141 in "49ers" series

M

mhunter-51

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Oct 5, 2006
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Hello all. I've been reading this forum for some time and enjoyed collecting Schrade for several tears. This is a wounderful place to find info on the knives. I have a fondness for the 49ers series of knives and have a few new in boxes 498s along with several others. Two of my newest aquisitions are a couple of 141 models. I have not found any info on the 141 in the 49er series and realize they changed to the 491 ( same profile ). Here lies my guestion to those of you a lot more knowlegeable than I. Both the staglon and leather handled one have the Schrade-Walden over N.Y. USA over 141 stamping on the blade. Both have the krinkle hammered pommel and finger gaurd. The 141L has a 49ers stamped square bottomed sheath with a blade etching ( like the 153 super sharp ) of the 49ers logo with a VERY small 491L etching just below and to the right. It also comes with a OLD TIMER brown box that the fellow I bought it from says he got it in in 1973 or 74. He says it's original. The other staglon does not have etching on the blade but Scrade-Walden on blade with a plain square bottomed sheath without 49ers stamp. It also has a OLD TIMER brown box. My question is I didn't know 49ers came in 141 and not in old timer versions. Plaese enlighten me. Thanks for a great forum.
 
I have one of those knives too. I can only guess that there were 141 blades left in 1973 when they decided to introduce the Benchmade series, and they used them up on what would eventually be the 491's. For whatever reason, the 491 was not a very good seller, and was only made for a short while.


The eight Benchmade '49er patterns were as follows:
491L and 491S - 4 ½" modified Bowie clip, overall length 8 ½", predecessor pattern #141 Tall Tale
497L and 497S - 4 ½" sabre ground clip, overall length 8 3/4", predecessor pattern # 147 Hunter’s Companion.498L and 498S - 5" sabre ground skinning clip, overall length 9 1/4", predecessor pattern #148 Huntsman499L and 499S - 4 ½" sabre ground skinning clip, overall length 8 3/4", predecessor pattern # 137 Camper’s Favorite

Here is a bit of research I did on the Benchmades a while back:

The Benchmade 49ers introduced in mid 1973 were last listed in the catalogs in 1979, so for at least some of the patterns, there was a seven year production run. While all patterns in the series were introduced at the same time, the 491L&S, and the 499L&S disappeared from the series listings in 1976, so they were produced for only three years, making them more uncommon today. The 497L&S were listed one more year, being absent in 1977 for a four year production span. Only the 498L&S were listed in 1977, 1978, and 1979, making it the longest produced at seven years.

Michael
 
Thanks. The odd thing I thought was the double model markings on one, the 141 and the 491 on the same blade and the old brown Old Timer box. As stated earlier the knives don't have any cutler stamps but do have ' gold rush' style brass. Must be left overs. Thanks again and great informative site.
 
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