I have wanted a Schrade "Sharpfinger" belt knife for some time now, but haven't focused my efforts to getting one until recently. They used to be available in every department and hardware store, but apparently they stopped making them in the USA around 2004, moved manufacturing to China and now are sold in basically Walmarts and junk shops...

Got to yakking with some guys at work the other day about great knives made in the USA, the Schrade Sharpfinger came up, and I determined to find out how hard it would be to find one. Some research on Ebay found that the Chinese ones made after 2004 were abundant and cheap, less than $20. Ones made in the USA prior to 2004 started around $40 for one you would want, lots of shabby ones out there but nice ones too. Some were priced enthusiastically at $90, $120 and more....

I thought to try my local pawn shop first to see what he had, and he didn't disappoint. Had this little used example for $30:

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Makes a nice companion to some other Schrade "Old Timer" knives I've picked up over the years, a 610T and 340T:

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I know Schrade must have made millions of these knives over the years, and may never be a great collectable, but I really like them. I like a knife that is light and compact....

I have had a "Sharpfinger" made in USA for a pretty good while and never knew it's name. Skinned many a deer with it. Mine doesn't look as good as yours, but probably has better stories to tell.
Thanks for the heads up on the name info!

Mine is a USA, had it around 25 years. Bought in a hardware store to give me a sheath knife smaller than a Buck 119, for use around the horses. Lighter than the Buck 119, and fixed blade advantages. Great knife, enjoy yours.

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Jim

IF used ONLY for it's intended purposes. Not easy to keep it from tarnishing, but so easy to sharpen & a great shape to use, big handle/thin blade. Try wrapping the blade with greased wax/butcher paper, taped to form a sleeve, then you can leave it in the leather sheath. The best 8$'s I've ever spent. I've bought many & given most away as gifts, had one everywhere, & a few left un opened that I can no longer find. It's big brother the 150T is a good one also.

Often admired these knives but never picked one up. I heard they are foreign made now even though they look the same. Makes a nice compact skinner. Inexpensive enough but not sure of the stainless steel used in them now. Maybe 420? Thanks for sharing this old classic

Found a lost one years ago; no sheath. I cold-blued the blade, cobbled together a sheath out of a scrap of leather and several copper rivets. It goes with me to the woods. As with most of my old "arn" tools, it gets a coat of wax whenever it's put away.

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de minimus non curat lex

The good old U.S.-made Old Timers were and are wonderful working knives--good 1095 carbon steel, sawed Delrin that gives a grip with wet hands, well-executed designs. I still have a few and love them.

The Sharpfinger took the market by storm when it appeared. The ergonomics are superb, and it really is like an extension of the index finger in use.

Personally I preferred the drop-point version, the 154OT. Same great ergos, and I just like a drop-point blade. I've given them to my son and each of his three boys--to the boys partly because they are very controllable in cutting, but also because (boys being what they are) the design isn't worth a damn for throwing. I've dressed a ton of game with one.

In fact. I have one I may give as a karma one of these days. Have to decide which of two to give away.

The Chinese-made "Old Timers" I've seen all appeared to be stainless steel, probably 440A, and not nearly as well done.

The good ones have indeed gotten pricey. You pay for quality, especially when it's no longer made. They're fine tools.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I own several Shrades. This is the only one that I have a pic of on my iPad.
It's a Loveless Shrade, made by Shrade and designed by legendary master blade maker Bob Loveless.

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I've never owned a "Sharp Finger" (model 1520T) but I have three of the Schrade "Little Finger" knives (model 1560T). All of mine are USA made........much better than the Chinese copies being put out today.

In the past I used the Little Finger as a hunting knife on everything from squirrels to deer......the short, leaf-type blade is excellent for a small, useful hunting knife. Today, I only use them for small game as I now use a Bob Dozier made "Yukon Pro Skinner" as my go-to knife for deer and elk.

Don

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I have a Chinese-made Old Timer stockman, about ten or twelve years old. It is a pretty sorry piece of kit: pins not flush, the shield proud at one end, recessed at the other. The sawed synthetic scales are about as drab and lifeless as could be, and don't fit the bolsters well at all.

Despite its flaws, it has spent a fair amount of time in my pocket. The mystery steel blades take a decent edge, and it is well up to the typical EDC chores. I agree that it is gratifying to be able to use a really well-crafted knife, but truth be told, the bar is really pretty low for an EDC knife. We like to carry nicer knives, but we don't really need to.

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I have one that I bought around 1980, it has the faux ivory scales with a scrimshawed antelope head. I carried it for several deer seasons and for a relatively small blade, it performed very well.

I owned a Sharpfinger back in the early 80's and it was a good knife although I didn't hunt much back then.. But Fishing now.... One of THE best fillet knifes I've ever had was the Schrade 167UH!! Razor sharp from the factory and you had to fillet quite a few fish to make it dull!! I don't know what kind'a steel was used to make it other than it was stainless but it would hold an edge better than any other knife I've ever owned!!!

Schrade Sharpfinger -- best knife I've ever owned, and I've owned plenty of knives. Easy to sharpen yet holds an edge for weeks. I mean the USA model. Get one.


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I have a Sharpfinger from the 1980's (I think). It's hard to see in the picture, but the shield says "GUNS AMMO". The knife was a freebie for subscribing to the magazine at that time.

I agree that it's probably the handiest knife I've ever owned.

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Lorin

I've had mine for 30 years and it's cleaned everything from trout to deer, and made a few lunches, too. The scabbard is getting a little loose, so I ran a leather thong through the handle and doubled it back through the belt loop. I would hate to lose that knife.

Yep, me too. And it about had to be in the 80's when I got mine. Nice knife, a typical older Sharpfinger.

I have Buck,Marbles ,Anzas and Randal's but my favorites were Schrade Sharpfingers as a 158ot was my first They had a guthook.Here's an example of a Uncle Henry sharp finger152uh&194.UH are in SS+OT's have 1095 steel my preference for hunting.

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I had one like skeezix also. It had a black delrin handle with the Guns and ammo logo in the handle. Used it for years don't know when it went missing.

I subscribed to G&A for 3 years to get it. I also had Shooting Times till Skeeter left.

I had friend who was a wholesaler for Schrades. I have a decent cross section of their knives from the 80's including a nice Sharpfinger. Mine has always sported a leather lanyard. Don't carry it much any more but I'd never part with it.

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My Sharpfinger is also marked with "Guns & Ammo" on the grip shield. I believe I got it back in the late 70's or early 80's with my subscription to G&A.

I also have another Old Timer knife, a model 165 "Woodsman" that I got back in the 70's sometime. It was my main packing knife when I went out into the woods.



My other two Old Timers are both folders. One is a large lock back called the "Big Timer" and it is the model 51OT and the other is a three bladed pocket knife (Model 8OT):

I got one of the 1540Ts as a premium for subscribing to Petersen's "Hunting" magazine when it came out around 1981 or 82. I have lost count of the deer and antelope that dressed out. Just before they moved everything to China I picked up 3 of the same knife in the Uncle Henry version with "stag" scales as a deal. Gave one to each of my sons and the third to my brother as Christmas presents. The original still goes afield with me each year even though I've bought, won or been given a half dozen newer and "nicer" knives. It just works.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I've had one for 25 years or more. Looks just like the one in the OP's photos. US made.

Always thought it's a good all around skinning knife....and that's what I used it for, when I was a hunter. It's still in very good shape, though.


The knife I'd really like to find would be the "Mauser" version of the Victorinox knife. Commonly referred to as the German "Swiss army knife".....supposedly issued to the German Bundeswehr (but I have no idea if that is true). I had one, many years ago (late 70's or early 80's) for which I paid maybe $20, brand new (I can't remember). Misplaced it somewhere, over the years. Now they are VERY rare apparently....and supposedly collector's items.

The Mauser Victorinox GAK was almost certainly not issued to the Bundeswehr. In addition to the very effective saw, it had a spear and a clip, both full length. The issue GAKs had just the spear plus the saw. In GAK fashion, they all opened at the same end.

I can't say offhand what other implements were there. The Mauser had an awl and a corkscrew on the back and I would guess the issued knives had the same. Victorinox was not the only manufacturer, but somebody with a better memory will have to tell you who they were. Or I suppose a guy could go look it up. This is all off the top of my head.

My Mauser knife came either from LL Bean or Brookstone. I didn't know what I had, but I thought it was pretty cool, so it hasn't been used hard, and I still have the sheet metal protector for the saw, which has some very fierce teeth, more so even than the Vic Farmer. Unfortunately, the box seems to have gotten away, although it could still turn up.

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Not in jail.

I have two of them made in the USA and they are my primary skinning knives.

I have been using the Sharpfinger for about 40 years. If memory serves, it cost me about $7.00 at the K-Mart store. Has proven more than adequate for most field dressing and skinning tasks. Takes an edge pretty easily and holds the edge under hard use.

With that knife and a good short bone saw I know I can handle anything to the size of Rocky Mountain elk.

Of course, I have also discovered the value of a good cordless reciprocal saw for dealing with the larger critters! Wouldn't go big game hunting without one anymore.