The Schrade 13OT and 14OT are a fairly rare pair of classic Schrade pattern Old Timer fixed blades. The 13OT and 14OT were the sixth and seventh fixed blade Old Timer when they were first introduced in 1978 (15OT-'64, 165OT-'67, 41OT-'71, 152OT-'73, 154OT-'76 ) and was produced for only three years before being discontinued after 1980 (13OT) and four years 1981 (14OT). They were first manufactured well after the Schrade-Walden name had been changed to Schrade Cutlery (in mid 1973), so will only be found with the "SCHRADE U.S.A. 13OT/14OT" tang stamp on regular production knives. In the 1978 Schrade Cutlery catalog they listed for $35.00 each, and remained at that price until retired from production.
The 8 1/2"13OT Trailblazer has a heavy 3 3/4" drop point full exposed tang blade, slightly curved spine brown sawcut Delrin handle pinned to the tang with two nickle silver flush compression rivets, and a brass bolster/guard. A nickle silver Old Timer shield is set flush on the right handle (rectangular with radiused ends, "OLD TIMER"). Over the short span of production, only the brown sawcut Delrin handles were used. The handle has no lanyard hole as was featured on many later small fixed OT patterns. Weight was listed at 7.6 ounces. The catalog listed the blade steel as "High Carbon Steel Rust Resistant", which I understand is another expression of "Schrade+ Steel" I have not noted any private or limited edition issues of this pattern, and there was no known UH version. Neither is there a direct predecessor or descendent identifiable. The PH1 and PH2 had similar blade shapes.
The 8 1/2"14OT Timberline has a heavy 3 3/4" clip point full exposed tang blade, slightly curved spine brown sawcut Delrin handle pinned to the tang with two nickle silver flush compression rivets, and a brass bolster/guard. A nickle silver Old Timer shield is set flush on the right handle (rectangular with radiused ends, "OLD TIMER"). Over the short span of production, only the brown sawcut Delrin handles were used. The handle has no lanyard hole as was featured on many later small fixed OT patterns. Weight was listed at 7.6 ounces. The catalog listed the blade steel as "High Carbon Steel Rust Resistant", which I understand is another expression of "Schrade+ Steel" I have not noted any private or limited edition issues of this pattern, but there was a UH version, the 144UH (1979-'82). Neither is there a direct predecessor or descendent other than the 144UH identifiable.
I have found one basic sheath design which is a folded tubular sewn sheath with no handle keeper strap. It was stitched with brown thread, with five small rivets protecting the stitching. The leather on the sheath back was extended and folded over backward above the sheath throat to form a belt hanger. It was secured to the sheath back with stitching. Because of the small size of the sheath, none were made with the stone pocket found on other larger Schrade fixed blade patterns. Sheath finish color did not vary much during the short production from light russet to brown. No undyed replacement sheaths have shown up on the market.
Unlike Old Timers with longer production runs, no engineering changes have been detected on the 13OT or 14OT over the brief span of production, though some slight variations may come to light in the future.
No distinctly different tang stamps have been noted so. I have seen no relics of the 13OT or 14OT pattern appearing from the Schrade inventory and sample room, as I have with many patterns.
The entire standard production was marked with the right-hand tang stamp "SCHRADE" over "U.S.A. 13/14OT" perpendicular to the blade and read from the handle. This tang stamp remained unchanged during the few years of production.
