Help identify vintage (year of manufacture) Schrade Walden 834

L

lmmargheritis

Joined
Feb 28, 2022
Messages
3
Recently I acquired a very nice (old) Schrade Walden 834 pocket knife. I am pretty sure it was manufactured between 1946 and 1973. The blades seem to have a more unique shape than the later models and I have had a hard time even finding the blade shapes in any Schrade literature. I also cannot verify is the handle is bone or plastic. Any help appreciated. If I had to guess, the knife was purchased in Alaska in the 50's.

photos.google.com

Vintage Knife

4 new items added to shared album
photos.google.com photos.google.com
 
Last edited:
At a glance the handles look like jigged bone.
The blades are all well worn ...stockman type set up...clip, pen or sheepsfoot and spey blade...
It has been cleaned and made shiny...and sharpened....
Im sure one of the noble Porcheteers will know when delrin was first used which could narrow the age down...but they also continued to use bone ...Is it a purchase or a hand me down?
 
You’re guess OP, is certainly in the range.
From memory…
Schrade and others were using a hard almost black plastic called Fosterene before another plastic called Delrin was introduced in approximately 1959.
There also may have been cross-over transitional examples made and again from memory, I don’t recall seeing any plastic scaled examples with a pinned shield. You may also want to check for a pin on the liner.
From your pics, it looks similar to one of mine…

00A9AF3E-17B6-4C0E-B573-588F6D274FC4.jpeg
 
Looks like that tang stamp was used between 1946-1973
2518604773_87dfefd2e0.jpg

The handles do appear synthetic. Handle materials may narrow the date down a bit, but i'm unsure exactly when they started using that material.
 
At higher zoom of the images in my browser, it looks like there are gaps opening up between the ends of the handle covers and the bolsters. Looks like the sort of end gaps that come from shrinkage of older synthetic handle covers. Bone isn't known to shrink like that - so if bone, I'd expect to see a tighter fit between the cover ends and bolsters.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JM2
meako said:
At a glance the handles look like jigged bone.
The blades are all well worn ...stockman type set up...clip, pen or sheepsfoot and spey blade...
It has been cleaned and made shiny...and sharpened....
Im sure one of the noble Porcheteers will know when delrin was first used which could narrow the age down...but they also continued to use bone ...Is it a purchase or a hand me down?
Click to expand...
This belonged to my father in law. He always kept a small knife in his pocket. This was his oldest one and my favorite.
 
Blades are definitely worn down from sharpening, but they could be a lot worse. They arn't like toothpicks.
I'm guessing late 1940's to mid 1950's manufacture.
 
https://imgur.com/a/mrfIBW8
. Hi, I searched for the correct space to identify a knife. Hopefully you all will be able to help or run me off to somewhere that can. I have this old knife I keep I. My tool box. It’s not much. Black w/soft plastic handle, loop for a tether that came with, a black, 1.5” partially serrated blade & finally 4” long total. I’m just curious if it supposed to be a good knife. I’ll know to keep it vs throwing it away once it gets dull. Thank you.
https://imgur.com/a/3Isc1g3
 
mrwarcriminal said:
https://imgur.com/a/mrfIBW8
. Hi, I searched for the correct space to identify a knife. Hopefully you all will be able to help or run me off to somewhere that can. I have this old knife I keep I. My tool box. It’s not much. Black w/soft plastic handle, loop for a tether that came with, a black, 1.5” partially serrated blade & finally 4” long total. I’m just curious if it supposed to be a good knife. I’ll know to keep it vs throwing it away once it gets dull. Thank you.
https://imgur.com/a/3Isc1g3
Click to expand...
After a Google search for Schrade SP1 I found these vintage USA made ones go for about 15 bucks in new condition on the bay. Although not worth allot it is still a decent little knife,outside of a utility knife blade I couldn't imagine throwing away a knife thats become dull. Of course "dull" to me is still screaming sharp to most people. 🤔Then again there's folks on here that would consider my sharpest knife not much better than a butter knife lol. Its worth keeping imo, just sharpen it from time to time. 👍
 
mrwarcriminal said:
https://imgur.com/a/mrfIBW8
. Hi, I searched for the correct space to identify a knife. Hopefully you all will be able to help or run me off to somewhere that can. I have this old knife I keep I. My tool box. It’s not much. Black w/soft plastic handle, loop for a tether that came with, a black, 1.5” partially serrated blade & finally 4” long total. I’m just curious if it supposed to be a good knife. I’ll know to keep it vs throwing it away once it gets dull. Thank you.
https://imgur.com/a/3Isc1g3
Click to expand...
Heck I think it’s cool. My kid would think so too, I might have to get him one.
 
lmmargheritis said:
Recently I acquired a very nice (old) Schrade Walden 834 pocket knife. I am pretty sure it was manufactured between 1946 and 1973. The blades seem to have a more unique shape than the later models and I have had a hard time even finding the blade shapes in any Schrade literature. I also cannot verify is the handle is bone or plastic. Any help appreciated. If I had to guess, the knife was purchased in Alaska in the 50's.

photos.google.com

Vintage Knife

4 new items added to shared album
photos.google.com photos.google.com
Click to expand...
That’s cool man thanks for sharing. I got no info for ya. I’d carry it though!
 
The Schrade Walden brand began in 1946-47 and your knife has a three numeral model number, so 1946 to 1985 when the Open Stock 834 was discontinued. However, the handles began switching from peachseed bone (like yours) to jigged Delrin around 1962 +/-. That gives you a range. OH
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top