Unfinished 34OT SS (25th Anniv)

[Meridian_Mike]

I just won this one on the bay last weekend. It is an unfinished 25th anniversary 34OT. The bolsters show the "STERLING" stamp and the tang on the main blade is marked 34OT SS.
From what I can tell..... from the sellers poor, poor pics, the handles are not finished and there is no shield. I tried to brighten up the pics enough to see a little detail.
From what I have found on the net.... the covers are bone and the shield should also say "sterling" on it. I don't think there is a serial number stamped on the opposite end bolster..... at least I can't see one.
The blades look unused..... so I guess I will finish up the covers and make myself an (almost) 25th anniversary 34OT. This will be a fun one for my Old Timer collection.

I can't really tell if the liners are coined... but it doesn't look like they are....

In case you are wondering what a sho 'nuff 25th Anniversary knife SHOULD look like..... here is one I found on the net.....

Suggestions anyone?

[Byrd]

Mike, half the work is done for you!

[orvet]

Go for it Mike! Those are pretty knives.
I hope you post some good pics of the knife before you start working on it. I would love to see it I the unfinished state.

You got this, it is gonna look fantastic!

[Meridian_Mike]

Yep, I will post up some better pics when I get it in hand Dale
I think it is gonna be fun to finish...

[tinroof]

Congratulations. If it could be of any help, mine is near mint except for the scratches on the flat of the blade. Some previous post said only 5000 made, mine is 0441.

[tinroof]

A better pic of the serial number

[btrwtr]

Very cool and unique knife and could be the only one like it.

[Meridian_Mike]

Some previous post said only 5000 made,

Yep, mine must have been next in line to be finished when #5000 was stamped on the tang. Then the cuttler that had mine in his hand said, "Well, I don't have to finish this one!".... and it was pitched in the parts box...... LOL.

[Meridian_Mike]

Very cool and unique knife and could be the only one like it.

True!
It's a fun thing to think about.

[glennbad]

Cool!

What is it with 34OT's being unfinished? Here's one that I have that hasn't been finished either...

[Meridian_Mike]

Yeah.... what up with the unfinished knives?

I just figured mine was in a box somewhere and auctioned off when Schrade closed.

Hard to tell from the pics but it doesn't look cobbled together.
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And Glenn, your looks like it has been "out there" for a WHILE. Like it left the shop like that.

A conundrum...

[btrwtr]

I have a Schrade Walden bone handle muskrat and a case 70's dot 6488 bone handle congress that are both in factory unfinished condition. I could finish them out and they might be more marketable but they would no longer be unique.

[Meridian_Mike]

I have a Schrade Walden bone handle muskrat and a case 70's dot 6488 bone handle congress that are both in factory unfinished condition. I could finish them out and they might be more marketable but they would no longer be unique.

True....

[Meridian_Mike]

OK.... my knife arrived today so I got a few minutes at lunch to take some better pics.

Here is what it looks like right this minute.

The covers are a good bit over size. (Recon what the material is? They are supposed to be bone I THINK)
The 2 pins up close to the bolsters are a good bit proud of the surface of the covers.
The blades have never seen a sharpening stone.
The mark side cover hasn't been inletted for the shield.
These are my obsrevations.

Mike

[Meridian_Mike]

ALSO..... I notice that my liners are not coined....
But, lookie here at the 3 that Grant has.... one of them has no shield.
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viewtopic.php?t=64537
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With only about 5000 (supposedly) produced, don't you think they would have been a little better with their quality control?