LB8 With Odd Serial Number

[ddm125]

Sorry, I know there have been a lot of posts about LB7/LB8 serial numbers but I haven't seen any that answers my question. I have a 4 pin LB8 with an LB7 unetched blade and a brass shield. It's serial number is VA029. I've read about the 1978-1980 Dixie Collections similar to my knife which supposedly had 3 digit serial numbers. I think I read that the Dixie serials were prefaced with state abbreviations but can't find now where I read that. Every example of a Dixie that I have found has some commemorative etched on the blade while my blade is plain. Is my knife some limited edition I'm unaware of or is it a Virginia Dixie that may of had the blade replaced? Any help would be appreciated. Link below is to pictures of my knife on Google Photos.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6KYNvoLXsxJq5Jq57

[Mumbleypeg]

Welcome to AAPK. Here on AAPK we don’t use third party photo sites - ample storage exists here for your pictures, and for benefit of future researchers they won’t disappear if posted here. (Even after your 3rd party hosting subscription ends).

For instruction on how to post pictures here, go to the AAPK Tips & Tricks forum https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... m.php?f=98 and scroll down to find the post with instructions for your device.

With good pictures someone who knows the answer to your questions may be able to help you.

Ken

[ddm125]

Thanks for the tip. I prefer to include pictures in post as well, but am so used to having to use 3rd party photo sites for forums I didn't even look for an alternative. Here are pictures of my LB8.

[jxr1197]

Sorry, I know there have been a lot of posts about LB7/LB8 serial numbers but I haven't seen any that answers my question. I have a 4 pin LB8 with an LB7 unetched blade and a brass shield. It's serial number is VA029. I've read about the 1978-1980 Dixie Collections similar to my knife which supposedly had 3 digit serial numbers. I think I read that the Dixie serials were prefaced with state abbreviations but can't find now where I read that. Every example of a Dixie that I have found has some commemorative etched on the blade while my blade is plain. Is my knife some limited edition I'm unaware of or is it a Virginia Dixie that may of had the blade replaced? Any help would be appreciated. Link below is to pictures of my knife on Google Photos.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6KYNvoLXsxJq5Jq57

Schrade was making Staglon clad LB7s before LB8s were a thing and then even after the LB8 was launched thousands of the earliest serialized knives used the LB7 tang stamp, presumably because they just didn't have the LB8 stamp ready to go when the line was launched. SFOs often ran outside of the regular serial number progression so in this case your knife was either a staglon clad LB7 from 1977-1978 or it's from the 4 pin LB8 era (up to 1981-ish) with the SFO serial. The Dixie sets did use 3 digit serial numbers but they did not have state prefixes. Your knife is most likely from some custom order for the VA Dept of (fill in the blank).

[ddm125]

Thank you Jason. That explains why I couldn't find where I had read about Dixie serials and state abbreviations, just my memory playing tricks on me. I'm assuming from the context that SFO is some type of special order but what exactly does SFO stand for?

[Mumbleypeg]

what exactly does SFO stand for?

Here you go https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... FO#p748175

Ken

[ddm125]

Thank you for explaining. Happy New Year.