The 60 and 70 TX folders

[textoothpk]

I recall reading a newspaper article-- It was linked to here-- where in the boardroom, Wally Gardinier was sitting with his executives admiring the new Schrades that were going to help save the company. I imagine this 'tactical look' HIgh-Tech Lockback folder was one of them. The 60TX, from the X-Timer lineup.

Judging by the immediate discounting of the 60 in the on line retail world, the knife did no good at it's $59 MSRP. Two summers ago I bought one on ebay for $9.. and asked the seller if he had anymore. Yep, two dozen, and I got them all at that price. Gave many of them away, sold a bunch of the red ones to firefighters at a local knife and gun show. People liked the all black ones, as well.

Not a bad knife. Big. As large as a Buck 110 or LB7, but about half the weight (3.9 oz). Pocket clip as well, and an ambi-type thumb disc for one hand opening. Quite a feat for most people. Takes practice. It's quite a stretch for one's thumb. Schrade+ Steel, that black finish we all seem to like on the X-timers, with the white graphics on both sides of the blade. I heard complaints here about loose, wiggly blades. I never saw one of these knives where just a tweak with a Torx driver on the blade pivot wouldn't cure that.

The anodized aluminum handle colors were varied, I think Red, Gray, Black for the first issue 60TX. Handles are checkered for a good grip. Hole in the end for a lanyard or whatever. Just a sturdy, well made knife, very high tech appearing. No one I have sold or given one to has ever complained about them. I have one in my truck that I use a lot, and use it heavy, no problems. Frankly, I even misuse it. I still have a private stock on hand, so I'm good for a long time with them.

The 60 soon was replaced, after about a year, by the 70TX. Same knife, almost. Weight is 4.1 oz, that due to the increased size (depth) of the blade. Just a little beefier. The thumb disc was replaced with ambi- studs, and the blade at the tang was given a little sweep up, for one's thumb to rest on. Frankly, I am comfortable with either. Why the change? I have no idea. They both seem to open with the same degree of difficulty.. I mean, one is no easier for me than the other. I usually use both hands to open any of these. There were different handle colors as well for the 70, green and what else? Blue? And still gray.

The knife is assembled with small torx screws, and seeing as how I have a couple of sets of tork drivers, it seemed natural to see what was inside one of these. I took apart a 60 and I show you in the photos below. Nothing really unusual to see, I think the photos speak for themselves (and they are saying: "This knife owner is a nutcase!"). You can see how the extended arms on the pair of pieces at the end of the knife put pressure on the backspring.

I understand that Mr. Buck had to do something to his original 110s to keep them from being modified into a gravity knives. Anybody see where I should start grinding? And I think these would make an interesting automatic.

What went wrong with these? Too expensive? I have bought so many of these so cheap, and seen so many sell for $20 on eBay, that I cannot even try to imagine if I would have spent $60 for one. Too different for the average Schrade consumer to even consider buying and trying? Better knives of the same idea from other firms? I dunna know.

Phil

 

[Codger_64]

Thanks for the info on the 6/7OTX's Phil! I am working on the X series now, and those two are (I hope) the only two missing from that panel now. I have been looking at them for quite a while though. And wondering about the "usability". I am not too excited by the bright "X-er" colors, as might be expected of an old codger, but the more muted shades of the gray and black are attractive to me. My '04 Schrade materials show Gun Metal Gray(7OTX), Midnight Black(7OTXB), Emerald Green(7OTXG), and Royal Blue(7OTXBU). I do not see a red listed for that pattern, but I heard a rumor they exist(7OTXR?)!

For a user, a pocket clip is not a feature I care for (a lot of people do) but noticed it is removable in your pictures. Anything clipped to the pocket or belt is apt to be dislodged at a very inopportune time. Several cell phones and tape measures bear witness to that. But I can see where a young man might be styling with it clipped his Dockers, or saggy baggies, or whatever they wear.

Thumbstuds or disc? Interesting. I've never given the difference much thought. I do like the studs on the XT7B folder. I can one-hand that monster open without much effort. My hands are not huge, but maybe bigger than average.

My guesses on the reason for the changes are manufacturing cost, or a "hail mary" at improving it's marketability. Retrospectively, there was very little those guys could have done to turn things around at that point. I feel like their hatcheting was on something like a five year timetable. Sun Tsu taught his lessons well.

The component and assembly cost had to be high, as I am seeing 24 seperate parts involved. Seven main parts and seventeen fasteners, washers, pins etc. That is nearly the number of parts required for the assemby I designed of the Chevy Avalanche grille! Each part has to be placed seperately into the assembly nest in the proper order. It sounds simple but in practice.... well, spread the parts on a table top at the width of your arms, main parts on a chair behind you. then proceed to assemble like a speed drill with an M-16. Even with training, the number of units you can assemble with 100% quality in an hour is not large. Therefore an inherent design flaw contributed to the high price which limited the marketability. Just a manufacturing process engineer's opinion.

Don't use the remainders of your 6OTX and 7OTX as tent stakes til I can acquire the blackies for myself! They do sound like good quality knives, and should have caught the eye of a new generation of buyers.

Codger

 

[Bob W]

Interesting timing. I just received a 70TX, one of the last Schrades available at SMKW. A fair deal at $16. This one has the "modified clip" blade, thumb stud, and silver checkered aluminum handles.

Some points against it: It's too large to be easily handled; I have to stretch to one-hand open it. The edges of the handle should be rounded. I'm confident the blade coating is only temporary.

I do like the blade design, the weight, and the thickness.

IMO, their inability to successfully sell supposedly-high-tech knives is their own fault. Once your name becomes synonomous with $5 Imperial knives made in China and Ireland, it's difficult to be taken serious as a producer of $60 products. Plus, it's a mediocre knife to begin with, not worth much more than $20. There's nothing inventive or original about the materials, shape, aesthetics, thumb stud, or lock mechanism.

Worth $20? Sure, mostly because Schrade is extinct. Would I pay $60? No way in hell.

Best Wishes,
Bob