It does seem that of the ones available, more are mint. I think that the knives had a design flaw that contributed to their being withdrawn from production, though I don't know that for a fact. While interviewing an eBay seller of (by coincidence) a 165UH, I garnered some interesting insite, not only as to the Schrade way of doing business (standing behind their product), but also the aforementioned flaw.
"Here is a real collectors item. Up for bid is a Schrade Uncle Henry #165 UH. This is an extremelly well made knife with super balance. I cannot prove this, but this knife was given to me by the president of Schrade over a quality dispute with a lesser value knife. I got my pick of the Schrade line, and I chose this one because it was the best they made. It is used but in fantastic condition. Also comes sheath and sharpening stone. This really is a super quality knife."
Hype or truth? Let's ask, shall we?
"A very interesting story to go with this knife! And very believable, knowing Wally Gardiner also! Can you remember what year this was? This knife was produced between 1994 and 1997. Price was at that time $69.95. Of course, they kept production overruns in the plant for a long time."
So did he stick by his story?
"The story started in 1993 if I remember right. I bought a Schrade hunting knife they had just come out with, lightweight and thin. It broke on the first deer of the season. They replaced it with the same style knife which broke on the first deer it was used on. This started a 2 year battle between me and the company over poor quality knives. I didn't want another of the same, or my money back. I wanted a quality knife from a company I should expect it from. Finally after 2 years I was able to get ahold of Mr. Gardiner himself and present all of my communications, and responses from his company. He sided with me totally and told me to take my pick of any knife they made, and I chose this one. It was the best and just come out. He also gave me a second knife of his choice. Schrade, in my books, is still one of the best."
So far so good.
"Interesting. For my own info, do you remember which model gave you fits?"
Am I bugging the old gent? (I am speculating the knife was a 160OT Mountain Lion, flat ground and relatively thin, 1990-95)
"I really don't rember what model it was. They had just come out with it. It
was the "latest thing". I my self have cleaned literally hundreds of deer in
my lifetime too, it wasn't me that was breaking the knives. The blades would
break splitting the rib cage, hadn't even got to the pelvis. They were the
poorest quality for a hunting knife I had ever seen. They also quit making
them soon after from what I understand. Out of all the work knives I have
ever owned, this one is the best. It has cleaned it's fair share of deer and
hogs and still looks pretty new. It also keeps an edge like you wouldn't
believe. I hate to get rid of it but I can no longer get out and use it
anymore. So I thought I would pass it on. Please feel free to contact me more.
Thanks"
Maybe not. Let's keep at him. I love to pry!
"On the Uncle Henry's experience: Are you / were you by chance a boar hunter? I have some friends here in Tennessee who are hog guides. One of their sons made a fantastic kill on a huge boar with a knife. Our game police informed him it was illegal. Nothing prohibits it, but it is not specifically allowed in the regs."
Maybe he has some hunting stories.
"Yea, I'm a hog hunter/trapper from way back. That's where I get my name
piggman. Here in Texas you can kill them any way you see fit. Yall have
boars , the real thing. Most of what we have are ferral hogs. The biggest I
have under my belt went alittle over 800 lbs. That was one hell of a hog! We
have tried to get one by knife only, but haven't had any luck. We have
speared them though. Makes for an exciting night. Hell, the game wardens
here will help if they are having a boring night."
"I think if you were to regulate the way they were hunted down here, you'ld
probably get hung. It is one of the only large animals you can still make a
really sporting kill of without the "GREENIES" coming down on you. However,
if some "GREENIE" group ever tried to make a public heartbreaking deal of
it, they would probably make the protected list. Poor little piggies. These
things are very destructive to crops and other wildlife like turkey and
deer. Plus, they can get mean. So far the do gooders haven't sunk their
claws that far, but it won't be long."
So that is the story that comes attached to a Texas hunter's 165UH that resides now in Codger's cabin in Tennessee. Yeah, I like knives with a history. Worn handles from a man's sweaty palms. Patina on even a stain-less blade from butchering deer and wild hogs for a decade. The knife outlasting the man. Not a pretty knife, but one that has a tale to tell. Eight hundred pounds? Dang! That was Uncle Festus' mule!
Well, I won the knife, and when it arrived in the mail, while the sheath shows it's miles, the knife was actually near mint! It took a while with jeweler's rouge, but the blade still shows it's original crocus finish, and the handle is not nearly as faded and rough as the picture suggested. I cleaned and polished the brass guard, and the nickle silver rivets and Uncle Henry shield. It looks good enough to display with my older one that is indeed mint. The older one was made in 1969-70.
Incidentally, there is another 165UH out there which could be a third production run, albeit not cataloged. This one is sans shield (not molded or jigged into the handle), and the only ones I have seen with papers indicate post '98 production. Perhaps one of the former employees can enlighten us? Was it an unclaimed SFO? A unused DU adaptation of unused blade overruns? Warranty replacement stock? Notice the hollow ground blade.
Codger
