Hello all. My main hunting knife, and therefore my "survival" knife, is a 1970's Schrade/Walden Old Timer model 165 or 165T 5" fixed blade. Does anyone know what kind of steel they used back then? It seems to keep an edge fairly well (though I confess I don't have a lot of other knives to compare it to other than a recently acquired Mora.) FWIW I also pocket-carry a Wave.

Regards, Vince

I have an old timer folding pocket knife that was replaced once under lifetime warranty be because the backbone spring wore loose, and it is carbon steel. Holds a great edge and easy to resharpen.

Bountyhunter

I thought carbon steel was a dull gray until I got my Mora--it looked like stainless until it began, well, staining. I assumed that my Old Timer (it's a 165 OT by the way) was stainless, and it has to be because after 30 years in the sheath it isn't stained. The Mora stained after its first encounter with 10# of potatoes.
The Old Timer's spine is about 3/16" thick at its thickest point. It has the brown Delrin handle. The only thing it lacks is a lanyard hole. Unless I hear different I will assume it's fine as a survival knife.

Vince