Old Timer 1540T find and 400 stainless ?

[SGT]

Just found my Old Timer 1540T drop point hunter.Its been missing for along time.Anyone eles have one?The question I have is about Schrades 400 steel.How is it and how does it compare to other steels? Thanks

 

[lrv]

mine:

 

[SGT]

Irv, must be the only two that have one. Great knife. Thanks for the photo.

 

[Codger_64]

I have a few of them. They weren't sold as production knives over a long period of time. Introduced in 1976, they were discontinued after the 1988 catalog year. The same year they last appeared, the successor 158OT was introduced. 154UH Badger was produced only in 1994 thru 1997. The pattern was also used on a few scrims beginning in 1979. When the base 154OT pattern was replaced by the 158OT, the 154 based scrims were likewise replaced by 158 based scrims.

I have a few of those. It took me a few days to dig them out and scan them. Sorry, no camera.

 

[brady806]

sorry i cannot help you with the steel question, ill bet somebody here can, but micheal tell us about the green handled one if you wish. ------------brady

 

[Codger_64]

The one with the green handle is a SKOAL limited edition. Sorry for the poor scan, but the tang reads "SCHRADE" over "SKOAL USA". As with most of the knives Schrade made for UST, the furniture is brass on the green Delrin handle.

From my archives:

SK154 - 154 pattern w/ green Sawcut Delrin handles, "Limited Edition" etch, antiqued brass coined "SKOAL" shield, 1/2/95 - 1,500 pcs.

The second black handled one was a subscription bonus for Peterson Publishing's Hunting magazine, a companion offer to their Guns & Ammo Sharpfinger promotion.

I did a bit more research and located the records of approximately how many of the 152GA were made, and for how long. There was an initial order for 20,000 in 1976, and a few more than 14,000 were shipped that year. Another 6,000 followed in 1977. It would be quite possible to find an ad in the 1976 issues of G&A magazine. (The ad above came from a 1977 issue of G&A)

As far as I know, no one has yet gone looking for the ads in Hunting magazine from 1976/77. I would be interested in seeing them when someone does locate them.

 

[Codger_64]

...The question I have is about Schrades 400 steel.How is it and how does it compare to other steels? Thanks

I have no complaints about Schrade's 400 series steels. I EDC an uncle Henry 897UH and have for many years. And most of my kitchen knives are Old Timer stainless from the Safe-T-Grip series (except a pair of Old Timer carbon steel wood handled knives made by LF&C).

“Schrade+” steel was actually a trademarked name used for at least two different stainless steel alloys. First was 440A. Then a change was made to 420HC. Evidence suggests that 420HC SS was introduced, at least partially, in 1998 when they began using fine blanking on the LB7 production. If it was like most other changes in production, it was not like turning off one faucet and turning on another, the change was most likely gradual, what is called a "running change". And of course there is almost always a lag between when production began and shipping began. The 153UH was originally carbon steel (1095HC) before mid 1995, then afterward .135 440A stainless Schrade+ steel hollow ground. So if it likewise changed, blades after circa 1998 also used 420HC.

Both steels received Schrade's propriotary heat treat and quench, and I believe cryo treatment.

 

[SGT]

Codger 64,Thanks for the info and photo.And what a great collection.I think the 1540T is a quite unique knife.

 

[ea42]

Michael, that's SOME collection!:thumbup::thumbup:

You know, there were a number of the early Schrade+ bladed knives that were 440B and C as well. I know the early LB-7 at least started as 440C, not sure how long it stayed that way though. I think that's why they simply used the plus, it was all encompassing I've probably got some charts around here somewhere, I'll see if I can dig them up.

If there were any G&A knives advertised in 1976, it would have been in the later issues as I believe the first shipment of knives occured sometime between early October and Early December of that year. Not sure if they would have advertised the offer before the knives were in hand.

Here's a flyer that includes the "new" 154OT in a topper case along with the other new knives for that year (1976):

[/IMG]

Eric

 

[Codger_64]

If there were any G&A knives advertised in 1976, it would have been in the later issues as I believe the first shipment of knives occured sometime between early October and Early December of that year. Not sure if they would have advertised the offer before the knives were in hand.

Perhaps the only way we will now for sure about the timespan of either offer is if someone invests the time and money to buy those issues of the two magazines. Two of the Hunting magazine from that time period are on eBay right now.