tongueriver
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- Dec 28, 2007
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Here is some documentation for a 126 OT Mustang linerlock folding hunter. Michael has written up some info on these knives, but I thought I would post some terrible pictures to show the packaging, etc. The knife was in a little plastic sleeve, and the box had a plain white card stock sleeve. Hope this helps someone's research. By the way, if a person doesn't download these pictures, they tend to disappear from photobucket et al, whenever the client decides to delete them. First of all, some research by "Codger":
In early March of 1991, an order was received by Tim Faust, products Manager at ISC Ellenville, from the European sales office for five special Old Timer patterns for export only. These knives, designated Product Family - Old Timer Europe, were the 19OT, 126OT, 226OT, 512OT, and 518OT, all based upon domestic patterns, but with unique tang stamps and stainless blades. All were specified to be placed in black varnished boxes with gold imprinting, and packed with a standard OT/UH brochure.
The ISC production records revealed another part of the story:
The records for 1991 indicate only 25 shipped, and none shipped for the following four years. But the total inventory of 2,181 pieces produced dwindled from 2,156 to 1,077 to 221 to 0, indicating that they were salted into the regular 152OT production to unload the excess inventory for which there was no market beyong the initial 25 sent out in 1991. Their appearance on the U.S. market in regular production boxes supports this theory. The fact remains that while they are uncommon, they were not an error, except in judgement perhaps of the European sales office and the factory New Products Office for tooling up the order and running off 2,000 pieces (plus the normal 200 pc. +/- over run). Ditching them in the regular production boxes was a smart move in recovering the production costs, less the cost of the new tang stamp. No one really noticed the difference on the retail end, except that the order used stainless blading, the odd stamp. These did not have the later introduced stainless blades with hollow grind.
Once we knew what to look for, the relative rarity of the Europe Old Timer knives became more apparent.
19OT - A two blade pen knife, stainless blades and springs, OT handles.
Est. Qty. 1991: 600
Total Produced: 1,835
Total shipped to Europe: 251
126OT - One blade Mustang, stainless blade, OT handles, same knife as 125OT except stainless.
Est. Qty. 1991: 1,000
Total Produced: 1,483
Total shipped to Europe: 637
226OT - Same knife as 225OT except stainless.
Est. Qty. 1991: 500
Total Produced:
Total shipped to Europe: 953
(A subsequent order for this pattern appeared in 1994 for 500 pieces)
512OT - Same knife as 152OT except stainless.
Est. Qty. 1991: 750
Total Produced: 2,181
Total shipped to Europe:25
518OT - Same knife as 158OT except stainless.Est. Qty. 1991: 600
Total Produced: 2,246
Total shipped to Europe: 26
And here are my horrible pictures:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w65/potterkenyon
/126OT001.jpg
In early March of 1991, an order was received by Tim Faust, products Manager at ISC Ellenville, from the European sales office for five special Old Timer patterns for export only. These knives, designated Product Family - Old Timer Europe, were the 19OT, 126OT, 226OT, 512OT, and 518OT, all based upon domestic patterns, but with unique tang stamps and stainless blades. All were specified to be placed in black varnished boxes with gold imprinting, and packed with a standard OT/UH brochure.
The ISC production records revealed another part of the story:
The records for 1991 indicate only 25 shipped, and none shipped for the following four years. But the total inventory of 2,181 pieces produced dwindled from 2,156 to 1,077 to 221 to 0, indicating that they were salted into the regular 152OT production to unload the excess inventory for which there was no market beyong the initial 25 sent out in 1991. Their appearance on the U.S. market in regular production boxes supports this theory. The fact remains that while they are uncommon, they were not an error, except in judgement perhaps of the European sales office and the factory New Products Office for tooling up the order and running off 2,000 pieces (plus the normal 200 pc. +/- over run). Ditching them in the regular production boxes was a smart move in recovering the production costs, less the cost of the new tang stamp. No one really noticed the difference on the retail end, except that the order used stainless blading, the odd stamp. These did not have the later introduced stainless blades with hollow grind.
Once we knew what to look for, the relative rarity of the Europe Old Timer knives became more apparent.
19OT - A two blade pen knife, stainless blades and springs, OT handles.
Est. Qty. 1991: 600
Total Produced: 1,835
Total shipped to Europe: 251
126OT - One blade Mustang, stainless blade, OT handles, same knife as 125OT except stainless.
Est. Qty. 1991: 1,000
Total Produced: 1,483
Total shipped to Europe: 637
226OT - Same knife as 225OT except stainless.
Est. Qty. 1991: 500
Total Produced:
Total shipped to Europe: 953
(A subsequent order for this pattern appeared in 1994 for 500 pieces)
512OT - Same knife as 152OT except stainless.
Est. Qty. 1991: 750
Total Produced: 2,181
Total shipped to Europe:25
518OT - Same knife as 158OT except stainless.Est. Qty. 1991: 600
Total Produced: 2,246
Total shipped to Europe: 26
And here are my horrible pictures:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w65/potterkenyon
/126OT001.jpg
