Tidings and the return of Schatt and Morgan?

HEMI 49 said:
Thank you....... The have a wonderful, solid feel..... I wish I had discovered them long ago.....
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I feel the same way about the Schatt & Morgan’s I recently picked up. Quality!
 
GeofS said:
I feel the same way about the Schatt & Morgan’s I recently picked up. Quality!
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I'll be interested in seeing what you were able to acquire....... I've also been on the hunt..... I'll get a family photo posted soon......
 
Left column are 3 S&M Railsplitters and 2 S&M Swaybelly Trappers... Right hand column is a hodge podge of misc S&M ..... I think they all date prior to 2011 with most being circa 2005-2007.....

I'm not real warm to the reverse worm groove handles on the long knife in R.H. column.... They look kinda chintzy to my eyes.....

All the others I really like..... I think S&M did a fine job of design and manufacturing the knives I've acquired so far......20201015_112456.jpg
 
HEMI 49 said:
Left column are 3 S&M Railsplitters and 2 S&M Swaybelly Trappers... Right hand column is a hodge podge of misc S&M ..... I think they all date prior to 2011 with most being circa 2005-2007.....

I'm not real warm to the reverse worm groove handles on the long knife in R.H. column.... They look kinda chintzy to my eyes.....

All the others I really like..... I think S&M did a fine job of design and manufacturing the knives I've acquired so far......View attachment 1437449
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Beautiful!
 
My Schatt & Morgan’s (GEC 97 for scale)...
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Just the File & Wire Tested...
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GeofS said:
My Schatt & Morgan’s (GEC 97 for scale)...
expZ90z.jpg


Just the File & Wire Tested...
pHHv46F.jpg
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How do you like that S&M Coke Bottle? It looks like it falls within the more traditional sizing - I've been thinking about picking up some of those myself.
 
Pàdruig said:
How do you like that S&M Coke Bottle? It looks like it falls within the more traditional sizing - I've been thinking about picking up some of those myself.
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Honestly, it just came this morning so I haven’t had any real use with it yet. My initial impressions: the handle is longer and fuller so it has a little more heft than the 97. It is solidly made. Though my 97 might have a little more precision in its manufacturing, this 9 year old blade is close. Also, it’s damn pretty. I like the worm grooved bone. This knife has a presence, it’s imposing and looks quite striking. :thumbsup:
 
GeofS said:
Honestly, it just came this morning so I haven’t had any real use with it yet. My initial impressions: the handle is longer and fuller so it has a little more heft than the 97. It is solidly made. Though my 97 might have a little more precision in its manufacturing, this 9 year old blade is close. Also, it’s damn pretty. I like the worm grooved bone. This knife has a presence, it’s imposing and looks quite striking. :thumbsup:
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Awesome, thank you for the info. I seem to recall reading about that one having ATS-34 steel as well? If so, should make for a nice, robust knife all around.
 
black mamba said:
I would like to see the use of a razor blade steel, something like 13c26, 12c27, AEB-L. These should give excellent results for a pocket knife, without being as hard on the tooling as higher carbide stainless steels like 440C, ATS34, etc.
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This would be ideal!! I have D2, ATS-34, 420hc, and a few other steels in traditional patterns.

I adore AEBL. Every bit as lovely to sharpen as 1095 from GEC. Takes a sticky edge even easier in my experience. AEBL is tougher than 1095 at the same hardness, and stainless to boot. From what I have heard from cusrom makers if is also no problem to grind (although for thin blades it might be easier to grind post heat treat rather than have to bother with straightening).



Eli Chaps said:
Forgive me as I'm not intimately familiar with the S&M history but were they predominantly 1095?

The number of folks I've seen here on the Porch rail against stainless and how inferior it is and how "non traditional" it is, combined with GEC's overwhelming use of 1095 makes me wonder why Mr. Cooper would not use it. Super simple steel to process and apparently the "real" traditional people crave it. Why buy decades old equipment and then change the steel? Especially when GEC says it is too hard on their equipment. An assertion I still don't understand. I get tool and die wear if that is what they mean. Not questioning it, just saying I don't understand what that means.

I have no idea what Mr. Cooper's vision is or his execution plan, but if he's buying up all that stuff, then it suggests to me, that in terms of manufacturing, he's trying to replicate whatever S&M was at it's peak. Old equipment or not, that had to be a sizable investment. If he wanted to inject something truly new into the market, why not start small and buy newer stuff?

I know this will ruffle many feathers, but I think the entire GEC thing is 80% marketing and 20% quality. Sure, if the quality wasn't there, and I fully acknowledge it is, then the rest couldn't happen, but he's created the market. It isn't unlike Spyderco sprint or exclusive runs only that's all GEC really does.

Why would Mr. Cooper try to compete with that? Why not pick a few patterns in the ole tried-and-true carbon steel, execute them well at reasonable prices and see how the market reacts? Get your sea legs, pay off the investments, and see where the tides take you.

Just my rambling thoughts...
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I do disagree with the 20% quality and 80% marketing in regards to GEC. Much more like 95% quality and 5% word of mouth...

They make a great knife...buyers rave, post photos, show show them off, gather in online forums ro discuss...get others interested and it snowballs. I honestly can't think of ever seeing an add, or any kind of marketing for GEC.

I found them through Bladeforums, and a recommendation of a friend who made custom knives.

The short runs/limited runs may be a function of n intelligent strategy...but they seem to be making at production capacity and selling what they make...


I remember the good old days of GEC...when I could sleep on a release....hem and haw....compare patterns, go back and look again, then 6 months later pull the trigger on a sunfish, whaler, stag 25 etc etc...


I hope to get back to that (ie GEC is able to make enough to keep up wirh demand so we don't have jackals nabbing up runs to list for $900 on ebay).

I remember when the all steel Sunfish, or whalers/elephant toes were sitting on dealers shelfs at factory prices for extended periods of time...

Ah...the good old days...I remember it like it was yesterday.
 
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