Easy Analysis!

CE, your suggestion still presents the same problem: There is no single blade Swell End Jack listed in the Schrade Cut. Co. catalogues, 1926-36.
The only other possibility i can think of, would be an employee who made himself a knife, in a bit of a rush, so spring fitting is not perfect.
However, as Charlie has the knife (and a microscope !!), one cannot disagree with his assessment with any certainty.
To 100% properly assess the knife, one must have the knife ( and many years of experience with vintage knives).
roland
 
many thanks to waynorth for the information that shows how much effort goes into shamming an authentic knife.when i got into old knives in the 70s the con men were much easier to spot; these fakers have gotten so good that the only old knives i consider are the ones i encounter in my work cleaning carpets. in the home of an 80 year woman or man knives that i turn up that belonged to themselves or their acquintances are certainly more likly to not be "funny". dennis
 
Eric and CE, it's good to have you guys keeping me on my toes.
I read the rivet further out where the dings were. I rubbed a little compound on that spot, and the ghostly circle line disappeared, and of course I now see the real rivet. All I can say is Duh, and thanks!
The rest of the evidence stands, IMO. The EO notch matches the other EOs I have very well, making it unlikely it was cut after-market.
When or why this knife reached its current state is just conjecture I think.
It could have been made during lunch hour many many years ago. It could be a repair or salvage effort a bit more recently. Maybe it's a "test" knife, for Schrade to try out its stainless blades??!! Only one in existence!!! Worth thousands!!
It's humorous, but I have a recent Case trapper with a CM-154 blade in it, assembled for testing by Case's associated knifemaker! It is one of a handful made!
It's not likely to be so poorly fitted though, if that were the case.
I lean toward a salvage operation, either repairing a broken-bladed knife, or using up Schrade parts. I've added pics of the pile side for further clarity.
Easy9.jpg

Easy9a.jpg
 
WN, how do the scratches on the tangs match up with the scratches on the inside of the liner?? This is usually a good sign the blade has been in that frame for some time.

CE
 
CE, the rubbed spots alongside the kick have rubbed paths into the liners, and the spot where the kick strikes the spring is quite pronounced. I'd say the blade has been there a long time.
 
Charlie i'm not clear on your final conclusions. sounds like you are agreeing that pivot pin looks original and that it could be "a salvage operation, either repairing a broken-bladed knife,".
Wouldn't repairing a broken bladed knife mean replacing the pivot pin ?
So therefore, if done in house by a Schrade cutler the replaced pivot pin would look just perfect ?
roland
 
The pivot pin looks better than I thought, Roland. That does not mean it is original.
In my limited experience, I have re-pinned a couple of knives, where you cannot see the pin. I learned how to do it from a Stan Shaw video!!

I conclude that the original blades were removed, and only the main blade was replaced with a stainless one a long time ago. The handles/scales, which look as originally assembled, and early, could be 80 years old!
Each handle scale, including liner, bolsters, handle material (ebony in this case), and shield is assembled and often semi-finished, before the knife is finally assembled with springs and blades.
It's hard to say when the post-production work occurred. If the stainless blade was new, then it's a high miler - used a lot! But it could have been in the 1920s! Or . . . . .
judging from the wear patterns up into the 1950s-1960s!! Purely guesswork.
 
Thanks. Not exactly an "easy" one for many of us. AHH, i just got it. you were punning !
roland
 
rprocter said:
Thanks. Not exactly an "easy" one for many of us. AHH, i just got it. you were punning !
roland
Click to expand...

I was! You are getting my odd sense of humor.
It's not easy for me either, Roland. I've already blooped it a couple of times!:D
You just have to keep at it.
I don't worry about paying the mortgage, but I worry about getting this analysis right!:eek:
 
Charlie, That was a great thread, It will help me when I "TRY" to buy vintage
knives, Thanks alot !!

Jason
 
Let's not assume that if you can't find a knife in a catalog that it was not a "regular production" knife. This one has been sitting in a junk drawer in my "PILE" for many years. I didn't think much of it until I saw this thread. I always thought it was a shame that someone took a grinder to sharpen this, it was a nice knife at one time. Here's the pix:
1%20BL%20EO%20CLSD%20FT.jpg
&
1%20BL%20EO%20CLSD%20BK.jpg
&
1%20BL%20EO%20OPN%20FT.jpg
&
1%20BL%20EO%20OPN%20BK.jpg
&
1%20BL%20EO%20BKSG.jpg
&
1%20BL%20EO%20FCE%20OPN.jpg
 
Woah! VERY interesting! Looks like paternal twins!:D
 
Casts a new light!
What is the fit like, Barry?? The blade and spring appear to be the same thickness.
Is the rust on the inner tang surface a transfer from the spring?
First one I've seen with that stainless steel marking. The only ones I've seen to date have SS on the back tang.
 
The Blade and back spring are the same thickness. The spring sits a half a hair lower than the blade in the open and closed positions probably from wear. This knife was not taken care of by the original owner, probably never oiled and probably ground early in its user life. If I hold the knife to my forehead & close my eyes I can hear the the original owners voice say " YEE-HAH look at them sparks". The crud on the inside tang is only surface dirt that flakes off with a toothpick. There is not any rust on the blade or spring, I'm guessing they are both stainless. The inside of the knife is dirty yet the stainless back spring is shiny on the out side. I would say, this knife has never been apart since it left the factory. The blade has slight side to side wobble in the open position. Barry
 
Barry sent me his knife to do a side-by-side comparison, and I managed to pick it up and scan it today with Roland's.
Barry's knife has some corrosion on the bolsters, and so is easy to tell from Roland's. The ebony is very dense on both knives, some areas almost looking synthetic. The density probably is responsible for the relative good condition, despite signs of being in adverse conditions.
EasyComp1.jpg

EasyComp2.jpg

EasyComp3.jpg

EasyComp4.jpg

EasyComp5.jpg

EasyComp6.jpg

EasyComp7.jpg

EasyComp8.jpg

Please take a good look, and comment as you wish!
I'll chime in later so as not to spoil your fun!!:D
 
Roland`s knife has one extra scale pin, and the e.o. notch is a little further forward than Barry`s knife. Otherwise they look very similar.


CE
 
The main thing I see is the width of the blades. Barry's appears to be the same width as the spring. Roland's is narrower.
EasyComp5.jpg
 
Quote Charlie: "I'll chime in later so as not to spoil your fun!! "
We've had 1 week now and not a lot of chimes, so i'm sure those following this thread would like to know your thoughts Charlie, now that 2 knives of this pattern have surfaced. Certainly, i've been keen to hear.
roland
 
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