Schrade-Walden Old Timer

kwselke

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I keep seeing people comment on US made Schrade Old Timer knives. About 50 years ago at Christmas my mother gave me my first real pocket knife, a Schrade-Walden 250T Old Timer. I carried it through junior high, high school, and college. I used it hard. The sheath and sharpening stone that came with it have vanished over the years. It has been retired for many years now, but I pull it out every once in a while and reminisce on the adventures we went on. I think my mother paid $12 to $15 for my Christmas present that year. Factor in inflation, it was not a cheap knife by any means. Thought you might like to see the old war horse.
 

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Very nice old pocket knife but the best part is all of the memories that it brings back when you handle it. Thanks for sharing it.
 
Retired??? Looks like just broke in good to me. :) I have one similar and although it's big enough to do some work (besides peeling fruit, cutting tape, cleaning fingernails, etc.), mine is too big for comfortable pocket carry as I typically have other things in both front and rear pants pockets. That along with a folder that big, I prefer a lock blade and pocket clip.
 
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To me that pattern of knife is a Folding Hunter, a full size belt pouch knife. I prefer their two blades to a single blade that locks open or opens one handed. Thanks for showing your old friend.
 
My dad bought me and my brothers Uncle Henry's for Christmas back in the 70's. They were good, solid knives. I lost the one he gave me but I bought another just like it. I have other UH's that have never seen a stone or cut so much as a hang nail. I only moved on because of lock back designs then later because of assisted opening. But I still have several Uncle Henry knives and I don't mean the made in China junk they sold for a while. The one that is unused is a 285UH. The one I got from dad was an 885UH.
 
I keep seeing people comment on US made Schrade Old Timer knives. About 50 years ago at Christmas my mother gave me my first real pocket knife, a Schrade-Walden 250T Old Timer. I carried it through junior high, high school, and college. I used it hard. The sheath and sharpening stone that came with it have vanished over the years. It has been retired for many years now, but I pull it out every once in a while and reminisce on the adventures we went on. I think my mother paid $12 to $15 for my Christmas present that year. Factor in inflation, it was not a cheap knife by any means. Thought you might like to see the old war horse.

Very nice, thanks for sharing!

From when Schrade made quality knives!
 
MY EXACT FIRST OLD TIMER.

Found in the road 1980, couldn't have been there long. From then on I was hooked. I bought a bunch of the fixed sharpfingers on sale for 8$ each & gave many as gifts. SO sharp & easy to sharpen. it looks like you may have sharpened that one a time or 2, OR the blades are shrinking. ;) Good post.
 
I have collector antique knives for many decades. I regularly carry pre war folders by the major companies when I go to town. But in my work clothes I carry modern work knives. Some of my favorites are US made Schrade's. Great carbon steel for easy sharpening, and robust. When I worked afield every day I would use up a folder about every 3 years if I did not loose it first. I would guess I lost or wore out a dozen Schrades.
 
The US-made OTs had 1095 carbon steel. The Chinese-made ones that followed have stainless. I have one of the latter, a stockman. It’s really not much of a knife.
 
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I keep seeing people comment on US made Schrade Old Timer knives. About 50 years ago at Christmas my mother gave me my first real pocket knife, a Schrade-Walden 250T Old Timer. I carried it through junior high, high school, and college. I used it hard. The sheath and sharpening stone that came with it have vanished over the years. It has been retired for many years now, but I pull it out every once in a while and reminisce on the adventures we went on. I think my mother paid $12 to $15 for my Christmas present that year. Factor in inflation, it was not a cheap knife by any means. Thought you might like to see the old war horse.


I have owned many knives over the years: Buck, Case, Queen, Imperial. But the best one was a Schrade Old Timer "Sharp Finger" (1). This was about 1979 or so. Carbon steel blade (not stainless). Easy to sharpen, yet, it would hold an edge for weeks if not months, despite really hard use. Amazing steel, that Schrade carbon steel. But I think they are made in China today. Everything else is.


(1) https://www.copblock.org/items/img-...finger-skinner-hunter-sheath_272738150899.jpg


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I collect knive and as far as being a user the old Oldtimers were the best and the saw-cut delrin scales were indestructible.34ot for in pocket and a 152ot on the belt.
 

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Here is mine. About 30 years ago I bought the contents of a "workshop": drill presses, lathe, planer, handtools etc. along with the tools I found this Schrade Old Timer
I asked the seller if he wanted to keep it, he said it was included in the sale.
Good! It and the original pouch are stained but no rust and sharp as a razor.
It is big so I don't use it much, but it is a great knife.
Steve W.
 

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I wanted a 25OT for years and just never got around to getting one before Schrade sank.

I'm afraid to price a nice one on eBay now.

The Chinese faux Schrades I've seen looked really inferior.
 
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