pbitt's 855

[Codger_64]

Hi, I have a 3 blade pocket knife, it came from my grandmother's house but there is no one left to give me any info on where it came from. The knife is 3.25" closed, there are three blades, one marked Schrade NY USA 855 stainless, the other two blades are stamped stainless, there is a metal oval on one side of brown bone like handle marked stainless. Can someone shed some light? Thanks Brad

Welcome to the forum Brad! I moved your post from the sticky up above to down here where we have more room to discuss and explore your questions about this knife.

Not having seen your knife (pictures are always appreciated), we can only go by the information you have posted.

.SCHRADE
N.Y. U.S.A.
....855
STAINLESS

This tang marking generally indicated a knife made after 1972. Schrade Walden was changed to Schrade sometime in 1973. Also, with the stamp being four lines including "N.Y.", we most often see this on knives produced not long after that change. Afterward, the "N.Y." was dropped, as was stainless which was replaced with a "+" after Schrade, and the stamp would be like this:

.SCHRADE+
U.S.A. 855

The steel would most likely be 440A, as remarked some time back by a former Schrade employee. The handle would be a jigged Delrin plastic, bolsters and shield likely nickel silver.

I last see this knife listed in the 1976 catalog. It was listed as 855RB, the "RB" standing for "Razor Blade Stainless", a trademark they began using circa 1964/65. It is possible yours originally had a blade etch stateing this. Price in 1976 was $10.00, $8.00 in 1974, and $7.50 in 1970. I first see it listed in 1964 for $5.95.

I hope this helped somewhat. Sorry for the delay in answering, but new posts up top sometimes are overlooked.

Michael

 

[pbitt]

Thanks Michael, That helps a lot, it is amazing how much a person can find out if you just get to the right person. I would include a picture if I new how, I have included pix in emails if one was needed. my knife is like the one in the add except for the plate with the word stainless is more rectangle with rounded edges, not the shield shape of the one in the photo. Unfortunately this knife was used, the outside is in very good condition but the blades have been sharpened and the main blade may have been broken because it is ground down to a couple of inches. Thanks again for your help, Brad

 

[Codger_64]

Brad, while we all hope to find a rare treasure like a rare and expensive knife in perfect condition, the truth is that a family heirloom knife, used for years as a knife, fondled in the pocket while waiting for children to be born, used to clean nails before church, peeling an apple for a child or grandchild and opening their Christmas packages, is worth much more that the fanciest, prettiest knife you can buy.

The knife I showed was a different pattern of the same series, partially explaining the detail differences.

Congratulations on the knife! I like to suggest that heirloom knives be placed in a shadowbox display with a picture of the owner, and possibly an example of their signature. It is good to be able to look up occasionally and remember an ancestor by seeing something they touched daily.

Michael

 

[thawk]

Here's one in new condition, but it probably doesn't have near the stories to tell. It is a sweet little pattern, and it's ancestors go back a long ways. There are also a lot of Ulsters, Craftsman, and Imperials that share this size and blade arrangement. Some are serpentine jacks with only two blades. It should be similar to yours, with the same stamp.

I would estimate this one to be a 1974 or 1975 era example.

I'm curious though, if yours has an oval shield, and says stainless under the 855? It might be an example I've not seen.

Does it look like this kind of handle? This isn't really an oval shield. Just guessing. It's kind of an odd 855. More like an Old Timer.

Thanks for the information.

 

[Codger_64]

The shield of the second one matches the illustration in the 1965 catalog for the 855RB, though it shows jigged handles. Interestingly, in 1978 the 855RB was named... Ranchers Sunday Dress and had been given the "bomb" shield.

 

[thawk]

Thanks Codger. I'd not noticed that Sunday Dress entry in the 1978 or 79. By 80 the 855 was not in the catalog. That likely dates my example to a three year range, and several years newer than my earlier estimate. Looks like maybe the 77 is a bomb shield too, but the 76 is definitely the oblong. That puts Brad's in the 74 to 76 range if the shields were consistent, but with Schrade, probably not. As soon as I would proclaim a date, someone would come up with a Schrade Walden with a bomb shield. Those catalogs come in handy.

 

[pbitt]

This is getting more interesting. Does serpentine refer to the bending of the knife handle? The image of the 855rb in the codger post is like my knife, with the same bomb shield and jiggled sides. Not smooth like the image in thawk post.
Brad

 

[thawk]

This is getting more interesting. Does serpentine refer to the bending of the knife handle? The image of the 855rb in the codger post is like my knife, with the same bomb shield and jiggled sides. Not smooth like the image in thawk post.
Brad

I think the smoother Old Timer looking 855 was not as common. My 855 with the smooth saw cut delrin look is like a 58OT, which was an old Ulster pattern. It is a Schrade Walden with the razor blade etch when the patent was still pending, circa 1965 or so. The bomb shield is the one that is "fish shaped" and jigged in my post. The hot dog shape of the smooth 855 was the same as an Old Timer, I'd call it an Old Timer Shape.

You are correct on serpentine. It refers to that bending as you describe.

Codger got me looking at those old catalogs, and the bomb shield was used on the post Schrade Waldens, on the ones stamped with Schrade NY.

I carried an 855 today and opened a few boxes with it.