1095 carbon LB7 knives? Does anyone own one? Did Schrade ever offer them?

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

I've heard that some early LB7 knives were made from 1095 carbon steel. My understanding is that (other than a sample or two that may have existed pre-production) the LB7 was always a stainless knife.

Does anyone here own a early 1095 carbon LB7?

Did Schrade ever market these?

Would "The LB7 was always made from Schrade+ stainless" be a fair general statement?

I might be very wrong on this but I don't think Schrade ever made carbon LB7 knives except for perhaps a pre-production sample or two or a unusual SFO. I'm sticking with "Schrade+ steel was used in the LB7" until folks start showing me some examples of carbon LB7s.

Thanks guys. If no one here or at AAPK can show me some pics of these knives I'm going to file them under "myth" for now.

 

[delmas2nd]

well thinking about it, the LB 7 has always been an Uncle Henry knife and these were always stainless (taking into account Schrade never did anything always). the lowest serial numbers we have seen have all had the + on the blade indicating stainless. but good question. i think the carbon blade was found on the 7 OT which is the same blade but in the Old Timer series. i do have a carbon blade in that type. and it was made same time frame as the early LB's.

 

[Codger_64]

well thinking about it, the LB 7 has always been an Uncle Henry knife and these were always stainless (taking into account Schrade never did anything always). the lowest serial numbers we have seen have all had the + on the blade indicating stainless. but good question. i think the carbon blade was found on the 7 OT which is the same blade but in the Old Timer series. i do have a carbon blade in that type. and it was made same time frame as the early LB's.

Actually, I can think of several Uncle Henry knives which were originally carbon steel.

 

[thawk]

I've never seen an LB7 with a SCHRADE USA LB7 stamp, or with a carbon steel blade either. Nor have I seen a carbon LB1,2,3,4,5,or 8.

I've had a couple of the early 28UH Schrade NY USA trappers with carbon blades. Only Uncle Henry folder I know of that was marketed as carbon steel.

 

[Dave Thinkstoomuch]

Actually, I can think of several Uncle Henry knives which were originally carbon steel.

To expand on that for any who may be interested, here's some links to early Uncle Henry ads. The 285UH, 165UH, 171UH were originally listed as having "high carbon cutlery steel" blades.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/SW-TO-1973/pages/SW-69-1.htm
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/SW-TO-1973/pages/SW-69-ads-2.htm

The 172UH first seen in the 1972 catalog doesn't say what steel is used so I'm not sure about what it was originally made from but I believe that at this time all Uncle Henry fixed blades were still carbon. Please confirm this if you can guys.

From 1973 to 1977 Schrade used the term "high carbon tool steel" to describe the Uncle Henry folders. I'm not sure exactly what they meant by that so I won't comment. http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/SW-TO-1973/pages/SW-73-58TLA-1.htm

It seems the first 153UH knives were carbon from 1973 until 1995. It appears these were also the last regular production carbon Uncle Henry knives. This knife had the "High Carbon Steel" designation to separate it from the other Uncle Henrys on and off in the catalogs up to and including 1995. In 1996 the Golden Spike is first described as being made from Schrade+ stainless.

1978 was when "Schrade+" terminology made it's first appearance in the catalog (at the time of the LB7 debut).

In 1985 the catalog first states all the Uncle Henry knives are made from Schrade+ stainless (except for 153UH).

The 1990 re-release of the 171UH pattern is designated as carbon in the catalog. It is gone from catalog in 1994. The 1990 re-release of the 172UH is designated carbon in the catalog. It is gone from catalog in 1994.

Please correct any errors I might have made and fill in any blanks if you can.