Please School Me on Schrade 5OT Lockbacks

AFAustin

AFAustin

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Jun 8, 2004
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I have read a good deal of praise for Schrade 5OT lockbacks and I'm hoping for a little more information. Specifically as to the ones with green (delrin, I believe?) scales: Are the blades 1095? Are there also stainless models? Were these only made by the "old/good" Schrade or are they also made by the "new/bad" Schrade?

Thanks for any info.

Andrew
 
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To my knowledge, the original USA 5OT was always stainless; I have several and each is marked with the SCHRADE+ tang stamp.
The originals were made in different handle materials, standard brown sawcut Delrin, green Delrin, and some special order variations in wood.

All of the modern imported Old Timers are stainless. And yes, the importers (Taylor Brands LLC) are making a modern version of the 5OT. To be sure you're getting an original, if that's important to you, always look for the "USA" on the tang stamp.
 
Some of the green handled ones have 1095 blades. I have one and have seen at least two others. The stainless models seem to be more common tho.

Jim
 
I have a green Delrin, brass 5Ot in carbon I'll get some pics up shortly, but they do exist. Blade is black with patina, and pits.
 
Cool! I'm adding that to my "wanted" list for the Old Timer collection. :D

I have five different 5OT examples, and they're all marked SCHRADE+.

No matter how many of these things I collect, there's always another oddball or variation to be found. :thumbup:
 

Shrade 5OT by Pinnah, on Flickr

This one carbon with a reprofiled tip.

I've seen pictures of several variants.

There are green ones in carbon and stainless.
There are brown one in stainless.
There is a green version with thumbstuds and a lanyard hole.
There is a scrimshaw version.
And there are wood scaled "DucksbUnlimited" versions.

Schrade r us has a nice catalog archive that is great for researching old Schrades.
 
pinnah said:
I've seen pictures of several variants.

There are green ones in carbon and stainless.
There are brown one in stainless.
There is a green version with thumbstuds and a lanyard hole.
There is a scrimshaw version.
And there are wood scaled "DucksbUnlimited" versions.
Click to expand...

The 50th Anniversary National Park Service edition also had wood handles.
 
DSCN6454.jpg

one o these things is not like the others.two of these things are kinda the same.
 
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Andrew - Mine (old schrade stainless) just sits in my tool box. It did do some work on my bnl's roof. PM me your address and it's yours on the condition that it get used.
 
Mark, what a nice offer! I'd love to try it. How about if I give it a "mini-spa" (sharpen, wash, oil, etc,), play with it a bit, and then send it back to you all tuned up?

Andrew
 
It's a great knife! I'm glad to see meako still has a few after generously bestowing this one on me (USA 1095):

9632760318_c2f4f02f77_z.jpg
 
davek14 said:
Are the carbon ones rare enough to warrent squirelling away or are they users?
Click to expand...

That depends on how much you value a carbon blade over a stainless one. (That discussion approaches the level of religious controversy and I'm going to dodge it totally.) I have three 5OTs: two with green delrin handles, one with what looks like varnished oak. Apparently the oak ones were made for a Ducks Unlimited edition, but mine was never branded as such — it went over the factory wall "clean."

Of the greenies, one has a carbon blade (and is shown up-thread), the other is Schrade+, which is a stainless. The oak one is also Schrade+.

I have to say that my experiences with all three show no difference among them in function. Others may find their mileage differs in this. For me, they keep their edges perfectly adequately, and sharpen up easily. Bottom line: it's a just a nice-size lockback that slips into the watch pocket, and it's "olde tyme" enough not to spook the knife-timid if you bring it out to use.

EDIT: Oops. Here it is:

tumblr_murvbaGTai1r4zf5xo2_1280.jpg
 
davek14 said:
Are the carbon ones rare enough to warrent squirelling away or are they users?
Click to expand...

Any Old Timer or original Schrade could be saved as a collector item if you wish. They aren't made any longer and it's been almost ten years since Schrade went out of business.
But at the same time, they aren't exactly rare and there's likely no value difference between the stainless and carbon versions.
Furthermore, if the knife is already used it's no longer of interest to serious collectors. Old Timers sell at a "collector premium" only if in unused condition and still packaged in the original box.

So if you have an Old Timer, any OT model, that's still in unused condition feel free to set it aside as a keepsake, an educational artifact displaying the type of pocketknives carried by American men and workers for decades (1958-2004).
But if it's already used and seen some pocket time, appreciate the craftsmanship and style in the most appropriate way, by cutting things with it. :)
 
Here she is, I thought I might of accidently had something rare, or unusual for a second, but in this condition it wouldn't be worth much of anything anyhow. Very cool knives, this one showed up in a the bottom of a box of a bunch of junk knives I purchased for a couple of bucks apiece.
 
Really nice to carry, and these drop points were not a commonly sold blade.

There is also a 55OT variation. It has a thumb stud, linerlock, lanyard hole, and a flat ground back, the blade is only beveled on the front side.

 
Bob W said:
Any Old Timer or original Schrade could be saved as a collector item if you wish. They aren't made any longer and it's been almost ten years since Schrade went out of business.
But at the same time, they aren't exactly rare and there's likely no value difference between the stainless and carbon versions.
Furthermore, if the knife is already used it's no longer of interest to serious collectors. Old Timers sell at a "collector premium" only if in unused condition and still packaged in the original box.

So if you have an Old Timer, any OT model, that's still in unused condition feel free to set it aside as a keepsake, an educational artifact displaying the type of pocketknives carried by American men and workers for decades (1958-2004).
But if it's already used and seen some pocket time, appreciate the craftsmanship and style in the most appropriate way, by cutting things with it. :)
Click to expand...

Good answer. I love old Schrades and that is where my buying (which I'm slowing down) has been lately.

Not to hijack, but let me ask this. When you say "unused in box", what about unused not in box.

A knife store near me lately bought a knife collection heavy on Schrades. I have two large Stockmen, one medium Stockman (340T) and a large Trapper like new, unsharpened but no box. Being fairly OCD I've oiled and stored them "for my old age" (I'm already old).

My favorite EDC right now is a 340T with a broken main blade that I back pocket carry and use hard at work. I need a large and a medium Stockman already lightly bunged up to *use*. :rolleyes:


Thanks for your answer, my 50T is sharpened.
 
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