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Schatt & Morgan Swayback Clasp Knife - Part One
Introduction
I received a Schatt & Morgan File & Wire Swayback Clasp folder through the pass around here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...chatt-amp-Morgan-File-amp-Wire-Swayback-Clasp. According to http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com, the Schatt & Morgan Cutlery Company was founded in 1897, in Gowanda, NY. The company was subsequently acquired by The Queen Cutlery Company and the S&M brand ceased production in 1928.
In 1991, however, Queen Cutlery, brought back the Schatt & Morgan name as part of its first Heritage Series. Since then, Queen has released a new series each year and recently reached #20 in 2010. The “File & Wire” brand is reserved for select Schatt & Morgan knives and harks back to testing S&M performed on their blades in the 1920’s where they would cut a blade’s edge with a file and then test its performance against cutting wire. These days, the knives are made in Titusville, PA. You can learn more about Schatt & Morgan here: http://www.schattandmorgan.com/
Size
The Swayback Clasp is about 4 1/8th inches long when closed and weighs 3 1/2 ounces. Here is how it compares to some of my favorite traditionals/slipjoints:
The knives shown in the photo are from top to bottom, the Swayback Clasp, a Schrade Copperlock, the 2008 BladeForums Traditional Canittler by Canal Street, and the 2009 BladeForums Traditional Barlow by Queen/Schatt & Morgan.
Handle
The Swayback Clasp has bone handles crafted in a Morning Ash Worm Groove style. The scales are nicely finished but I don’t find the worm groove style all that attractive. I do like the nickel silver bolsters and caps, though -- especially the three line front bolster. The shield is a signature File and Wire. The liners are brass. The workmanship looks good.
Blade
The 3 1/4" blade is mirror polished in ATS-34 stainless at 59-61 Rockwell hardness. To me, the ATS-34 is a definite plus in the traditional knife world, where it seems like many nice knives have mystery steel, n unidentified carbon steel, or some version of 420 or 440. ATS-34 seems to hold a good edge, be reasonably easy to sharpen, and to resist corrosion. The Wharncliffe blade has a nice swedge at the top and an extra long nail nick.
Wharncliffe blades are a modified version of a sheepsfoot and are valued for their extra thickness at the tip and blunted end that helps prevent accidental penetration. I think an added benefit of the Wharncliffe in a slipjoint is that it helps prevent the accidental closures that happen most often when thrusting the point into something. As a practical matter, the Wharncliffe blade seems to provide as much utility for most tasks as any clip or drop point blade. Sailors certainly thought so when Wharncliffe blades were in their heyday.
As shown, the blade has as much graffitti as a New York City subway car in the 80's. The "Schatt & Morgan Cutlery Company, Titusville, PA" tang stamp competes with an etch on both sides of the blade. One side has a large "File & Wire" S&M logo and the other side has a smaller S&M logo with production date and serial number (along with another tang stamp). Overall, the writing is a little busy for me. I would prefer a cleaner look to the blade.
Introduction
I received a Schatt & Morgan File & Wire Swayback Clasp folder through the pass around here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...chatt-amp-Morgan-File-amp-Wire-Swayback-Clasp. According to http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com, the Schatt & Morgan Cutlery Company was founded in 1897, in Gowanda, NY. The company was subsequently acquired by The Queen Cutlery Company and the S&M brand ceased production in 1928.
In 1991, however, Queen Cutlery, brought back the Schatt & Morgan name as part of its first Heritage Series. Since then, Queen has released a new series each year and recently reached #20 in 2010. The “File & Wire” brand is reserved for select Schatt & Morgan knives and harks back to testing S&M performed on their blades in the 1920’s where they would cut a blade’s edge with a file and then test its performance against cutting wire. These days, the knives are made in Titusville, PA. You can learn more about Schatt & Morgan here: http://www.schattandmorgan.com/
Size
The Swayback Clasp is about 4 1/8th inches long when closed and weighs 3 1/2 ounces. Here is how it compares to some of my favorite traditionals/slipjoints:
The knives shown in the photo are from top to bottom, the Swayback Clasp, a Schrade Copperlock, the 2008 BladeForums Traditional Canittler by Canal Street, and the 2009 BladeForums Traditional Barlow by Queen/Schatt & Morgan.
Handle
The Swayback Clasp has bone handles crafted in a Morning Ash Worm Groove style. The scales are nicely finished but I don’t find the worm groove style all that attractive. I do like the nickel silver bolsters and caps, though -- especially the three line front bolster. The shield is a signature File and Wire. The liners are brass. The workmanship looks good.
Blade
The 3 1/4" blade is mirror polished in ATS-34 stainless at 59-61 Rockwell hardness. To me, the ATS-34 is a definite plus in the traditional knife world, where it seems like many nice knives have mystery steel, n unidentified carbon steel, or some version of 420 or 440. ATS-34 seems to hold a good edge, be reasonably easy to sharpen, and to resist corrosion. The Wharncliffe blade has a nice swedge at the top and an extra long nail nick.
Wharncliffe blades are a modified version of a sheepsfoot and are valued for their extra thickness at the tip and blunted end that helps prevent accidental penetration. I think an added benefit of the Wharncliffe in a slipjoint is that it helps prevent the accidental closures that happen most often when thrusting the point into something. As a practical matter, the Wharncliffe blade seems to provide as much utility for most tasks as any clip or drop point blade. Sailors certainly thought so when Wharncliffe blades were in their heyday.
As shown, the blade has as much graffitti as a New York City subway car in the 80's. The "Schatt & Morgan Cutlery Company, Titusville, PA" tang stamp competes with an etch on both sides of the blade. One side has a large "File & Wire" S&M logo and the other side has a smaller S&M logo with production date and serial number (along with another tang stamp). Overall, the writing is a little busy for me. I would prefer a cleaner look to the blade.
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