LB7 with filework

[redshanks]

This LB7 did not come with a story, so I'm looking for a little help from you experts. The knife is unused and unsharpened. The tang is stamped:

SCHRADE +
U.S.A. LB7

The bolsters, liners and pins are brass. There is no serial number engraved on the bolster. The scales are Sambar Stag and are very fat in the center, almost like a palm swell. The blade and the back of the knife have file work as shown in these very poor scans. The knife looks all original and not re-worked. Was this made by Schrade in the Custom Shop?

 

[lt632ret]

Chances are yes but. The file work while very pretty is a simple design. This makes me think it might have been practice or someone putting something special together to take home. Look at the file work notice it was done on a machine straight lines and shovel dips. The dips are done by ( think of the tip of a drill being laid sidewise and just touched to the back spring. ) A lousy analogy but perhapes it helps. the lines are the easiest. They had jigging and machines that would do this it gives a hand done impression. Handwork is more angular and intricate. ( See the blurry attached pic). Schrade did use the machine style since most people did not know it was done on a machine was less expensive and much quicker. the high end custom stuff was usually hand done. Either way it is nice. LT

 

[redshanks]

LT, the scans didn't show it, but the filework, both straight cuts and dips as you call them, are all cut at an angle to the blade and backspring. This might show it a little better:

 

[lt632ret]

That would further support my opinion of method of manufactor. Notice how almost identical the cuts are. That would appear to be a machine jigging method it certainly was done at the factory. When I say angular I mean more curly and intricate. It is just a different method to achieve a similar effect. In fact only the true old time cutlers know how to make a jig for this effect it is almost a lost art ( kind of a sidewise routing effect). LT PS cuts are right angle to the spring versus a vineing effect. This is damn tough to explain sorry.

 

[sheathmaker]

Hey LT; Good evening! You got my curiosity up. Take another look at the top view pictures. Notice that the smaller file lines are not lined up perfectly opposing one another and some to the larger round cuts don't line up exactly either, but the depth and size of cuts is very uniform and almost perfect. Do you think they machine jig one side at a time? That would make sense, but since I have no practical exposure, I don't know. Any way as you said machine or hand, it sure is nice even work.

Paul

 

[lt632ret]

I have seen it done on a pattern like this it is one side at a time. Just a straight feathering or one line across the back is usually done by turning the spring the otherway going right across of course that is a lighter ( scoring ) effect. . LT PS this same scoring ( machine effect can be done lengthwise ). Apparently my ability to describe this production method is as bad as my ability to actually do any thing mechanical. I really like when people ask me if I repair knives. I usually say that when the time comes for me to self destruct I will do it with something I understand like a gun or more slowly with Alcohol. I do have some buffers that I use once in a while. They are dandys 3/4" diameter hole and fast . A knife recently flew out of my hand and into the 20 of an english dart board that I have down in that building that ment it went about 3" past my right ear at what seemed about a zillion miles an hour. So why I am attempting to explain this process of machine filework it is obviously an exercise in futility. However I did find out that I am not alone and even the elite can make mistakes when dealing with the gods of machines. Last week I ran into a friend of mine ( at a show) who is a well known knife maker his right hand had a rather interesting bandage. His description of his accident was even stranger just a simple mistake which angered the gods of these forces but the part I like in his description was how after the knife blade flew off the machine and sliced his hand in passing it cut the tendons and muscles to the bone and his hand involuntarily curled like a shrimp hitting hot water or of bacon on a grill. leaving kind of a curled culinary oddity which was formerly a craftsmans appendage. He is now into reconstructive surgery and should be fine. I wanted the knife that cut him however at that point he lost his sense of humor.

 

[lrv]

Lt,
Phil sent me an article on the most dangerous machine in the tool shed. Note machine... we all know the person is the most dangerous thing in the shed.
The buffer spinning at @3000 rpm can take a knife out of a hand and deliver it to another part of the room so fast as to be unseen. I lost a old practice toothpick this weekend in just such a manor. I did find it later under a chair across the room where it had landed after bouncing off the ceiling.
Anyways the artilcle shows a picture with the back and underside of the buffer surrounded by heavy canvas cloth to catch and direct flying objects into a catching bin. I put an old rug behind mine.. too bad the knife missed it all together.
TTYL
Larry

 

[lt632ret]

Not me I believe in for what we are about to receive Thankyou. Beside chances are I would in stall such a device in such a way to even cut my odds further. Apparently you did the same thing I guess that is why we get along anyway thats why I never wore a bullet proof vest. LT

 

[redshanks]

LT, I understand your description of how the file work or machining was done and thank you for it. So, is this some kind of semi-production knife or a lunch box knife?

 

[redshanks]

This knife isn't a Schrade of course, but is an example of some very nice hand-cut file work:

 

[lt632ret]

Could have been either, or a proto for an order. Almost anything it is a Schrade and if you can find another issue with the same file work and can tie them in together then you will really have something neat because if you can give it provanance ( spelling? ). Then you are doing something unique. That is the stuff I love. Any one can buy a factory issue but to get something out of a factory that is unique ( one of a kind ) and then to follow with its documented history that is really special. That is what I try to do. You see to me the models are just the beginning of a 100 year old history ( actually even further) . Smokey will be selling items and unfortunately there will be alot they do not know or understand. However instead of finding out they will simply say what they want and pocket the money there really aren't a lot of people around who know enough to dispute whatever they say. That includes me there is a lot I do not know and a lot of information lost and forgotten. However as they must have said when they burned Alexandria we did save some. Nice knife you can use it, sell it, or save it and research it. That is what makes it a dandy. LT

 

[Mick57]

This LB7 did not come with a story, so I'm looking for a little help from you experts. The knife is unused and unsharpened. The tang is stamped:

SCHRADE +
U.S.A. LB7

The bolsters, liners and pins are brass. There is no serial number engraved on the bolster. The scales are Sambar Stag and are very fat in the center, almost like a palm swell. The blade and the back of the knife have file work as shown in these very poor scans. The knife looks all original and not re-worked. Was this made by Schrade in the Custom Shop?

Wow, that's very nice! Always loved swelled stag handles like that. How much ya want for it??

 

[redshanks]

Well, it looks like my LB7 is not a lunch box knife at all. Jim Parker Jr. just listed this Stag handled Schrade trapper on eBay. The file work is identical to that on my knife, so I would think that this was some kind of standard pattern and not something done by a trainee or for personal use by an employee:

 

[redshanks]

I might need this one to keep mine from being an orphan.

 

[Codger_64]

I have seen some samples come from the WIP sale that remind me of these knives. Whether or not they were intended as preproduction prototypes, I haven't a clue. It was common for the samplemakers to produce knives in sets showing the selected details on three to five different patterns. I have a swelled stag 897UH, but without the filework. A pin crack evidently stopped them short of the final buffing to flush the stag with the bolsters too. I have one of a set of laminated wood handled samples, a 165OT pattern. During the same time period when I bought this one, there was a matching 15OT, 153UH, and 152OT, and probably a couple of more like the PH2 that escaped my attention. I have a sample 15OT pattern knife that has the same filework as your knife on the blade spine. I think these 15 LTD. were Ducks Unlimited samples, and can be found with as many as four different laser blade piercings. Whether or not they ever actually produced any that were bought by DU, I really don't know. You can see these knives on ebay still Search: (15OT, Ducks Unlimited)+Schrade )

Whatever the provenence, they are interesting Schrade relics. Until a samplemaker is located who is willing to come foreward expound on what we have found, we will have to continue to guess and make unproven assumptions about these interesting varients. By all means, do get the mate to this knife!

Codger

Codger

 

[redshanks]

Good points Codger. In Jim Parker's listing for the trapper pictured above, he says the knife is from the 80's. I expect we'll see more examples of these knives being offered for sale in the near future and I hope to learn more about their history in the process, even though I know I won't be able to buy them.

I'm interested in knowing more about the laminated wood handled knives you alluded to, can you do a topic on them and post some pics?

 

[lt632ret]

That is machined file work it sure looks nice on the two blade version. LT