Here is a re-post of a study I made of some Bruin patterns I had. This was posted in another forum, but I don't think I posted it here. Forgive me if it is a repeat.
I am intrigued by the Schrade Bruin pattern. I have six different model numbers of the Bruin in my collection; 5UH, 50UH, 55UH, 5OT, 5OTG (green) & 55OT. I have found them listed in various Schrade catalogs as 3-1/2 in., 3-3/4 in., & 4 in.
According to my calipers all of them measure 3-3/4in.
I also measured the top edge of each blade at the tang for thickness, using a micrometer. The difference is .0055 in. IMO, a difference of just 5.5 thousands is well within the tolerances explained by different batches of steel from different suppliers.
Remembering also, that these various models were made over a 17 year period, from 1987 through 2004 and the thickness of steel available may also have varied.
5UH -.089"
50UH- .092"
55UH- .0875"
5OT- .093"
5OTG- .093" - Schrade+ stainless
5OTG- .092" - carbon steel
55OT- .089"
The differences as I see them are:
5UH & 50UH: Both are lockbacks. The only appreciable difference is the tang stamp. Both have nickel silver bolsters.
55UH: Like the 5UH & 55UH except it is a brass liner lock as opposed to a lock back. It also has a brass lined lanyard hole. It has nickel silver bolsters.
All the Uncle Henry variants are hollow ground & have Staglon handles with nickel silver UNCLE HENRY shield.
5OT; Lockback like the 5UH, 50UH & 5OTG. Has nickel silver bolsters, brown saw cut handles & nickel silver OLD TIMER shield. Blade is flat ground. The 50UH & 5OT (in stainless steel) seem to have deeper cut nail nicks than the other knives, but this could possibly be explained by an adjustment of the machine that cut the nail nicks.
5OTG; Lockback like the 5OT, but with green saw cut Delrin handles, brass bolsters & brass OLD TIMER shield. The blade is flat ground, both the stainless steel & carbon steel version as well. I have at least one in my collection that is made from carbon steel. This is the only version that I personally have an example of that is made in carbon steel, though I would imagine that some of the earlier 5OTs were likely made of carbon steel.
55OT: This pattern is called the Bruin Ext in the 2002 & 2003 catalogs. It is also known as the Blade Lifter. It has green saw cut Delrin handles, brass bolsters & brass OLD TIMER shield. It has a brass liner lock like the 55UH as well as the brass lined lanyard hole. The mark side has a brass thumb stud for opening & no nail nick. There is also a small circular notch cut in the mark side Delrin handle to accommodate the thumb stud.
The blade is flat ground only on the back side, with a final sharpening on both sides.
An interesting note about the 55UH is that a Swinden Key holds the blade in the front bolster. I assume the 55OT also employs this system, though I didnt have one handy that I wanted to cut apart. All the other variations of the Bruin have a plainly visible pivot pin.
The dates of production, as per Schrade catalogs are:
5UH- 2003-2004
50UH- Unknown, does not appear in any Schrade catalogs.
55UH- Not in Schrade catalogs, but was a 2002 special edition for Wal-Mart- (See Robert Clemente, A Catalog History of Schrade Knives, pg 14)
5OT- 1987-1998
5OTG- 1991-2003
55OT- 2002-2003
http://
Top to bottom in the scan are:
5UH
50UH
55UH
5OT
5OTG (Schrade+ steel)
5OTG (carbon steel)
55OT
I hope someone finds this study in a pattern interesting.
Dale
