Is this an 899?

kingcole

kingcole

Joined
Jan 16, 2004
Messages
141
Hi all. I'm pretty sure this is an old 899, but after digging through the forums and looking at the old catalogs, I'm not sure how to reconcile the second blade: it's not a spey blade, and it's not a sheepsfoot, so is this a real 899, or something else . . .?

It was bought by my father in a tiny town in western Montana in the early 80s.

Any help would be much appreciated!

JC
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The middle blade isn't the usual one, but yes it looks like an 899 to me. also looks like one that has had a happy life in someones pocket.
 
It's definitely well-loved: my Dad has carried and used it nearly daily since he bought it. I'm trying to find him a replacement so he can retire this one, but I can't seem to find an 899 with the same blade configuration.

Is this a rare version? Does anyone know where I could get another one like it? I've already bought him a NOS 1974+ 899, but I'd like to be able to give him an exact duplicate.

JC
 
jc, i beleive it is a rare version or a 1 of a kind lunchbox. i dont think you'll find one like it any time soon. it almost looks to me like kin to the 58ot 's or ulster family??-----??just my 2 cents. i'll bet you get a better answer before long--------brady
 
I think you are all over the correct info Kingcole. That knife appears to have a clip blade in the middle position, where I believe the most common blade was a spey, but I have one with a sheepfoot. Yours appears to be a pre-73 Schrade Walden. The older ones had threaded bolsters and bonestagged handles. Is the handle material on that one bone stag or delrin? At any rate, I like that combination of blades. I rarely use a spey blade.

Which town in Montana? Just curious.
 
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I believe the scales are delrin, not bone, but I'm not 100% sure. I'll check into it.

The knife was bought at Doug's Drug/True Value Hardware in Thompson Falls, Montana in the early 80s.

It failed in the mid-90s (I believe one or more pins came loose) and was sent back to Schrade, who rebuilt the knife. He also tried to buy a spare at that time, and was told that they were no longer making that pattern.

That's pretty much all the history/info I've got on it.

Thanks everybody for the info! I really appreciate it. Now if I could just find another 899 with the same blade configuration, I'd be all set. hehe.

JC
 
Maybe the blade was replaced when Schrade serviced it. I've never seen a clip in that position. But of course, No-one has likely seen it all when it comes to Schrades.
 
I'm pretty sure that's the configuration it had when he sent it in - again, I'll double check!
 
What blade is it? Is it a smaller clip blade off of the tail of an 863 or 804?

863NY_back.jpg


804Walden9-30.jpg


Gots me wondering? Looks like that size, but the nick is not centered in these pics, like the one on the 899.
 
Now that's a very good question - and you're way over my head on this one! :)

Is there a way to identify the blade by its profile? The clip point on the 899 looks narrower through the spine than those you posted. . .

A mystery indeed... I can't get my Dad to answer his phone (figures!), but I'll get back to you about the delrin vs. bone and the details on the repair ASAP.

And again, thanks for the help, everyone! This is such a great community.

JC
 
The blade off of the 863 is smaller and thinner than the 804. It also has the nail nick on the wrong side as the one on the 899. The blade on the 804 is 2 1/4". The 863's is about 1/8" shorter. An unstamped clip blade is not a common blade was my thinking. Not too many patterns used a clip secondary in the 60's. For sure, the blade in your knife is a slightly different shape. If it is an unstamped master, the possibilities open up considerably. What is the exact length on that blade?
 
Ok - finally talked to my Dad again, and found out some details. First, (and this is no surprise), I got the purchase date wrong. He bought it at Gamble's drug store in T Falls, some time between 1966-1970.

It was rebuilt because it fell out of his pocket when he was on a ladder, and a bolster popped off when it hit the ground. He is sure that the blade configuration it currently has is the same as it was prior to the factory service. IOW, it came with a clip point 2nd blade.

The measurements he took of the (well-sharpened, well-used) 2nd blade put it at ~1 7/18" long from the bolster to the tip; the length from the pin to the tip of that blade is approximately 2 3/16.

His best guess, due to the wear and the feel of the scales, is that they are delrin, not bone.

Hope some of this helps!

Also, thawk sent me a link to another one like my dad's in the wild. I'm bidding on it now - I'll post pics when/if I win it!

Again, thanks so much for all the help!

JC
 
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