165 rescale

[Codger_64]

I purchased my first 165OT in the late 60's and it quickly became my favorite hunting knife. My original knife is still in good shape (thank you Schrade for replacing the lost shield without charge in '96!), but I have purchased several more of the same model over the years as they came my way.

It was a shame that Schrade had to discontinue such a well designed, well made knife.

I now have three. I am having one with damaged scales rescaled in bird's eye maple, and a 150OT Deerslayer and 152OT sharpfinger rescaled to match. A custom knife maker in Canada is doing the work for me.... I have the will but not the skill!

I am looking for a 154OT for the set, but don't want to rescale a NOS one. Does anyone have one with a good blade but damaged scales? And please tell me if I am in the wrong forum for such a question!

And one last question if you please. If I have another 165 rescaled in mammoth ivory, is there any chance of getting Frank G. to do me the honor of adding scrimshaw?

I told a friend to look for F.G.'s signiture or initials on his scrim sharpfinger bear. He told me that the sig was M. Barbour? How many artists did Schrade employ during the Ellenville years?

 

[lt632ret]

Frank has made it rather clear in the past that he would prefer to be left alone I will continue to respect those wishes. Schrade has had a few people do there scrim work your friend had a newer knife I believe that fellow came after Frank retired. The name in the scrim is a fairly common practice. I have quite a few 158 OT models on hand ( with the gut hook ). I think I am about out of the 154 model. Heck I only get 20 bucks for the 158 they both do not bring a lot more than that on ebay. Why not just buy a new one and have it rehandled. It is just a thought. I do not see why this forum would not be the place to look for or ask a question about a Schrade knife I would say that in the past the authors of these threads have ventured much further astray in subject matter. LT PS I snapped a couple of shots of some early work Frank did when he was learning his trade. He did both ( acid) etching and Scrim but seemed to find his real niche in the Scrim work. the 125 and 225 are Schrade Waldens the two blade is real jigged bone. These actually were pieces he practiced on. The Scrimmed knife is one he did for me when I hit 25 years on the job. I am proud to say that this particular knife was commissioned and awarded to me by (MYSELF) yes indeed no one else gave a damn so I had it done. I have posted a pic of it before but did so now since it is an example of original scrim work ( not stamped which is really what is sold only originals and prototypes were actually scrimmed the stamp was made from those original models.) Notice also the neat filework which though not visable in the pic is also on the inside liners. Also notice the bolsters on this and the 2 blade knife. Yup all I had to come up with was the money anyone can do that but the ability to create beauty like this comes from a higher authority.

 

[Codger_64]

Beautiful work LT! The man truely is a gifted artist. These were early works? Wow! And his wish for privacy is respected.

Maybe you are right about buying a new 154 for rescaling. I just have a natural aversion to altering a nice original knife. Perhaps it is not the "desecration" I make it out to be. And it will be nice to have a complete matched set of bird's eye maple scaled Schrade knives.

The Walden Deerhunter 165 I am having rescaled has a serial number, 16239. My other 165's don't. Were these numbered knives a part of a set, or early production? I think I have seen the Walden knives without serial numbers, but never a Ellenville knife with one.

 

[lt632ret]

Numbers can be found for many reasons. editions for clubs, special issues, ect however your knife has quite a large number so who knows?? Some people would pick number that was important to them and had new editions sent to them with that number on all there knives. Remember the first rule of Schrades and that is ( There are no rules, you are liable to find anything ). A while ago I picked up an Old timer with a John Primble tang. It was original ( one of the guys here found it on ebay and put me on to it since they knew that since I am quite odd I like odditys. The point being expect anything some things will have a reason ( like maybe it being a Monday morning and someone having a hangover and picking up the wrong blade ( Schrade contracted Primbles ). A lot of those reasons are gone but as a fellow I used to know would say it is what it is. LT ( I guess I should have said I don't know. )

 

[Codger_64]

Your answer was much more enlightening than a simple "I dunno" would have been. I appreciate your taking the time to fill me in a bit on the history of Schrade and particularly the 165 knives I have an ongoing infatuation with.

I guess I should be keeping my own eyes peeled for oddities like maybe a 1095 blade on a 165UH. I like those scales, but have an aversion to stainless.

And perhaps one of the more recently unemployed Schrade scrimshaw artists will see this and offer to do custom work. Though from what I have read hither and yon, there is an understandable degree of bewilderment and resentment among the former Schrade employees, and I suppose rightfully so.

I'll continue to dig up whatever info I can on "my" knife, and perhaps whatever official special editions there were. Thanks to you and the posts archived on this site, I know a lot more than I did a few weeks ago! Thanks LT!
Michael

 

[Codger_64]

The buyers on ebay are going nuts! I can't believe the prices they are paying for 142's, 165's etc. Guess I'll have to wait for the feeding frenzy to slow some. A NIB 165 just went well over 50! And a nice 142 just climbed past 35.