Eagles of a different feather

Codger_64

Codger_64

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I recently got another 165OT pattern knife that I have some info and questions about. Maybe one of you knows about them. Sears Roebuck and Company has long held a relationship with Schrade, and contracted knives of nearly every description from them. Albert Baer and Ted Williams were friends, and fishing companions and I know that some early 15OT's bore the Ted WIlliams etch signature, but I doubt that the Sears connection began there.

What I have is a Sears Craftsman American Eagle Collection Deerslayer. I know, Schrade called the 165 pattern the Woodsman and called the 15OT the Deerslayer, but Sears used that name for their CRAFTSMAN USA tangstamped 165 pattern. The series, according to the enclosed leaflet, consisted of four knives. Three were fixed blades and one was a version of the Alaskan Hunter two blade folder. Does anyone know for sure the year of issue for this series? One seller says 1976, but he calls it a Centinnial issue ('76 was the Bicentinnial).
 
The mailman brought me the second piece in the Sears Craftsman American Eagle Collection set today. This one is a bird and trout pattern called the Sportsman. Tangmarked "CRAFTSMAN U.S.A." like the 165 Deerslayer, the reverse side is stamped "SS", which I take means stainless steel. The description of the 41OT Maverick (1971-73) fits it to a tee, except for the stainless blade, and the deleted shield. Does anyone have a pic of the 41OT they can post? Here is the Sears contract knife:



Codger
 
Small format. I waited a long time to get this one. One of my favorite FIXED blades.

41OT.jpg


TTYL
Larry
 
I can see why it is a favorite. It is a shame that it is so rare, that it had such a short run with so few made and sold. A matter of trends in user preferences I suppose. When my FSO Craftsman knife came, the first thing that I did was to compare it to my George Schrade Stagbrands and Schradebrands, and the couple of later Schrade Waldens I have that match those. The 41OT is clearly an attempt to update and revise those earlier leather washer handled knives. But the shorter, thinner "bird and trout" type blades had fallen out of fashion, and heavier blades were in vogue. And the stubby skinner patterns were on the near horizon. The 171UH birdshead pommel was dropped at the same time this pattern was, and the 171UH continued for a while with it's flat brass pommel. I think those were the last hurah for that particular knife handle detail for Schrade.

A close look at both reveals the similarities and differences. A two piece flat guard with brown delrin spacer on the Sportsman, a curved brass one piece guard on the earlier 41OT. A brass spacer and a brown delrin spacer between the handle and pommel of the Sportsman, and no spacer on the 41OT. And the wider guard of the Sportsman meant no buffing down of the sawcut next to the guard.

I still need to get a 41OT, but I'm glad to get this Craftsman Sportsman. They will look good together in the frame with the George Schrades.

Codger
 
Here is the insert that came with each knife showing the four knives in the set. A BB166 pattern, a Schrade 165OT, a Schrade 41OT, and a Schrade 25OT.
 
WIth a bit of archive digging, I was able to match up some Sears/Schrade crossover numbers posted a while back by LT.

21624/165 (American Eagle Series)
21621/141SR (American Eagle Series)

There was also a 21641/141BH and a 21651/141BH. Bone handles?

And I found the number for a 15OT I have as well:
21635/15OT

It is a shame XNYmedic didn't get around to giving us his crossover list. Sears contracted a lot of patterns over the years from Schrade, Schrade-Walden, and Ulster. They are very interesting to me because these contract knives, unlike the Woh-Mah knives, were upgrades from the standard Schrades. My 141SR for example has a stainless blade whereas the Schrade production model had a glazed carbon blade, and you can see for yourself the upgrades in spacers and guard.

Now, where are those "Old Crafty" knives hiding?

Codger
 
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