Got a Skoal Gunstock Trapper today

[jonshoup]

I'm the resident knife knut at work and one of my co-workers came in and GAVE me an old SK194. Said he's had it for atleast a couple decades but he's not sure exactly how long. Only blade stamp is "Schrade Skoal USA", and there is no rope on the Skoal shield. Said he sent in his can lids for it. Anyway, there's some very light surface spots on the blade, and he's sharpened it, but overall it's in darn good shape for a user. Does anyone know what the blade steel might be? It's obviously good carbon steel but there is next to no info available on this thing. Regardless, I think I just found my focus for a new collection. This thing is beautiful.

 

[Codger_64]

U.S. Tobacco was a good customer for Schrade with both the Skoal and Copenhagen promotions. Skoal, as your knife shows, used mostly the green Delrin with brass bolsters. Copenhagen was black Delrin and brass. They had some much more detailed and expensive knives, particularly their Pro Roder and motorsports knives, but the less expensive smokeless tobacco ones are quite attractive.

 

[jonshoup]

This is my 1st American made Schrade but I'm quickly learning that establishing production year is next to impossible. How frustrating.

 

[lrv]

Jonshoup,
It is difficult to give exact times on most of the knives as they were made for many years without changes. A knife like your SK can be dated to a couple of years but an 8OT could be in a range of 30. Its the fun to me in collecting of trying to sort it all out. I do beat my head against the wall daily too.

TTYL
Larry