New Schrade 33OT

C

CityFinn

Joined
Oct 11, 2022
Messages
87
Those who read some of my previous posts are awere that I was thinking about 33OT for some time.

I got US made and it was broken so I got a non-us.

Here are my thoughts about it (because I didn't find any at forum). I won't give specs, these are on the website, I will just talk about it.

The New 33OT is made kinda weird. It feels very light and robust but with very "plastic" feeling. Like a toy not a tool.
I must say that springs are stronger then on my Case knives similar sizes like Medium Jack, Medium Stockman and MiniTrapper. There is a nice snap opening and closing. It's almost like it was trying to seduce me with it.

There is one gap, but Case also have it, so I don't mind. The only problem here is that nailnicks are not in a good place on blade and they are shallow so opening blades (especially pen) is a bit hard to do.

Handle feels very cheap. And I mean VERY cheap. I don't say it's good or bad but while in hand it isn't you would say - that's something! I have been waiting for this all my life. Case knives (even with flaws) are just... damn good. This one is something you would buy in last.

But I use my knives and for it handles feels ok for EDC things.

Unfortunately they are not rounded well and have some sharp edges which can hurt your hand. A bit but still. Bolsters are also little sharp (nowhere near the Case) and it can be uncomfortable.
While it isn't a no-no for me it is unpleasent in comperising with a Case (or Rough Rider).
Also the middle pin is a bit higher.

I like the size of it as it seats in my hand like it should. A+ for it!

I like Jack pattern because I like the small pen blade and bigger (but not huge) Clippoint. It's my first choice for EDC.
New Schrade 33OT have those two in a 7Cr17MoV (or at least that's what they say) and I don't mind it. I know it's the pretty low steel but it's ok. It's easy to sharp and stay sharp for a reasonable time. I prefer Case steel but for the price I have what I have.

Flat grind with a normal bevel, pretty good from the factory. Blades are well centered. No fails here.

So it should be all good.

Should but it's not.

My two biggest problems with this 33OT are:

1. Wrong position of the nailnick which can be very problematic opening blades.
2. Very sharp handles that are uncomfortable while using knife.

It is a cheap knife and I knew it. I also knew that it won't be a good replacement for a US made one.

I will try to EDC it longer then two weeks and then I will write more about it.

And, ofc, I will try to get my hands on a USmade :)
On the photos are:
Medium Jack Case (black)
Medium Stockman Case (red)
MiniTrapper Case (yellow)
US Schrade 108OT Junior (smallest)
New Schrade 33OT (plastic).
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Those side views showing the hafting tell me all I need to know. I'm not a big fan of cover material that literally takes a step down to get to the bolsters. I've seen some semi-custom and some other German/English brands do it that way. Hate is a strong word...let's call it "dis-like".
 
Rsmith_77 said:
I have been curious as to the steel quality of those off shore old timers
Click to expand...
The (BTI) 858OT Lumberjack Stockman, and 280OT Barlow I have use the 7CR17MoV blade steel, as did the Old Timer scout knife I used as part of a trade for a SAK Evo Grip 14.
I don't know how hard BTI run the blades on the Old Timer line. I can say: "The BTI Old Timer's (and presumably the 2004 to 2015 Taylor Schrade Old Timer) using 7CR14MoV behaves like my knives with 440A blades, including a vintage 1978 to 1986 Schrade + Old Timer 858 Lumberjack Stockman I have. (no "OT" after the "858"). The 7CR takes and holds just as fine/keen/acute an edge as my 440A blades, and just as easily. I have not experienced any edge chipping or rolling."
I should probably mention I thin the edges and reset the edge bevel to 10° per side (20 degrees inclusive) without a micro-bevel, on all my pocket knives, (and most fixed blades) using a guided rod sharpener that has a 10° slot.

My (BTI) Old Timer 858OTB Lumberjack stockman, like the other knives in the OTB series, has fake Delrin (AKA: "real bovine bone") covers, and 9CR18MoV blade steel, which is supposed to be "440C Equivalent" in performance.
I can only confirm the 9CR18MoV is more difficult to sharpen with an Arkansas stone, than my 440A/(7CR14MoV)/425HC (both Buck's and Case's True Sharp)/ and the 10xx/T10/5160 an other basic carbon steels I have.
To be honest, it "feels" like as much a P.I.A. I "think" I remember my last (allegedly) 440C bladed knife I had, back in the early 1970's was when using Arkansas stones was. (Diamond Plate hones and SiC stones were not invented yet. It was difficult even to find SiC sandpaper.)
Admittedly, my memories may have faded, and 440C was actually worse than I remember, or, my old age memory may be exaggerating a mite, and 440C isn't as bad as I recollect when it comes to sharpening.
I can say: "9CR18MoV seems to hold an edge longer than 440A/7CR14MoV when doing the same tasks."

Hope this helps.
 
CityFinn said:
Also the middle pin is a bit higher.
Click to expand...
I have several Chinese Schrade Old Timer models, and I'm quite pleased with their performance.
I don't think any of mine have the "step down to get to the bolsters" that glennbad glennbad pointed out on your 33OT, nor do I find the "feel" of the handles to be cheaper or more plastic-like than the few US-made Old Timers I have, but that's a subjective judgment on my part.

I do find that the prouder-than-I'd-prefer center pin seems to be a consistent "feature" on ALL of my Chinese Old Timers, so I conclude that it's intentional, but I can't see WHY they do it.

- GT
 
I have the same chinese Old Timer but with Ironwood covers, mark side one came with a width-long crack near the shield. Well, mine's bolsters don't seem to be sharp. No step-down on covers either. Byt blades are like yours and I don't like it really. Clip looks very random, like person creating it wasn't a knife person, and pen blade looks like it was grinded down too much during the sharpening (which I suppose was its original form though) and shape-wise is something between a regular spear pen and a sheepfoot. Overall, maybe it's an OK "knife" itself, but I'd rather buy and use something with more pronounced traditional shape, if I can say so.
 
Liked this review a lot, articulate, thoughtful and attempts to invite discussion and comparisons . Need more of this manner of thing on Traditionals and less about posters' non-knife daily trivia :rolleyes:

It's a fair and balanced overview and I'd like to add a few observations: can't comment on these slip joints but I do own 2 Chinese made 3 OT lockbacks. Wanted a 3 0T lockback some years ago as fancied a compact 3 " locker. Looked around for a USA made one (like the OP I live in the EU) but the prices seemed extortionate, just because a firm has gone out of business is this an occasion to hike prices, especially when these were always value or budget types for working? No. But it happens and now it's even worse, some sellers on the Bay claim the money goes to 'charity' right and to whom and how much...Towards the end of US Schrade quality took a distinct knock according to many connoisseurs, the same with Camillus. I have a very late model Yello Jaket small lockback and the quality is pretty abysmal, same with last products of Queen Cutlery, as a ship sinks most seek to escape.

One of these Chinese Schrade lockbacks is in Buffalo Horn with NS liners. After some years 12 or so it has developed a small crack at the base but it has a keen blade that retains the edge, VERY solid in lock-up with no play anywhere- please note GEC...The other is about 8 years old and is in the saw cut delrin. I thought all of that was step down stuff even on the US models? The colouration isn't good, too pinkish but it feels thick and solid, the pins are all very nicely domed, no pivot showing through the bolster and again totally blade play free, a very nice inexpensive small lockback, handy and its steel works well- arrived sharp and keeps a very fair edge.


So I'd recommend the lockbacks if you want a small reliable worker, the spring knives/multi blades I'm not inspired to get, if I want inexpensive then RR fills that niche well enough as it has bone knives etc. . Hope this is of some use too.

Thanks, Will
 
It's been a few days while I got Middleman Jack in my pocket and I think I can say more about it.

Firstly it feels good in hand. The handle size is just perfect for me. While it's similar to Medium
Synthetic Jack from Case it's a little "bulkier" because of the delrin handles (they are not flat as Case ones) and I can have a better grip on it. The diference is big for me.

Secondly its steel isn't perfect and it become dull faster then Cases steel but... it also gets resharpen easier. I can't say how much faster it looses the sharp edge but it isn't something that will bother me. With just a few moves on simple blademedic from Lansky and it will cut again. For its price it is a very good thing.

Springs are very tight and strong. I suppose it will become a little loosen with time but for now when I open the blade I'm sure it will not close easily while Rough Rider knives are not so good. I would say this Schrade has stronger springs than any Case that I got. Oher thing is how durable are those springs (I read on internet that some of new schrade springs can break - I don't know if it's true or not).

The sharp edges of handles (with bolsters) are still problematic. I will try to do something with it because of my pockets and hands. Sometimes it's a little painfull to get a strong grip. A little but still. And it can damage my fifth pocket.

It's very light in comperising with Case or RR knives. I would say it's like Spyderco Byrd Robin with FRN handles.

It cuts and slice well because of rather thin blads which I like and I don't have a feeling that the blade will snap. So for normal edc uses - it will do the good work.

I am pretty happy with it but it makes me wanting a US made even more. If the version from China is good with all its flaws then the original will be a blast.

Sadly I can't buy GEC or all Case patterns here in Poland. Not a price problem but lacking in any shop in EU that would offer a good deal. I would buy from US but shipping costs are almost half of the price of knife. And sometimes there isn't even a shipping to Poland.
 
glennbad said:
Those side views showing the hafting tell me all I need to know. I'm not a big fan of cover material that literally takes a step down to get to the bolsters. I've seen some semi-custom and some other German/English brands do it that way. Hate is a strong word...let's call it "dis-like".
Click to expand...
Me too.
Even if I don't like it I can understand that it allows for cost savings when they can be less picky with stag they're using, but this is plastic that can be formed into any shape / size under the sun.
 
I would agree with You but as I said in my post above (if I understand You good and we are talking about the same thing) it makes this little knife more bulkier which gives me a better grip :)
 
.577NE said:
Have you checked with https://www.lamnia.com/en/search?s=case knife?
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Yes, I've bought this Schrade there - almost took them 1,5 months to deliver :/ There's no GEC and Cases... are interesting but not those that I would like to buy. I would like to get my hands on swayback Jack ( I want bone or stag handle).
But thank You.
Now I'm considering Bökers Barlow (don't know which now) but my only experience with barlow pattern is RR and I'm not very pleased with it.
 
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