Picked up an Uncle Henry at a garage sale today, any info?

Campbellclanman said:
Awesome Codger- Meako my friend I tip my hat to you Sir- I would have sworn it was Stag - I have owned many Staglon UH's and I would have sworn its Stag - so today is a good day if you learn something - not too sure what I learnt - apart from I was wrong :o
Click to expand...

Pffffft! The Baer brothers and every other cutlery when adopting the molded Delrin to replace natural materials, horn, antler and bone as well as celluloid, attempted to replicate the look of those classic materials. In the case of the Staglon and some "jigged" bone, they did a fair job and it just takes a lot of experience seeing in person and handling them to tell the differences. Sometimes nearly impossible in photographs on the web. And as for the questions raised in the OP and posts since, they prompted me to re-research and refresh my memory of things I once knew well but had forgotten. I learn every day as well.
 
muphasta said:
gotta be about the blades being open or the paper towel...

Let me know what wrong I've done, so I can avoid any future wrongdoing...
Click to expand...

Many pocketknives have a single spring for multiple blades. Two blades on opposite ends of the same spring being open at the same time can cause a good deal of stress, which can result in broken or weakened springs.
In my experience with Schrade Old Timer and Uncle Henry knives, the springs can weaken if displayed that way for long periods. A spring actually breaking on an OT or UH is quite unlikely.

I'd be a lot more concerned about a vintage / rare / valuable knife than a common Schrade. :)
 
Codger_64 said:
...attempted to replicate the look of those classic materials. In the case of the Staglon and some "jigged" bone, they did a fair job and it just takes a lot of experience seeing in person and handling them to tell the differences...
Click to expand...

I'm having trouble with some vintage celluloid that's so similar to natural cattle horn... or maybe it is natural. I'm just not sure.
 
Bob W said:
Many pocketknives have a single spring for multiple blades. Two blades on opposite ends of the same spring being open at the same time can cause a good deal of stress, which can result in broken or weakened springs.
In my experience with Schrade Old Timer and Uncle Henry knives, the springs can weaken if displayed that way for long periods. A spring actually breaking on an OT or UH is quite unlikely.

I'd be a lot more concerned about a vintage / rare / valuable knife than a common Schrade. :)
Click to expand...

I figured that is what it was. The knife was like that for about 30 seconds to a minute. Honestly, I didn't even know there were springs in these knives.
 
muphasta said:
I figured that is what it was. The knife was like that for about 30 seconds to a minute. Honestly, I didn't even know there were springs in these knives.
Click to expand...

The "backspring" is just a piece of metal that bends as the knife is opened and closed, like pulling back on one side a plastic ruler. Pull the ruler too far and...

Not all knives have a backspring either.
 
Bob W said:
Many pocketknives have a single spring for multiple blades. Two blades on opposite ends of the same spring being open at the same time can cause a good deal of stress, which can result in broken or weakened springs.
In my experience with Schrade Old Timer and Uncle Henry knives, the springs can weaken if displayed that way for long periods. A spring actually breaking on an OT or UH is quite unlikely.

I'd be a lot more concerned about a vintage / rare / valuable knife than a common Schrade. :)
Click to expand...

I prefer the term 'popular' over 'common';)
 
meako said:
I prefer the term 'popular' over 'common';)
Click to expand...

:thumbup: :D

By "common" I meant not rare, easily replaced.
You guys use "common" to imply a lower class or less worthy. You probably learned that from the Brits. ;)
 
Bob W said:
I'm having trouble with some vintage celluloid that's so similar to natural cattle horn... or maybe it is natural. I'm just not sure.
Click to expand...
In hand you can absolutely tell the difference with a magnifying glass and bright light. IMHO a magnifying glass is one item any knife collector should own. Sporting goods shops that sell fly tying supplies have them on adjustable stands as do some hobby shops. A linen tester loupe is good too. And last resort, a hand held magnifying glass from Walmart or the dollar store. Anything is better than nothing.
 
Bob W said:
:thumbup: :D

By "common" I meant not rare, easily replaced.
You guys use "common" to imply a lower class or less worthy. You probably learned that from the Brits. ;)
Click to expand...

True-that's why they sent us all out here in the first place-which is strange -why send all the "naughty people" to a much nicer climate ? :o:D
 
my plans to get more pix were foiled last weekend by kids' soccer and yard work. This next weekend will be spent at the unhappiest place on earth. Yes, Disneyland. Egads I dread that place. So better pix will need to wait. I did try to clean it up, but honestly, aside from the black tar like stuff coming off the blades, the scales look much the same.
 
This is one of my Camillus made 886UH knives, with stainless blades.
$_57.JPG

image.php

The Camillus 886UH is the knife in the Left-hand bottom corner - All the other knives are Schrade 885UHs.
image.php

Note: the blade Swedge on the TOP knife, it is the same as the Buck 301s made by Camillus!
Buck 301s made by Camillus (from left) #3 to 5, the next five knives were made by Schrade.
image.php

I think this letter from Schrade will answer most questions, about this knife.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/205372-Uncle-Henry-886UH?highlight=886UH
 
Last edited:
koldgold said:
This is one of my Camillus made 886UH knives, with stainless blades.
$_57.JPG

image.php

The Camillus 886UH is the knife in the Left-hand bottom corner - All the other knives are Schrade 885UHs.
image.php

Note: the blade Swedge on the TOP knife, it is the same as the Buck 301s made by Camillus!
Buck 301s made by Camillus (from left) #3 to 5, the next five knives were made by Schrade.
image.php

I think this letter from Schrade will answer most questions, about this knife.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/205372-Uncle-Henry-886UH?highlight=886UH
Click to expand...
If those are all yours, you have a lot of nice knives! Thanks for the information.
 
I'm not sure how much better these pix are, but I took some w/a real camera today. I've cleaned the knife a bit.
P1150268_zpsscc9rkam.jpg
P1150269_zpsdxubhh4x.jpg
P1150270_zpsfogydejt.jpg
P1150271_zpsil7egh4b.jpg
P1150272_zpsctkybbqq.jpg
P1150273_zpsoc91viex.jpg
P1150274_zpst0txks5n.jpg
P1150275_zpszp4zz3sf.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top