Legitimate? Transition Knife?

[Guyon]

While I've always liked Old Timer knives, I've not been as fond of the 1095 Carbon steel. Great cutting ability but higher maintenance.

Saw this one on eBay. Were there really such "transition knives," or is this just a parts knife being passed off as something special?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schrade-USA-885UH-Stockman-Rare-Transition-Knife-SawCut_W0QQitemZ6570019622

Either way, I kind of like the idea of an Old Timer with Schrade+ stainless.

 

[redshanks]

Hmmm, transition to what? You can also call it a parts knife, end of days knife, or error knife. If you like stainless blades with Old Timer scales, buy it, I would.

 

[Guyon]

Well, I was sort of guessing "transition to bankruptcy."

But the seller sort of leaves it open--as to suggest some transition between designs or something.

 

[Codger_64]

Usually when we use the term "transition knife", we refer to a knife made on the cusp of the name change from Schrade Walden to Schrade Cutlery in mid 1973. At least that is what I think of as a transition knife. I personally call those knives with UH blades in OT scales, OT blades in UH scales, an "end of days" knife. I was just doing some archive diving and ran across a post by Schradewebguy in August of '04 where he says they are busy making knives out of all the parts in the factory. To paraphrase O.J.'s lawyer, "If it fits, assemble it!"

All that said, I would have no qualms about buying one of those knives as either a user, or as an example of the end of days knives to keep. However, a good portion of the genuine Old Timers made this century had stainless blades, even if they were not marked as such. I would not personally place the same value on an mixed EOD knife as I would one true to the pattern though.

Codger

 

[Guyon]

My thoughts as well, Codger_64.

Be a good user and an interesting one at that. My wish for a stainless Old Timer come true sort of thing.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Guyon]

However, a good portion of the genuine Old Timers made this century had stainless blades

This is news to me. I always associated Old Timers with carbon steel. What are some of the models that had stainless? Any slipjoints in the mix?

 

[Codger_64]

This is news to me. I always associated Old Timers with carbon steel. What are some of the models that had stainless? Any slipjoints in the mix?

This was posted by a former Schrade employee last November, and backed up by another former Schrade employee.

Because of difficulty with their steel suppliers in supplies and soaring prices, and the demand by stores like Walmart to keep prices down, Schrade did (I believe around 1997, if I remember correctly) begin to do a running transformation from carbon to stainless. Unfortunately, they did this hoping that if the tang stamps were not changed, no one would notice. Being in direct contact with knife enthusiasts on a daily basis, I did advise them that people would definitely know, and that they were making a big mistake. They did not feel that it would be a problem, and I was left "holding the bag", when people would return their "high carbon steel" knives because they were stainless.

This was all very unfortunate and just another of the poor business decisions that contributed to the final downfall of the Company. Quite honestly though, I knew they had switched over a lot of folders, but I was not aware that they had begun doing it with rigid blades.

So..... there is a very good chance of finding a Schrade+ blade on any folder not discontinued before the late nineties. If you are looking specifically for a stainless Old Timer, get one in the blue stripe box or clampack (post 2001), or the later blue box or clampack with the diamondplate stripe, the last ones. If carbon is your desire, the woodgrain boxes, or most of the tan boxes and clampacks will still be carbon, though the latter was still used from '97-'01.

Codger

 

[Guyon]

Very informative. Thanks.

 

[Carl64]

This is news to me. I always associated Old Timers with carbon steel. What are some of the models that had stainless? Any slipjoints in the mix?

I only know of the 6OT (large lockback) and it's brother with bolsters on both ends (forget the model).

I was always disappointed these DIDN'T have 1095 blades.

 

[Codger_64]

Old Timer patterns that I know about with Schrade+ blades from the get-go are: 3OT,5OT,6OT,7OT. Clemente's book lists the 53OTG,93OT,98OT, and several others as having stainless blades. I think some of these may be errors in the referenced catalogs, but I do not have any of these knives to check. The catalogs were pretty inconsistant in listing blade steels.

Codger

PS- "End of day knives" originally refered to cell knives with multicolor handles that were thought to be made from the swept cell trimmings at the end of the day. True story or not, LT might be able to tell us.