All About Pocket Knives

Hey Everyone!

First off, let me say "Thank you!" to those who have made this site what it is... A truly great resource!

I've got a very modest knife collection, & even more modest group of Old Timers.
I have enjoyed carrying my 84OT since buying it new in the early 80s. The carbon steel blades keep their edges so well, as you already know.

My latest OTs have the typical coloring in the Delrin scales. But, my 84OT does not. It's more of a reddish-brown, unlike the more commonly encountered almost-black, dark brown.

Do any of you have the reddish-brown variety, all tan, or other uncommon tan-brown variations?
-If so, please post pictures!

Regards, Bill

Reddish-brown Delrin scales on 84OT; 94OT; & Stainless 194OT


Close-up of 84OT


Stainless USA-made 194OT

Some variation is quite common. I believe some of the earliest examples of open stock "jigged" Schrade Walden knives had redder coloration than later on. Some examples of UH knives are so light that some people call them blondies. I guess dying plastic is a little like cooking; there is going to be some variation. By the way, your stockman knife is called a 34OT. Many of the tang stamps struck by Schrade are unclear enough as to be commonly misread. The numerals 3, 6, and 8 are the usual victims.

I just took this picture of three different Schrade 34OT Middleman's that I own - I noticed that two had serifs on the lettering and one doesn't. The sans-serif version (on the left) also has a "redder" tint in the Delrin (which I can clearly see in person, but doesn't show in the picture) and larger handle pins - in the case of my three I think the sans-serif is the latest one made of the group.

Ps Didn't realize how fuzzy the picture was once enlarged - I have replaced it with a sharpened version.

Old Hunter wrote: I noticed that two had serifs on the lettering and one doesn't. The sans-serif version (on the left).

Sooo thaaats what that means. Once again I've learned something from AAPK and in this case, the lesson was unintended. Thanks Colonel.

tongueriver wrote:...By the way, your stockman knife is called a 34OT. Many of the tang stamps struck by Schrade are unclear enough as to be commonly misread. The numerals 3, 6, and 8 are the usual victims.

Thanks for the clarification

-Bill

Old Hunter wrote:I just took this picture of three different Schrade 34OT Middleman's that I own - I noticed that two had serifs on the lettering and one doesn't. The sans-serif version (on the left) also has a "redder" tint in the Delrin (which I can clearly see in person, but doesn't show in the picture) and larger handle pins - in the case of my three I think the sans-serif is the latest one made of the group.

Old Hunter,
Nice 34OTs!
As a some-time coin collector, I tend to look at things like lettering of tang stamps, too.
Here's an earlier, I believe, tang stamp of my 34OT Middleman; you can see how, without good glasses, my old eyes read "84OT"...
-Bill

Note the 3 has a round top, unlike your flat top 3s. Also, the "U.S.A." stamp is so tightly set, the letters and periods are on top of one another and, of course, "Schrade" is serified.

Nice display of Old Timers Bill ::tu::two34ot,8ot+96ot

garddogg56 wrote:Nice display of Old Timers Bill

Thanks Garddogg! You, too!

It looks like I need to make a display for my ever-growing collection; I like how you've got your other knives shown in the background.

Thanx Bill those OT's are great to collect and won't break the bank

Old Hunter wrote:I just took this picture of three different Schrade 34OT Middleman's that I own - I noticed that two had serifs on the lettering and one doesn't. The sans-serif version (on the left) also has a "redder" tint in the Delrin (which I can clearly see in person, but doesn't show in the picture) and larger handle pins - in the case of my three I think the sans-serif is the latest one made of the group.

Ps Didn't realize how fuzzy the picture was once enlarged - I have replaced it with a sharpened version.

OH, can you see the bolsters on the Old Timers well enough to see if any of them have pins in the bolsters and are not the Swinden Key system? The reason I ask is could one have been made by Camillus and the others made by Schrade, or vice versa? I've seen N.I.B. Old Timers with factory pinned bolsters that were said to have been made by Camillus for Schrade. Maybe Dale can jump in on this and give some information or opinion about the subject.

Aimus

I noticed the 123OT Old Timer has pins through the blade .They also must have been made by Camillus

Shearer wrote:I noticed the 123OT Old Timer has pins through the blade .They also must have been made by Camillus

Wow! I'm learning a lot from you all on this topic.
I have a Remington that was my grand dad's (1930s knife) that has pinned blades... Camillus-made, too?
And, I'm awaiting a NIB modern bullet reproduction ("Master Guide" R1273 from 1995) in the mail. I understand Camillus made many of these, IIRC.
I'll look for visible pins in the bolsters when it arrives.

Aimus, looked them over for you in strong light - if there is a pin in any of them it is so well blended into the bolster I cannot see it - I believe all three of these are Swinden key Schrades.

Camillus did make some pinned 8 OTs, I do believe. However, I do not believe that all pinned Schrade marked knives were made by Camillus. I don't think Schrade used the Swinden key method on all their knives. The 23OT, the 24UH, the 51OT, the hunters.... ? Come on, Dale, give us the skinny! As far as the question about old Remington knife goes, pinned through the bolster has been and still is the standard on knives from all makers (except certain Schrades), world wide, for centuries. Camillus didn't have anything to do with old Remingtons. New ones? That's a different story...

Cal is right.
The 2OT (made before the Swinden system), 3OT, 5OT, 6OT, 8OT, 9OT, 25OT, 123OT, 125OT, 225H, were made with pin through bolster construction. Note that the lock backs are not Swinden knives.


Now, just because Schrade has to be difficult, some of the non-Swinden knives have a partial Swinden assembly in some of them. I think the 94,96 & 97OTs had that partial Swinden construction.

Note: there were times when Camillus made knives for Schrade, even commonly Swinden patterns. Off the top of my head, I know for sure there were some 8OTs & 61OTs made by Camillus that were non-Swinden. I think they did that when they were really busy in the Schrade factory & Camillus made some of the standard OT patterns to assist in production.



Now, when I get time I will show you some unfinished Delrin handles from the Schrade Factory.
They look real different!

Here are some handles from the Schrade factory.
As you can see they are different colors before they are dyed, hafted and polished.

Ah, that explains the difference in coloration: various lots of dye's and Delrin from a production span of many years - thanks Dale.

Old Hunter wrote:Ah, that explains the difference in coloration: various lots of dye's and Delrin from a production span of many years - thanks Dale.

Yes, Dale. Thank you!

I'm sure it's on this site somewhere... I'd be interested to read how many of you amassed such impressive collections -to include surplus parts! Wow!