Schrade 51OT

glocktenman

glocktenman

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
2,026
I just got a Schrade 51OT. This is a newly made one so I got it for less than $25 shipped. Although it's made in china I don't see the word anywhere on the knife, just the box. These are thick heavy knives. When I ordered it I didn't realize how big it was. It looks to be pretty well made.

The blade is sharp and doesn't have a nail nick or thumb stud which at first looked odd. The blade is thick and when closed it shows plenty of steel to pinch to open the blade. Kinda like and easy open but with no cut outs in the handle! The blade also has a thin swedge down about 3/4 of the blade. The tang had "SCHRADE" on one side and "51OT" on the other. It's SS. It's a lock blade and locks up solidly.

The handles are delrin and look OK. The delrin has a little texture and looks to be book matched believe it or not! The pins are raised with the exception of the front two handle pins with have been ground smooth. The handles match up with the bolster OK. The pin through the bolster is noticeable (color only) but smooth also. It has a long shield that has "OLD TIMER" on it.

It comes with a nice leather sheath. I'll tell you, if you need a big strong work knife, this one might be a good choice. Not a bad deal for $25. I wonder how the ones that are US made would compare? Here are some pics.
 
"wonder how the ones that are US made would compare? "
I'd be interested to know that too.
For the first couple of years after Schrade USA folded(2004) the China made clones were poorly made knives, many with flimsy blades. But production knives coming from China have improved greatly since then so quite likely you've got a 'good' knife.
The Schrade USA 51OT was only made from 1978-81 and was not a big seller.
This now means that when one shows up on ebay, the Schrade collectors go for it and the selling price for an example in very good or better condition usually sells for over ~ $75.
The only way to know how the 2 would compare would be to get lucky and snag the very occasional one that slips under the collectors' radar and sells for less, and then do a comparison yourself.
Good luck, because if you can do this i'm sure many of us would be interested in the results.
roland
 
These were one of my favs from schrade usa.They were solid heavy lockers with a great feel and nice blade shape.I may check these new offerings out myself.
 
rprocter said:
"wonder how the ones that are US made would compare? "
I'd be interested to know that too.
For the first couple of years after Schrade USA folded(2004) the China made clones were poorly made knives, many with flimsy blades. But production knives coming from China have improved greatly since then so quite likely you've got a 'good' knife.
The Schrade USA 51OT was only made from 1978-81 and was not a big seller.
This now means that when one shows up on ebay, the Schrade collectors go for it and the selling price for an example in very good or better condition usually sells for over ~ $75.
The only way to know how the 2 would compare would be to get lucky and snag the very occasional one that slips under the collectors' radar and sells for less, and then do a comparison yourself.
Good luck, because if you can do this i'm sure many of us would be interested in the results.
roland
Click to expand...

OK Roland, I'm game. I'll see if I can track down a US 51OT for a fair price and compare them. I really like this knife so, it wouldn't bother me at all to have another. I'll keep you posted.
 
How thick is the blade? Can you post up a 'topshot' so we can see? Thanks!

~Chris
 
The width is a little over 1/2 an inch and the blade looks to be a little over 1/8th of an inch. I didn't line the tape measure up very well but you can get the idea. Here are a couple pics.
 
Randy - Thanks! I figured I'd never buy any of the newer imported Schrades, since I have at least fifteen old U.S. Schrades, but I may go ahead and get this one, just to have as a beater & user. I like stout little folders like that. thanks for sharing.

~Chris
 
Holly cow...it's been awhile but I finally got one of the US made 51OTs. (At a price I was happy with!) I'll do a comparison tonight and post some pictures.
 
Right on Randy ! I have bought a couple of import Schrade branded folders recently, a 3" 2 blade bone Gunstock and a 4 1/4" bone Cattle knife. While these are not true Schrade knives and i do not see them as collectibles, both are very well made with excellent fit and finish, smooth, positive 'action' and super sharp blades.
I'd be interested to see a weight comparison of the two 51OT's as well as how the blades compare for thickness at the spine and thickness of the blade as measured just above the cutting edge.
Aspects such as smoothness of action, presence of any blade play, etc. will be interesting to learn but one cannot make generalizations from a sample size of 1.
Hopefully you will post some comparison pictures as well.
roland
 
Here's a comparison:
Blade- US-sharp in my opinion. The belly looks just a little deeper than the import. It has a little play in it. The blade sits to the shield side when inside the handle. The swedge is a little longer than the import. The choil area looks rough. Stamp on shield side says "SCHRADE" next line under it "USA 51OT". Nothing on other side.
Import-sharp in my opinion. No blade play. The blade sits center when in the handle. The choil area is cleaner looking as far as the metal work. Stamp on shield side says "SCHRADE" The other side of the blade has "51OT".

The blades look to be equal width and length.
View attachment 291457 View attachment 291463
Shield- The US "Old Timer" looks finer in detail and looks to be made of SS. The Import looks like its maybe made of brass and "Old Timer" looks like it was stamped with thicker lettering. View attachment 291460

Handle- Both seem to be made of a similar material. The US is brown and the Import is a darker brown. The texture and pattern of the texture are the same. On the sanded/buffed area of the handle near the bolster the US is much cleaner and the difference in the matterial that was removed looks nicer and has a even look compaired to the import. The fit to the bolster is better on the US. The pins on the US sit a little lower on the handle and look to be recessed into the handle.
View attachment 291461

Lock back- Both knives lock very well and feel like the lock is strong on both. On the US the lock release portion that comes out of the handle sits a little higher than the import. The lock release on the US is a little further back near the bare head. The metal work on the lock and lock release looks much cleaner and neater on the import.
View attachment 291462

Bolster- The import looks like its made of brass and the Us looks to be made of SS or maybe nickle silver? The edges of the US ar smoother and more rounded on the edges. The US has a pin that is a little larger in diameter.
View attachment 291458


The US weighs 6.6 oz and the Import weighs 6.55 oz. Not much difference.

They both have a few very minor issues and I like them both. If I had to pick one I'd go with the import just for the price difference.
 
Great comparison. Thank you Randy.
In your first pic showing the knife spine, is the import on the viewers left ?
If you had some calipers i'd like to know if the grind thickness is the same just above the sharpened edge at maybe 2 or 3 spots along the blade.
roland
 
Roland,
The import is on the right in that pic. If you look at the bosters on that pic you can also see the US made one has the smoother rounded edges on the boster. I'll get my calipers and see what I can come up with for you. PS-Not sure what happened to some of my pics...I think I loaded too many on the first posting.
 
O.K. that makes sense now. The bolsters on the USA knife are much better finished but overall it sounds like the China 51OT is a solid useable knife.
roland
 
Roland,
Measurement from the blade center; the riccaso to the point. Here are the approx measurements of the Import. Spine=.124, grind area=.085 and the pre edge=.03 . Now for the US
Spine= .124, grind area=.086 and the pre edge =.035 . So, there's not much difference there either.
 
Wow, very interesting. I had wondered if the import might have a thicker grind, but really they are the same. So the import Schrade 51OT overall is very comparable to the Schrade USA one.
roland
 
Thank you for the thoughtful photo review of the 51OT. I collect the originals and have no interest in owning the modern imports, but I am always interested in seeing how the new ones compare.

Bolster- The import looks like its made of brass and the Us looks to be made of SS or maybe nickle silver?
Click to expand...

The bolsters on original Old Timers were generally nickel-silver, but some were brass or even sterling.

The blade steel should be quite different between the two knives. Old Timers are well-known for their carbon steel blades; the imports are all stainless (some original Old Timers were stainless as well).
 
Bob W said:
Thank you for the thoughtful photo review of the 51OT. I collect the originals and have no interest in owning the modern imports, but I am always interested in seeing how the new ones compare.



The bolsters on original Old Timers were generally nickel-silver, but some were brass or even sterling.

The blade steel should be quite different between the two knives. Old Timers are well-known for their carbon steel blades; the imports are all stainless (some original Old Timers were stainless as well).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. The blade steel is something I didn't think about.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top