Question who made master mechanic pocket knives.

Might have been Schrade, but we would have to see it to be sure.
Codger_64 said:
A while back, we had a thread about the Master Mechanic marked SFO's in which Sheathmaker informed us that they were made for True Value Hardware. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=376948&highlight=Master+mechanic


True Value Master Mechanic Knives and Tools

The history of True Value began with John Cotter, the founder, who worked in a retail store from at ages 12 to 44 before creating Cotter & Company. The hardware co-op was established in 1948 with 25 retailers. In 1997, Servistar/Coast to Coast merged with Cotter & Company to form TruServ. In 2005, TruServ was renamed True Value Company. Today, they have more than 6,000 stores worldwide and 3,000 employees. In addition to the national-brand products that True Value carries, they also offers private-label products, featuring the True Value, Master Mechanic, Green Thumb, Master Plumber, and Master Electrician brands.
In 1989, Imperial Schrade presented a line of special factory order knives to Cotter Company, the owners of True Value Hardware chain. Their original plan of twelve items was accepted. Anticipating a large order from Cotter, some of the components for some patterns (MM18, MM152, MM8) were sent to Camillus for assembly.
1989-90
MM18 (18OT)
MM3 (3OT)
MM33 (33OT)
MM34 (34OT)
MM8 (8OT)
MM89 (89OT)
MM108 (108OT)
MM152 (152OT)
MM897 (897UH)
MML5 (LB5)
MML7 (LB7)
MMS7 (SP7)
And an additional promotional item, the MMS7, SP7 Lightweight lockback.

During 1991, blade etching began, instead of the special tangstamp and shield being used. The MMS7, MML7 and MM152 were discontinued, and the orange handled MMT1, MMT3, and MMT4 were substituted.

MM18 (18OT)
MM3 (3OT)
MM33 (33OT)
MM34 (34OT)
MM8 (8OT)
MM89 (89OT)
MM108 (108OT)
MM152 (152OT)
MM897 (897UH)
MML5 (LB5)
MMS7 (SP7)
MM27 (127UH?)

In 1992, the 8OT pattern was used for a Cotter Company Commemorative. By 1994, the eight Tradesman knives were used, in addition to twenty-one other regular Schrade items.
1994
MMT1
MMT2
MMT3
MMT4
MMT5
MMT7
MMT8
MMT9

As you can see, the regular production Schrade name brand knives were sold to Cotter before and after the private labeling, and likely during as well. So seeing one in a MM box is not odd at all. Note that productions/deliveries did not begin and end on January first, so we might best say "the MM152 was produced only circa 1989-1991". Less that a three year run, no doubt, makes this particular one a uncommon SFO for the Sharpfinger pattern collector.



Edited for additional information on the patterns and dates.

Codger
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The serrated sheepfoot version of an 8OT was called the 89OT. The presence (or not) of swinden key construction should tell the tale.
 
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Am I seeing a pivot pin on that bolster or is it just a rub mark? If it is a pin, the knife was made for Schrade by Camillus as were quite a few knives.
 
This one appears to be made by Camillus judging by the style of the blades
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Codger_64 said:
Am I seeing a pivot pin on that bolster or is it just a rub mark? If it is a pin, the knife was made for Schrade by Camillus as were quite a few knives.
Click to expand...

Rub, it shows signs of being carried more than used. It pretty tight with a solid walk and talk.
 
Both then are likely Schrade made in Ellenville. If Camillus made, pivot pins would be more visible. They did not use the Swinden key.
 
bawana said:
This one appears to be made by Camillus judging by the style of the blades
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This knife is a Schrade 8OT with the wrong shield.
It could have been made in the last days of 2004, maybe they ran out of Old Timer shields.
If you ever need an Old Timer shield, PM me and I will send you one... Ken.
 
The bolster are also different these are not bevelled like the 8OT's, I have a 285UH that was made at the Camillus factory with similar bolsters
 
Well it took a good edge 10 passes on the old Smith's Crock Sticks and a 400 wet dry sandpaper polish it shaves you arm and makes paper ribbons.
 
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