Elusive Schrades

I always thought the "improved" moniker meant that one blade had a long sheepfoot, but I think the manufacturers just jumped on the name willy-nilly!!!:eek::rolleyes::D
 
mbkr said:
So,I've always wondered....what is improved over an unimproved Muskrat?
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The actual improved muskrat has a wharncliffe secondary blade. It’s also known as the hawbaker muskrat.

Schrade did make the improved version at times, (it’s a little uncommon) but also made the regular. For whatever reason they put an improved muskrat etch on regular unimproved muskrats. I have a bone one that has the etch but no improvement.
 
Yeah, wharncliffe! I stand corrected! I also stand by willy-nilly!!:D
 
Thanks for clearing that up :p
Its not just Schrade. I've seen other brands labeled "improved" that looked just like the "unimproved" version o_O The "it originally meant one blade was a wharncliff and then devolved into a willy-nilly freeforall" theory sounds about right :eek:
 
Great knives as usual Charlie!! So here's what I understand about the "improved" muskrat. The older muskrats were made in a standard configuration of a single spring knife with catch pieces. This is a great configuration, making for a nice slim pattern, but some in the skinning community who used the knives for more robust purposes found that the blades developed some looseness and wobble over time. The answer was an "improved" two blade muskrat with separate springs and a center liner, which made for a laterally stronger knife.

So that's what I've gleaned from research anyway. I have no idea how much truth there is to it but it would explain why what looks like a standard muskrat would have the "improved" etch on it. I always thought the addition of the wharncliffe blade was the answer, but I've found that that was simply a hawbaker pattern "improvement" that was not related to the other etches.

Eric
 
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Here are 5 Schrade Walden muskrats etched "Improved Muskrat Knife"!
3 are 787s, and the 2 square-bolstered ones with the wharncliffe blades have no number. (Hawbakers?) They each have a slim catch-bit at each end, and a single spring! We probably can't conclude much about what they are called from this evidence. "Improved" or not, that is the question??Improved 5 Muskrats 1.jpg Improved 5 Muskrats 2.jpg Improved 5 Muskrats 3.jpg Improved 5 Muskrats 4.jpg Improved 5 Muskrats 5.jpg
I haven't come across willy and nilly yet!!:D
But I will keep looking!:rolleyes:
 
waynorth said:
Here are 5 Schrade Walden muskrats etched "Improved Muskrat Knife"!
3 are 787s, and the 2 square-bolstered ones with the wharncliffe blades have no number. (Hawbakers?) They each have a slim catch-bit at each end, and a single spring! We probably can't conclude much about what they are called from this evidence. "Improved" or not, that is the question??View attachment 1330357 View attachment 1330358 View attachment 1330359 View attachment 1330360 View attachment 1330361
I haven't come across willy and nilly yet!!:D
But I will keep looking!:rolleyes:
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Well Charlie so much for that theory! looks like they put the etches on willy/nilly too LOL! I'll have to see if I can find the article I read that in.

Doing well here. Been super busy making meals for the National Guard in NY. Trying to do some knife work as well, but the cooking has been keeping me away from the shop for the most part. I'll get to it soon enough though. Hope everyone else is doing well and staying healthy!

Eric
 
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ea42 said:
Well Charlie so much for that theory! looks like they put the etches on willy/nilly too LOL! I'll have to see if I can find the article I read that in.

Doing well her. Been super busy making meals for the National Guard in NY. Trying to do some knife work as well, but the cooking has been keeping me away from the shop for the most part. I'll get to it soon enough though. Hope everyone else is doing well and staying healthy!

Eric
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Congrats on keeping the troops supplied, Eric!!

The etches on those knives are of a type that is hard to scan, but they are all there. It is true! Inconclusive!! I will stick with the willy-nilly theory!!:D
 
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