New folder with Schrade 227UH attributes

[qncygnnr]

Is there a modern American Made knife with the same attributes as the Schrade Uncle Henry 227UH? I'm looking for a locking liner or lockback large trapper style folder with a lanyard hole or "ring" to attach a lanyard. Should I just buy a vintage Uncle Henry? This knife is for use not display.

 

[yablanowitz]

Are you looking for one blade or two? The 227UH is what I call a folding hunter rather than a trapper. I know Boker makes one that is a double lockback, but it's made in Germany. Buying a vintage Uncle Henry is never a bad idea, but I've never seen one with two locking blades.

 

[qncygnnr]

Thank you Yablanowitz. You are correct - I went back to the store and confirmed that the blades are not locking. I confused myself because I was also looking at a 127UH which does have a liner locking mechanism. What is the distinction between a folding trapper and folding hunter? How does $180 for a NOS "stag" Uncle Henry 227UH sound?

 

[yablanowitz]

As far as I know (and i'm no expert), trappers usually top out at about 4 1/2" handles, and the butt end is wider than the blade end. The folding hunter usually starts at about 5" handles, and the blade end is wider than the butt end. Then there's the copperhead, which is the size of a trapper but is built like the folding hunter, but that's another discussion altogether.

For $180, that UH better be genuine stag. I snagged the 227UH in that picture for less than $75 on the big auction site.

Edit to add: I believe Queen is still making their folding hunter in a couple of handle materials and D-2 steel that will out perform the UH, assuming you can get an edge on it.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Trappers usually feature a large spey as the secondary blade, also. The secondary blade on most of the folding hunter patterns is usually a skinner blade.

 

[qncygnnr]

Grip panels on these 127UH and 227UH are "real stag". The differences between Trappers and Hunters is very clear now - Thanks guys. I own quite a few knives but don't really know the nuances between the types other than some broad concepts. I was digging through some of my old stuff and found the first pen knife I ever bought - a small yellow handled Cammillus "toothpick" folder (early 1970s) ... got my interest going again. What do serious knife people think about Bear & Son knives?

 

[yablanowitz]

I have no first-hand experience with them. From what I've read here, their QC leaves something to be desired.

 

[Rusty1]

I would think the 127 and 227UH must be rehandled, if not a special release. I don't think genuine stag was ever used on regular production Uncle Henry's.

Russell

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I'd also make absolutely sure the stag is genuine. To many novice collectors (and some sellers of dubious integrity on certain 'auction sites'), Schrade's 'Staglon' handles often look like, or are wrongly described as, 'genuine' or 'real' stag.

If you did happen to find these in real stag, I'm envious. And post some pics, too...

Best of luck to you. :thumbup:

 

[orca8589]

Rusty1 - please don't be offended, but what you're calling "real stag" may be "Staglon", a delrin (nylon) material U.S. Schrade manufactured to look like Stag. From a distance, it's hard to tell the difference. As far as I know, U.S. Schrade didn't make the Uncle Henry line with real stag. Also, $180. is pretty steep for a 227UH. They're definitely available for less online, as mentioned before.

The only locking two-blade Hunter pattern I know of is the Boker model. It's pricey, but if it's to be your main user, it would probably be worth it.

Something to consider: I have an old Case 6265SAB two-blade hunter, and I've never been afraid of it closing on my during use. Good strong springs on that one. Another member here talked about the one he carried for years in the Navy. I'll see if I can find that thread.

Here's a thread on two-blade Hunters:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/798111-Folding-Hunters!?highlight=6265

Modoc Ed's thread on the Case two-blade Hunter he carried in the navy:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/730328-Case-Folding-Hunter?highlight=navy

~Chris

 

[Peter Parker]

Welcome aboard! Unless you do as mentioned like looking for a vintage Schrade 227UH or the above Case offering I would take a look at the GEC offerings based on their 23 series.

 

[thatotherguy]

I have no first-hand experience with them. From what I've read here, their QC leaves something to be desired.

They leave a lot to be desired in the QC department. They do make okay hard work knives though. They aren't pretty or cleanly finished and you must be willing to do a little work to get them to as close to perfect condition as you're gonna get. Some are perfect, some are pieces of junk.

 

[qncygnnr]

The seller is the "knife guy" in our area. Been selling all kinds of outdoor gear for decades. I've bought lots of stuff (Filson, etc.) from him over the years so it's hard to believe he'd try to put one over on me. How can I distinguish between "stag" and "Staglon"? Does Staglon fade when exposed to sunlight? He'g got three knives that sat in another store window for decades (so the story goes) and all have some fading on the sides facing up (two with stag and one with saw cut staglon). The panel of the Saw Cut Staglon is "white" while the other side is the original brown color. The Stag knives both have about 50% loss of the dark areas in the recesses compared to the opposite panels.

 

[yablanowitz]

Unfortunately, the only certain way I personally know is by scratch test. Staglon is a plastic, and it will feel much softer than antler or bone when you run a knife point along it.

 

[bucksforus]

I would say that the Uncle Henry is Stagalon--plastic/delrin. The seller may not know the difference. I also have never seen a factory genuine stag handled 227UH. They made somew limited editions for the LB8 with genuine stag, but not 227UH that I have seen. You might want to chect the Schrade collectors site on here to read up on them. You should be able to buy a 227UH new in the box for well under the $100.00 range. Go to the advanced search on completed auctions on the site and see what they have been selling for. Good luck.
Harold

 

[bucksforus]

I also forgot to mention in last post, that Frontier has a 2 blade folding hunter--just like the 227UH with the front blade having a linerlock on it .
Harold

 

[rprocter]

I have about 50 Schrade USA Folding Hunters. both the single blade with a liner lock and the 2 blade. Most are of the Old Timer line because i dislike the phony looking Staglon used for Uncle Henry's. I've never paid more than $45 and that was for an unused example with it's original sheath. $180 is Ridiculous. I wouldn't buy any knife from a guy who asks that for a 227UH.
The significant difference between the OT and UH knives is the steel. Old Timers are 1095, a much loved non stainless knife steel and Schrade's heat treatment was famous for getting this steel to take and hold a truly razor sharp edge.
The Uncle Henry line had stainless steel blades. I don't know which stainless but the blades sharpen well although many think not quite to the Schrade 1095 standard.
If you want a current production, USA Folding Hunter that is very like the Schrade USA knives, check out Canal Street Cutlery. This knifemaking company was formed after Schrade USA folded in 2004 and is owned by Wally Gardiner, the former Production Manager for Schrade and employs many of the former Schrade cutlers.
The Canal Street Folding Hunter is a beautiful knife. Check it out.
roland

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

The seller is the "knife guy" in our area. Been selling all kinds of outdoor gear for decades. I've bought lots of stuff (Filson, etc.) from him over the years so it's hard to believe he'd try to put one over on me. How can I distinguish between "stag" and "Staglon"? Does Staglon fade when exposed to sunlight? He'g got three knives that sat in another store window for decades (so the story goes) and all have some fading on the sides facing up (two with stag and one with saw cut staglon). The panel of the Saw Cut Staglon is "white" while the other side is the original brown color. The Stag knives both have about 50% loss of the dark areas in the recesses compared to the opposite panels.

The delrin or staglon handles will always (always) lack the pores & grain seen in natural handle materials. Obviously, this is difficult to discern if only looking at seller's pics of the knives. But, if you're able to look at them in-hand, a good magnifier and some bright light will reveal the differences. The synthetics will always look like smooth 'plastic', even when viewed under magnification. But the pores and grain of natural materials (wood, bone, stag, horn, etc) will stand out, especially if viewed under magnification.

As mentioned, the synthetics will also scratch & dent more easily, under a thumbnail or something similar. And sythetics can & will fade if exposed to sunlight over a long period of time, AND will usually shrink also (look for wide gaps between the ends of the synthetic scales and the bolsters, often wide enough to slip a business card into, maybe wider). Dyed bone will also fade under similar conditions, but shouldn't shrink much, if at all.

 

[orca8589]

The Uncle Henry line had stainless steel blades. I don't know which stainless but the blades sharpen well although many think not quite to the Schrade 1095 standard.

I've read in more than one place that it was 440A. Properly heat-treated, it works fine for most cutting chores.

~Chris

 

[qncygnnr]

Bucksforus mentioned Frontier ... did a search and did not come up with a specific website. Anybody have more info on Frontier?