Schrade's carbon steel

Obsessed with Edges said:
The larger stockman I posted (the 8OT) wasn't exactly cheap when I finally pulled the trigger on it a few years ago. BUT, I'll say this: I've never regretted buying it, in spite of 'wincing' a bit and crossing my fingers when I finally worked up the nerve to do so. Getting right down to it, the knife was essentially new (or New Old Stock) when I bought it, and it was priced in-line with many quality-built current folders of the same style. That's to say, it was definitely selling for much more than it originally did (1970s), but it still wasn't too bad. For the build quality and the steel alone, it was perhaps the best purchase I ever made.

I don't even remember where/how I obtained the smaller one (108OT); had it a very long time, maybe 30 years or more. It sat almost unused in the back of my desk drawer for most of that time, until I'd finally become 'enlightened' enough to really appreciate it. I'm very, very glad I never got rid of it. :)


David
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Well, I think you've convinced me. A couple of paychecks from now, when I've hopefully moved to a new place I'll begin serious shopping for one. I want my first stockman to be quality, and I think an old schrade is the way to go. Tempted to order one now, but I'm looking to move by the end of the month, I have to wait until I do so and have a new mailing address. Just gives me time to shop around for a good deal:)
 
bdev said:
Did Schrade use 1095 to make the 206 Barlow?
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The following ONLY applies to USA-made Schrades (not the current Taylor brand of Schrade), before they shut down their plant:

If the tang is stamped as 'SCHRADE +', then the '+' indicates stainless steel (most were 440A; later versions might've been 420HC).

On the other hand, if the tang was stamped simply 'SCHRADE' without the '+', it's more likely (but not guaranteed) that the blades were carbon steel (1095). However, in later years ('90s or later, IIRC), Schrade had been known to make some stainless-bladed knives without indicating so on the tang (missing the '+' mark).

When shopping for such knives online (looking at pics only), I always look for the '+' (or lack of) on the tang, in combination with some signs of spotting/pitting/patina on the blades. Without visible signs of oxidation on the blades, it's sometimes a toss-up as to whether it's carbon steel or not. The other thing to look for, is to hopefully purchase from a dealer who's reliable (knowledgable and trustworthy) in their descriptions of the knives and the blade steel.


David
 
So, one thing I've not understood in this revived thread or anywhere else is whether or not there is big quality difference among carbon steels?

Even if we stick to just 1095, is all 1095 the same in terms of consistency and purity or does that even matter? Related, can heat treat vary significantly?

While we're waiting.. some more Schrade goodness. Slight mods on both knives...


Shrade 5OT by Pinnah, on Flickr


H 15 drop point 2 by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
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I found this trapper at the flea market yesterday. I was thrilled to see both tools! $12 well spent.
 
pipedreams308 said:
D5B15504-381F-444A-953F-6CF04662EC8B-19516-0000206DA8AAFBAB.jpg


I found this trapper at the flea market yesterday. I was thrilled to see both tools! $12 well spent.
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How did you keep from jumping up and screaming YES!!! when you found it?
 
pinnah said:
So, one thing I've not understood in this revived thread or anywhere else is whether or not there is big quality difference among carbon steels?

Even if we stick to just 1095, is all 1095 the same in terms of consistency and purity or does that even matter? Related, can heat treat vary significantly?(...)
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The reason I like my 8OT so much is, I never cease to be amazed at the combination of edge fineness, edge-holding and ease of making it so. All 1095 seems to grind/abrade easily (zero carbides --> low abrasion-resistance) in spite of varying RC hardness. BUT, the hardness differences come into play in edge-holding after the fact. And the purity of the steel (elemental makeup and grain size/uniformity) has an impact on how fine the edge can get in the first place. In that regard, my Old Timer does better than any other 1095 I've seen (edge is finer & sharper, is very easy to make it as such, and lasts significantly longer in that condition).

In stark contrast, I have another traditional branded knife in 1095, on which the steel is obviously softer (at least). Very tricky to sharpen it, because a burr will form and then go away very quickly; easy to miss it. As expected, that knife doesn't hold a fine edge anywhere near as well, so I always feel like it needs more work. And I've never been able to get as fine an edge on it, even if only for a moment. That suggests to me that it may not be quite as pure or clean.

There really is a fine art to the 'magic' of producing top-quality blades with this steel, and most others as well. Whatever Schrade was doing, I really, really wish many others were able to duplicate it.


David
 
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Another one. Sorry for the bad photo, but this is all I have online at the moment. You get the idea though. ;)
-Bruce
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pipedreams308 said:
I didn't keep from it. I just let it out! ;)
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I bet you did. I know that I would have.

I am now the proud owner of this 804. I recently lost my 8OT and was going through withdrawals and a friend helped me out by sending this. I'm in love. No steel is as user friendly as Shrade's 1095.
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Have any of you guys had trouble with you schrades developing blade play? I have a couple and both have slight blade play.
 
That may be due to the Swinden key construction. If you do a search on it you'll find a ton of info. Had never heard of it until I joined this forum.

Does someone know what the Schrade 1095 was hardened to? What made their heat treat so good?
 
knarfeng said:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/378164-Schrade-Blade-Steels

According to the catalog shown in post #36 of the above thread, Schrade 1095 ran ~60HRC.

IIRC GEC runs theirs at ~58
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That chart's an interesting reference. They show 1095 at 57-62 HRC, which surprises even me (at the high end). Wish I knew the specifics about which knives fall into the higher/lower ends of that range, and how consistently they targeted those numbers through their history. That page looks like a fairly recent publication (I'm thinking maybe '90s or later), so I wonder if similar values applied back in the '70s as well.

Thanks for linking that, Frank. :thumbup:


David

(I linked the catalog page pic here for convenience, from the referenced thread in your post):
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festerfromnzed said:
My favourite carbon!.. Schrade did it right .. FES

I kept the Craftsman and gave the others away..I love my Slayer


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Beautiful FES! I have a large Old Timer like this and have thought of putting some stag on it...now I am obsessed with the idea after seeing this wonderful knife :thumbup: thanks for posting this pic!
 
As much as I love stag, there is no way I could ever rehandle my Deerslayer. It would be fantastic but that is one special knife to me.

Thank you Michael. This will be buried with me.
 
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