Old Timer vs Uncle Henry

[steveno]

so what was the reasoning behind Schrade having the Old Timer series of knives and the Uncle Henry series of knives? both series of knives seem to be the same good quality

I found another Old Timer 1040T in some of my stepdad's stuff. I found an 80T along with a 120T and a 897UH

 

[OFT II]

They're both great knives for the price. I consider the Old Timer to be the Chevrolet of the line and the Uncle Henry to be the Buick.

 

[k22fan]

Back when they were made in the U.S.A. the main difference was Old Timers were not stainless steel and Uncle Henrys were stainless steel. During the 1970s Uncle Henrys were priced higher and were guaranteed free replacement if you LOST yours! I'd wager that their price was higher because Schrade factored in a few customers milking that guarantee.

The opinion frequently posted on the internet that 1970s & 1980s Old Timers had great "carbon steel" is false. The blades of my 1970s Old Timer Stockman and Folding Hunter were at least as soft as Swiss Army Knives. They did not hold an edge anywhere near as long as Case's carbon steel which in turn did not hold an edge as well as my Bucks. The trade off is ease of sharpening versus edge retention. In hindsight Case's carbon steel must have had the right balance for me because they are what I took to work most of the time. Other fellows who had both preferred Old Timer's easier resharpening.

I have no experience with U.S. made Uncle Henrys but they also were economy priced. Currently both names are on low priced stainless Chinese imports. I also do not have experience with them yet.

 

[C J]

I grew up with Uncle Henry knives. They held up well and had decent grips. I liked the stag handles. I still have some actually including some that were never sharpened. Dad bought me and my brothers UH's for Christmas one year as a stocking stuffer and that influenced my buying habits. They had to be sharpened often but that doesn't take long. It's only bad when you need it sharp and you find it isn't.

 

[chief38]

K22fan hit the nail on e head - being the UH's are stainless and the OT's are Carbon Steel. I have several of both but have not carried them in over 30 years as I have upgraded. IMHO the OT's are better as I favor Carbon Steel to stainless.

Back in the day and for the price and availability (every place seemed to sell them) they were very serviceable knives. I do not own one that has been recently made but I'd bet they are now just Chinese so-so knives now.

Queen Cutlery just went belly up about 2 months ago and IMHO they were about the best American made traditional pocket knives around with Case being second. Even Case it not what it use to be! Bought two in December and had to tune them up a bit to get them where I wanted them to be.

 

[k22fan]

I forgot to add that in later U.S. production some Old Timers were stainless steel. They are identified by the symbol + on the master blade tang. Most of them have brown Delrin side covers with a surface that is called "saw cut." I do not know how far back in time stainless Old Timers go.

 

[garddogg56]

Either or for me they are great users not fancy like your Queens or Cases but are very durable users delrin scales in 1095 carbon or 440A steel.Wish they were still made in the good old U.S.of A again.three of my favorite users

 

[shouldazagged]

Every Old Timer I ever owned had blades of good, well heat treated 1095 steel. They took and held a great edge but were easy to sharpen. With the sawn Delrin scales (great when hands were wet or slippery with blood) they were very fine but economical working knives. I've owned a number of them over the years, slipjoints, a couple of lockbacks, and fixed blades.

The Uncle Henry line in 440A were also very good for the money, but I found the Old Timers held an edge better.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I have a Chinese-made Old Timer, a medium large stockman (128OT). It is not much of a knife. The scales have shrunk back from the bolsters, and curled up away from the liners. There are a couple of proud pins, and the shield is cockeyed, one end standing proud of its inletting.

The blades are a nondescript stainless that does not take a really good edge. Still, the bar is pretty low for an edc knife, and it was up to those modest demands. I carried it when I didn’t have anything else, or know any better, and it did what I asked of it. I would not recommend it to anyone.

 

[Ray]

I have a Schrade Uncle Henry Golden Spike made in USA, and the steel is 153 UH, which I presume is stainless. Don´t know though if the handle is stag or imitation.
Regards, Ray

 

[shouldazagged]

Ray, "153UH" is the model number. Tyhe steel is 440A.

 

[shouldazagged]

I have a Chinese-made Old Timer, a medium large stockman (128OT). It is not much of a knife. The scales have shrunk back from the bolsters, and curled up away from the liners. There are a couple of proud pins, and the shield is cockeyed, one end standing proud of its inletting.

The blades are a nondescript stainless that does not take a really good edge. Still, the bar is pretty low for an edc knife, and it was up to those modest demands. I carried it when I didn’t have anything else, or know any better, and it did what I asked of it. I would not recommend it to anyone.

Since Taylor Cutlery bought the Scherade brand and moved production to China, QC has gone to hell fom what I've seen.

 

[k22fan]

153 UH is the model number. How old is your Uncle Henry Ray?

By the way, the Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW) flyer that arrived this week has Uncle Henry Golden Spike fixed blade knives for $24.99. Their handles are plastic imitation stag. The ad writes 7Cr17MoV stainless. That is read 7% carbon, 17% chromium and unspecified amounts of molybdenum and vanadium. That gives an 8 1/2% carbon to iron ratio so it should have the potential to be heat treated to hold an edge longer than 440A stainless. The question is do you trust the unknown Chinese factory to use the steel they claim and heat treat it well? While heat treating to produce a softer blade reduces the cost of the final finishing, labor is cheap in China.

 

[kwselke]

In December I posted about the Schrade Old Timer my mother gave me Christmas 1969 or 1970, I'm not sure which. As I recall, I had asked for it as a gift and it was sold at Oshman's Sporting Goods in Houston's Myerland Plaza for $12.50. It came with a leather scabbard and a soft sharpening stone, but $12.50 in 1970 dollars is what they went for.

Today's Chinese made Old Timers go for about the same number of 2018 dollars. They will not withstand they type of use and abuse my old knife did.

This thread reminded me that I had bought some magic WD-40 snake oil at Walmart to treat my carbon steel knives with, because another thread here indicated it might be better than the other stuff I've been using. By the way, the big can of WD-40 Gel was about $8.50.

I too remember the Old Timer and Uncle Henry lines being sold in the same fashion as Chevy and Buick... Good and Better.

Today's Chinese models are sold as price points that look like the quality products of yesteryear. I've lost, broken, wore out, and forgotten many knives over the years, so I understand price point. I also understand, enjoy and appreciate quality pocket knives.

 

[gregintenn]

Find an old knife marked "Schrade Walden" if you want quality.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

If you can't increase your sales, you can buy your competitor's sales and everyone in charge can give each other huge bonuses for their exceptional marketing acumen in increasing sales.

 

[Texas Star]

Uncle Henry scales were Staglon Delrin, not real stag. But they look good and don't shrink or crack like real stag.

I have a King Ranch stockman and a smaller UH stock knife. They were good stuff, competitive with Buck and Camillus.

Old Timer knives tend to rust badly. T he stainless UH, seldom.

 

[Ray]

Hi k22fan, I don´t remember exactly the year, must have been in early 80´s. I got it in Manaus , state of Amazonas.I still have the box and leather sheath with a pocket for a small sharpening stone, that unfortunately was lost. By the way it´s not a very easy knife to sharpen.Do you know if Schrade sells these stones for replacement ?

Regards, Ray

 

[k22fan]

Ray,
The U.S. made 153 UH you bought in 1980 was made by a factory that closed over 10 years ago. The local Ace Hardware has the Chinese made 153 UH. They have replacement whetstones for $4.29 back in the isle with the bigger whetstones. They measure 3" x 7/8" x 3/8". While I'm not sure about your 1980 Schrade, most of the whetstone pockets on knife sheaths fit the same standard size stone. If you bought one mail order from a place like Smoky Mountain Knife Works the shipping would cost more than the whetstone. The box for the 153 UH in Ace Hardware is printed BTI Tools, Inc. (423) 247-2406. While calling them might cost more than the whetstone e-mailing would be free. I'd take the sheath into local stores and try the whetstones they have for fit.

 

[Drm50]

I've got a OT from 80s. It's a Trapper with a small pair of
tweezers that slides under one scale and a needle under the
other. They are to take out splinters. I think it was called the
Lumber Jack.