7-OT handle variation.

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rprocter

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i have just received my first Schrade 7-OT, an ebay purchase. it does not appear to have been used, but the bolsters (esp. other side from shown in pic.) are tarnished, so it is not new. at first i thought it might be a Schrade Taylor, but the tang: SCHRADE/U.S.A. 7-OT is shown in threads here as an older (?) variant of 7OT. however, with mine the middle handle pin is to the right of the OLD TIMER shield. all the others i have seen (here, on ebay, and the new Taylor ones on SMKW website), the middle pin is below the E in TIMER on the shield. at this early stage of my Schrade knowledge, i could still be fooled into thinking that a Taylor made Schrade was an Ellenville made Schrade. i don't think that's the case here, but the handle pin is different, so i wonder what's up. Roland
 
It's genuine.

Some Flitz will get those bolsters looking good again. Don't store it in the sheath.
 
The pin arrangement did change several times. Exactly when, I couldn't say. First, they had four visible pins. Then three, then the spring pin moved further back. This is the best I can surmise from the ads and photos in my archive. I'll see if I can do better.

Michael
 
i have just seen another 7OT with the same pin configuration on ebay. it however, is rather beat up. the other difference is at the kick which on mine angles towards the bolster, and there is a choil, which is absent on most 7OT blades (same for LB7s). so, i assume there was there more than 1 blade pattern that was used over the years for both the 7OT and LB7 (minor difference only) ?
i have been handling this 7OT all evening. what an impressive solid knife. and the blade lockup is 100% tight. this knife is completely unused, the liners are spotless, not a speck of lint or grit. just one side of bolsters is tarnished, i think from sitting in the sheath from the day it was made. sheath is unused too. all for $11.50 ! it's amazing. until about 2 months ago i had very little knowledge of Schrade and no idea you could get such good deals on knives. now i'm hooked. i've got 6 LB7s, one, a Sears 95416 was a little expensive, but the other 5 average out to $18.40 each and they range from mint to VG. i haven't had this much fun since my 3rd daughter was born ! and thanks to many here for helping me with this great hobby (obsession).
 
Regarding the pin that the back spring pivots on - I too have noticed that the pin slid more towards the middle of the handle on the more recent LB7s. I bought close to 40 LB7s throughout my Schradeitis and could line them up and really study the changes over time. From an engineering standpoint, the closer the pin moves towards the middle of the handle, the harder it is to "unlock" the knife. The pin configuration that you have on your most recent 7OT is the most deireable in my opinion. When you also consider the phenominally sweet price of less than $12, I'd say you should probably keep it or give it to me!
 
1980 flyer:



The pattern was discontinued after 1981. It was reintroduced then years later circa 1990-91. The Schrade flyer 1990:



 
well thanks Codger, that is amazing; what i mean is how detailed and thorough your posts are. it also seems it is the Schrade way; just when you think you have found a slight difference that will allow you to place a knife in a certain time period, you then find there are exceptions, so things are narrowed down, but not nailed down.
am i correct that there were blade variations for both the 7OT and LB7 over the years ? roland
 
i jave just noticed that '79 and '80 7OTs are 4 pin and when re-introduced in 90/91 were 3 pin, with the middle pin moved to under shield between then and ~2000. i did not know that there were any 7OTs before 1991. anyone have a '79 or '80 7 OT ?
 
rprocter said:
Am I correct that there were blade variations for both the 7OT and LB7 over the years ? roland
Click to expand...

Yes. I haven't delved as deeply into the 7OT pattern as I have the LB-7, but there are slight changes not only in construction but in blade stock thickness and profile. The changes are not readily apparent with the blades. The shift from 1095HC to stainless, one stainless to another, and the introduction of fine blanking caused the most apparent changes. I would have to dig out my LB-7's covering the full length of production to give more specific answers. Currently I am puzzling over a serial number anomoly I have run into. It suggests more than one manufacturer/assembler of the LB-7. My lone 7OT is packed away with them, so I'll examine it at the same time whenever the latest LB-7's arrive.

Michael
 
believe it or not, but i think this anomaly you mention is quite exciting and i look forward to hearing about it. i have around 10 LB7s now (some still on the way) and at least 4 have serial #s. you have previously explained how to spot the Camillus/Sears model, but that is stamped "SEARS" not LB7. so, i'll watch for post as are many others i'm sure
 
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