An Old Timer Classic, confirm or reject?

[Bob W]

Here's a knife that sold on eBay recently. There was only one bid and the final price was very low.

Based on the pattern, handle, shield, stamped bolsters, and tang stamp I think it's an Old Timer Classic OTC80.

But it's missing the Everlasting Sharp blade etch. It also didn't come with the OTC tin or factory paperwork, even though the condition is absolutely mint.

My first thought was that it was a factory second and bumped off the line before getting the etch. But the fit and finish is perfect, better than the average Schrade in fact.

My second hypothesis was that someone had removed the etch. But I can find no evidence that the blade has been altered in any way. There aren't even marks from repeated opening and closing. And there is no evidence of buffing - the finish on the main blade looks exactly like the others.

Can anyone offer a third explanation? Is it possible this knife isn't an OTC, but rather from some other series? Is there something 'wrong' with the knife that would have chased off other bidders? Maybe it was sold as a Second simply because it lacked the blade etch?

-Bob

 

[thawk]

My guess is a good deal. I see schrades all the time that are missing an etch. I for the life of me can't understand how some knife gets a ton of bids and others get none. Sometimes the explanation is hard to figure. I see it sometimes when there are a ton of views on the counter.

Sometimes I think it is the same reason why people may choose not to eat an empty restaurant if they've never been there.

Another thing is that when a knife like this comes up and there is something a little wierd, there is hardly ever an original box.

In my experiences on ebay, I've never had a surprise off of a good picture, and that's a nice looking 8OT to me.

 

[El Lobo]

Hi Bob,

I happen to have the same knife without the etch...or a shield.....

I got mine from a fellow who picked it up at the Schrade factory. I suspect that pattern is around in various stages of dress/undress, as it were. It is a very well done knife. If that one is yours, it looks to be a nice score for sure. :thumbup: :thumbup:

Bill

 

[redshanks]

I've given up trying to figure out the anomalies I've seen in Schrade knives. I also have Schrades that didn't quite make it to whatever they were destined to be and are missing something. Frankly, I prefer knives without the etchings on the blades and the shields on the handles. You got that one for a real bargain.

 

[Bob W]

Thank you for sharing your observations, Thawk. One other thing I've noticed, the ordinary brown plastic Old Timers get more bidding attention than the higher-quality limited editions!

-Bob

 

[Bob W]

I happen to have the same knife without the etch...or a shield.....

Well, if it didn't have a shield, it couldn't hardly be considered an Old Timer, and I wouldn't have bid on it.

If that one is yours...

The scan above is my own; the auction photo wasn't very good at all.

Frankly, I prefer knives without the etchings on the blades and the shields on the handles.

I don't care for blade etchings either, in general. With the jigged bone handles and fancy shields, the extra etch on the OTC series was completely unnecessary. But with the "Compliments of Schrade..." knives, the blade etch is the only thing that seperates them from 'normal' Old Timers.

Since I collect Old Timer knives, the shield in this case is critical. The OTC series didn't have an OT tang stamp, so the shield is really the only thing that makes them "Old Timers." If that makes sense...

You got that one for a real bargain.

I'd say so too, about half the price as a similar current-production Case knife from a discount dealer.

Here was the auction. Note the category where the item was listed. And note that the description doesn't say "Old Timer Classic."
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...MEWN:IT&viewitem=&item=200089743145&rd=1&rd=1

-Bob

 

[thawk]

Thank you for sharing your observations, Thawk. One other thing I've noticed, the ordinary brown plastic Old Timers get more bidding attention than the higher-quality limited editions!

-Bob

You are on the money with that. Last night I bought a Herman Williams custom stag 98OT for $62.00 (4 bids) and I've seen a lot of stock OT's go for more than that lately.

Go figure.