Made in China

Lot's knife

Lot's knife

Joined
Dec 31, 2004
Messages
117
Is there anything worth noting about the made-in-China 897UHs that are marked as "first production run" — in terms of steel, quality control, handles?

Is this something to be avoided, or is it a decent latter-day Schrade?
 
It is all a matter of opinion, I am sure. I have not held one so I really can not give you a comparison between one of the real Schrade 897UH's that I own and one of the erzatz Taylor 897. I guess that is going to be how it will stay because I won't buy one. Would you buy one for @16.00? I've seen them go begging on ebay for less. Right in the price range of a good user Schrade 897UH. Heck, a NIB original costs only what two of the chinee knives cost. I know the Taylor knives have a lot of history behind them too (Tienamen Square) and some standup role models (Uncle Mao), but I guess I'll keep buying and using the real deal. Yes, thirty years from now the Uncle Henry knives will be much more uncommon, but I can still buy a thirty year old Schrade now for less in real dollars than it cost back then. And most weeks there are about thirty or forty of them on ebay. I never saw that many stocked in any store before the "Great Schrade Robbery of '04". As a matter of fact, there seems to be more on the market now than before "The Sting". So why consider an overseas clone when you can have the real thing?

Codger
 
Welcome to our forum, Lotsknife.

"first production run' means that the manufacturer sprung for a cheap etch job to spur excitement, to make the first 500, or 1000 or so buyers think they have something special. If it is in fact 'special', I'd expect something like a fancy handle, or real engraving on the bolsters, or a blade of high-tech steel. Maybe other's here have other opinions, but that is mine.

I cannot speak for the China made Sch****s, but I have owned other company's first production run knives and found absolutely nothing better about them as compared to the same model without the blade etch. And think about it... literally hundreds of knives can be cranked out in one day... so at the end of the production week, a few of the thousands made are picked out at random and the blade is etched.

There was a funny post in the BUCK forum a few months ago... Smokey Mountain Knife Works had a special etched 'Last production run from El Cajon, California'. on some Buck knives. No big thing, until someone pointed out that the knives in question had been made in China.

Phil
 
I share Codger's feeling that China is a detestable regime, and I appreciate Texttoothpk's translation of what a "first production run" actually means.

Very informative. Many thanks to you both.

Kinda new to this, obviously. What's the best way to ensure that what you're buying is a vintage 897UH?
 
Ask the seller. If the knife is in a clam pack, more than likely it is an original, though late production. I have not seen the repros in a clam pack (yet). They will have an Ellenville NY address on them. An older one from a collection, or from an individual is usually a safe bet. The tangstamp is the best way, though it won't tell you the age. It should read "SCHRADE+" over "USA 897UH" The "+" was Schrade's mark for their propriatary stainless steel. To my knowledge, no overseas Schrade copies are yet being made with a USA tangstamp, though Taylor certainly displays the American flag on the boxes containing his chinee products.

The 897UH is my favorite every day carry and work knife, and has been for years. I work construction, and was a manufacturing process engineer. I know my tools and I know quality design and manufacture.

Codger

EDIT: The 897 UH is called the Signature Premium Stockman and first made it's catalog appearance in 1967, so it has been produced for thirty seven years. That is a lot of knives out there! And it was actually produced earlier but not cataloged.They sold for $10 back then, and last listed in 2004 for $39.45. The signature on the shield is that of Henry Baer who with brother Albert Baer, were the Schrade company until their passing. The 897UH was the first Uncle Henry pattern. And welcome to the forum! ;)
 
Does the USA and Schrade+ tangstamp tell you that you're looking at original (though perhaps late) productions of other Schrades, like the 125OT Mustangs and 8OT Senior Stockmans? Is it a pretty good test across the board?
 
The SCHRADE+ mark refered to the stainless models, for many years, only Uncle Henry's and limited editions. Old Timers were traditionally made from an old timey steel, high carbon 1095. In the last few years, Schrade management pulled a fast one and substituted stainless on a lot of OT patterns. Consumers were unaware of this switcheroo because the "+" mark was not used (stainless became cheaper to buy and easier to manufacture with). I have a 152OT Sharpfinger that is stainless. The 125OT was discontinued in 1997, so probably was not made in stainless. The 8OT was made up until the end in July of 2004, so you could get one with either 1095 or stainless blade, neither marked as such. I think the USA stamp is a better identifier for now. Or on earlier knives "SCHRADE-WALDEN".

Codger
 
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