165 OT's with No Tang Stamp - Update

B

Bridgeman

Joined
Oct 1, 2005
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A few months ago I started a thread about a 165 OT that my dad had given me, originally purchased at a hardware store about 1971 or 1972.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=424051

I have, since that time, purchased another unmarked 165 OT. On this one I noticed an odd grind near the guard. See picture:

Thickness.jpg


Upon closer inspection, it was obvious that the blade was slightly thinner in this area. I marked the blade every 1/8" and took thicknesses. Results below:

At the guard: 0.161"
1/8" 0.147"
1/4" 0.141"
3/8" 0.139"
1/2" 0.140
5/8" 0.140
3/4" 0.141
7/8" 0.141
1" 0.142
1 1/8" 0.144
1 1/4" 0.147
1 3/8" 0.150
1 1/2" 0.152
1 5/8" 0.153
1 3/4" 0.154
1 7/8" 0.157
2" 0.160

I have taken out my other unmarked 165 and notice the same dip in the grind line (please help with the technical term) up near the guard. It is much less noticeable, but it is there. I will post thicknesses later. I do believe that both MAY be 2nd quality. My older one has a loose guard and a dent on the top of the blade (although unused), and the one pictured above, on the other side of the blade, has an inconsistent texture to the steel.

Curious if anyone else has one of these which appear to have had the markings removed.

Bridgy
 
I just looked at the first fifteen examples, and the only one exhibiting the characteristics you described to any degree was, sure enough, the one without a tangstamp! You might be right in your theory about them being seconds with removed stamps. I've seen references to their policies for dealer-returned merchandise (credits, chargebacks, deductions), and the practice of re-inserting knives into the process for refinishing and oiling for resale. They don't mention removing stamps though. We also know they 'recycled' seconds with several different methods. 'X's' through the stamp, a line struck thru, and a hasty-rough grind thru, but I haven't noticed one where they went to the trouble to completely remove a deep strike like on the 165 pattern, then go to the trouble to refinish it.

My example without stamp does not have that 'wave' in the grind line to the same extent as yours, but when examined closely, it is there on the shield side. Has yours been re-tipped? Mine has not. And it has the standard flat-faced Schrade guard, not the thinner curved face Walden guard.

Michael
 
Michael,
It does not look to have been re-tipped. Blade length is 5 1/8". I will post photos and thicknesses of my other unmarked 165 tonight. It has the sabre grind (taught me a new word, thanks) and it is not as noticeable, but it is there.

Greg
 
Okay,
Here is the older one I received from Dad. It is not as noticeable, but you can still see the dip in the grind line at about 1 1/8" on the ruler and sloping down toward the guard. The thickness difference on this one is only 8 thousandths, from 0.162" to 0.154", and back to 0.162" at the guard.

IMG_0299.jpg


Bridgy
 
removing the tangstamp would result in the lowering of the grind in that area and the thin area in the spine. I think it's safe to say the stamps were removed for some reason or another.
 
Well.... I must concede, after closer inspection, in light of the new evidence shown here, that my old Old Timer 165OT Woodsman is in fact a factory second that has had the tang stamp ground off.

4c3eb5w.jpg

40078ki.jpg

2ldbogk.jpg


As you can see, the shoulder on the mark side is only about half the length of the pile side, not to mention the shot of the back that shows the difference in thickness near the tang.

Oh well, I only paid $10 for this knife and that was 20 years ago, so I guess I got my moneys worth out of it. Thanks Rick
 
The 165OT Woodsman is a good knife regardless. Whether as a user, or as a production example. These could have been DU or Craftsman, or some other SFO's left over in stock that were reworked to send as warranty replacement pieces, or they may have made their debut in the factory store for employee purchase. Still glad to have mine. And thanks for bringing this to our attention! Now, where are knives 19, 20, 21, and 22 lurking?

Michael
 
I Have A Folding Hunter Scrimshaw With The Tang Ground Off That I Got From An Old Employee Of Schrade It Had A Scratch On One Bolster She Told Me They Did That To The Seconds Dave
 
Didn't change my love for the knife one bit. Just discovered it and thought I'd share. Dad's is still a keepsake, and the first one pictured is still a great user!
 
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