Seasonal OT price spikes?

tuhonbill

tuhonbill

Joined
Jun 16, 2006
Messages
40
What's going on with the price of some Schrade OT models on eBay? For example, I have been trying for the last two weeks to get a 165 Woodsman for my son for Christmas. This model sold for $25 on eBay in Sept and Oct, but now goes for 2 or 3 times that. Did collectors suddenly discover this model, or is this just a regular seasonal price spike and it will go back down in January?
 
Patterns take swings throughout the year. It is a good hunting knife pattern and hunting season is upon us, as well as the gift-giving seasom. Imagine what it would be right now if the Chinese copies and the Chinese wood handled and finished USA blanks were not being bought by bidders who don't know the difference or care? But if you were seeing USA 165's new in the box back a few months ago going for $25, I certainly missed them. Or are you talking about rough users? Generally speaking, the further we get from July or 2004, the higher the resale prices of the remaining new in the box USA Schrades have gone. Even taking into account the declining purchasing power of the dollar since then. Of course the price of the Chinese copies remains near the MSRP of the originals in the 1967 catalog.


I just ran the inflation calculator and it comes up thus:

What cost $22.00 in 1967 would cost $149.23 in 2012.
Click to expand...

15ytbfk.jpg


So $150 for a new in the box early example is not really as outrageous as it might first seem.

Looking at the last MSRP from 1991, the last catalog in which the pattern appears as a regular production item produces this:

What cost $51.95 in 1991 would cost $86.25 in 2012.
Click to expand...

So $85 or so for a last production piece new in the box complete is not as bad a deal as it seems.
 
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Codger what is deal with US blanks being finished with wood handles? Are there problems with these knives as users?
 
I haven't a clue. They are not of interest to me so I haven't bought one. Unfinished knife blanks at every level of completion came out of the factory sale in '04. I have blanks of several patterns. Some are simply stamped out. Some have been heat treated. Some have primary grinds. The appearance of the 165 pattern knives has overlaped the earlier appearance of the newly finished 152 pattern knives. I've seen some of the PH2 knives as well. I'm curious, but not enough to put my money into that market. Particularly with the obvious dishonesty of some of the sellers selling them as original U.S. made Schrade knives, some even going so far as to add boxes. If you buy one, let us know how well the Chinese cutlers finished them.
 
I have a 152 coming tomorrow off of the bay. It clearly stated USA blade/sheath, China finish. Schrade + blade. I want to try a 152 and it seems like a good way to try one out. If I like it I'll get a complete USA 152.
 
For a user, it could be ok. I know that used originals are. Understand that even if the heat treat and grind and edge are correct, your particular overseas finished blade will be only comparable to a late 152OT with stainless blade, or a 152UH original, depending on the grind. Ergonomics will be slightly different than the original OT/UH because of the slightly different handle scale profiles and texture. Still, please do give us a review of it. And do a critique of the sheath as well. I "oops'd" a TBLLC copy when they first came on the market back in '05 in a copied clampack. The sheath was reconstituted leather fibers. These may be old Schrade/Camillus production or new/improved TBLLC production.
 
I will gladly do that. I may be different but have always liked the Schrade + steel . I can get it shaving sharp and it holds it well. I've always liked the LB7 and LB8 and carried a 285UH for years until I took a real liking to Case.

I've tried multiple times to score a 1095 152 but have been snake bit on the bay. I thought I found one the other day but had to leave for a funeral and when I finally got home the buy it now option had been used and it was gone.

Thanks for your insight!
 
Use a sniper program. It's like setting a mouse trap. It doesn't fire until it's time and then it is too late for the mousie.

I use a 897UH daily so I know the steel well. I just prefer the 1095UH more for my huinting knives. It would never survive in the salt and chlorine work environment though.
 
I've tried being my own sniper with mixed results. It worked well on a couple of pocket knives.

I use a 160OT for most of my butchering. I've had it for a least 20 years and cut piles of meat with it. It is well worn and looks the part. I know it will still last the rest of my life. When I look at condition on some of the 152s I just can't pull the trigger because I'm not the one that put them in that condition. I can clean one up and make it sharper than when it left the factory but what is a fair price for a really rough one?
 
Codger_64 said:
Patterns take swings throughout the year. It is a good hunting knife pattern and hunting season is upon us, as well as the gift-giving seasom. Imagine what it would be right now if the Chinese copies and the Chinese wood handled and finished USA blanks were not being bought by bidders who don't know the difference or care? But if you were seeing USA 165's new in the box back a few months ago going for $25, I certainly missed them. Or are you talking about rough users?

The 165s I saw for $25 were users. I found them through the search function on ebay. I can understand a New In Box model going for big bucks, but I was a bit surprised to see well used models going for such prices. Based on your experience, maybe I should wait until the spring for this model.

In 1984 I worked for a Cutlery World store in Houston for several months. Seeing those OT Schrade models takes me back to that time. I purchased a Middleman stockman back then, since it was all I could afford at the time. Now I'm looking for a larger stockman, like a 8OT or even a 858 (in 1095. If I wanted stainless, then I might as well get the new China made stock). I already own two Case stockman's in carbon steel. I guess I'm looking for the Schrades purely for the nostalgia value. From what you said, it sounds like I should wait until January to go back on the hunt for these was well.

Thanks for your help,

Regards,
Bill



I just ran the inflation calculator and it comes up thus:



15ytbfk.jpg


So $150 for a new in the box early example is not really as outrageous as it might first seem.

Looking at the last MSRP from 1991, the last catalog in which the pattern appears as a regular production item produces this:



So $85 or so for a last production piece new in the box complete is not as bad a deal as it seems.
Click to expand...

The 165s I saw for $25 were users. I found them through the search function on ebay. I can understand a New In Box model going for big bucks, but I was a bit surprised to see well used models going for such prices. Based on your experience, maybe I should wait until the spring for this model.

In 1984 I worked for a Cutlery World store in Houston for several months. Seeing those OT Schrade models takes me back to that time. I purchased a Middleman stockman back then, since it was all I could afford at the time. Now I'm looking for a larger stockman, like a 8OT or even a 858 (in 1095. If I wanted stainless, then I might as well get the new China made stock). I already own two Case stockman's in carbon steel. I guess I'm looking for the Schrades purely for the nostalgia value. From what you said, it sounds like I should wait until January to go back on the hunt for these was well.

Thanks for your help,

Regards,
Bill
 
Bill, just keep up a running search. It takes ten minutes a day to review each and every one listed usually. It can be fun and entertaining. Some sellers mislist by calling it a "shrade buck knife" or some such. Those tend to go under the radar and sell without much competition. Just be creative with your search string and save it to favoritesin your ebay page. Or bite the bullet and pony up a higher price.
 
If you are patient, a broad search can find hidden gems. Like search with the terms "Schrade knife" instead of "Schrade 165 knife". You will have to wade through hundreds of listings but it could be worth it. Sometimes sellers don't bother to put the model number in the listing so if you search with the number you'll miss their item. I've gotten a few good deals like that where I was the only bidder because the seller listed the knife so generically.
 
I will ;). Its a pure user but so am I :D

It didn't include a sheath but I can come up with something, I may even try to make one. I'm just looking forward to getting my paws on it and making it really sharp :cool:
 
It will fit in the 158OT sheath just fine. And it will fit, though awkwardly in the 152OT sheath. As far as quantities produced, far fewer of the 154OT were produced than it's two siblings the 152OT and 158OT. It was introduced in 1976 and discontinued in 1988. 1988 was the year the guthook version, 158OT was introduced. It was then produced until 2002.
 
This forum is a great resource. From what I've read here, during the last couple of years at Schrade, the company began to cut corners by adding stainless steel blades on some models without the plus sign + on the tang stamp. Does that mean that early models can reliably be judged as carbon or stainless based on the absence or presence of plus sign + tang stamp? I'm specifically interested in the 858 Lumberjack Stockman. Since production on this model ended in 1986, is the absence of a + on a US made 858 a reliable guarantee of a 1095 blade?
 
The presence of the "+" always indicates stainless. It's absence does not indicate carbon steel. This particular pattern, cataloged from 1978 thru 1986 was made in both steels, carbon first.
 
Codger_64 said:
The presence of the "+" always indicates stainless. It's absence does not indicate carbon steel. This particular pattern, cataloged from 1978 thru 1986 was made in both steels, carbon first.
Click to expand...

So, other than rust or a dark patina, is there any reliable way to tell if a US made 858 has 1095 carbon blades solely from a photo?
 
Not that I am aware of. I am not aware of any obvious tang stamp changes. One might locate one with a date etched for a promotion of some sort which is datable. Or locate one with packaging and included papers which are dateable. A seller, if he were willing to do so, could give an obscure spot on the pocket blade a onion or potato test. Say on the spine where it could be rubbed off. But chances of that are not high. Looking for obvious signs are your best bet. Some sellers will send you higher res pics via email if you ask.
 
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