152 OT ... question re sharpening

M

MGF

Joined
Jul 13, 2005
Messages
137
Hello, Schrade guys.

I saw a Schrade 152 OT in the Kmart the other day and grabbed it ... it was $17. Didn't have any real need for it, but I figured what the heck ... it was a USA-made Schrade OT, and there won't be many of those to be had much longer, so why not?

My problem: Knife was dull right out of the blister pack. I've tried freehand sharpening on diamond stones, but have yet to be able to get much of a truly sharp edge on it. And, no, I'm not talking about down by the choil.

Anyone ever run into this before? Any clue what I might be doing wrong?
 
Yep. You most likely picked up one of the later stainless models. You can test it with anything acidic (apple is good). It will darken if it is the normal carbon blade. Schrade quietly began blanking them in stainless (unmarked) in the last few years. I have one of those knives as well.

I use a Gerber diamond hone (the one that looks like an ink pen), and can usually bring up the edge on Schrade+ stainless knives fairly quick. Maybe you have one with exceptionally hardened steel (normal is I believe 58-59 RC). But... since you like the 152OT Sharpfinger and appreciate the fact that the U.S. made variety is now extinct in it's original Ellenville New York manufactured form, why not keep that one put up for display, and hand it down to the grandchildren. Get another Sharpfinger, an older one in 1095 carbon steel that will easily work up hairsplitting sharp with a few passes of the hone and a quick stropping on the sheath back.

They were made for many years (1974- 2004), so I am not suggesting that this knife is rare, but the stainless ones do make good display / keepers, and in my humble opinion the carbon blades make the better user. And the Sharpfinger is a classic of the Imperial Schrade Old Timer fixed blades. Congratulations on acquiring a great example of a classic Schrade knife, and welcome to the forum!

Codger
 
Thanks, Codger. That pretty much sounds like the plan. And I think you're right re it being one of the exceptionally hardened ones. I've got two little lockbacks in Schrade+ - an OT with sawcut Derlin handle and plain black dropoint with black nylon/zytel or whatever - that I can get a very nice edges on without much difficulty.

Man, when I think back on all the great Schrades (Uncle Henry's and Old Timers) that I let slip away (sold, traded, lost or gave away), I'm greatly saddened. I guess Schrade was the knife of my youth, and I always just assumed it would be around. Looking back, little did I know what tremendous buys and longtime quality users UH's and OTs really were. I could kick myself.

I think I'll start haunting garage sales and auctions and whatnot looking for old Schrades.
 
Don't forget Schradebay (known to the rest of the world as Ebay), and look in the sticky note at the top of this forum where members post finds. Ebay has over a thousand listings for SCHRADE at any given time, and prices there are not bad, usually below MSRP on the new stuff, some great deals on the used. Every Schrade knife that you lament can be found there and in every condition imaginable.

My favorite pattern, the 165OT has been a problem. No, there are thirty or so a month on there, but every time I buy one that looks like a rough user, get it in my hands and work on it, it looks good enough to go into the display with the mint ones. I am still working on getting enough rough ones to be rehandled in exotic woods, bone and mammoth ivory. Matching custom sets of Sharpfinger, Woodsman, Deerslayer, and Drop Point Hunter.

As you can tell, Schradeophilia is a serious condition. Welcome to the "UNCLE HENRY'S LOST SOULS" !!

Codger
 
As if I have not already said enough and then some, I thought I might add this. Several discussions in other forums mentioned the problem of a "first sharpening" of a new knife. Possibly the cutting edge was rehardened by excessive heat during the final factory grind, causing the initial sharpening to be overly difficult. And once the surface has been scored by agressive low heat hand sharpening, it takes an edge just fine. Just thought I would toss this out, but I prefer the idea of owning several of any pattern, as long as they are U.S.A. Schrades!

Codger
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top