Knife Set

thawk

thawk

Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
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I won this set on Ebay last night. I'm not as avid about fixed blades as folders, but this has both and I was pleased to win it. They are supposed to come with the sheaths, but they were not pictured.

I'd been stalking an LB8 for a long time, so this was an easy one to target.

UHSet144.jpg


It is my first "set". It was listed as a Christmas Set, and the patterns were listed as 144UH and LB7. I've think I've seen a few LB7's in Staglon rather than delrin, and as in Michael's information, the 4 pin was commonly used with bone or delrin.

I have a couple of questions.
1) What is the difference between an LB8 and an LB7?
2) Is the 144UH fairly uncommon? I don't see it as often as others.

Thanks for the help.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
 
I'm still searching for other editions of the "Dixie Sets", of which this is one. Yours is South Carolina. The total number of set designs is as yet unknown. Schrade didn't know when asked several years ago.

LB8 is basically an LB7 with Staglon scales and UH signature shield. I've not looked up the 144UH in some time to see production dates, but I will. Hold on, Clemente is right over here.......
144UH Guide's Choice 1979-1982

As you can see your set is dated 1978, it may have been a premier of the pattern based upon the 14OT introduced in 1978. Remember, Clemente's information is based upon his collection of original catalogs. Lemme do more searching. My fee is...:D

Michael
 
Yes, the 1979 catalog lists the knife as "NEW!", but records indicate nearly ten thousand shipped in 1978.

Michael

PS- Staglon is Schrade's name for their Dupont Delrin moulded to approximate stag. Genuine Sawcut Delrin is their name for Dupont Delrin of a different dye configuation to approximate sawcut bone.
 
That's a great looking set. I just saw the fixed blade the other day....friend of mine carries it in his truck and uses it mostly for cleaning deer. I'm not much on fixed blades either, but that's a pretty sweet one.
 
That is a very nice set, nice to get both those types of knife at the same, although you say the folder was listed as a LB7, I only thought that the model shown like this was an LB8. the 144UH was made only between 1979 & 1982 so only a short run, dropped because it was not as popular as other knives in Schrades Catalogue.

Rusty1
 
I did not mean to suggest that 10,000 of those sets were issued. It should have papers concealed under the tray giving better info, but a WAG is 500 to 1,500 limited edition sets. These sets were not included in those production figures.

Michael
 
Did all 144UH models have the thumb knicks (for want of a better description)
in the top of the blade?

Rusty1
 
Codger_64 said:
PS- Staglon is Schrade's name for their Dupont Delrin moulded to approximate stag. Genuine Sawcut Delrin is their name for Dupont Delrin of a different dye configuration to approximate sawcut bone.
Click to expand...

The Staglon and Delrin confuses me I guess. When I first started collecting I thought it was the same basic material, with Staglon being Uncle Henry, and Delrin being Old Timer. I thought all of the "Open Stock" knives were bone. That was before I saw any of them. And read more on the forum and in Irv's fabulous website.

I've seen a lot of coloration differences in all three lines of Schrade Knives. I like the rich chocolate brown with reddish highlights the best. For an example, I have three 58OT knives and all are completely different color. And it says they are Meerschaum in old literature. Is that a different plastic?

I see Staglon used in Old Timer descriptions sometimes too. If you look at an American Classics Original OLD-TIMER pamplet in a wood grain box, with the steamboat on the front, it states in there, "Schrade offers a varied selection of pocket knives with unbreakable Saw-Cut Staglon Handles & Silver Nickel Bolsters..."

No wonder there is confusion!

Thanks for taking the time to look up this kind of information. It has been a valuable resource that keeps me collecting these things.
 
Yes, it took them a while to decide where and how to use those descriptive names. The Dupont Delrin factory only went into production in 1961, if I am remembering it correctly. The dye was a hand-eye operation, and lots of color variations exist. I have a dozen or so 897UH which show a wide variety.

Meerschaum was originally used to describe the smooth bone on the 2OT and 8OT. Later the name was used for early Delrin approximating bone.
 
That is a nice set. congrats. I really love that fixed blade I could probablly get use to holding one of thoes in my hand-Joel
 
I've been doing some checking of files and archived photos and here is what I have found. First a quote from here by UH Fan, the former Schrade historian:

UH Fan said:
Schrade didn't have a whole lot of info on these knives. I do know that there were approximately 10,000 of the first set manufactured, and they were manufactured in 1978. (Can't find any records from Schrade to back the claim that there were 4 different sets). This set marked the introduction of both, the 144 and the LB7 w/ staglon handles, as well as Schrade's 75th year in business. The following year, the 144UH was added to the regular line of Uncle Henry knives, and in 1982, the LB8, which is the LB7 with Staglon handles, was added to the Uncle Henry line.

From what I can tell, the Dixie Collection was sold to three customers: Parker Frost, Orgill Brothers and Smokey Mountain Knife Works...
Click to expand...

Digging through my photo archives and saved posts, I find these references to Dixie Collection Editions, some dated, some not:

1978 Alabama (Redshanks posted 9-24-05)
1978 Texas (Tx325 posted 9-24-05)
1978 S. Carolina (Photo Archive)
1980 "Dixie" Steamboat etch "Collection" (Mississippi or Louisianna?)
? Florida (lrv posted 9-24-05)
? Kentucky (Photo Archive)

Perhaps we could prevail on these gents to show any papers and closeups of the 144UH etches for each?



Michael
 
Codger_64 said:
1978 Alabama (Redshanks posted 9-24-05)
1978 Texas (Tx325 posted 9-24-05)
1978 S. Carolina (Photo Archive)
1980 "Dixie" Steamboat etch "Collection" (Mississippi or Louisianna?)
? Florida (lrv posted 9-24-05)
? Kentucky (Photo Archive)

Perhaps we could prevail on these gents to show any papers and closeups of the 144UH etches for each?



Michael
Click to expand...

I picked this set up at the PO today. Wow. I was really happy. The set is really in great shape. A little typical discoloration on the brass bolsters, but in great condition otherwise. The sheaths were really never touched or had the knives in them, and there was paperwork. Standard Schrade stuff... replacement papers for the 144UH and an LB8, plus a tan Schrade pamplet, although the tang stamp was LB7 Schrade+. No paperwork regarding it being a Christmas Set (which was printed on the inside of the lid).

The matching serial numbers are SC005.

The box is in outstanding condition and even had the dust cover. That 144UH is a heavy sturdy SOB.

When my tax return arrives, I am getting a new digital camera (still deciding on the model), and then I will take some pictures of the etch and post.
 
thawk, That's nice to hear that your pleased with your purchase, totally complete set, also very pleasing I'm sure are the low serial numbers.

Rusty1
 
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