Help Interpreting Symbols on Bolster of My New Canoe?

[5K Qs]

Last week I was the fortunate winner of a Schrade Wostenholm I*XL canoe in a GAW sponsored by cchu518. I think it's a marvelous knife, but it also has some features that are new and somewhat mysterious to me. I'd appreciate any input members are willing to give me on these two issues. Thanks in advance for your assistance!

1) There are 4 little squares on each bolster, as shown in this photo:

I've done some exploration, and found that the "S" and the "W" in the first two squares represent "Schrade" and "Wostenholm" (shocker! ) and the "0" in the last square indicates the knife was manufactured in 1980 (not 1981, which is apparently the only other option for these particular knives). What I can't seem to find out is the meaning of the symbol in the remaining square, between the W and the 0. It looks to me like a little human head in profile, but I have no clue what that would represent (or even if that's what the symbol actually is). Any experts have knowledge to share?

2) This is my first full-size canoe with a single spring, and it's set up rather cleverly IMHO to make both blades fit into the blade well effectively. The following pics show the asymmetrical arrangement of liners (3 on one side, 2 on the other) that allow the main blade to traverse the knife "diagonally" to create space for the secondary blade. For those of you who have single spring canoes, is this set-up familiar?

- GT

 

[paulhilborn]

Gary, as far as I know the marks are faux silver date marks, made to look like silver date marks. Great looking Canoe, I have a couple of white micarta lockbacks. One Nanc gifted me thirty plus years ago:thumbup:

The quote below is from a former "Wostenholm" employee that frequented this forum.

" The Schrade/I*XL knives were made at the Richards of Sheffield, factory, Moore St, (not Morse St,) This was in 1980/81. Five patterns were made and the bolsters were stamped (hallmark fashion) S W (head device) 0. The zero would indicate 1980 production. The S W would indicate Schrade / Wostenholm. The patterns were; Three different size lockbacks (White micarta. Stag and Red Bone, as well as a three blade stockman in Red bone and a three blade canoe in Stag. The knives were sold singly and in serial numbered sets with a display case. The faces of the blades were etched with a "Schrade Wostenholm" banner. Many were later sold without a serial number.

At that time, both the "Rodgers" and the "Wostenholm" workforces were employed in the Richards factory, which was owned by Imperial/Schrade.

The late James Parker LEASED the I*XL trademark from the people that held it for a short while (c.1983/4). The person involved in that was a Mr. Victor Rickless. This was following the demise of the Richards factory.

The Egginton Group purchased both the Rodgers and the I*XL trade marks at a later date. I believe this was c.1984/85?"

 

[screened porch]

Nice research, guys.
My Camillus canoe appears to have one fatter inner liner and one thinner inner liner.

 

[smiling-knife]

Nice knife.

 

[5K Qs]

Paul, thanks for the very interesting and helpful info you dug up! :thumbup::thumbup: I'm glad to see that the person you quoted also thinks that third symbol is a "head". Maybe I'll have to learn about silver date marks to see if I can discover if that symbol means anything. Very cool that you've had a couple of these Schrade I*XLs for many years!

s-k, thanks for the image of a page from the relevant magazine article! Something else I can follow up to find info about my fascinating new-to-me canoe.

scrteened porch, thanks for the pic of your Camillus showing the liners of differing thickness. Looks like essentially the same set-up for your canoe and mine.

- GT