897 UH for whittling?

B

brians

Joined
Apr 22, 2006
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Looks like a pretty good three-blade configuration for whittling. Anyone shave some basswood with one of these as I'm considering a purchase? I would also welcome recommendations on other patterns that are proven successful.

Thanks,

Brian
 
Brian,
I gave up whittlin a long time ago when I found I could accomplish a lot more with my 16" Poulan. Lots less damage to the fingers but the legs sure take a beating now.

On the serious side the 897 is a great knife to do most hand work.

TTYL
Larry
 
I EDC an 897UH, and have for quite a few years. I don't whittle as a hobby, but I think the 897UH would work great for this. Worst case, you might want to reshape the sheepfoot and spey blades. Walt Garrison who represented Schrade as a while as a spokesman, was a whittler. I'll see if I can dig up some of the files I have on the knives he used.

Codger
 
Thanks for the feedback guys.

Codger - the spey shape is similar to a palmer carving-in-the-round knife I own, so thought that this blade, coupled with the sheepsfoot for inside corners, would provide quite a bit of carving flexibility. Also, the larger blade would allow me to bring it camping/hiking as both whittler and backup to my belt 15OT, thus reducing the load.

Thanks again - I'm now on the hunt....

Brian
 
Last MSRP in 2004 was $39.45, but you should be able to nab one for $20-25. I just got two discounted at a chain store in the Northeast for $13 each, which is about the going rate for a good used one on eBay right now.
Here is a scan of a few of my 897 patterns:


Good hunting!

Codger
 
G'Day..I've got a boxed set of 2 Warren Whittlers made by Schrade.I havnt used them they are mint but presume they are perfectly made for the purpose>Are there any threads you can direct to Codger? Hoo Roo
 
For whittling, the 897 is my favorite. I took up whittling when I quit smoking several years ago. The search for the perfect whittler ended for me with the 897UH. The blades are pretty close to perfect, but just as importantly (if not more so), the handle shape gets the blades that you aren't using out of the way (I found that the nearly sunk joint saved on a lot of wear and tear on my fingers). The only change I made to my late production (1990's) knife was to adjust the kick on the sheepsfoot blade, so that it sat lower when closed (most of the older ones seem to sit lower to begin with. I tend to alternate between the 897 and the Case 3318CV. Both have the same general feel, but the slightly different blade shapes/sizes come in handy. I hope you keep at whittling, keep in mind that it can be addictive. Enjoy.
 
Someone on here was looking for a set! I'm sure they'll step up soon.
 
Eric, ea42 here on BF is the person looking for a set of Warrens. Please give him first dibs Larry! If he doesn't buy them, email me!!
 
Codger,
I was wondering about the scale color on your 897, fourth from the left.Is that a non-dyed handle? I've got a Schrade-Walden premium stockman 881 with the same color handle. Picked it up from AG Russell, who said he heard it was a one of a kind color for that model, but I didn't see any proof. The actual knife is quite a bit lighter than the pics.
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Eric
PS I shrunk these photos 50%, and they're still huge! Sorry
PPS - Brians, didn't mean to hijack your thread
 
G'Day, I didnt mean I wanted to sell them I have been in Schrade collecting mode for 4 years now,I just wanted to point out that Schrade made specific whittlers,mine are in 2 sizes I think. I was asking Codger if this set had been discussed previously and if I could be directed to the the thread. Sorry for any misunderstanding. Hoo Roo
 
Sorry, Eric, I leapt before I looked! Are you looking for them for wood carving or collection??
 
Waynorth,
Just for the collection. My woodcarving days ended when I put a blade through the skin and muscle between my index finger and thumb big enough to put my pinky through.(Is that as confusing as it sounds?) Spent about three weeks and two bottles of hydrogen peroxide nursing it back together cause I was too stubborn to get it stitched.No problem with the knives, I've picked up a bunch of other stuff that should keep me busy for a while, maybe I'll post some in the next couple of days.Thanks again for keeping an eye out for them.
Eric
 
Ouch!
O.K. Eric, I'll keep a watch! I'm glad you still type though!
 
ea42 said:
Codger,
I was wondering about the scale color on your 897, fourth from the left.Is that a non-dyed handle? I've got a Schrade-Walden premium stockman 881 with the same color handle. Picked it up from AG Russell, who said he heard it was a one of a kind color for that model, but I didn't see any proof. The actual knife is quite a bit lighter than the pics...
Click to expand...

These can still be occasionally found. Names for them include "palomino" and "buckskin", unofficial descriptions of course coined by collectors and dealers. Schrade did a bit of experimenting with both the base Delrin color, and with the dyes when coming up with the combo used for the SW 897UH in 1966, the first UH. And color variations can be found in even the later produced UH line. That particular one is not a Walden. I've also found the tan base material used on the 885UH. Why there was little or no accent dye used on them is a mystery, but the ones I have, and others I've seen are indeed finished knives, not rejects. Occasionally an 897UH will surface with this base material that has been dyed, buffed and finished. The black one (5th from left) is darkly dyed and did not recieve the final cover buffing after assembly. I have several UH patterns of these (an 897UH, 834UH, and 807UH), and they came from an older collection, so were not from the post-7-04 auction. Since the knife covers were batch dyed, and the dyes changed in both composition and strength (it was up to operator judgement as to the length of the dye bath submersion, and when to refresh the dye), and the final cover buffing was done one at a time, some neat color variations can be found. Some interesting red and yellow hues can be seen on some.

Codger
 
yea, but aint them dang UH handles beautiful??? they are, in my opinion, the most beautiful handles schrade has evr produced besides some of the bone scales. i think thats the attraction of a UH, the handles. and damn they are tough too. thats why i got away from bone, drop it, it shatters, on these staglon handles, u aint got a worry as long as u treat it like a fine lady.(of course, i have dropped a few of those too!!!)

kris
 
You have to love that Delrin on the Uncle Henrys...

I think they made such a nice job of the colours and the finish.

I just got another 285UH and it is darker than my other one...

the same with the 897UHs that I have , they are all different colours.

This is part of the charm of the Uncle Henrys.

Got a buckskin 885UH and it is lovely.
 
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