowie Hunter in the set has the guard like is shown on the 138, (it looks like the Craftsman in my picture above).

There were many variations of the H-15 and it was widely manufactured as an SFO for other brands.
What makes the knife a 138 as opposed to a H-15, the guard, length, plastic spacers? They are so close that it is easy to mistake one for the other. I am not so sure that Schrade Walden didn't list the length of the 138 in error when they listed it as 9-3/8". If someone has both and can measure them side by side it would be helpful.
Anyone?

Like most things "SCHRADE" there are no easy answers, nothing carved in stone; just a few "maybes" and a couple "probables".

Don't you just love collecting Schrades?

Orvet,

I am guessing that your H-15 is marked H-15 on the reverse tang?

If so it makes me wonder why some are marked H-15 on the reverse tang and some are marked H-15 on the same side as the Schrade-Walden N.Y. USA tang stamp just under the NY USA. Seems that the stamp with everything together would have been easier in production rather than having to flip the blade over for the H-15 strike

Oh well, like you said "there are no easy answers". I already new that about Schrade but thought i'd give the question a shot.

Thanks Dale

Here's an example I found of the other tang stamped version. It looks very similar to the bottom knife in your picture except for the fact that H-15 is stamped under the tang stamp. I know that youtrs is the craftsman version but I have seen the same knife stamped Schrade-Walden...........with H-15 on the reverse.

Edit here's what I ment to post.

Not sure why I am still focused on an unanswerable question My need to know is killin' me

I dig out my knives & looked at the 3 of them.........
I need to get pics of all 3 side by side & then maybe do some research!

the knife I have in a Safari set is Schrade Walden NY USA and no number .I think the knife in the Safari set is a 138 it has the full knife guard.

OK, here we go.
First let me apologize for a rookie mistake, taking what a someone else told me without checking it out for myself.

I dug through a bunch of my knives to find where I had stored these 3 knives.
Here they are in descending order:
Schrade Walden H-15
The Craftsman version of the H-15
The Schrade Walden 138 Seen side by side it is pretty easy to see the difference between the H-15 (top) and the 138 (bottom).
The 138 has a longer wavy guard, as opposed to the short one side guard made of aluminum on the H-15. The end spacers on the 138 are red as opposed to brown and that have an extra black & white spacer rings above or below the red plastic end spacers. The handle on the 138 is deeper than the H-15; both handles are oval, wider top to bottom (as you grip it in your hand) but the 138 is 1-5/8" deep and the H-15 is only 1-3/8" deep.
The pommel cap is steel on the 138 & aluminum on the H-15.

All three of the knives have the tang peened with a rivet down from the top pommel into the tang itself.

The only difference I see between the H-15 & the craftsman is the tang stamp.

Let me know if you notice any discrepancies in my observations.

All 3 knives are so close that it is easy to mistake them for one another unless you ate have them side by side.

Hope this clears the air a bit!

Thanks Dale

That does clear the air quite a bit. I really appreciate you taking the time to show and tell

Here is my H-15 it has the number on the other side.( The 9541 is the Craftsman number for the knife and it J C Higgins "ETCH" )

That's the other mark style I was speaking of Shearer

Maybe it was the contract knives that had H-15 marked on the other side

I picked up another H-15 at the flea market last weekend.
It was missing half dozen of the leather rings on the handle.
I brought it home and stripped it down. I kept the hardware to reinstall it, or use it for a pattern to make new ones.
It will be reworked when I figure out what I want to do with it.

Well here's the one I picked up off of the bay.

Any ideas as to wether or not the sheath is original to the knife

I really didn't question it myself but another member brought the question forward so now I am wondering

I will say that it seems to fit the knife perfectly.

The sheath is correct.

Thanks toungeriver

Very interesting thread, Cutty glad to hear your sheath is an original! It looks like a finely crafted piece.

Here's a pic of my H-15, just because this thread gives me an excuse to post it!
By the way, I don't have a sheath for mine, so if any of you Shrade-a-holics has an extra one layin' around collecting dust, and would be willing to sell it....keep me in mind!