Interesting Lockback Eye

[Handlewithcare]

Been lurking for a while - first post - although I have talked to Paladin and a few others personally.

I bought this knife used at a gun show yesterday because I thought it was interesting. It is a stag lockback, a three eye version, but it has some unique qualities that make me think it is transitional. I hoped Paladin would chime in with his thoughts on a date and approximate value.

The three eye indicates a seventies vintage. But, the match strike is typically later, as is the round Soligen shield. I didn't take a photo of the back of the blade, but it does say "Rustless".

I suspect it is a transitional early eighties knife, but if so, I have never seen one with a match strike long pull.

Please all, let me know your thoughts.

Mark

[Paladin]

I think HWC has this knife pretty well figured out. The round shield 1st came out sometime after November 1983. The tang stamp dates mid-1970s to 1981. This is a pattern where a match striker pull does not place it in the 'newer knife' category. I have, or have had, a couple in this pattern with match striker pulls.
Schlieper's stainless was of good quality and on par with his carbon steel. When compared to stainless steels of the day it was head and shoulders above almost all of them.
I am a little uneasy about the handles but what the heck; they may be right,they look nice and serve the purpose.

Ray

[Handlewithcare]

Thanks Ray.

Good eye (pun) on the handles. I believe they are imitation stag....but they definitely came with the knife!

Mark

[Colonel26]

Ray, I still have not forgiven knife makers for starting to use (pituie) stainless steel at all. But if you say Schlieper stainless is good, I'll give one a try sometime.

Op, nice knife.

[Paladin]

Ray, I still have not forgiven knife makers for starting to use (pituie) stainless steel at all. But if you say Schlieper stainless is good, I'll give one a try sometime.

Op, nice knife.

I promise! It was far better than other stainless steels of the time. Head and shoulders ahead of Case stainless for instance. The modern stainless steels would probably make it pale in comparison.
Give it a try and give us a report.

Ray