ULSTER OLD TIMERS

[jxr1197]

I just picked up a 10OT which completes my collection of Ulster Old Timer patterns. On top is the 114OT and then from left to right are the 10OT, 12OT, 50OT, and 58OT. The 10, 58 and 114 (Prince Albert promotion knives) are not hard to find but the 50 and the 12 are rarer than hens' teeth.

[treefarmer]

That's an interesting group of knives.
I've never run across an Old Timer Barlow, that is a neat bolster stamping.
Treefarmer

[Meridian_Mike]

The 10, 58 and 114 (Prince Albert promotion knives) are not hard to find but the 50 and the 12 are rarer than hens' teeth.

You got that right...

I have never seen a 50OT for sale and I have ONLY seen 1 - 12OT for sale.....

[TPK]

Sweet Dreams are made of this... Great looking collection!
I love that 500T Jack knife! Very cool!

[Meridian_Mike]

I have only heard of the 50OT but.....I guess..... I never realized it only had 2 blades.

[royal0014]

WOW !
Quite the family of hermits you've put together

[jxr1197]

Thanks for the comments guys

I have never seen a 50OT for sale..

I have a pretty good conspiracy theory about that - I don't think they were ever sold to the public. I have two and I've seen pics of maybe 4 or 5 more including at least one with bone handles. The others (like mine) have those funky smooth plastic handles that you see on the rare 1961/1962ish Old Timers that were likely never sold either. Or maybe they were, it's just that there were so few of them making it seem unlikely they were retail items. The two I found were both in the custody of descendants of jobbers who were selling Schrade knives in the early 60s. Production records show that 300 were shipped in 1962 which is a tiny number and all 300 were in a single order. I have never seen one covered in Delrin. The second 50 I found had a good split in the funky smooth plastic handle - that one got a custom pair of sawcut bone scales added on by Herman Williams. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that's probably the only 50OT customized by Herman! - pic below

[Meridian_Mike]

The second 50 I found had a good split in the funky smooth plastic handle - that one got a custom pair of sawcut bone scales added on by Herman Williams. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that's probably the only 50OT customized by Herman! - pic below

I would have to say THAT 50OT is a true (one of one) prize!
You are pretty safe out on that limb....
Yep, I agree, I'll bet that is the only one Herman ever customized.



Amazing knives!!

[kootenay joe]

I think Schrade-Walden first used the name "Old Timer" for the 2OT in 1958.
Were these Ulster Old Timer knives made before Schrade-Walden used the Old Timer branding ?
kj

[LRV]

KJ..
As far as I can tell the Ulster OT's were produced shortly after the Schrade versions. The schrade 58 after the 8 which was after the 2 and 3.
Merry Xmas all!
Larry

[edge213]

I don't know much about the Ulster Old Timers, though I do own some.
I have this 5OT, the handles have like tiny sparkles in them. I'm not sure of the handle material, it has shrunk some so I don't believe it to be delrin.
The blades are in pretty bad shape, but I was told it is a somewhat rare knife.
Any information?

[tongueriver]

I don't know much about the Ulster Old Timers, though I do own some.
I have this 5OT, the handles have like tiny sparkles in them. I'm not sure of the handle material, it has shrunk some so I don't believe it to be delrin.
The blades are in pretty bad shape, but I was told it is a somewhat rare knife.
Any information?

JXRll97 can tell you more about those sparklers. I sold him one (I think).

[kootenay joe]

Thank you Larry. And a Merry Christmas to you as well. Wishing you health & happiness,
kj

[jxr1197]

I don't know much about the Ulster Old Timers, though I do own some.
I have this 5OT, the handles have like tiny sparkles in them. I'm not sure of the handle material, it has shrunk some so I don't believe it to be delrin.
The blades are in pretty bad shape, but I was told it is a somewhat rare knife.
Any information?

I'll add more details later but the quick answer is that's not Delrin and it's not a 5OT, even though it's stamped 5OT. That's the grail of grails - the mighty Ulster 50OT.

[edge213]

I don't know much about the Ulster Old Timers, though I do own some.
I have this 5OT, the handles have like tiny sparkles in them. I'm not sure of the handle material, it has shrunk some so I don't believe it to be delrin.
The blades are in pretty bad shape, but I was told it is a somewhat rare knife.
Any information?

I'll add more details later but the quick answer is that's not Delrin and it's not a 5OT, even though it's stamped 5OT. That's the grail of grails - the mighty Ulster 50OT.

I look forward to an education.
Thanks

[Meridian_Mike]

I'll add more details later but the quick answer is that's not Delrin and it's not a 5OT, even though it's stamped 5OT. That's the grail of grails - the mighty Ulster 50OT.

SO... Is that some of that "shrinky dink" material that Schrade was experimenting with?
If it is.... that would definitely nail a time period to that knife.

[Meridian_Mike]

This 8OT has some of that experimental cover material. I just got this one a few weeks ago when I was alerted that this early Old Timer existed. It has a very interesting story attached to it. I'm sure Jason will share that story when he adds to the info he promised us above.
Jason pointed out to me that this knife has the Ulster clip blade. There is no "8OT" model number stamp on the far side of the tang. Jason confirmed the 2 he has are the same.... No model number stamp.

[FRJ]

which completes my collection of Ulster Old Timer patterns

What a great collection of knives, Jason.
A very interesting thread.

Great additional knives as well.

[jxr1197]

About that handle material – back in 1960 or ‘61 Crown Plastics was in business with Schrade providing injection molded knife handles. When bone was on the way out but Delrin hadn’t hit the market yet the sparkly smooth brown plastic handles on the 50OT were borne out of an experimental batch of plastic created from a custom blend of DuPont ingredients. The very few knives with handles made from that batch rarely surface, there just weren’t that many of them. My own experience reveals at least 5 distinct knives were part of that experiment. The Ulster 50 and 58. The Primble 934, which is an Ulster 58. And two 8OT versions; one Schrade and one made with Ulster bits, which seemed common for Schrades of the day used for contract or SFO knives. It makes sense that no other patterns are found in this material because the next Old Timer debut was the 108 in 1963 which was solidly in the Delrin era. I’ve never seen a 2OT in this material although I did recently see one in Schrade’s Mahogany Plastic. Crown Plastics morphed into Masecraft about 40 years ago and is still a purveyor of knife handle material.

[Beavertail]

I don't have any of these knives but I am thoroughly enjoying this educational thread!

[Meridian_Mike]

OK... I need y'all to put the "chicken eye" on these pics and give me your opinion....

Why do these covers look funny?
They look like there are streaks running through them like maybe a layered material.....

I am zooming in to let y'all see what I am talking about.....
Then, tell me what you think....PLEASE....

Yes, it might be delrin and the sellers pics might be playing tricks BUT.... those pics sure have me looking twice!

[tongueriver]

I don't see anything wrong, Mike; sometimes the Delrin is exposed to sunlight and gets some odd 'patina.' Otherwise I don't see anything wrong. Oops... I already said that. Does it look like maybe some odd dye work? You better buy the knife and give a full report.

[Meridian_Mike]

I don't see anything wrong, Mike; sometimes the Delrin is exposed to sunlight and gets some odd 'patina.' Otherwise I don't see anything wrong. Oops... I already said that. Does it look like maybe some odd dye work? You better buy the knife and give a full report.

Yep, I think I will get it and see what it looks like in hand.

Sure looks funny......

[Meridian_Mike]

Another'n....

HIs pics sure are clear......
The streaks are evident in a zoom.

[royal0014]

Possibly a type of mold that has settled into the 'saw' marks of the Delrin.
.... but most likely the common 'Delrin haze' that is most prevalent in the darker colors,
caused by storage environment conditions.

Either way .... grab it and run !!