All About Pocket Knives

i have some questions on the old improved muskrat

the first one i found at work and have been carrying it for years.
only one blade has markings it says

SCHRADE
N.Y. U.S.A.
787

the second one says

SHRADE
WALDEN
N.Y. U.S.A

and has 787 on the other side of the blade.

the first knife is really beat up both blade tips have
been broke but is still the one i prefer. this knife has a
layer of brass between the blades and is a little thicker
the other one does not.

i am curios of wich one is older and when they changed this
i dont know why but this is driving me nuts i bought the second one
because i wanted a perfect one but its not the same.

The thicker knife is that way because it has TWO springs, one for each blade. It was made after the company "branding" changed in 1973, but before...say....1980. The slender knife was made before the 1973 change. I surmise that the powers that be decided that one spring was not strong enough to handle stresses of two blades? Sheer conjecture on my part. I am pretty sure you don't want to open each blade just part way on that knife. That position puts the most bend on the spring. Many collectors feel that the single spring model is more elegant. And the earlier branding is more collectible.

i thought i read somewhere that the older knives had the schrade walden brand, so i guess i will keep carrying the newer one and stash the old one away! i was thinking the double spring was older because it seemed more heavy duty, and i know the new ones are made in china. thanks for the input!