All About Pocket Knives

I thought this one looked wrong at first and then I got some great info from Grant and Cal about 8OTs from the factory having Camillus or Imperial, etc blades so I took a chance and bought it. The seller listed it as a 1962 knife based on a sticker inside the box. You can see in the pics below it's a union sticker dated Oct 25, 1962 and the sticker says Old Timers on it. I was able to speak to the current president of Local 88 (butchers union in St Louis) and he actually knew the knife and the date on it. Every year Local 88 has an 'Old Timers' dinner to commemorate anyone celebrating 25 years with the union. They get a knife, certificate and a trophy with their name on it. The union president, Dan, has the same knife with the same sticker because, coincidentally, his father celebrated his 25th in 1962. Dan got his award in 2002. Nice bit of history and very cool to actually know the year of manufacture for once!

So now the knife - it remained untouched by anyone for 56 years! Last week the seller tore open the plastic bag with the knife in it to take pictures. Before that a Schrade employee last touched it in 1962! And because it's a Schrade, the story doesn't end here. This knife is not a Swinden and the main blade isn't Schrade. It's got a 14 tooth match striker and no swedge. Also no pattern number on the reverse. I think it's an Imperial but I'm guessing. The much later 853DE also had that 14 tooth pull.

I just noticed that the paperwork insert says it's a bone handle (knife is delrin.) Maybe that puts this so close to the transition they were still waiting for the new inserts to get printed.

Some pics:
Even the box is still in new condition: The tang stamp is the same as two other 8OTs I have from right around then but it sits a little lower:

Don't you just love old knife detective work! Nice knife Jason and an even better story.

Dennis

Excellent knife, box and story, and I think your description is right on the money on all counts. I think the knife I showed recently on the Schrade subforum also has an Imperial blade and was made 1960-62.

deo-pa wrote:Don't you just love old knife detective work! Nice knife Jason and an even better story.

Dennis

I'm a huge geek when it comes to playing detective with practically every knife I buy. That's half the fun for me.

tongueriver wrote:Excellent knife, box and story, and I think your description is right on the money on all counts. I think the knife I showed recently on the Schrade subforum also has an Imperial blade and was made 1960-62.

I'm constantly amazed at how much I still don't know about these old knives. Thank you for sharing the knowledge about this one's blade!

Cool Find.