Evolution of a blade pattern
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:38 pm
I am doing this post today to show some typical history of a blade pattern ( ie sabre ) and how over the years the same style (pattern) may be used in different lines. I chose this topic today since this weekend a fellow approached me with some knives for sale . I looked at one of the knifes and recognized the pattern but did not immediately place where it fit in to this history. It only took a minute to start to figure it out. It is number 4 in the pictures I am posting. Called a 172UH also named first the bear skinner and then the wild cat. First introduced in 71 and only kept in the line for 2 years until 73 then reintroduced in 90 till 92. It is a UH and this early version carries a Schrade Walden tang. Since obviously it was at the end of the Schrade Walden marking just before the change to just Schrade most are marked just Schrade this early one also has a serial number this definitely shows that they were still doing that at least until 1971 ( since we know the age of this piece exactly). The 172 had no OT counter part. Originally this pattern was used for the 60tys line and was called a 148 ( knives 1,2,3,) Note these were leather wrapped also in early staglon and a laminated wood version ( 3, with a serrated blade ). There were probably others. knive 5 is an Imperial ( similar staglon handle ) ( this one is etched Kit Carson). 6 and 7 were the later 49er line and models 498 ( this line also was in leather wrap and staglon models by the way this was the last line for which Schrade made leather wrapped knives. This pattern then sort of changed with various aspects of it going to different knives I added 2 pics of 153 models ( 8 and 9 ) which have a resemblence the fact is several models had certain features similar the 165, 160, and even the 15 which while bigger has the thumb notch feature. This was a popular style. I did not post the 165, 15, or 160 due to space however the 153 should demonstrate the releationship to the older style. Sort of younger cousins. The 172 under Schrade Walden has been one that eluded me ( or at least I never paid attention to it it really fills in the hole to make this a contiguous study. There may be other variations especially in the early versions ( 1,2,3 ) since Schrade was experimenting with various man made handles materials during this period. If so please add them to this post. LT
VERY KOOL! LT; Thanks for the History lesson. 