Schrade 881

[315]

I picked up a couple of Schrade 881's that were never used. One came in a plastic tube. Any idea to tell what time frame they may have been made?

 

[koldgold]

The Schrade 8815 was replaced with the 881, 1955 to 1986 and all had carbon blades.

The very early 881s had bone handles. [I do not know when they stopped the bone handles]

An 881 with stainless blades came out in a display tin in a clam-pack, maybe in the 1990's ?

My every day user, has a match-strike pull and Delrin handles - I bought it new in 1973.

I have about six new 881s in tubes, and would guess, they were made around 1970 to 1973.

Although I have a large number of later 881s - all of them look to have been sold in bulk, as they came in grease and plastic bags [unopened] lone nail-pull, tang stamped N.Y. and not Walden like the early ones.

Can you post photos, that always helps... Ken
This is two 881s on the left and two 8OTs on the right.
I would guess they were all made, around 1969-73?

 

[315]

Here are the two I picked up. Really like the looks of those match strike pulls you have on those.

 

[black mamba]

315, I think the ones that came in the plastic boxes were from the '70s, and I would guess the bottom one in your pic (darker and with a swedged sheepfoot) is the one that came in the plastic. The top, lighter colored one doesn't have a swedged sheepfoot, and looks newer to me.

 

[315]

Thanks Jeff, the bottom one was in the plastic tube. The other sheepsfoot does have a little bit of a swedged blade but it's really difficult to see unless you're holding them side by side. Since I'm going to carry and use them I was just kind of curious.

Interesting, the one on the top must've been sitting out somewhere because the handle on the backside is as dark as the lower knife. I'm assuming from light fading it??

 

[black mamba]

Light fade makes sense to me, you see it a lot.

 

[koldgold]

I believe both your knives were made after 1973. I have never seen non-match strike knives in tubes.
Is your tube stamped "881" at the end of the tube... Ken

 

[ruffinogold]

I'm not sure what their timeframe is but any carbon old timer was excellent ! Enjoy those

 

[315]

It is 881, but no guarantee it was the original, which is totally fine. I bought them to be nostalgic users and because they appear unused, not necessarily to collect. While I like character on a knife, I'd like to be the one who puts it to use and creates that character.

 

[koldgold]

The 881 knives you have will give you may years of service - you will not find better.
As posted in #2 in reply to your original post.
"My every day user, has a match-strike pull and Delrin handles - I bought it new in 1973."
I have been trying to date your knives, and educate myself as we go.
One knife was made later then the other... Ken

I have been using this same old 881 for 45 years.

 

[315]

Ken, pretty neat to see a knife that's been in use for almost half a century. I still use my Grandad's Western he carried in WW II. I'm sure yours could tell a few stories.

 

[koldgold]

All the bone handled 881s that I have seen, have the blank shield like my old 881.
All of the Schrade knives I have in tubes, have a Walden tang stamp.