Schrade U.S.A 153UH

J

jfischer218

Joined
May 27, 2014
Messages
2
Greetings Bladeforums, this my first post.

I was recently at an antique store when I found a shrade 153UH model. There are no identifying marks on the handle or blade other than SCHRADE U.S.A.153UH. The knife is in impeccable condition which led me to believe it may be a newer model, however the sheath stinks of antiquity. I know that gauging age is difficult, but I'm more curious as to whether or not its carbon steel. Im also curious as to why there are no identifying numbers on the blade like several of the other similar knives that ive seen.

Thanks in advance for the help

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This one is most likely carbon steel. "Most" of the later ones after they switched to stainless will say "SCHRADE+" on the tang stamp. Earlier ones will be stamped with a serial number on the guard opposite the UH signature script. I'm not certain how high serialization ran, but it was abandoned some years before the blade steel was changed to stainless.

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Jfischer, your 153UH (like my only 153UH) was made after Codger's "OLD 153 #00143" ; some time after 1973, before they started to use the Stainles+ blades.
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I just looked at my records and prior posts here. The highest serial number I have noted so far is #422056, though this most likely is not the highest serial number made. According to a Schrade newsletter, serialization was to have ended as of January 1st, 1980. It is not known yet for sure whether this production change was made just after that internal memo or some time later.

And per factory records,...

lrv said:
Dec 1994 Schrade announced the switch the 153 blades from carbon to Stainless. They also reduced the thicknes of the blade from .165 to .135, modifying the guard slots and cores in the handle for the thinner blade. Complete switch over of production was done by May 95.
Click to expand...

The 153UH is first listed as having SCHRADE+ steel blades in the 1996 catalog. These stainless blades have a slightly different grind and are made from thinner stock. These engineering changes may help to bracket the production dates of the pattern.
 
Codger and koldgold, thank you for the insight. Being able to date it between 1980 and 1994 is a good bit of info for me. When I first bought it, I was actually a bit dissapointed to have paid $40 because initial searches showed that 153UH models were selling for as low as $26 on the web. I now feel that the price I paid was more than reasonable.

Thanks again,
Jeremy
 
They have not been made since 2004 when Imperial Schrade went out of business. If you saw one recently selling new for $26, most likely it was a Chinese made reproduction imported by the new owner of the Schrade trademarks, Taylor Brands LLC, not an American made Schrade. They are not the same. Last MSRP on the real Schrade 153UH Golden Spike was $69.95 in 2004.
 
The "New SC-153UH" is made in China, the sheath looks like it cost $2 to make, and the blade is stamped "SCHRADE - Uncle Henry"

Codger my 153UH, does not have any serial numbers on it. You could always buff them off that “Old” one of yours, and make it look newer. LOL.
 
jfischer218 said:
Codger and koldgold, thank you for the insight. Being able to date it between 1980 and 1994 is a good bit of info for me. When I first bought it, I was actually a bit dissapointed to have paid $40 because initial searches showed that 153UH models were selling for as low as $26 on the web. I now feel that the price I paid was more than reasonable.

Thanks again,
Jeremy
Click to expand...

The older Schrade USA 153UH with the carbon steel blades... also a bit thicker spine, hence a little different blade grind than the ones that followed, for what that is worth.

I see also now that Codger already mentioned this about the thicker/thinner blade stock. Oh well, nice pickup Jeremy... :thumbup:
 
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