All About Pocket Knives

Hi all,
Just picked up this Schrade Bruin lockback. I think that is what it's called.
Got it for fairly reasonable $.
I have smaller hands and it fits me perfectly.
It's about 3 and 3/4" long closed.
I'm pretty sure it's stainless steel. Not sure of when it was made.

I'm cleaning it up a little now, but I carried it to work today after opening up the mail and it carried real nice in the lfp.
Anyone know how old it is?
Thanks!

If you look up this list you will k find Information on your knife.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/sch ... _timer.php

Shearer wrote:If you look up this list you will k find Information on your knife.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/sch ... _timer.php

Thanks.
It's from 1993-2003 I gather.

Here is another site that is handy if you collect Schrade.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/
Grant

The 5OT Bruin pattern is a well designed & durable knife.
There are a number of variations of that basic pattern. Top to bottom in the scan are:
5UH
50UH
55UH
5OT
5OTG (Schrade+ steel)
5OTG (carbon steel)
55OT

Thanks for the link/pictures and information regarding the Schrade 50T,
Shearer and orvet.
This looks like a good model to collect, what with the different carbon steel version and the scale assortment.
I'm really liking mine and intend it to be a user.

The 550 has a lanyard tube and liner lock? Wow.

There are some differences between the variations.
I have posted this info elsewhere, though I don't remember were just now.
I will add it in here for your convenience, it will give you an idea of the difference between the versions.

I have six different model numbers of the Bruin in my collection; 5UH, 50UH, 55UH, 5OT, 5OTG (green) & 55OT. I have found them listed in various Schrade catalogs as 3-1/2 in., 3-3/4 in., & 4 in.
According to my calipers all of them measure 3-3/4in.

I also measured the top edge of each blade at the tang for thickness, using a micrometer. The difference is .0055 in. IMO, a difference of just 5.5 thousands is well within the tolerances explained by different batches of steel from different suppliers.
Remembering also, that these various models were made over a 17 year period, from 1987 through 2004 and the thickness of steel available may also have varied.
5UH -.089"
50UH- .092"
55UH- .0875"
5OT- .093"
5OTG- .093" - Schrade+ stainless
5OTG- .092" - carbon steel
55OT- .089"

The differences as I see them are:
5UH & 50UH: Both are lockbacks. The only appreciable difference is the tang stamp. Both have nickel silver bolsters.

55UH: Like the 5UH & 55UH except it is a brass liner lock as opposed to a lock back. It also has a brass lined lanyard hole. It has nickel silver bolsters.
All the Uncle Henry variants are hollow ground & have Staglon handles with nickel silver UNCLE HENRY shield.

5OT; Lockback like the 5UH, 50UH & 5OTG. Has nickel silver bolsters, brown saw cut handles & nickel silver OLD TIMER shield. Blade is flat ground. The 50UH & 5OT (in stainless steel) seem to have deeper cut nail nicks than the other knives, but this could possibly be explained by an adjustment of the machine that cut the nail nicks.

5OTG; Lockback like the 5OT, but with green saw cut Delrin handles, brass bolsters & brass OLD TIMER shield. The blade is flat ground, both the stainless steel & carbon steel version as well. I have at least one in my collection that is made from carbon steel. This is the only version I personally have an example of that is made in carbon steel, though I would imagine that some of the earlier 5OT’s were likely made of carbon steel.

55OT: This pattern is called the Bruin Ext in the 2002 & 2003 catalogs. It is also known as the Blade Lifter. It has green saw cut Delrin handles, brass bolsters & brass OLD TIMER shield. It has a brass liner lock like the 55UH as well as the brass lined lanyard hole. The mark side has a brass thumb stud for opening & no nail nick. There is also a small circular notch cut in the mark side Delrin handle to accommodate the thumb stud.
The blade is flat ground only on the back side, with a final sharpening on both sides.

An interesting note about the 55UH is that a Swinden Key holds the blade in the front bolster. I assume the 55OT also employs this system, though I didn’t have one handy that I wanted to cut apart. All the other variations of the Bruin have a plainly visible pivot pin.

The dates of production, as per Schrade catalogs are:
5UH- 2003-2004
50UH- Apparently used for SFOs. In 1999 there were 5000 pieces. They were blade etched with Texas Rangers and a round shield in the shape of a star. A portion of each sale was donated to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum. I also have a pic of a 50UH made for Sons of AMVETS, but no further info on it.
55UH- Not in Schrade catalogs, but was a 2002 special edition for Wal-Mart- (See Robert Clemente, A Catalog History of Schrade Knives, pg 14)
5OT- 1987-1998
5OTG- 1991-2003
55OT- 2002-2003

I hope you find this info useful if you plan to collect the pattern.

Have fun with them,
Dale

Deleting post because it was a mistake by a brain dead old bastid.

jerryd6818 wrote:Hey all you Schrade "'sperts". Is this the 1994 date mark on the knife?

The only dating I am aware of that Schrade used was actualling stamping the date on a knife tang of shield, and those are usually on speical edition knives.

That just looks like a flaw or scratch on the tang to me.

Think this may be another one to add to the list
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SCHRADE ... 58a7034131

orvet wrote:There are some differences between the variations.
I have posted this info elsewhere, though I don't remember were just now.
I will add it in here for your convenience, it will give you an idea of the difference between the versions.

I have six different model numbers of the Bruin in my collection; 5UH, 50UH, 55UH, 5OT, 5OTG (green) & 55OT. I have found them listed in various Schrade catalogs as 3-1/2 in., 3-3/4 in., & 4 in.
According to my calipers all of them measure 3-3/4in.

I also measured the top edge of each blade at the tang for thickness, using a micrometer. The difference is .0055 in. IMO, a difference of just 5.5 thousands is well within the tolerances explained by different batches of steel from different suppliers.
Remembering also, that these various models were made over a 17 year period, from 1987 through 2004 and the thickness of steel available may also have varied.
5UH -.089"
50UH- .092"
55UH- .0875"
5OT- .093"
5OTG- .093" - Schrade+ stainless
5OTG- .092" - carbon steel
55OT- .089"

The differences as I see them are:
5UH & 50UH: Both are lockbacks. The only appreciable difference is the tang stamp. Both have nickel silver bolsters.

55UH: Like the 5UH & 55UH except it is a brass liner lock as opposed to a lock back. It also has a brass lined lanyard hole. It has nickel silver bolsters.
All the Uncle Henry variants are hollow ground & have Staglon handles with nickel silver UNCLE HENRY shield.

5OT; Lockback like the 5UH, 50UH & 5OTG. Has nickel silver bolsters, brown saw cut handles & nickel silver OLD TIMER shield. Blade is flat ground. The 50UH & 5OT (in stainless steel) seem to have deeper cut nail nicks than the other knives, but this could possibly be explained by an adjustment of the machine that cut the nail nicks.

5OTG; Lockback like the 5OT, but with green saw cut Delrin handles, brass bolsters & brass OLD TIMER shield. The blade is flat ground, both the stainless steel & carbon steel version as well. I have at least one in my collection that is made from carbon steel. This is the only version I personally have an example of that is made in carbon steel, though I would imagine that some of the earlier 5OT’s were likely made of carbon steel.

55OT: This pattern is called the Bruin Ext in the 2002 & 2003 catalogs. It is also known as the Blade Lifter. It has green saw cut Delrin handles, brass bolsters & brass OLD TIMER shield. It has a brass liner lock like the 55UH as well as the brass lined lanyard hole. The mark side has a brass thumb stud for opening & no nail nick. There is also a small circular notch cut in the mark side Delrin handle to accommodate the thumb stud.
The blade is flat ground only on the back side, with a final sharpening on both sides.

An interesting note about the 55UH is that a Swinden Key holds the blade in the front bolster. I assume the 55OT also employs this system, though I didn’t have one handy that I wanted to cut apart. All the other variations of the Bruin have a plainly visible pivot pin.

The dates of production, as per Schrade catalogs are:
5UH- 2003-2004
50UH- Apparently used for SFOs. In 1999 there were 5000 pieces. They were blade etched with Texas Rangers and a round shield in the shape of a star. A portion of each sale was donated to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum. I also have a pic of a 50UH made for Sons of AMVETS, but no further info on it.
55UH- Not in Schrade catalogs, but was a 2002 special edition for Wal-Mart- (See Robert Clemente, A Catalog History of Schrade Knives, pg 14)
5OT- 1987-1998
5OTG- 1991-2003
55OT- 2002-2003

I hope you find this info useful if you plan to collect the pattern.

Have fun with them,
Dale

Great info, Thanks Dale
Harold [Producer]

ps I had bid on another 50T that was carbon steel, eg: No + sign after the Schrade stamp
but was outbid.
pps By the way I paid $20 for the one I got in stainless steel.

PigSticker wrote:Think this may be another one to add to the list
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SCHRADE ... 58a7034131

I think you are right. The only difference from the 5OT is the tang stamp & the handles, but it is a variant.

Producer wrote:Great info, Thanks Dale
Harold [Producer]

ps I had bid on another 50T that was carbon steel, eg: No + sign after the Schrade stamp
but was outbid.
pps By the way I paid $20 for the one I got in stainless steel.

Glad it was helpful Harold.

Be advised on the SCHRADE+ markings:
Just because the stamp says SCHRADE and has no + sign after the name, does not mean it is carbon steel.
At some point time (not sure when) Schrade decided they would use the + sign to denote the blade was stainless steel.
Prior to that time they stamped BOTH carbon steel & stainless with the SCHRADE stamp w/o the + sign.

Just remember: all SCHRADE+ are stainless steel, but SCHRADE could be carbon steel or stainless steel.

I've got a 5OT and a 55OT laying in front of me, both have the green saw cut delrin and follow Dales description to a "T" except neither has a "G" in the pattern number. Is the "G" only on paper as a way to identify the knife or is the "G" actually on some of these knives?
Treefarmer

As far as I know it was only put on the box .
The only one's I have seen with a letter after them for the color is the one's made in China.etc 80TY "Y" for yellow.
Grant

treefarmer wrote:I've got a 5OT and a 55OT laying in front of me, both have the green saw cut delrin and follow Dales description to a "T" except neither has a "G" in the pattern number. Is the "G" only on paper as a way to identify the knife or is the "G" actually on some of these knives?
Treefarmer

The 'G' was in the catalogs & pricelists and probably on the boxes for the 55OTG & 53OTG.

There were some USA Schrades that did have a 'Y' stamped after the number on the tang, the 34OTY is one such example. It is also listed as 34OTY on the 1990 catalog.

In the Open Stock series there several knives that had a letter added to the model number; 293Y serpentine jack is one example. The K-horn knives like the 234K had an alphanumeric model number and some were stamped on the tang as well, though it seems I have seen some K-horn knives without the “K” in the tang stamp.

Dale I have two 34OTY knives and both are stamped Schrade USA 34OT.I have a 80TY and it stamped Schrade NY USA 8OT ( that should make it earlier then 1990 ??? ).I keep looking for the USA one's with the "Y" but have not found one yet.
I have a Schrade 296Y and it has 'Y' stamped.(You can get confused with Schrade records )
Grant

You are right Grant; Schrade was terrible about keeping records and were horribly inconsistent in their catalog descriptions.

Here is an 881Y with the “Y” in the stamp. That stamp would have been between 1973 and 1986, if one chooses to believe the catalog dates.

The more I study Schrade the less I am convinced you can hold their production to any sort of schedule, as my lists posted on AAPK would seem to suggest. Those lists were a “starting point” in an attempt to document Schrade knives. Most of the info was taken from Schrade’s own catalogs and price lists, but I added in information from Rich Langston, Larry Vickery and other sources as noted in the footnotes. Some of the most intriguing bits of information came from sources outside of Schrade, and there are lots of pieces missing and many more lists could be made on any number of subsets of categories; one such list could be knives with a color code in the model number. The original research for those lists took me 3 or 4 years of searching for, buying, trading & sharing copies of Schrade catalogs and pricelists. I am too old to undertake many of the subset lists, and quite honestly I most of them do not interest me. Someone else will have to do that research.

As I have often said: With Schrade nothing is chiseled in stone, though a few things may be etched in Jell-O.
That is great advice for anyone researching Schrade and probably most any other knife company, (it goes double for Camillus).
These old companies were there to make knives, not to make lists and keep records!



Just to prove my point about the inconsistency of Schrade, here is a tang stamp of a 296Y trapper with orange handles!





And now you understand why I always wear a hat; I have pulled out all the hair on the top of my head while doing the original research for the Schrade lists.
If I do too much more research I will probably pull my beard out. That would be too much!

orvet wrote:The original research for those lists took me 3 or 4 years of searching for, buying, trading & sharing copies of Schrade catalogs and pricelists. I am too old to undertake many of the subset...

I for one would like to thank you for that research, Dale.

tongueriver wrote:

orvet wrote:The original research for those lists took me 3 or 4 years of searching for, buying, trading & sharing copies of Schrade catalogs and pricelists. I am too old to undertake many of the subset...

I for one would like to thank you for that research, Dale.

I thank you also.

orvet wrote:
The original research for those lists took me 3 or 4 years of searching for, buying, trading & sharing copies of Schrade catalogs and pricelists. I am too old to undertake many of the subset...

Dale
I thank you for your research.
When I first stated to collect Schrade Old Timers I had your list as a reference.
Grant

Thanks guys, you are most welcome.
It originally started as my reference list I put in a spreadsheet.
So many people asked me for it that I had Bryan post it here on AAPK.

Picked up what I believe is a 1991 or 1992 50T in carbon steel. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
The new one doesn't have the + after the Schrade stamp like my other one does.
It's in real good shape and I got it for a better $ than the ss version.

Both seem to to have little use and the ss version has been my edc since I got it.
This for me is a perfect size and they both have the most satisfying clink when opening and closing.
Now I have two!

If you want to test it and see if it is carbon steel, clean the blade with warm water and dish soap, dry it off and stick some mustard on it & let it set for 5 minutes.
If it is carbon steel the blade should begin to darken where the mustard was.

orvet wrote:If you want to test it and see if it is carbon steel, clean the blade with warm water and dish soap, dry it off and stick some mustard on it & let it set for 5 minutes.
If it is carbon steel the blade should begin to darken where the mustard was.

Thanks Dale.
I guess by your reply, it could be stainless?
I'll try to determine.

Producer wrote: Thanks Dale.
I guess by your reply, it could be stainless?
I'll try to determine.

It could be, many were stainless even without the + mark.
If the + is there, it IS stainless. but if there is no + it may be carbon steel or it may be stainless.

See, Schrade used the SCHRADE marking first on carbon steel blades and then on Stainless blades for years.
At some point they decided to use the + mark to denote stainless.
Of course there were millions of stainless knives that were already in circulation without the + mark.