Fishing knife suggestions?

[VTguy17]

Good to know thanks. For me though it would probably just stay in the kitchen drawer at home and be used to fillet small to medium fish when I got home. Thanks for the info codger and the sheath offer I will let you know!

 

[Coldwood]

Yup, back in the day when I first joined BF, Codger schooled me on the joys and beauty of the Schrade Sharpfinger and how to buy them. I got two nice "real" ones on fleabay. They're a light compact design for a belt knife and very useful in the kitchen or the field. It's a "classic" design, there are a lot of imitations out there, but Schrades are the real deal. Now that everybody in my neighborhood has wild hog hunting fever, I may get to use my Sharpfinger someday to skin a pig.

When I was a kid, I used whatever pocketknife I had at the time to fillet a fish, as long as the blade was good and sharp.

 

[Codger_64]

I will mention that after Schrade went bankrupt in July of 2004, Camillus picked up the pattern and began making them. But since Camillus itself closed in February of 2007, they only had less than two years to produce them. Schrade produced them for thirty years, so the Camillus version is much more uncommon. They are also carbon steel and it takes a second look to see that it isn't the Schrade Sharpfinger. The one in the preceeding picture on the deer ham is, in fact, a Camillus GP152 "Gran'Pa" skinner.

 

[Ebbtide]

Sharpfinger & the tiny Buck FB (105?) were my "go to" knives before I discovered the internet.
Oh and my KaBar FishPick... can't forget that one.

Pre-Internet fishing knives

 

[Will]

I will mention that after Schrade went bankrupt in July of 2004, Camillus picked up the pattern and began making them. But since Camillus itself closed in February of 2007, they only had less than two years to produce them. Schrade produced them for thirty years, so the Camillus version is much more uncommon. They are also carbon steel and it takes a second look to see that it isn't the Schrade Sharpfinger. The one in the preceeding picture on the deer ham is, in fact, a Camillus GP152 "Gran'Pa" skinner.

I see a lot of the "USA-made" Sharpfingers on ebay with "Schrade+ stainless steel". What is the carbon steel?

 

[Codger_64]

Most of the ones you are seeing right now with pakawood handles were pallets of blanks that were sent overseas to be finished recently. They are Schrade 400 series stainless, ground by whom, handled by whom. Schrade did begin making them from stainless circa 2002.

Here is one I just bought that is 1095HC (rh 56-59) carbon steel. I'm not sure yet, but I believe it is pre-1984.

And another that I just bought that was made circa 1977 for Guns & Ammo magazine.

 

[VTguy17]

Where are you finding these codger? I'd like to get one made and finished in the US with 1095 as well.

 

[Codger_64]

I mostly get them from eBay. Through PM or email, I can try to help verify your finds for you. I suppose I would be considered one of the foremost "experts" on this pattern. There is still a lot I don't know about them, but I am still researching and learning. I have about two dozen of them from different production periods and special factory orders or limited editions. Once you know what engineering changes (inconsequential to function) to look for, it is pretty easy to tell the real ones from the recent ones and the carbon steel ones from the stainless ones.

 

[CCMI]

Most of the ones you are seeing right now with pakawood handles were pallets of blanks that were sent overseas to be finished recently. They are Schrade 400 series stainless, ground by whom, handled by whom.

So what are your thoughts on these newly finished blanks? Are they any better than the new Sharpfingers in the local retail store?

The ones I'm seeing on fleabay are stamped 152OT, which from what I gather should be the high carbon steel model... although the listing does state that "Tang Stamps may vary from the pictures" so maybe it's a little clever/ misleading advertising.

 

[Codger_64]

I haven't and won't buy one of those. From what I have seen though, they are a mixed bag and may or may not be carbon. Schrade made a running change to stainless on this pattern circa 2002. The blanks would not be stamped 152OT as the "OT" designator was not used on this pattern. Also, most of the later limited editions and Scrimshaw knives were stainless.

Were they heat treated by Schrade? Some were and some weren't? Did the grinder/assembler heat treat them? If they did, were they also cryo-treated? That was the "secret" behind the Schrade process that made their stainless "SCHRADE+" stainless. I have a few blanks from the 2004 bankruptcy auction and some are heat treated and some are not.

I guess it is a matter of "you pays you money and rolls the dice". Way back in '05 I fell for the copycat packaging that TBLLC used on their first imports and "oopsed" one of their Sharpfingers. I examined it and relegated it to my "drawer of shame", so I can't tell you how well they work or if the F&F of the product has improved over the last six years. They can be had for about $20 NIB if that floats your boat.

Given the choice, I would rather buy an original made in Ellenville New York by Imperial Schrade pre July 2004 example (even a used one from a flea market or pawn shop) than either an aftermarket finished blank or the TBLLC knife. Failing that, other manufacturers made them for a while and they are decent renditions, if not exact copies (such as the Camillus version I mentioned and showed previously). I believe the Bear & Son version to be a good knife and they are generaly available. I have read that the Robert Klass knives were made by Camillus, but cannot currently prove it.

Over the years I also bought a smattering of the el-cheapo knockoffs to compare them such as the ones produced by United Cutlery (Harley Davidson, Outdoor Life) and whoever made the Pakistani junk. The United knives weren't horrible in F&F but I can't tell you how well they hold up in use. Even the Winchester branded one (Carolina Knife & Tool?) was a good buy at $8 just to get the well made cordura sheath that fits the original knives.

The brand and pattern I know, how well someone else rendered the pattern is generally a crapshoot.

 

[GRIM 62]

Ebbtide,That little fixed blade Buck is a 102 Woodsman.

 

[PayetteRucker]

A Mora 840 is usually my go-to blade for cleaning on high mountain lake trips (plenty good at slicing to do a clean job and is useful for other tasks), and whatever is sharp, pointy and handy in my apartment. If I were going for style, maybe a RosArms like these
http://rosarmsusa.com/knives/Fishing/fishing.html, and if I were on a lake or sea vessel, a CRKT MUK.

Guess I used a Svord on that trip. Once you get the rhythm down the unzipping goes fast. You'll like fishing, there's a direct correlation between your effort and your reward, and what reward is better than a full belly and man toys that were actually constructive?

 

[Mack]

Thanks for posting the pics of the Guns and Ammo version Codger. John of JK Knives was telling me about those yesterday and I had never seen one.

 

[August West]

I also have been using a sharpfinger since pretty close to when they came out and agree with everything codger has said, it is one of my all time favorites and still a go to. When dressing game you do have to be careful with that super pointy tip, it is real easy to cut something that shouldn't be cut. Chris

 

[Codger_64]

Excuse me. I have to go out and skin another deer. A friend brought me another one yesterday evening and I need to get-r-done and into the freezer. I expect a few more to come in today and I only have the one gambrel. Yes, the go-to will be the Sharpfinger again, this time the Schrade c. 1974. I finally located it in my box of Sharpfingers. The Camillus Gran'pa gets to rest today.

Mack, the G&A knife is the same as the production one except for black scales instead of brown dyed cream ones, the "Guns & Ammo" shield and a custom tang stamp. There were 20,000 of them made for the Peterson Publishing subscription promo, so you can find one if that is what you would like.

 

[Codger_64]

Done.

I also have been using a sharpfinger since pretty close to when they came out and agree with everything codger has said, it is one of my all time favorites and still a go to. When dressing game you do have to be careful with that super pointy tip, it is real easy to cut something that shouldn't be cut. Chris

Yes, I agree that the acute piercing tip has to be watched. The deer I just butchered had some ruined spots that I had to carve out using both the belly of the blade and the tip. And the tip comes in quite handy for making the skinning cuts, held inverted so that you are cutting from the inside out. That loosens the least hair which makes the later processing that much easier. In fact, while it seldom happens, I prefer that my friends bring me their deer whole and let me do all the cuts for this reason. If one cuts from brisket to crotch from the outside in, it loosens all manner of hair.

The tip is also quite useful for working in between joints like severing the knees and hip sockets, as well as getting the most meat from the backstraps off of the spinal column. You just have to remember that it is a cutting edge, not a prying edge or you'll tip the blade. I don't use a saw. I hate bone dust in the meat almost as much as hair.

 

[Mack]

Excuse me. I have to go out and skin another deer. A friend brought me another one yesterday evening and I need to get-r-done and into the freezer. I expect a few more to come in today and I only have the one gambrel. Yes, the go-to will be the Sharpfinger again, this time the Schrade c. 1974. I finally located it in my box of Sharpfingers. The Camillus Gran'pa gets to rest today.

Mack, the G&A knife is the same as the production one except for black scales instead of brown dyed cream ones, the "Guns & Ammo" shield and a custom tang stamp. There were 20,000 of them made for the Peterson Publishing subscription promo, so you can find one if that is what you would like.

Thanks, I'll keep my eyes open. I sure appreciate all of the information.

 

[BRAINESTORM]

Guess I am spoiled with Cutco fishing ,I think it was #1769 all serrated and does my pan fish several hundred perch and 50 walleye and some trout ..Tough on the money ,,but lifetime and I used it all summer and its still nasty sharp ,,As well dress skinned and deboned 3 deer with it so far ,,not sharpened again.. You just send it in and they resharpen free,, And replace it if damaged free..

 

[CCMI]

Thanks for the info Codger, that's exactly what I wanted to know. I almost bought one while reading this thread, but will hold out for the real deal if I do get one.

Guess I am spoiled with Cutco fishing ,I think it was #1769 all serrated and does my pan fish several hundred perch and 50 walleye and some trout ..Tough on the money ,,but lifetime and I used it all summer and its still nasty sharp ,,As well dress skinned and deboned 3 deer with it so far ,,not sharpened again.. You just send it in and they resharpen free,, And replace it if damaged free..

What does one of those run $-wise?

 

[Codger_64]

Thanks for the info Codger, that's exactly what I wanted to know. I almost bought one while reading this thread, but will hold out for the real deal if I do get one...

You're welcome. I've bought three originals (two were SFOs) since the first of the year (my Christmas presents to me) and they have all been less than $50 each with a low of $30, all new or as-new with sheaths.