Schrade 897UH and Old Timer 7OT steels

[silenthunterstudios]

I've gotten rid of a large part of my overall knife collection in the past several months, and have decided to keep my 897UH stockman and my Cavebear 7OT. I've used the 897UH several times, I used to use a Cavebear a lot in my early teen years, I bought a new one and just sold the old beat up Cavebear, but I'd like to use the Cavebear too. Both were made before the "fall", and both were made within the last ten years. What blade steel are these made of? Is it carbon or stainless?

 

[OTguy]

Your 897UH is stainless, 440A if its a bit older model, 420HC if its a late production model. Hard to tell unless you know the year of manufacture.

Kinda the same story with the 7OT, later models were stainless. They were also made in 1095 carbon steel for a while, not sure of the exact dates. Its easier to test for the carbon ones, just slice a apple or orange and see if it starts to stain, if it does, its 1095.

Why did you sell your old 7OT? Unless it was busted up, it was probably just getting broke in. We like to say that well used OT's have developed "character".

Someone will be along with more accurate manufacture dates shortly.