# 863 question

navihawk

navihawk

Joined
Feb 21, 2006
Messages
4,677
I have a question about the 863's. I just bought one off Ebay, and the main blades spring doesn't go into tension when halfway open. It snaps open and closed,and seems to be strong in the open and closed position and sounds ok. Did they have this characteristic? blades are stained but no wear at all. I only paid twenty something for it so its a nice user. I'll post up some pick later. the tang says Schrade over N.Y. U.S.A., then the oval shield with SCHRADE stamped in it.
Thanks,
Steve
 
here's a pick of tha backspring...
P1010027.jpg
 
Navihawk - I have three of the Schrade 863 knives, and they function just like other pocket knives I have. all three of these happen to have very strong springs. I've had weak on the close, and on the open, but never no tension between the walk and talk, on an otherwise tight knife. :confused:
 
when i open the turkish clip to 1/2 way on my 861, the backspring is pushed up, well above edge of liners. doing the same on my 863, and the backspring just rises slightly above liners, but there is good tension on the blade.
i wonder if your knife was on display in the 1/2 open position ? it has to weaken the springs to just stay in the same position with tension on it for years. roland
 
Very possible. At least it snaps open when it goes past the corner of the tang and has good tension when it's open.The spring is strong abd the tang is shorter than the coping blades, which lends me to believe it is a defect from the factory.
 
Navihawk, i agree re short tang. if my 863 is "average" for this pattern, then tang is only just long enough to engage spring in 1/2 open position. if tang on yours is even 1 mm shorter it may just touch, but not put pressure on spring. roland
 
Thanks Roland.I'm takin a shine to it. It's in my pocket right now. The small clip looks like it wil be incredibly handy.
Steve

P1010028-1.jpg
 
I agree with you on the blade assembly on this knife, Navihawk. By nature I am a fan of the stockman, but with pattern, the small clip and coping blade might be more useful than the stockman's sheepsfoot and particularly the spey blade.

Ulster_63.jpg


Here's the same knive in a newer Ulster 63 (probably an end of days Ulster). Schrade and Ulster both made these in bone stag in the 50's with a sabre clip blade, with Schrade's etched KON-KAV. I'm still hunting for one of those.

I've had some people comment on why they put the coping blade up front instead of down with the smaller clip. I guess is was so big clip did not have to share a spring.
 
Nice Ulster.I like how the small clip has a lot of belly.
after seeing that Ulster, I'm addicted.
Hows the History? was it Ulster ,Schrade walden, Schrade, Ulster?
Thanks
Steve
 
navihawk said:
Nice Ulster.I like how the small clip has a lot of belly.
after seeing that Ulster, I'm addicted.
Hows the History? was it Ulster ,Schrade walden, Schrade, Ulster?
Thanks
Steve
Click to expand...

I believe the 63 I have was one of the last Ulsters, which I'm not sure of the year. Ulster and Imperial joined forces in 1942 and bought Schrade in 1946, then they continued to make Ulsters and Schrade Waldens after that into the 60's and 70's. Just not sure when the Ulster lines were completely discontinued. For sure Ulster started this balloon pattern with the 63. I found one once with a ground off tang that I EDC sometimes.

This Ulster 63 has the same handles, and almost the same blades as the Schrade NY 863 so I suppose it is from early to mid 70's. It is the only one Ulster I've seen with the same Delrin handles. The Schrade NY and Schrade USA versions are occasionally listed on Ebay. I rarely see any Walden's.

I could use a half stop on mine. I was taking a picture of one a few weeks back and took off some knuckle with the coping blade doing a three blade pose.
 
The coping blade on mine is snappy too.The small clip is tight between the liners but still snaps. What impresses me is every blade has zero blade play. I want more Schrades now. Problem now is getting outbid on them of the bay, and getting an older on is far and few between. I think I have Sargeants? book on Schrades up in the attic. I'll have to dig it up. The Ulster looks like a different finish other than the brushed look of the newer ones. What's that brushed look called?

P1010032.jpg

I like the spines on these. I saw a Camillus like it and wanted it.
P1010031-1.jpg

P1010030-1.jpg

P1010029-1.jpg


Whats funny is, I don't think it was ever sharpened. I had a fire out in the backyard and had a piece of maple I was whittling with it and it was still a little sharp.I think it was a tool box knife.
 
Last edited:
The Ulster knife was polished to a mirror finish (sometimes called Crocus), while most Schrades from this time peroid were polished with a glazed finish, where you can see striations. I like the glazed finish better. And you are right about Schrades, you have to be patient when bidding, or have a what the heck attitude. They are somewhat plentiful, although there is a new crew of bidders all the time, as collectors get the ones they want.
 
Won this earlier this week NOS complete in tube, I could of posted it it over in "what's your latest Schrade" thread, although posting it hear seemed more apt.

Schrade-Walden 863 with Sabre groung Clip blade, This one has no "Kon Kav" etch on the blade, not sure if the all the Sabre Clip blades were etched in the Open Stock series. I'm thinking that this was made just as Schrade dropped the Walden name, as the badge on the side reads Schrade only, just a guess!

Russell

dsc0304hb5.jpg
 
I like the way the 863 looks with the sabre ground blade. Great picture. No room for SCHRADE WALDEN on that skinny shield! :D I have not found a rhyme or reason to the shield engravings. I have seen 804 Schrade Waldens with SCHRADE WALDEN, SCHRADE, and a blank shield. :confused: I can say I really like it when the shield reads SCHRADE WALDEN. I see the 863 quite often, and a delrin Schrade Walden like that one is a scarce example, compared to the Schrade NY stampings.
 
Of all the 863's I've seen, they have all been with Schrade only tang stamps, glad I won this example, thanks for the comment on the pic thawk!

Russell
 
Nice one Rusty.
I can't figure out why mine has a lazy spring on the main blade.It snaps open and closed with a vengence but in the middle has no spring. I think they put the hole in the tang in the wrong place or something.
You should post it ovewr to the "whats your latest schrade" thread. Everyone likes eye candy.
 
Last edited:
If the hole was placed toward the back of the tang, that would do it for sure.

Russell
 
nice 863's guys--been carrying one in my pocket for last couple of years now. a sw version--bought it to carry. i like to spin it on the table!! i always found it interesting that one side of the blade is flat and the other side of the main is saber?----brady
 

Attachments

  • sw 863 my carry.jpg
    sw 863 my carry.jpg
    16.8 KB · Views: 17
Rusty1 said:
If the hole was placed toward the back of the tang, that would do it for sure.

Russell
Click to expand...

That's what it looks like Russell. When the blades are closed the tang is lower than the coping blades tang.Too bad they're out of buisiness, I could send it back for repair.
 
brady806 said:
nice 863's guys--been carrying one in my pocket for last couple of years now. a sw version--bought it to carry. i like to spin it on the table!! i always found it interesting that one side of the blade is flat and the other side of the main is saber?----brady
Click to expand...

Kind of like the old 294 pattern called the half-trapper. It had the same blade grind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top