Unidentified Schrade

Morgoth412 · Apr 25, 2004

Ok, well my 2nd Schrade purchase was definately better then my first!

(Bought a 1040T, and lets just say it did not live up to expectations...)

My new Schrade is quite nice though. My Buck 303T is still better, but this is a fun little knife too, that I might use sometimes. The fit and finish doesn't equal the Buck, but it's still good. The price was right for the size as well, and the blades actually got sharp...unlike my first Schrade. I like it.

The only problem is: I don't know the name of it, what year it was made, how many were made, etc....

I bought it at WalMart. It's a collectors type knife and came with a tin and money clip. It has jigged derlin handles, SS blades, and a sheild that just says SCHRADE. It's a stockman pattern, and would probably be called a medium stockman? (Maybe large... not positive.)

Thanks for any info.
-Kevin

El Lobo · Apr 25, 2004

Kevin,
I think that may have been a WalMart exclusive produced on contract, especially with the jigged delrin/simulated bone scales. IIRC, it was one of an Uncle Henry pattern, (#885?). How long is the knife, closed? You can go to the Schrade site (www.schradeknives.com) click products, Uncle Henry, and match up the length of your knife with the right pattern, if you are interested.

You can also try the guys on the Schrade Forum, as you probably know.

Bill

Suerte · Apr 25, 2004

what was a matter with the 104OT? Mine was fine (I had a chance to go over it first though).

kidwholaughs · Apr 25, 2004

1040T is the minuteman pattern. It's a pen knife. The medium stockman is called a middleman (according to schrade). The knife that you described sounds a lot like the Uncle Henry Rancher or Senior Rancher. Their stainless steel is comparable to the 420hc that Buck uses on their knives. If you want something that will cut and retain an edge better, try out Shrade's knives made with 1095 steel.

http://www.schradeknives.com/promo/giftProductsResults.php?groupID=pocketKnives

Morgoth412 · Apr 26, 2004

I suppose giving the number on the blade would help

It's got the number 881 on the blade, right below Schrade +.

Suerte,
I did NOT have a chance to go over mine first. Without going into too much detail:
1. Nail breaking stiff...
2. I've spent a half-hour sharpening the clip blade (1095) and only produced a decent edge. (Will continue to sharpen it if I get bored one day..., but it came butter knife sharp..., and was much harder then VG10 or S30V to make sharp

carbon steel is supposed to be easy...)
3. Not impressed by fit and finish
4. Scales are ugly

Kidwholaughs,
Actually I have read before that 420HC and Schrade + hold a better edge then 1095. The carbon steel is supposed to be easier to sharpen though. (Go figure though that this new Schrade and my Buck 303 are VERY easy to get sharp and the Minuteman took 30 min. for a decent edge...

) Maybe 1095 does hold a better edge, but I had not heard this before.

El Lobo,
Yea, I plan on posting in the Schrade forum today. Thank you for the suggestion, I will go to the Schrade forum and match the length with one of the regular models.
-Kevin

Morgoth412 · Apr 26, 2004

My knife looks to be of the same body as the Uncle Henry Senior Rancher. Same size, and same nail pull on the Clip blade. Hope someone will be able to help.

-Kevin

El Lobo · Apr 26, 2004

I thought it was on the 885 frame. It probably says 881 to denote the difference in handle material (#881- jigged delrin) versus (#885- Staglon), but it is a Senior Rancher in "Sheep's Clothing," as it were.

As for how many, I doubt anyone will know that one exactly. You can try emailing Schrade Customer Service......hasn't always worked..... there is a nice lady named Debbie Chase, very busy, but she might be able to help.

As for how old, I saw it at Walmart before last Christmas, I believe. Probably made in 2002-03.

As for your trouble with the #104, does it feel like your new one when you sharpen it? I have heard of some Old Timers with unmarked stainless blades, rather than carbon. Could be stainless with a poor treatment. Try slowly stropping it, about 15 strokes on each side, edge trailing, on the back of a legal pad, or any pad with thick cardboard backing. If it's carbon, it should feel "toothy" when you finish.

Hope this helps a little. Good luck.

Bill

Suerte · Apr 26, 2004

Morgoth412 said:
Suerte,
I did NOT have a chance to go over mine first. Without going into too much detail:
1. Nail breaking stiff...
2. I've spent a half-hour sharpening the clip blade (1095) and only produced a decent edge. (Will continue to sharpen it if I get bored one day..., but it came butter knife sharp..., and was much harder then VG10 or S30V to make sharp carbon steel is supposed to be easy...)
3. Not impressed by fit and finish
4. Scales are ugly

Odd. Except for the usual brown scales and dull blades, mine was just right and sharpened easily.

You must have got a lemon.

Morgoth412 · Apr 27, 2004

El Lobo said:
I thought it was on the 885 frame. It probably says 881 to denote the difference in handle material (#881- jigged delrin) versus (#885- Staglon), but it is a Senior Rancher in "Sheep's Clothing," as it were.

As for how many, I doubt anyone will know that one exactly. You can try emailing Schrade Customer Service......hasn't always worked..... there is a nice lady named Debbie Chase, very busy, but she might be able to help.

As for how old, I saw it at Walmart before last Christmas, I believe. Probably made in 2002-03.

As for your trouble with the #104, does it feel like your new one when you sharpen it? I have heard of some Old Timers with unmarked stainless blades, rather than carbon. Could be stainless with a poor treatment. Try slowly stropping it, about 15 strokes on each side, edge trailing, on the back of a legal pad, or any pad with thick cardboard backing. If it's carbon, it should feel "toothy" when you finish.

Hope this helps a little. Good luck.

Bill

Thank you! I wouldn't have thought to look at the Old Henry knives and match it up.

Yea, I had stroped it about a week ago on an old leather journal (spine of the journal) and it has quite a toothy edge. It's definately carbon steel, but I haven't gotten around to making it shaving sharp yet. I'm not sure why it was so hard to sharpen... Maybe bad heat treat or something? Either way, this new Schrade more then makes up for the Minuteman. I'm growing quite fond of it.
-Kevin

Morgoth412 · Apr 27, 2004

Suerte said:
Odd. Except for the usual brown scales and dull blades, mine was just right and sharpened easily. You must have got a lemon.

Yea, most likely a lemon but it kinda leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

I also forgot to add the 5th thing wrong with it:
5. When you close the clip blade the point touches the backspacer leaving the tip dull and a small dent in the backspacer.

It's alright though, I'm enjoying the new Schrade and it's quality is MUCH better.
-Kevin