Could you help with a old knife SCHRADE 171UH ?

[kniferookie]

Hello, I have not much knowledge of knives. I buy old cool looking stuff to resell on ebay, usually pottery which is my specialty. I thought this looked neat for resale but all I can find are newer knives that don't seem to look at all like this one. All I can tell you is that I found it at a yard sale smack dab in the middle of nowhere in washington state and that the lady selling it said her deceased husband had carried it for a very long time. Searching around it seems it is called a 'uncle henry' knife. It is marked on the blade 'SHRADE 171UH'. It is quite well used, there are scrapes and dents on the brass parts, but it seems really well made and all is intact and nothing is broken. I see that many collector seem to like new knifes that are unsharpened, but this one I can tell you is well sharpened and probably many times over. Overall length is 10" ( a tad under) and blade is just under 5 1/2" . I think it originally must have been 5 1/2" blade but sharpening and use over years now it is 5 7/16". The sheath is with it and of a thick leather. Could it be possible someone here could tell me something of this knife or the age? All I can find out is that Schrade is out of business apparently and that they've been around for some time, i've heard of the company before, but I just don't know a lick about knives. Thanks for yoru time. I have enclosed some links to photos of my knife. Also, since it is well used would that mean that there isn't any monetary value?


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/modernpottery/unclehankknife.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/modernpottery/unclehankknife2.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/modernpottery/unclehankknife3.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/modernpottery/unclehankknife4.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b191/modernpottery/unclehankknife6.jpg

 

[textoothpk]

Nice knife. The previous owner had a lot of class to carry that thing around.

Made by Schrade twice, 1971-1983 and then 1990-1991. The way to tell these production runs apart has to do with the handle. The earlier ones, such as yours, up until 1973, had a large brass pommel. Am I right here guys? Don't let me give out bad info.

Value? In the condition yours is in, perhaps $50 to $75. I just checked Ebay, and there have not been any of these in 'old user condition' for a while.

Phil

 

[lrv]

Phil,
Because of continuing hardware issues and missing(unregistered) software I am not able to post some old picts I have but have emailed them to you.
The 171UH prior to 1973 had a birds head pommel and from then on it had the square pommel.
Don't worry we will never let you go to far off the beaten track!
TTYL
larry
P.S.
THese clean up real well because there is so much material to work with.
I just finished one for a friend.
I'll bet this one was made between 77 and 83. It's stamped Schrade (post 77) and there is no "Schrade sharp" embossing(post 90).

 

[textoothpk]

Kniferookie, you can take Larry's estimate of the age of this knife to the bank; he knows his stuff. And so no-one else will make the mistake I did on the pommel of the pre-1973 171UH, here is a catalog pic of it. Very rare! Second pic shows how they looked post 1973.

I've got a later issue myself, picked it up recently when I wanted a bowie style from every big American manufacturer. The 171 looks very nice sitting on a display next to the Buck 124 (Frontiersman). Two different takes on the same idea by great American knife companies.

Thanks for stopping in Kniferookie and giving us something to brush up on.
Thanks Larry for your help

Phil

 

[kniferookie]

Hey thanks so much you guys - I really appreciate your help! You all really know your stuff, now wondering maybe i'll just keep it, I love the way it feels in my paws!

 

[textoothpk]

Thanks for bringing the subject up! As you can see, I learned something too, and your question has added to our knowledge base here. Enjoy that big old honkin' knife.
Phil

 

[kniferookie]

Ha, my wife is making me sell it because my 3 yr old daughter is infatuated with it. I'm going to list it on ebay for around $35 if anyone is interested. If it doesn't sell I'll just keep him in the shed heheh. Thanks again, I think I might have to get into knife collecting but the dang wife wants me to get a locking cabinet first ugghhh marriage..... Here's the auction info if you all want to take a peek.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6553354413