Why buy an Old-Timer?

mnblade

mnblade

Joined
Feb 7, 2000
Messages
6,684
With the advances in stainless steel, why do folks still buy the old carbon steel Old-Timers? Before you all jump on me, let me say that I have an Old-Timer and love it! It takes an edge like a razor in no time at all. I'm just playing the devil's advocate, as I'm curious what still draws knife buyers to this type of blade. Any thoughts?
 
I don't collect the type you describe, but I'll venture an opinion.

In knife shows I've been to it seems men over 60 years of age collect these types. I imagine it's because it like the ones they had growing up.

I also imagine that when non knife people think knives, they think of the traditional image of a knife, as you've described. And these are available easily at common retail outlets. ( Ever seen I spyderco in a Walmart? I haven't.)

However, I think even the most traditional manufactures have seen the writing on the wall, modern design, modern materials, collaborations, etc. I also think it's new to some kinfe companies to come down from the ivory towers and talk to the masses. I don't think they have the infrastructure in place for communication that we now sometimes expect.

DaveH
 
Because they are highly functional, traditional styled pocket knives. I recently bought a small stockman (WalMart-$17) and have to say I am impressed with the edge it will take. Haven't used it enough to comment on how long it *hold* that edge, but I have modest expectations.

While the finish and grind lines are not perfect, I do think they are an excellent value. Every knife knut should have 1 or 2 or 4 of them.
 
Old Timers are nice knives, especially for the money. I started my kids with them as they whittle nicely, the kids need to learn how to use slipjoints, and they need to learn how to care for carbon steel as almost all of my tools and firearms are carbon or tool steel. I carry an Old Timer stockman as the three blades come in handy, where it'll outcut any superduper tactical lockblade; first try to cut a file, then try to slice some paper, and then shave with it :^)

I was looking at a Case display at a cutlery shop in Portland and asked about carbon steel knives. The shopkeeper said that she hd to make sure that she carried enough carbon steel knives as the 'users' preferred them over stainless.
 
Interesting point about the "users" preferring carbon steel. If you hang around the forum too long, you get to thinking that everyone carries some high-end custom folder. I guess the price tag of Old-Timers appeals to a lot of folks (no one's going to cry about banging up a $20 knife) and the easy sharpening is a huge plus too.
 
Oh the memories!...

An Old-Timer pocket knife was the first good knife I got when I was about 10. How I loved that thing!

I've moved on to SOG, CRK&T (my current personal favorite), and Benchmade 710 folders now. But nothing can recapture that sense of excitement of being 10 years old and opening up that cardboard box with wood print, and taking out that brand-new spanking Old-Timer knife with that light film of factory oil. I read the instructions, warranty, and enclosed catalog over and over again. Whoa! It's like that kid who gets the BB gun in the movie, "A Christmas Story".

Hmmm...I gotta have one again! They sell them at Wal-Mart you say?

 
I still use old timers and they sure work good. I probably own $500 worth of small carving tools and I'm always surprised how often I reach for my old timers and a small carbon-steeled Kabar that I use. I much prefer a carbon steeled old timer for carving than a similar stainless buck knive. It just does a better job of whittlin'. However, I have found that some of the simple stainless swiss army knives work well too. However, if I want to do a little whittling while out in the woods, I usually take one knife, the one in the link below. It's about 25 years old and still has a lot of life in it.
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/oltimer.htm


------------------
Hoodoo

And so, to all outdoor folks, the knife is the most important item of equipment.

Ellsworth Jaeger - Wildwood Wisdom

[This message has been edited by Hoodoo (edited 08-01-2000).]
 
Thanks to all for the nice comments on our Old Timer knives. I think the "Why Buy an Old Timer?" question has been answered thoroughly. From ease of sharpening to durability, to warranty, to value, there are no better knives for the money on the market. They're made to use.

------------------
Tim Faust
Product Manager
www.schradeknives.com
 
Wow, Hoodoo. Looks like that knife has been sharpened more than a few times, eh? Just the mark of a really good knife.
smile.gif


My wife bought me a 8OT stockman a few months ago, and I really like it, especially for whittling. But when I started carrying it in my pocket at work, the blades and backsprings began to rust in less than one day. I work shipping at a tool and die shop and it gets quite hot in the summer. I am sure that a nylon belt pouch would have been enough to protect it from sweat, but I like my pocketknife in my pocket. So the Old Timer will stay at home to help around the house and yard and a new Buck 701 stockman will go to work with me. I did consider the Uncle Henry stainless knives, but they do have non-stainless backsprings, or at least used to.

Schrade's traditional line of pocketknives all have nice strong backsprings, the blades will take a shaving-sharp edge, the fit and finish are really nice and they look great, too. But, perhaps best of all, they are very reasonably priced.



------------------
Dave Fortman

~Buck Collectors Club~
~Lifetime Member #736~
 
I have several schrade knives,but I carry an 885UH [Uncle Henry] which has the schrade plus steel. It sharpens as easy as the carbon steel and resists rust and corrosion. It also holds an edge very well. It is always razor sharp. The Uncle Henry's are the best quality pocket knives I have ever carried, and I have carried several brands including several Case knives.
 
This five-and-a-half year-old thread was resurrected by someone talking about Uncle Henry knives instead of Old Timers. What gives?
 
charlie878 said:
I have several schrade knives,but I carry an 885UH [Uncle Henry] which has the schrade plus steel. It sharpens as easy as the carbon steel and resists rust and corrosion. It also holds an edge very well. It is always razor sharp. The Uncle Henry's are the best quality pocket knives I have ever carried, and I have carried several brands including several Case knives.
Click to expand...
I agree the Uncle Henry knives are good 'uns to carry. And the Old Timer carbon bladed folders as well. I bought an 885UH a few years back when I couldn't find a replacement 897UH for my EDC. I found it to be a bit larger than I was used to, and got a new 897UH at first opportunity. I have to have stainless for my work (pools) because chemicals eat carbon pretty badly. But, you can't beat the Old Timers either. Luckily, almost every UH has an OT pattern equivilant. Glad you dropped in!

Codger
 
Glad you have joined us here, Charlie!

Like you, I see nothing wrong with good old Uncle Henrys with Schrade + Stainless steel. I like the somewhat more flashy 'staglon' handles as well. Both materials, the delrin and the stainless steel, made knives much, much more easy to own. Drop a knife with a bone handle on a rock on a cold December day? It's busted. Forget to wipe and oil a carbon steel blade after gutting a deer on a rainy October night... you got rust. We don't know how good we have it, do we?

Please don't be a stranger here, Charlie.

Phil
 
I have spydercos, brownings, berettas, muelas, halcons, case, Buck, victorinox, wenger, Too many to even think of but my using knives are all schrades and my best ones are carbon and i dont care what you think about premium steels it cant beat carbon! Sure an ats55 spyderco will cut more to start with but guess what it only takes a few strokes to resharpen the old timer and by the time you have got that "premium" steel sharp i have already sharpened mine and out cut it! By the way i am only 36 years old not 60+ i just know what works.
 
Well said std11670!

A knife is a tool, but it can also be a work of art. I have seen knives that were absolutely beautiful, and cost hundreds even thousands of dollars. They are works of art. I don't know too many people who will take a $3,000 knife out into the field and get it covered with deer or elk guts & blood!

While I am capable of appreciating the beauty of an art piece I don't own any. I am attracted to a quality tool, if it looks nice, that is a bonus, but all my knives are (or were at one time) functional pieces.

It is nice to open the drawer of my tool box and see a drawer full of quality & functional Craftsman & Proto screwdrivers. I know that I can choose any one of them and they will do the job for which they were designed. However, if I had a drawer full of fancy gold plated, diamond encrusted screwdrivers I would be afraid to use them.

A Schrade knife (IMHO) is like one of those Craftsman or Proto Screwdrivers. I know a Schrade will perform the task for which it was designed. They may not be as pretty as a $300 Al Mar (I keep those for sentimental reasons, Al was a good friend of mine) but the Schrade will "get 'er done."

The carbon steel is my personal preference, but I have a lot of Schrade + stainless. The old stainless Frontiers make outstanding users.

I have a lot of knives, and a lot of different brands but, you will almost always find a Schrade product in my pocket.

Dale
 
Here is a very useful knife and it is not carbon steel or even a Schrade but i have two of these and i paid more for them than this as this price is almost criminal! I did however buy mine from this company and they are listed as the larger 701 these are actually the model 700 and can be seen on brownings website they are actually only 3" closed making an excellent pocket sized knife although it does come with a little belt sheath. These are great capers and upland/small game tools as well as general utility and the AUS 8a steel is straight razor sharp out of the box and as easy to sharpen as Schrade+ they are not pretty but when you get one in your hands you'll probably want another! I hope you guys dont beat me up for listing this here but i am assuming everybody here looks for great deals on other brands of knives as well and i wanted to alert you all of this steal uhh i mean deal! http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=201807
 
I would hope that no one here objects, I see other brands of knives mentioned in this forum from time to time. After all, most of us here liked knives before we liked Schrade knives, at least I did. I have lots of knives, only some of which are Schrades.

As for inexpensive knives, some of my favorites are Opinels that I bought for only 2 or 3 bucks.
 
Hey, I came out of the womb carrying a 3 blade medium stockman in jigged delrin. Cut my own cord like a hanging rope test, too. ;)

Glenn
 
Guyon said:
This five-and-a-half year-old thread was resurrected by someone talking about Uncle Henry knives instead of Old Timers. What gives?
Click to expand...

I know the original title was "why buy an old timer"? I know that it is five years old, but I just recently joined the forum. After reading the threads about how the Old Timers with the carbon steel are so easy and fast to sharpen, I decided to give my opinion on the Old Timer [carbon] compared to the Uncle Henry [stainless]. It looks to me like it may have ressurected the discussion. Besides I am still talking Schrade. Chill out.
 
charlie878 said:
I know the original title was "why buy an old timer"? I know that it is five years old, but I just recently joined the forum. After reading the threads about how the Old Timers with the carbon steel are so easy and fast to sharpen, I decided to give my opinion on the Old Timer [carbon] compared to the Uncle Henry [stainless]. It looks to me like it may have ressurected the discussion. Besides I am still talking Schrade. Chill out.
Click to expand...

No problem. It might as well be posted in an existing thread as a new one, seeing as it's about the same thing. I'm sure Guyon didn't mean it the way it sounded. This is one of the more friendly forums on the website.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top