There were two main productions of the 165UH pattern knives. The first began in 1969 with 2,864 pieces shipped, and ended in 1970 with 941 pieces shipped. While dropped from the catalogs and advertising, remnants of the two year production continued to be shipped for several years, 466 in 1971, 310 in 1972 and finally the remaining 289 pieces in 1973. All of this first production had the distinctive thumb grooves above the tang in front of the guard. Predecessor Old Timer 165OT and successive productions of both 165OT and 165UH did not. It also used the "lozenge" shaped shield as used on the Old Timer series, albeit with the UH signature stamped.
A second production was made in 1994 without the thumb grooves, and with the more familiar UH signature "bomb" shield. This production run essentially ended in 1996 and, as before, remnants were shipped for a few years afterward.
Yet a third production was made some time later before the closing. An unknown quantity were produced without shielding, possibly for some SFO customer.
Over the years, I have used the pattern (the 165OT) to dress, skin and butcher more deer than you could haul in a dump truck. Literally hundreds. Carry the knife around for a while, use it for camp chores and you will see how user friendly the handle shape is (ergonomic). I have several dozen of the pattern, several of which are the Uncle Henry variant. The overall length only gets in my way when I am seated in a truck or Jeep. Otherwise, I tend to forget it is on my belt.
I need another one!
Michael
