I've been meaning to do this write up for awhile now, but haven't had the opportunity. now that the summer is here and my obligations have diminished, i thought i would catch up a little.
Awhile back I stopped into a local knife shop with a consignment case where I found a beautiful Miller Bros. knife. Since then I stop in from time to time to what what oldies they have in stock. The prices are always fair is not more than fair, but I don't always walk out the door with a prize. Two months ago i stopped in on a whim just see what the old mates had been up to when i spotted a single blade liner lock Uncle Henry 197 Cat Paw in the case. I asked to see it, and was immediately taken with the pattern. I had never heard of, or seen the 197, but i identified it as a slimmed down stockman due to the California clip. I asked to see the knife and found it to be solid. No blade play, solid snap and lock up. it had obviously been used and sharpened, but my experience with Schrade assured me that it would sharpen up fast and would hold and awesome edge. I couldn't say no, and so I bought it. I payed more than I wanted to, but I've bought enough USA Schrades to know that I wasn't being played the fool.
After I got it home, cleaned up and sharpened, I started researching it to find that it is a rarer pattern. A single, lock blade version of the 897uh that was only produced from around 1980 to 1989, which means I've convinced myself it was made in 1981 (the year of my birth...)
In addition to its relative rareness, I was surprised to learn that I actually got a good deal on it and that it makes an awesome EDC. In the last two months it has been my primary EDC. The lockup is top notch and the edge takes a crazy sharp edge. I was leery of California clips in the past due to perceived fragility, but I have to say the slim and trim blade is exceptional at EDC tasks! I always have a SAK variation on me for the tools, but the Cat Paw has been my primary blade for two months now.
This is a pattern I would love to see revived! The new GEC 66 slims are close, but I'd love a single clip liner lock on the 66 frame!!!
Here are some pics, let me know what you all think
Awhile back I stopped into a local knife shop with a consignment case where I found a beautiful Miller Bros. knife. Since then I stop in from time to time to what what oldies they have in stock. The prices are always fair is not more than fair, but I don't always walk out the door with a prize. Two months ago i stopped in on a whim just see what the old mates had been up to when i spotted a single blade liner lock Uncle Henry 197 Cat Paw in the case. I asked to see it, and was immediately taken with the pattern. I had never heard of, or seen the 197, but i identified it as a slimmed down stockman due to the California clip. I asked to see the knife and found it to be solid. No blade play, solid snap and lock up. it had obviously been used and sharpened, but my experience with Schrade assured me that it would sharpen up fast and would hold and awesome edge. I couldn't say no, and so I bought it. I payed more than I wanted to, but I've bought enough USA Schrades to know that I wasn't being played the fool.
After I got it home, cleaned up and sharpened, I started researching it to find that it is a rarer pattern. A single, lock blade version of the 897uh that was only produced from around 1980 to 1989, which means I've convinced myself it was made in 1981 (the year of my birth...)
In addition to its relative rareness, I was surprised to learn that I actually got a good deal on it and that it makes an awesome EDC. In the last two months it has been my primary EDC. The lockup is top notch and the edge takes a crazy sharp edge. I was leery of California clips in the past due to perceived fragility, but I have to say the slim and trim blade is exceptional at EDC tasks! I always have a SAK variation on me for the tools, but the Cat Paw has been my primary blade for two months now.
This is a pattern I would love to see revived! The new GEC 66 slims are close, but I'd love a single clip liner lock on the 66 frame!!!
Here are some pics, let me know what you all think
