A little help

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robinbj

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Jul 29, 2015
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Schrade traditional knives come in a few "brands" or trademarks I guess. Old timer, Uncle Henry, and I guess Schrade without a subtitle...?

What are the differences amongst these various sub brands or trademarks and how does one go about deciding which to look into?

I'm thinking I'd like the Old timer series of knives especially the Cave Bear 70OT and prefer knives with a longer handle and blade length. My EDC modern is the Spyderco Tenacious, and a Roper Knives rp0001cbr. What suggestions might you have for me?
 
Well, there is US made Schrade, which went out of business in 2004.
The name was bought by Taylor, who puts that name on knives they have made for them in China. There is a huge history in the US Schrade Company, which I will not go into here. It is very complex and would likely take pages.

For the US Schrades, Uncle Henry knives are primarily stainless. Old Timer knives are primarily 1095 carbon steel. There are exceptions.

The Chinese Schrades are all stainless.
 
Yeah, I know the ny schrade story, I live about 45 minutes from where they were manufactured. I'm just starting my journey into trad knives and was hoping that I can differentiate the sub brands. I'm gonna still hunt down the usa NY knives for sure
 
Imperial was another of their brands, at a lower price point than the Uncle Henry and Old Timer. I think they had carbon steel blades.
 
A good place for Schrade information is the Schrade Collector's Forum, where some of the original employees hang out.
Forum > Manufacturer's Forums > Collector's forums > Schrade Knives Collectors Forum
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/732-Schrade-Knives-Collectors-Forum

Another good place is
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/

You should especially look at this page:
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/articles/articles.htm
There are several articles on Schrade history and the various Schrade companies.
 
I love the USA made schrades! You can get great condition ones on that one auction site for about $15-20 for full size knives like the 8OT or the 855UH (these two are my favorite, i have 8-9). People say rough riders are teh best way to test out pattern, I DISAGREE!! USA schrades are teh best way to test out patterns!! This thread needs pics!

Just look for the USA on the tang stamp "wink: an OT in the model # is old timer and UH is uncle henry. SCHRADE+ the plus means stainless I believe.
[URL=http://s1084.photobucket.com/user/tcbarr/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-07/20150728_095751.jpg.html]
20150826_102926.jpg
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robinbj said:
Schrade traditional knives come in a few "brands" or trademarks I guess. Old timer, Uncle Henry, and I guess Schrade without a subtitle...?

What are the differences amongst these various sub brands or trademarks and how does one go about deciding which to look into?
Click to expand...

If you're interested in purchasing original Schrade Old Timer or Uncle Henry knives, look for "USA" on the tang stamp. The Imperial-Schrade Corp went out of business in 2004 but luckily there are many to be found at the auction sites.

Generally, the Old Timers had carbon steel and "brown sawcut delrin" handles.
Generally, the Uncle Henry knives were stainless with plasti-stag (also delrin) handles.

There were also OT and UH knives done in bone, wood, and different colors of delrin.
Some OT models were stainless.

I'm thinking I'd like the Old timer series of knives especially the Cave Bear 70OT and prefer knives with a longer handle and blade length.
Click to expand...

The 6OT and 7OT are heavy clip point lockbacks designed to be carried in a sheath. The 51OT is a bit smaller, also lockback, with a drop point blade. There were also several models of 'folding hunter' patterns like the 25OT, 125OT, and 225OT. I believe these were all sold with a belt sheath.
 
Bob W said:
If you're interested in purchasing original Schrade Old Timer or Uncle Henry knives, look for "USA" on the tang stamp. The Imperial-Schrade Corp went out of business in 2004 but luckily there are many to be found at the auction sites.

Generally, the Old Timers had carbon steel and "brown sawcut delrin" handles.
Generally, the Uncle Henry knives were stainless with plasti-stag (also delrin) handles.

There were also OT and UH knives done in bone, wood, and different colors of delrin.
Some OT models were stainless.



The 6OT and 7OT are heavy clip point lockbacks designed to be carried in a sheath. The 51OT is a bit smaller, also lockback, with a drop point blade. There were also several models of 'folding hunter' patterns like the 25OT, 125OT, and 225OT. I believe these were all sold with a belt sheath.
Click to expand...
Brilliant thanks! I was certainly interested in the 70t because of its comparable size, and was unsure if I should invest in the older US blades or if the new productions weren't anything to worry about, sounds like the US is better and more reliable
 
afishhunter said:
Imperial was another of their brands, at a lower price point than the Uncle Henry and Old Timer. I think they had carbon steel blades.
Click to expand...

Most/all of the older Imperial USA knives I've seen were carbon steel. But when production moved to Ireland in the mid-1980s (forget the date) they all became stainless. Shortly before bankruptcy, Schrade closed the Ireland factory and started Imperial production in China (these are difficult to distinguish from the current imports, probably impossible if not still in the original packaging) and they were all stainless as well.

There was a Mexican Schrade factory as well that put out some Imperial knives. Carbon or stainless, I don't know.
 
robinbj said:
Brilliant thanks! I was certainly interested in the 70t because of its comparable size, and was unsure if I should invest in the older US blades or if the new productions weren't anything to worry about, sounds like the US is better and more reliable
Click to expand...

A tip for shopping for the 6-OT and 7-OT knives: if the tang stamp says Schrade+, the blade is stainless. If it doesn't have the "+" it could be stainless or carbon depending on the model and age. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/457242-6OT-tang-stamp-variation

6OTvariation.jpg

7OTtangstamp.jpg
 
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