Schrade 1095

D

DEPBID

Joined
Jun 2, 2011
Messages
21
Hello all,

I've lurked for some time; this is my first post.

Over the weekend I found the first knife I ever purchased myself: a Schrade 108 OT. It was sitting in a sock drawer at my mom's house. I took it home, oiled it, and spent about ten minutes putting it through the Sharpmaker. I am amazed at the edge it took.

I've got prettier knives, but none of them sharpen up as easily as the OT. Is it the 1095? Specifically is it the Schrade 1095?

I've seen that Moore Maker and GEC are producing knives in 1095. They certainly look better than my OT; is the steel comparable?

I'd appreciate any input you can provide. I've really enjoyed reading the threads on this forum.

Thanks.
 
First of all, official WELCOME! :)

There is something about that Schrade 1095, yes. It's just good carbon steel, no denying that.

I can't speak to the GEC or MM, as I do not own any of those. But, I can vouch for the Schrade.

Glenn
 
Schrade had their heat treat down with 1095 - good stuff; good fine grain - takes a razor edge quickly and is hard enough to hold it well. It's not unique to the particular 1095 Schrade used though - just that they treated it right and ground their blades and edges thin enough to take advantage of it. Moore Maker knives are made by several makers -- most of their top of the line knives are made by Queen - I'd say their 1095 is of comparable quality (though expect to need to reprofile and thin the edges down a bit to get to a thin enough edge to properly take advantage of the steel). Don't have any GEC knives to compare.
 
Welcome :)

My gf wanted a knife to whittle with and we came up with a great hardware store find. A USA made Schrade. I sharpened all of the blades for her quickly on stones. Each blade was hair popping. She used it to carve red oak and some softer apple tree wood. I have not had to touch up the blades again yet. It still cuts stuff great. As for compared to GEC, I can't really say. The one GEC I sharpened started with some pretty blunt edges and the Schrade came with great edges to start. Once I got the GEC where I wanted it I can't say it takes anything to keep sharp. Not the best comparison but I guess I am saying I like them both a lot.

Kevin
 
Schrades steel is great- my 150t deer slayer, takes an edge, holds and edge, and cuts like no knife I own or have seen- perfect profile combined with edge geometry and steel quality
(almost mirror polished:D)
Mine also has a patina that's been gathered from over about 40+ years

Schrade has it down steel and heat treat
 
You need not look down on that USA Schrade with 1095,it works.I have a 34OT,a Muskrat,and a Trapper all made out of their US made 1095,it's great stuff!
 
Hi,

I have some Schrade 1095 in my pocket right now, a 272 small Jack. Even have a very nice 108OT.:) And I have a few more pieces of it. As everyone has stated, it very, very good stuff.

I also have some same era Camillus carbon steel, a newer Case CV Canoe, and a GEC #25 Barlow. The GEC 1095 is run harder. I think they shoot for 59/60RC. So it's noticeably harder to sharpen on my old Arkansas stones. And it does hold it's edge better for the extra effort, but not by much.

But there just seems to something in the way Schrade did 1095 that makes it feel like it was stress relieved or something when I sharpen it. None of the other knives I have feel or even sound the same against the stones a my Schrade's do. There just seems to be an intangible satisfaction that I get from sharpening it.

By all means try some GEC 1095, I'll bet you'll be happy with it. But don't be surprised if you keep wanting more of them old Schrades.:)

Dale
 
I rediscovered a 108OT in much the same way. Bought it YEARS ago (don't even remember where), and it had spent almost all that time tucked away in my clutter-filled desk drawer. When I finally came across it again, it was sort of scuffed up and the edges on the blades were ugly, from my own ham-handed sharpening efforts (long before I learned). I cleaned it up a bit, using a Dremel buffing wheel & compound, and then re-sharpened the blades. I really like how Schrade heat-treated these blades. They're very flexible, especially the very thin tip on the clip blade of this model, but also very durable and they took great edges.

Here's mine, after I'd resurrected it:
 
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Thin blades = good cutters. The GECs I have in 1095 get wicked sharp in the smaller blades, and still very, very sharp in the thicker stock.
Their 1095 is as good as anyone's is, today.

I've had a few Queen City knives with 1095 blades, and they took a wonderful edge as well.
 
Schrade makes amazing knives. You can't go wrong with their steel either. Some of the best I have used next to the older German stuff from Henckels and H&R. The 8OT is my all time favorite knife. I've had a good 5 or 6 looking for that one perfect one.
 
Certainly no need to look down on Schrade. I carried this knife throughout high school. Carrying it again has brought back a lot of memories. Thank you for your recommendations. I'll try different steels (some sort of compulsion) but I think Schrade 1095 is my benchmark.
 
I've had a soft spot for the old Schrades for quite some time. I will always remember, it was a 34OT that was the first knife I was able to get really sharp freehand...

Schrade really did make an outstanding product and it was truly sad when they closed. They didn't offer all the perrty scale choices, and a high polish like Case, but I think a lot of oldtimers (no pun intended) chose them because they were a tool that would serve them well for a long time, and in the olden days, thats what really mattered.
 
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