Judging a Schrade by its swedge

[jxr1197]

I’m curious if anyone has found a way to date a Walden 8OT more precisely than 61-72? In looking at my own knives and examples online here and on ebay it’s plain to see there’s variation in the number of teeth on the match strikers and the length of the swedge. I’ve read that 17 tooth strikers are older than 16 tooth strikers and along the way I even spotted an 18 tooth striker. The oldest of the 8OTs have long swedges and It appears the swedge has been getting shorter with lengths extending as far down the spine as all the way to the first tooth (first from the tang) and I’ve seen second, third, fifth and seventh tooth swedge lengths as well. Does anyone know if in fact there was a year when the striker switched from 17 to 16 teeth and was the shortening of the swedge done in a linear progression or could it be a production variable that means nothing more than it was made by one bladesmith versus another? Overthinking it? Maybe. But it would be neat to know the year. I’m a Schrade guy but I’ve always appreciated being able to date my Bucks by glancing at the tang.

[KnifeSlinger#81]

I think maybe the swedges changing reflected the changes in schrades production like other characteristics (at least that is what I've assumed thus far). The swedges on cut co's and early walden were generally very pronounced and elegant, gradually they got to be smaller and more simple. They still looked nice throughout all the years and always terminated to an excellent sharp point.

I particularly like the large swedes that go above and extend the length of a long pull. They are longer than the common swedges on many knives that go from the blade tip and terminate in front of a long pull. The old schrade swedges were very classy.

[DR_MAGOO]

PM sent to Schrade Guy, jxr1197