805 Open Stock Research

[Codger_64]

The 805 “Open Stock” knife is first seen listed in the early 1950s with Stratawood handles, then later with jigged bone and then jigged Delrin. I was unable to unearth a direct predecessor in the Schrade Cutlery Co. Catalog E, but one might well exist. A 2 3/4" serpentine stockman pattern, the 805 featured a clip point blade, a sheepfoot, and a pen blade. From the earliest illustrations in 1953, the 805 appears as a part of the “Kon-Kav” series, a grouping of knives with hollow ground blades and identifying master blade etches bearing the series name.. A milled back is also mentioned, and plain federal style shield is shown. Later shields bore the “Kon-Kav” stamp. The 805 last appears in the 1975 catalog, as the Old Timer and Uncle Henry series more and more displaced the open stock knives. The plain ground pattern equivalent, the 808 survived a bit longer, but was also eventually dropped in favor or the Old Timer 108OT, introduced in 1964. I thought it was odd that both would continue to be produced and sold for so long, but the traditional jigged bone look of the 805 was popular for a long time after the sawcut Delrin was introduced.





Codger

 

[glennbad]

Nice bit of research, Codg...

I think I got one of those, but the etch on mine is long gone. A nice pattern, small enough to be used for delicate work, and big enough to handle the tough stuff too.

That's probably why it had endured so long...

Glenn

 

[orvet]

Codger,
Nice research! A really nice knife for $7.75 even in 1975! I wish I had bought a gross!