All About Pocket Knives

Thought I'd show off my Schrades. I've finally gotten all but a handful of beater/users organized. I will also be showcasing a few IKAC and ISC related brand knives. I've had a Schrade since my folks started allowing me to carry a knife the summer before I turned 10, when I was given a beat-up Middleman and a Colonial Electrician. I try to focus on Old Timers. But, all Schrades and associated knives get my interest, if the price and condition are good enough.

The case itself. Pretty sure it's by Taylor Brands. ISC had nothing to do with it. But, I have examples of all four brands in here.


I keep my big lockbacks in the inside of the case itself. They are too big to fit in the elastic. Honestly, I like the Schrade handle shape better than the Buck. The corners and edges are more rounded, and thus easier to hold. But, the Buck is all that can be bought new. Thankfully, if you're in the market for Schrade lockbacks, all the but LB-8 seem to be inexpensive.

LB-8 Papa Bear. This is my Granddad's--I cleaned it up for him, and haven't put it back yet. Box and paperwork is in his box. Personally, I don't know why it sold so poorly. The Staglon offers a MUCH better grip than wood.
6-OT Golden Bear. I recently bought this one; and poor storage (due to leaving it in the sheath) had led to some heavy corrosion of the bolsters; but otherwise, I could tell it was unused. No box, but it did include the nylon sheath (stored in outside pocket of case). I was quite surprised to find the manual/warranty card folded up inside the sheath. It is dated 2002; thus pretty close to end-of-days. I stow the sheath in the outside compartment of the case.


Front of elastic/felt panel.
Schrade Walden 204S Lineman's Knife. Beater. Soon to be upgraded. Normally, this is a work knife, but filler at present to hold a slot.
Heavily modified 204S, done by our own Jeffinn. The frame was shortened to 3 1/4", blade reprofiled to a sheepsfoot. New brass liners and nickel silver bolsters were installed. Handles are smooth Sunset Amber Bone. I bought this as a work knife, but it was just too pretty to carry. But, a lot better than old, heavily worn wood, and especially Delrin. I used to avoid heavily customized knvies, but he does a good job, and charges a very fair price for the work that goes into them. Thus, I think I'll add a few more, and have a few of my own redone by him (I've got a pile of parts knives, remember?)
Kingston 1945 USMC Demo Knife. Among the first-ever knives to be known as the "MIL-K-818" to be made. Condition is quite poor, with a snapped punch, busted can opener, modified screwdriver (turned into chisel), and weak snap on blade. Bail is also AWOL. The markings were on the bail, but I know only Kingston made these USMC Demo Knives. Kingston was a cheaper marque of IKAC, so that's why it's counted. Below Schrade and Ulster, but above Imperial.

5OTG Green Bruin. Bought from a member here earlier this year. Not used or carried, though I was tempted. I have a 55OTG Bruin EXT coming that matches it in color. It is, unfortunately, a user. It was carried and sharpened. Curious how the thing in use will be as a linerlock vs. the lockback setup of the 5OT.
3OT Bearhead. Originally, a user for a few years. I decided to save a spot for an NIB 3OT if and when I got it. Condition is pretty rough around the edges. But, it only cost me $6.

cody6268 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:21 pm Thought I'd show off my Schrades. I've finally gotten all but a handful of beater/users organized. I will also be showcasing a few IKAC and ISC related brand knvies. I've had a Schrade since my folks started allowing me to carry a knife the summer before I turned 10, when I was given a beat-up Middleman and a Colonial Electrician. I try to focus on Old Timers. But, all Schrades and associated knives get my interest, if the price and condition are good enough.


Heavily modified 204S, done by our own Jeffinn. The frame was shortened to 3 1/4", blade reprofiled to a sheepsfoot. New brass liners and nickel silver bolsters were installed. Handles are smooth Sunset Amber Bone. I bought this as a work knife, but it was just too pretty to carry. But, a lot better than old, heavily worn wood, and especially Delrin. I used to avoid heavily customized knvies, but he does a good job, and charges a very fair price for the work that goes into them. Thus, I think I'll add a few more, and have a few of my own redone by him (I've got a pile of parts knives, remember?)

Very nice collection you have Cody. Loving the 204s. Very well done.

Fun fact: I don't yet own an 8OT; but here are some knives made on the same frame.


885UH King Ranch. Handles have an orangey tint; due to the fact they were left in there with the foam, which as usual, decomposed. The box is present, as well as sleeve and paperwork. Foam got thrown in the trash.
Schrade Scrimshaw SC505 Promotional. Safety award for Norfolk Southern Railroad in 1988. The Pocahontas Division is the local area, and the main yard is one town over from here. The bolsters are another foam victim. What were they thinking with that junk?

Mark side scale shows the railroads that merged over the years to form what would eventually become Norfolk Southern (this was before they bought Conrail). The other years they did show the various passenger trains N&W ran over the years. Those I plan to get one of these days--if I can get them new in box. There was also a Leatherman PST and a couple Bokers with "NORFOLK SOUTHERN POCAHONTAS DIVISION" marked on them.

IRR (I have not been able to ID this RR), Norfolk and Western, Southern Railways, and Virginian.
Pile side printing: NORFOLK SOUTHERN POCAHONTAS DIV. SAFE IN '88
89OT Blazer. I actually bought this knife as a user, but never got along with it. And besides, they never sold well and are uncommon; but I am getting an NIB example if I can afford it. The sheepsfoot blade is the blade I typically use on a Stockman (with the spey being a backup blade, and the main blade for larger tasks), thus it being serrated with the Wonda Edge didn't work out. The straight serrations Schrade used on newer models is more aggressive, and PE works better for my uses in the cases for the sheepsfoot blade.
Sabre Monarch 231. I think this is an Ulster more than I do it being a Schrade. I understand these were made for Cole International before they went to Japan for the Sabre line of knives. Note the swedge and "matchstrike" pull. Of impeccable quality. This was my EDC for 3-4 years before I retired it. Is there a list of the Ulster/Schrade Sabre patterns? I've seen 3-4--Slimline Trapper, Peanut, and Large Stockman. 1960s?
George Washington Stockman. Being made by Imperial, it is obvious it is of lower quality. These were made for Parker in 1976 or 1977 if I recall. I almost sold this knife off, as the lot it came in was bought for other knives. I am a history buff, but commemerative issues are, for the most part, out of my interest unless I like the knife itself. And of low value. But, new and unused. Of cheaper construciton and Delrin handles is definitely not of my interest. But, I love the Ducks Unlimited models, as they quite often used wooden handles on frames that typically only saw Delrin. If I'd designed this knife, it would have been a Schrade 8OT with cherry wood handles. Not the cheapest thing possible.

I agree. Very nice collection.

Medium Stockmen (and knives that use the same frame)

33OT Middleman Jack. User, but filler for an NIB example.

34OT Middleman Stockman(late '70s-early '80s).This was among the first knives I ever had. I carried until I got the case a couple weeks ago. It was my Granddad's EDC from new until I got it. The arc damage happened in the basement, sometime around the late 1990s while working on the circuit breaker. It is now permanently retired. 34OTs were very good sellers (Schrade's best, actually) and not hard to find.
Backup 34OT ('80s-'90s), also used. I like to have backups for patterns I like to use. Thus, it's why I chose common ones with low collector value.

12OT Pal. This is a weird knife. It is a bit bigger than a Peanut (I don't own a 72OT as of yet), but still a bit too small. I bought it along with the 3OT for the same $6 price. I carried and used it a bit, but it proved too small. Another that is filler for an NIB example.

Imperial Frontier Double Eagle 4135 Serpentine (Stockman). Actually, probably a Camillus product. But, very nice quality and an attractive looking knife with those wood scales.
On the pile side of the blade it is marked for recently-defunct Westmoreland Coal Co.

This is the Frontier 4515 Sportsman lockback, but also a Westmoreland Coal Co. safety award. It pratically matches the Stockman. I had it on display, but had to show it as well. These two were bought together (along with the Sabre Monarch 231) on eBay from a local seller for a very good price.
Sheath is embossed with company name as well.

Small knives. Pretty much everything is under 3" closed.

Schrade Walden Eli Lilly fob knife. Slim Senator pattern, but adds a shackle (as used on the Miracle Whip knives) and a Wharncliffe "trachaeotomy" blade. Another you don't see too often.
Pile side of handle is stamped with the Rod of Asclepius.
Closeup of trach blade.
My "normal" Slim Senator pattern 778. It's a slim dress carry, but that's about as far as I'd go. I like a fatter handle. The nail files are great on this pattern. And Schrade made it long after most of the other open stock knives had been discontinued-- from 1953 until 1983. So, it had to be well-liked.

106OT Granddad's Old Timer. As I've said, my first Old Timer was my Granddad's, so the slogan "Knives Like Granddad's" is pretty important to me. I bought this one on eBay last year for $25. The scissors are excellent, on par with the Swiss. It was my EDC for again, until the case showed up. These are a bit uncommon. Hopefully, I can find a boxed example.


104OT Minuteman boxed. According to my Granddad's records (who gave me the knife) written on top it was given to him in 1998. There is an offer inside (I have a scan of it--just need to dig it up) for $5 off the Tough Tool, which expired at the end of 1999. Bear and Son calls their 2 3/4" pen the Minuteman as well. Wonder if Wally Gardnier had anything to do with it--seeing as he was involved with both companies, and is currently Bear's accounts manager.
708B Serpentine Jack; produced 1970-1988. Another "open stock" plain Schrade. Like the 104OT; just stainless and a little more classy with those jet black handles and that Federal shield.
That's pretty much it, except for users and parts knives. I'm going to show those off once I can get them all together. The majority are shell-handle Imperials.

Wow, you do have a nice pile of Schrades! I like the fact that you are showing the knives as they are, the ones that aren't mint are probably more realistic to most of us than those that are in perfect condition.
Treefarmer

Just a note, Kingston was not the only maker of the first WW2 USMC Mil-K knives. Both Kingston and Stevenson had contracts and supplied the knives. Kingstons are usually marked on the bail, Stevensons are usually not maker marked.

Cody, you are off to a good start. Collecting Schrade knives has no end, they made a million different knives Hence it never gets boring because ones you have never seen before continually show up.
You don't have my favorite: 97OT, the best user knife ever with saw blade that really cuts and steel tweezers and pick, along with a long clip blade. Only made for 2-3 years circa 2000, so not seen very often.
kj

Cody - nice to see another Schrade lover/collector - collecting knives is a great pastime - you should be proud of your collection - retro 60 and 70's Schrades are what I grew up with and now I collect them - my Dad grew up with the pre WWII knives Remington's were his passion - update us as your collection grows

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:15 am Cody, you are off to a good start. Collecting Schrade knives has no end, they made a million different knives Hence it never gets boring because ones you have never seen before continually show up.
You don't have my favorite: 97OT, the best user knife ever with saw blade that really cuts and steel tweezers and pick, along with a long clip blade. Only made for 2-3 years circa 2000, so not seen very often.
kj

That very model is at the top of my list. I had the opportunity to buy a Ducks Unlimited version a few years back for $11 that was missing a shield--provided I was gonna use it, I didn't mind that. Put it off (planning to buy it alongside other knives the seller had at the time), and it sold out. But this version was set up differently, without the provision for tweeers and "field pick" (which unlike a toothpick, looks very good at digging out splinters and thorns) since it had bolsters on both ends. Schrade USA saws are quite good--my Tough Tool has one, and it makes quick work of any wood that needs cutting. And it locks as well.

The 96OT has a spey blade in place of saw blade and it too has the pick & tweezers.
There is a 96OT listed in the 'For Sale' forum here. And i know where there is a minty 97OT if you are interested.
kj