A Pro of a different color

Codger_64

Codger_64

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I recently received a 147OT that I had been after for some time, thanks to a trade with another forum member. The handle is definately a different color, often described as maroon, I've decided the color mix was intended to produce brown, which this one most closely resembles. The knife came to me in a bonus clampack, the card printed 147OTCP, as normal, but with a white sticker covering the marking and barcode, an additional sticker added: 147OTCP8. The "8" refers to the TM8 Tradesman shears added to the rear of the clampack. The rear half of the clampack and sticker being the only changes made to the card. The card itself is the familiar latest beige background with blue "Old Timer" header with SCHRADE lettering on a diamondplate motif along the left side, two small outdoor scenes, the American flag over "Made in the U.S.A.", and "Schrade Tough" logo on the bottom. The insert paper is the #7180711 copyrighted 2002.

The included shears were a surprise, both pleasant and unpleasant. Firstly, I had not expected them, but they do appear to be usable game shears. Secondly, while examining them to look for a model stamp, I found the blade stamped "Stainless Steel" over "China", not the Irish origin I had expected. This is just one more indication of Imperial Schrade's move of European production to China, first seen with the printing of the boxes and clampack cards denoting Chinese origin, as is the card in this clampack. Since this knife came from old stock in a small town hardware or farm store in the Pacific Northwest, not eBay, it is definately not an "End of days" concoction, nor a Chitaylor product.

From the Schrade catalog: “Old Timer Safe-T-Grip, designed by outdoorsmen, for outdoorsmen, offer the most efficient locking, skinning, and fillet blade styles with ergonomically correct “Safe-T-Grip” handles. All blades are constructed from Schrade+ Stainless Steel. All fixed blade models are “full tang” construction for superior strength. The textured handles are crafted from non-slip TPR (thermoplastic rubber) which allows a sure grip in any weather condition. The Safe-T-Grip lockblades offer some of today’s most asked for features including one hand opening and closing for righties and lefties! All Old Timer Safe-T-Grip knives are proudly made in the U.S.A. and feature a limited lifetime warranty.”

What is TPR? From Engineering News -- Design News trade magazine:

After scouring the market for material that offered processibility, quality, appearance, and durability, the companies settled on thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). The winning material: the DYNAFLEX© line of KRATON©-based TPEs supplied by GLS Corp. The material, according to Mike Funk, CPC president, adapts readily to the company's multi-shot (two material) molding machines.

147OT Pro Fisherman - The 147OT Pro Fisherman listed for $29.95. It had a 12 5/8" overall length and weighed 4.5 ounces. The blade was a flat ground 7 5/8" Schrade+ stainless fillet. The standard green molded TPR handle was the same component used on the 141OT. The sheath for this pattern was 11 5/8" long overall. The tangstamp was SCHRADE+ over U.S.A. 147OT. It was produced a total of twelve years. This pattern is one which may be found with the black handles and 147OTB designation. It was also sold in a clampack as the 147OTCP, and was used for several SFOs (Special Factory Orders), including Ducks Unlimited, NWTF, RMEF, and I am sure several others, both in sets with other Safe-T-Grip patterns, and individually.

More than you wanted to know, probably, but there it is! Now, if I could just find the 146OT and orange handle, my frame of the Safe-T-Grip series would be complete!
Codger
 
The shear were always from China. The TPR handle was originally Kraton, the last version called for Versalloy. TPR is a compound that simulates rubber that can be injection molded. I'm not positive, but I would guess the color was supposed to be burgandy.
 
I've seen some that really looked burgandy. This one is more brown than the one I had seen before, and I suspect they may all be the same target color, but with wide variances in hue. I think Robert Clemente has one that is truer burgandy, but he is in the middle of finals week, and I'll not bother him now. Anyone else have one? Were these colors batch mixed, or ordered from special color stocks? Interesting about the material changes. Until I researched this, I didn't realize the TPR was overmolded over polyethelyne for stiffness. I'll have to take one of the handles to the machine shop and get it sectioned for the display.

Codger
 
Codger,
I've got the exact same item,probably from the same friend.
I'm not about to open the clampak and you sure can't see any mention of China showing from the outside!
Ron
 
No, the shear stamp is turned inward, so you only see the Tradesman etch side. The only mention of China seen is on the bottom back of the card where it says "product made in USA Card printed in china". I am first seeing the shear catalog listing in 1993, indicating more than ten years of product importation from the Chinese manufacturer for that particular product.

I usually don't open clampacks when I have a duplicate from a box, but this knife is needed for mounting with the other patterns and handle colors in a frame. Knowing that many won't open them, but want the fullest information on what they have acquired is another reason for me to open this one. The only unclampacked knife I have seen is Robert's, and I can't for the life of me remember the pattern, but I don't think it was a fillet knife.

Codger
 
Codger_64 said:
Until I researched this, I didn't realize the TPR was overmolded over polyethelyne for stiffness.
Codger
Click to expand...

This was a change in the last year when the molding of this part shifted first to Ireland, then China. It was not for stiffness, but for cost savings (I know weren't they saving enough getting the parts made out of the country?). Prior to that the handle was solid TRP.

The color of your handle may have been black at one time. There was a problem with the black material at one point. I think it was degrading I don't remember the whole story or what the resolution was only that it was just the black colored Safe-T-Grip TPR handles (but not the Elk's)
 
Engineering News -- Design News, August 2, 1999

Now, some of Schrade's latest products have handles that feature a polypropylene base overmolded with the TPE to form the one-piece Safe-T-Grip© handle..... Schrade and CPC officials admit that the handles went through several iterations before going into full production. "We experimented with the idea of using two dissimilar polymers, one soft to provide a non-slip grip and the other to ensure or enhance rigidity and strength," Funk explains. "Our greatest concern after deciding upon polypropylene as the hard material was to find a grip-like material that would adhere to polypropylene and never fail."

This is the 1999 article I was refering to. I realize it does not refer actually to the 1993-1999 production, or does it? Or did the CPC engineer get misquoted?

Codger
 
Codger,
Mine is pretty reddish,so I'll say it's burgundy.
The same feller picked me up one in the loder tan(with black end) box and it's black.
Ron
 
If you'll watch the ones on eBay (all patterns) you'll see some with molded shields with other names. DU seemed to prefer the black, RMEF the green, but many of the SFOs limited themselves to etches.

Codger
 
Codger_64 said:
This is the 1999 article I was refering to. I realize it does not refer actually to the 1993-1999 production, or does it? Or did the CPC engineer get misquoted?
Codger
Click to expand...

I Believe they were probably talking about the 43OT or 47OT, but maybe your records are better than mine.
 
The person representing the company may well have been. I don't have those records, and understand the requirements for the frames of the 43,47,49OTs rigid frames.
43OT Pocket Beast LB 1997-2004
47OT Beast LB 1997-2004
49OT Rhino LB 2002-2003

The article was just about Schrade's TPR handles, and no particular patterns were pointed out, though they did at one point mention a pocket clip as one feature. So you are saying the fixed blades weren't co-molded, or were with a poly filler?
 
There was an Australian seller on e-bay that had two 147OT's with the bright orange handle. I bid on them but they both sold for over $25 US plus shipping of 8-10 dollars or more.
 
He's the only one I have seen with the 1476OTOs, but the 141 and 142OTOs are on most times stateside. He must have bought a case or two of them.
 
I like the orange, with the shoe string,
wccoxd.jpg
 
Congrats! Orange is the only color I still need. I'll get an orange 141OT to go with the other color mixes, the 147 burgandy being the only one in a different pattern.


And I finally got my mint 146OT Minimum-Flex Fillet. You wouldn't think those would be so hard to find, but only five years of production, so they are uncommon.


Codger
 
Upstream,
You sure won't lay that one down beside a stream and be unable to find it!
That is sunglasses orange! :D

But I like it.......
 
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