Morseth drop point and Schrade Old Timer® prices in 1967?

[Naphtali]

In 1967 Schrade introduced their Old Timer® 165OT Woodsman, a general purpose fixed blade knife with 4.675-inch blade, .1875 inch thick, of 1095 steel. In 1967 Morseth Knives had been making semicustom general purpose fixed blade knives of a specially heat treated Brusletto laminated carbon steel, .1875 inches thick, between 4.5 and 4.875 inches for several years.

I am interested in prices for each knife in 1967. I recognize that fixing a dollar amount on a Morseth knife similarly configured to the 165OT is difficult because of myriad semicustom options. Probably a drop point blade within range of 165OT's length, wood or delrin® or undistinguished bone or stag handle, and Morseth's standard guard is as close as a price comparison as possible.

Because real dollar costs can be compensated a Morseth knife's price can be rendered from a few years earlier or later.

 

[tltt]

Schrade's 165 OT was $20.00 factory retail in '67. Can't find a reference for Morseth, but in late 1961 his prices ranged from $8.75 - 20.00. A basic Randall #3, #4, or #5 was right about $30.00 in 1967.

 

[tltt]

Got curious, Morseth's pretty standard hunter in wood or leather with a 6" blade was $31, $35 in stag. 1968 prices.

See here - https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bCQAAOSw1~phiHlG/s-l1600.jpg . Maybe take off a couple of bucks for a 5" blade.

 

[Naphtali]

Many thanks for precisely the information I sought. This is my personal follow-up to a thread I started on Paco Kelly's Leverguns when I was recovering from back-to-back spinal surgeries (pun intended for my mental health). The thread was my attempt to cut through the myriad Best of [fill in the blank] pseudo-information that is everywhere. Rather I asked for specific information about the knives used by subsistence backwoodsmen at the beginning of the twentieth century (Ashley Haines in British Columbia) and also of Dick Proenneke entered southern Alaska wilderness in 1967. Among things discussed was why Mr. Proenneke's EDC belt knife was a Schrade 165 OT, for I strongly prefer late Morseths having slightly longer blades.

Now I know.

 

[tltt]

(Ashley Haines in British Columbia)

.


Haines's Marbles pattern. It wasn't just a fantasy made up for Marbles, he had a custom version made up before the Marbles one, and used it for a couple of years, before getting Marbles interested in it. The major difference is that I think the custom version had a wood handle.

Haines was also big on axes, particularly the cruiser sized double bit.

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

The Haine's knife always looked totally impractical as a hunter to me. But I know how it goes, if you goring to approach a company about making your knife design it needs to look completely different than whats already on the market. That leads to all sorts of weird designs. As for Morseths, I don't think they ever found much favor with "subsistence backwoodsmen." Good knives but they were a luxury items for most hunters.

 

[tltt]

The Haine's knife always looked totally impractical as a hunter to me. But I know how it goes, if you goring to approach a company about making your knife design it needs to look completely different than whats already on the market. That leads to all sorts of weird designs. As for Morseths, I don't think they ever found much favor with "subsistence backwoodsmen." Good knives but they were a luxury items for most hunters.

Hadn't thought of it that way, but it's true. I looked through a few articles I had saved on him, and in the August 1920 issue of Outdoor Life, he mentions leaving the Haines Marble's at camp, and just carrying a folding knife (no mention of style) now, he also mentions that he'd redesign it if he had the chance. Wide, curved, and thin were his main design points. The article makes it sound like the Marble's version hadn't been taken afield for years.

Also gone were the double bits, trading them in for a Marble's #9 on a longer straight handle. The handle looks about 16" or so, not unlike the long riggers hatchet type you can find now.

 

[Naphtali]

The Haine's knife always looked totally impractical as a hunter to me. . . .

Examine Half Face Blades' Crow Scout. Delete the guard from Haines' knife and there it is — albeit with less blade radiusing or curvature. I own one from the original non-California location. It is entirely practical as general camp, field butchering, and kitchen knife. Since relocating to California, HFB prices have adjusted from very high to "You must be joking."

Quality control and workmanship on Morseth knives at the time of Proenneke's move to Alaska, was good not exceptional. While I recognize that a product's price is what someone is willing to pay, I cannot but believe that Brusletto's different heat treat of blades sold to Morseth, from their standard laminated carbon steel heat treat, was a significant part of Morseth's cost difference (becoming their price difference).

 

[tltt]

Here are some of the old Haines axe and knife articles if folks want to read them -

Axes -

https://archive.org/details/sim_american-rifleman_1932-08_80_8/page/20/mode/1up?q=axe .

Haines on the perfect camp outfit -

Part one -
https://archive.org/details/sim_outdoor-life_1920-07_46_1/page/41/mode/1up .
Part II (axe and knife stuff) -
https://archive.org/details/sim_outdoor-life_1920-08_46_2/page/116/mode/1up .

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The Knife -

https://archive.org/details/sim_outdoor-life_1907-06_19_6/page/606/mode/1up?q=knife .

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Not Haines, but a neat article on a guy trying to develop the best pocket axe -

https://archive.org/details/sim_american-rifleman_1940-07_88_7/page/n29/mode/1up .

 

[Naphtali]

Here are some of the old Haines axe and knife articles if folks want to read them - . . .

While I am the person who requested these articles, many thanks for responding to my PM within a single day and allowing others access also.

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

While I read Haines' article on his knife, he still didn't convince me it was a very practical hunting knife. Between the wide handguard and the strange upswept hook point blade, it looks like something that would be a real pain to use on game. Someplace I read the the Marble's Woodcraft replaced it. In my opinion, the Woodcraft makes a much better game knife.