The LB8 changes

H

Hedger

Joined
Jun 20, 2006
Messages
183
My latest Schrade is an LB8. I have one other "brown box" and this new one is a "sharp idea" signature series (no serial number) LB8. I mainly purchased this LB8 out of curiosity because this particular knife has the lock bar pivot pin located under the shield. Now, I have not seen many LB8 with the lock bar pin in this location very few. Most LB8's have this pin further up toward the blade. The reason for the change in location? The later LB7's have the pin located more towards the middle as well so this tells me this is a later version LB8. The blade is also thicker towards the point than my early mid 80's LB8. Any information on the later LB8 is appreciated. I will take photos this weekend but have some things to do before I can get to it. Thanks and happy hunting.
 
I've often wondered about this pin placement change myself but I have found no definitive answers. Reliability issues seems to be the general consensus. Best of luck solving this one, it seems to be an ongoing Schrade mystery as to the exact reason why they made the change.
 
My thought is the pin was moved more toward the middle to reduce wear on the tension spring and pin from increased leverage force in the other location. These type of knives with the pin in the center use a round instead of square tension spring which was prone to fracture from what I've seen. I have seen this round spring on my other knives such as the 9OT and 7OT. The LB7 uses a steel pivot pin versus brass as seen with the LB8 and Old timers. I believe this is what makes the LB7 a superior knife and I carry and use mine and moving the pin on this model probably wasn't necessary. The LB8 is becoming hard to find in nice used condition though and I had to grab it.
 
Well, I had nice pictures to put up showing the round lock bar spring but the camera card is screwed up somehow and wont talk to my computer so I can't post them. Anyhow there is not much interest in this topic.
 
Im looking and looking and cant find much on the LB8. Tons of info on the LB7.
Still looking
 
It seems the pin was moved for 1994. Here are a couple links to 1993 offerings with the earlier placement:

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/1990s/pages/SC93-029.htm

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/1990s/pages/SC93-032.htm

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/1990s/pages/SC93-039.htm

Here is one from 1994 with the later "centre-pin" placement:

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/FLYERS/1990s/pages/SC94-050.htm

This change isn't applicable only to the LB-8. All LB-7 types (LTD, LB-7, 7-OT, 6-OT etc) had the "centre-pin" placement post-1994.

LB-8 was last on price-list in 2000 ( http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/pricelist/images/2000-PRICELIST.pdf ) and was "new" in 1981 ( http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/pricelist/images/1981-PRICELIST.pdf )

So Hedger, your "centre-pin" LB-8 would have been made between 1994 and 2000. I don't know how many LB-8s Schrade made during that time but you can be sure it was a pretty huge number (1,000,000?) seeing how it's a 6 to 7 year span. Of course I am assuming here that they changed all models at the same time which still remains to be proven.

~Dave
 
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Thanks Dave for your help and taking the time to post this info. It is appreciated.
 
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