Schrade 808 age and scale material?

[Ittsukan]

Cross posted. Admins delete if not allowed
This has probably been asked before but I searched through the forums and couldn't find the information
I recently picked up this really clean Schrade Walden NY USA 808. Looks to have been never used, carried, or sharpened. Maybe spent it's life in a drawer or is recent new old stock someone found.
I know the stamp is 1946-1973
I don't think the scales are delrin so that could put it before 1963. I suspect they are bone but want to be sure.
The jigging is not in the common peach seed pattern seen on delrin.
If I catch it in the right light, there is just a hint of red translucency. It could just be reflection off the brass.
The shield is blank and the liners are jimped which could be a clue to its age.
The blades look stainless but I don't believe they are. There is no mark saying stainless.
Any idea on age or what material the scales are? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Miller Bro's]

Handles are definitely Delrin.

Welcome aboard

[tongueriver]

I believe this knife has covers of Fosterene; it is a pre-Delrin knife. Mid to late 1950s.

[Ittsukan]

Yes, Fosterene. You mentioned on the other forum. I wish I could find more info about it. This is what I have found out.

From what I can determine, the 808 was introduced in 1952.
The tang stamp is from between 1946 to 1973.
So this was made between 1952 and 1973, I think...

I went through the catalogs I could find and this is how the scales were described. I only found reference to milled backs in two years.
I don't know what Schrade means by "Stagged".
1953/54 - Stagged Handle Milled backs
1957 - Handle Stagged
1958/59 - 808 ST Stagged
1961 - Genuine Bone Stag
1962 - Unbreakable Staglon
1965 - Unbreakable Staglon

The Schrade Knife Reference Guide has these descriptions

Schrade Open Stock Knives
Serpentine pattern; stagged handles;... milled back, 1952-1988

Schrade Knife Models circa 1946 to 1956
Serpentine pattern; 2-3/4"; stagged handles; ...w/ milled backs; w/leather purse.

It's the jig pattern that is throwing me off. It's not the common peach seed pattern that is often seen with delrin and the catalog pictures aren't good enough to see or don't show this pattern of jigging. This is from the 1954 catalog.

[tongueriver]

Stagged was a term meaning jigged or the appearance of jigging. Don't put too much weight in the details in the catalogs; the reality could be all over the place from time to time. There were more than mold used to create jigging in various materials at various times in the Schrade Walden era. I can think of at least three different "looks" at various times just in that era, not including the earlier 1904-1946 time frame under different ownership. The 808 existed in celluloid, Fosterene, bone and Delrin, and in different jigging and different colors over its entire existence.

[Ittsukan]

Thanks. All good info to know.

[jxr1197]

What Cal said - Fostarene. It was an injection molded plastic used before Delrin. They did a lot with that pattern and my favorites are the ones with the milled backs that date to the late 50s.

[Ittsukan]

What Cal said - Fostarene. It was an injection molded plastic used before Delrin. They did a lot with that pattern and my favorites are the ones with the milled backs that date to the late 50s.

milled8s.jpg

Yes, mine has that cool milled back. Hard to believe this is 60+ years old and in such great shape.

[treefarmer]

What Cal said - Fostarene. It was an injection molded plastic used before Delrin. They did a lot with that pattern and my favorites are the ones with the milled backs that date to the late 50s.

milled8s.jpg

Just noticing the different milling patterns of the knives you posted.
I remember reading that once upon a time, this work was done as a "cottage industry" by some makers.
Any thoughts on this?
Treefarmer

[tongueriver]

Tree Farmer, I have asked that same question a few times, but no bites yet.

[jxr1197]

...was done as a "cottage industry" by some makers.

Tree Farmer, I have asked that same question a few times, but no bites yet.

I've read the same info about workers taking knives home and milling the backs on their kitchen tables for extra income. I'm curious about how they did the work. Many of the knives' liner grooves extend into the handle and once in a while you'll see the grooves from a center liner extend into the spring. Maybe sometimes they just worked handle assemblies and sometimes they worked with a complete knife? It would be awesome to see what kind of contraption was precise enough to (mostly) just cut the brass but was also tough enough to accidently cut into spring steel once in a while. The only way I know how to mill liners is with a checkering file but that couldn't be used on a fully assembled knife. I'm picturing something that looks like a jig with a small worm drive on top for cutting.

[tongueriver]

That is one of the intriguing questions that is probably lost to history. Your guess is as good as it probably gets, Jason.