Schrade 97OT Questions

[HBW]

There seen to be several different Schrade 4-3/16" trappers with blades marked 97OT.

(1) The 97OT Buzzsaw Trapper (barehead with pin and tweezers) as shown in the 2004 catalog.

(2) A two-bladed staglon trapper with clip blade and saw, no medallion, and blade marked:
SCHRADE
USA 97OT

(3) A single blade Trapper with clip blade marked as per #2, OLD TIMER shield, saw cut yellow Delrin scales.

(4) Perhaps one similar to #3 but with Staglon scales.

Does anyone know what was going on here? Perhaps using up availalbe blades just to get product out the door towards the end?

 

[textoothpk]

My favorite using Schrade, as I've mentioned many times here. Unusual for so many sawblade knives, this saw acutally works. The original is the one shown in the catalog, with tweezers and pic, and with the usual OT sawcut delrin handles.

You're not the only one confused, here's an ebay selling wondering what's going on as well:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=48820&item=6535579251&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

I tend to agree with you-- final production knives that were more or less 'spare parts knives'. Camillus will make a bunch of them once in a while-- usually sold by Smokey Mountain.

Here is a pic, though of a 97OT with Uncle Henry style staglon handles that appears to be a legit issue, as it is in a Ducks Unlimited Tin. But in better days, Schrade seemed to usually leave off the model number and replace it with a 'LTD' for limited editon. Bear in mind this was a 2003 issue, so perhaps the going was already tough at Schrade and they were putting these things together to make a buck.

These 'last production issues' are really going to give Schrade collectors fits in the future.

Phil