137 with a steel guard

[relodr36]

Buying on eBay is like picking mushrooms - you don't know what you're going to find.
Recently,I got one from an ad that described the knife "This is a 8 inch schrade walden knife with what loks to be a good leather handle
this knife is in used but good condition" .The attached picture was pretty dark,as shown in the ad.
Turns out it was a 137.

As you can see,the tang stamp is not on the obverse side and there is some heavy pitting in one area.I don't see any signs that it was ever sharpened.
I did a search on here and found some info in old posts that said it was produced from 1947-73.
The guard on this knife is steel,and not aluminum,like Codger's "Wonda-Edge".A magnet grabs it aggressively.Was this model ever produced with a brass guard.
The aluminum pommel will rotate about 5-10 degrees.Maybe a new pin would cure that,but it's not that bad that I want to mess with it.
The leather handle shows a couple "shrinkage" seperations.I tried some Lexol,but maybe a soaking with neatsfoot would do better.Any recommendations on the handle?
Thanks,
Ron

 

[sheathmaker]

The patient mutiple application of neatsfoot several days apart would probably do more good than anything. It would slowly "refill" the fibers with moisture and return it to more normal as the fibers fill up. . It didn't get in that condition over night and it won't return rapidly either, if at all, but the neatsfoot sure won't hurt it. It will make it darker.

Paul

 

[Codger_64]

I could be mistaken, but I believe the '47-'73 reference was to the Schrade-Walden tangstamp, not this particular pattern. I can only trace it back as far as the late fifties/early sixties. And as late as early '73. After that, the '49ers series was introduced replacing several older knives with new renditions of the patterns. The 137 looks a lot like the 499L '49er, but with reprofiled handle, flat brass buttplate, and I think a brass guard.

Since the 137 Camper's Favorite was made for about fifteen years, I would not be surprised to see one with a brass guard, or with Wondawood handle. Or with a tungsten carbide blade. Or in stainless.

Codger

 

[relodr36]

Paul,
Thanks for the neatsfoot guidance. That stuff sure has a unique odor of it's own. Not as bad as the hoof-lure we make,but unique.
Codger,
As usual,you came up with more info on a pattern than I could find in the archives! Thanks!

I ordered Robert Clemente's book,a copy of Goins marks,and a couple other books by Levine,Parker,etc. so it's possible that I won't have to ask as many dumb questions next year.

BTW,Dale pointed out this item

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6598823056&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

Sure looks like a heckova price for what looks like a folder insert - or is this redneck missing something?

 

[Codger_64]

.....I ordered Robert Clemente's book,a copy of Goins marks,and a couple other books by Levine,Parker,etc. so it's possible that I won't have to ask as many dumb questions next year.

There are no dumb questions. We don't always have the answers, but when a question is asked, collectors all over the country go looking for the answer. In their collections, archives, and on their bookshelves. We all learn when questions are asked. As for myself, every time I post an answer here, I learn at least one thing new about that pattern. Ask away!

Codger:thumbup: