All About Pocket Knives

For LT and the other Schrade / Old Timer fans:

This is something I bought on eBay without really knowing what it was. After owning it for two weeks I'm still baffled.

Each year Schrade would send out knives to dealers with a "Compliments of Schrade Cutlery" and the year etched on the blade. I don't know if it was a sales goal reward or simply a polite "thank you for selling our products." Either way, these Comp Old Timers are rather common and several have been publicly sold recently.

Here's picture of the 1984 Compliments knife, an Old Timer 194OT. Fancy shield and blade etch are standard on these Comp knives.

But check this out: The reverse side of the knife has a large blue and yellow Schrade logo. The design is actually cut into the Delrin handle, then painted. I've never seen anything like this.



Anyone? Were these on all of the 1984 Compliments knives? Used any other year? Similar decoration method used any other instances?

Best Wishes,
-Bob

That is an unusual one Bob.
I saw it, but didn't bid on it. I am glad someone I know got it.

Thanks for the pics.

Dale

that's cool bob, i'll trade my 194 for it!

that's cool bob, i'll trade my 194 for it!

Is your's a Taylor?

Seriously, I've never sold or traded a knife in my life. I'm not going to start with this one.

-Bob

naw, it ain't no dang chinese knife. cool, i wish i had every one i ever let go. so you must keep showin off them old timers!

Phil has been collecting these for a bit. If he can type us a message Im sure he'll tell us a little about them.
ttyl
Larry

Phil here... and as baffled by this knife as you guys are. I've made a point of collecting the 'Compliments' knives, and am familiar with the old timers with the blade etch and fancy outlined shield. And even when I see one I already have, I study it back and front. A strange one. I won't hammer on you to trade it to me, Bobw, but keep it for yourself as a nice oddball.

Here is a display I have been working on for a long time. Every blade is etched somehow; either an organization or company or whatever. Most of the Old Timers and some others are the complimentary knives. Something like this makes collecting even ordinary knives like recent issue schrades fun and challenging.

Phil

Thanks for the input Phil. Do you by any chance have a 194OT Comp knife from 1984 at all? If you do, that would eliminate the possibility that the logo was on all of the Comp knives from that year, and that it really is unusual.

My own hypothesis, the knife was something like a "Feature" car. That's where a limited number of cars are made with non-standard features for the purpose of market testing. In the is case, the blue and yellow logo would have been rejected as an "eyesore" and never made again.

I definitely plan to keep it.

-Bob

BobW... I have a couple of comp194OTs and have examined others. None have that unusual paint job. I think we can assume that very very few, or perhaps only yours, has that paint job.

As we sometimes say, you can expect anything from Schrade. Your theory is as good as any. Thanks for bringng us your knife to look at.

Phil

Thanks for taking the time to check, Phil. Good to know that it is unusual.

Best Wishes,
-Bob

Variations such as this while unusual are not unheard of since as has been said you should come to expect anything from Schrade. Many variations and proto types pop up that is a nice variation. The comp knives are also nice collectables. Most of these singularly different variations actually came from the R&D room Research and development. Sorry I did not see your thread sooner I have been a bit jammed up and just catching up. They tried many variations and attempted to use various items in numerous applications. This particular procedure for the handles was an attempt to utilize the scrimshaw marking method on sawcut delrin. In this procedure the knife is put through a machine with a colored piece in between the knife and a hot die. Heated just enough to imprint the knife. In the beginning years the white backround lent itself to simple one color outline pics towards the end years they could fo solid and several colors. I also believe it may well have been a marketing test. While I do not believe my pics ( see attached ) is the exact correct die for this knife this should give you an idea of what I am referring to. I believe I may have the exact one and even the hammer anvil logo one some where but this is the first one I came across on a quick search since I am on the run. It seems someone was at the show yesterday and has some Schrade displays and such for sale HUMM more stuff oh well . I hope this helps. LT

A hot die would be an eary way to create an indented logo in a plastic handle. But on this knife the logo has horizontal "sawcut" marks that are somewhat visible in my scan above. The die in your photo is completely smooth, but perhaps the die used on my knife was grooved?

Just to clarify, you've never seen a 194OT Compliments knife marked like this one?

Your post is sincerely appreciated.

Best Wishes,
-Bob

I do not recall that particular one off hand however I have seen similar. LT

LT,
Thank you very much for sharing your experience.

I'm sorry to have kept pestering you; I was trying to get a good idea of how unusual this knife is/isn't.

-Bob

Hi gang,
I found this particular knife at a local building supply business. I have several USA Schrades, but almost all stockmans. This one is OALc=3 9/16", has blade imprint Moore-Handley Inc over 2002 edition, lined bolsters w/serial number 469, bomb Schrade shield.
Usual Schrade+ over USA ltd tang but neither blade backside has a pattern number. I do have a Limited stockman in black tin with no pattern on blades but at least I am sure it is in the 881-885 family from size & shape.
If anyone can kindly inform me of which pattern number this is (oal=3 9/16") i would appreciate it.
I know Moore-Handley is a big building Supply firm in Alabama and apparently is a CASE distributor. Any info on their past tie in with Schrade USA and their M-H edition knives would be helpful.
I probably should mention that even the knife registration certificate has
Moore-Handley, Inc 2002 as main heading then the usual Imp-Schrade Corp POB7000 Ellenville NY12428
Thanks.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/ ... 69tang.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/ ... RevOpn.jpg

BTW Hi LT,
I knew that ID looked familiar lol. I got an H2661-G from you about Jan. Believe it was. Goes nice with my red one!

This is an 897 pattern 897MH was the designation made in shipped late 2002. 500 made. there should be a serial #, catalog # and UPC code on the box somewhere, if you have it.

Thank you LRV, I appreciate the info. Anymore on the value, handle material, common name for an 897? Inquiring mimes wanna kno!

Woseyjales,
First I would like to say welcome to AAPK!

I think your knife is probably a special order built on the 897UH Premium Stock frame. Sorry, but I don't know anything about the company.
Nice looking knife.

Dale

Larry was faster on the keyboard than I am.

Thanks Dale, for the welcome. I signed up in '05 but got distracted lol. Hope to be able to browse more in 07 around the AAPK hut. Thanks again for the info Larry.

Oh! speaking of special orders, here's a minuteman variation I acquired a few months back. Has an Orgill shield instead of OT and orgill sticker on Box over the Scrade logo. 150th Anniv of Orgill Hardware 1847-1997.
Easier to post links to the album at photobucket than to find pic on my computer which seems to be only way to add pics below. If anyway to load [IMG] from photobucket to AAPK post, some one clue me in. Please be precise in instructions. I had a stroke in 03 and can easily get lost if vague terms used. Ain't stupid, just damaged! lol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/ ... BoxLbl.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/ ... ldTimr.jpg
One funny detail on next one is the vertical line for the ribbon fold (under 1847) is omitted...OOPS!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/ ... 97etch.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/ ... s1040s.jpg

Bob W. wrote:Thanks for the input Phil. Do you by any chance have a 194OT Comp knife from 1984 at all? If you do, that would eliminate the possibility that the logo was on all of the Comp knives from that year, and that it really is unusual.

My own hypothesis, the knife was something like a "Feature" car. That's where a limited number of cars are made with non-standard features for the purpose of market testing. In the is case, the blue and yellow logo would have been rejected as an "eyesore" and never made again.

I definitely plan to keep it.

-Bob

Hello Bob,
I am not a collector per se, but have several knives and have always enjoyed owning them. Over the last couple of years I have started carrying a pocket knife daily once again. Two days ago, my Father, nearing 80 years old, asked if I wanted to have a “special” knife he had that had been given to him many years ago by my Uncle. Of course my answer was yes. At the time my Uncle lived in Anchorage Alaska and came by the knife locally. My father has keep it unused in its original box stowed away ever since. What I opened was a 1984 194OT complimentary engraved Old Timer. She is a beauty! Not knowing much about individual knives, I took to Google with what I knew, ran into this forum and your post. I joined the forum just to answer your almost 9 year old unanswered question….the logo was not on all comp knives that year as the reverse side of mine is blank. While everything is new, original and in box, based on what I have seen it appears I am missing the original “paperwork” that would have accompanied the knife. Handed down as it was, I am not looking to let it go. I would interested and curious as to any info about the knife, what value it might have? Though not as rare as yours, is it still a pretty rare knife, etc.

Thanks in advance, and hope you enjoy.

Steve (Kelleyhouse)

p.s. ( I could not get the photo to post right side up? They were saved that way. Even tried re-saving upside down and re-posting thinking they would post right side up...no sir just not happening.)