For Cliff Stamp

[collecter]

Hi Cliff, I enjoy reading your reviews and find them very informative and useful in preventing me from buying lesser performing knives.

Have you seen the new Sharpfinger from Camillus? They are calling it the Sharp Hunter. From the photo on their website, it appears they may have improved the grind on the blade. My Schrade has about a 3/4" dead spot near the choil that just cannot be sharpened well enough for good cutting.

Despite the dead spot on the blade I find my Sharpfinger to be the most controlable hunting knife I have ever handled. I've considered making my own to the same pattern but ground differently, but now that I see Camillus making it, I like to give it a try.

Do you have any experience/advice on Camillus's new Sharp Hunter?

Thanks,
Collecter

 

[Cliff Stamp]

My Schrade has about a 3/4" dead spot near the choil that just cannot be sharpened well enough for good cutting.

Many cheaper knives are like this, the edge grind thickens massively towards the bottom of the handle. On many I have reground I had to spend as much time thinning the last inch as I did the entire rest of the blade.

I have not used the Hunter from Camillus, but assuming it is ground like the pictures, it looks like the edge is uniform right down to the choil. I used one from Schrade, lovely small utility knife and worked really nice on salt water trout.

Gave it to a friend who was using it on salmon last I checked. The blade has a deep patina, but it works wonderfully well and its performance matches its name almost perfectly.

I would consider gifting yourself with to a custom version in S90V, 1095 or M2 at near full hard with a minimal edge profile and a light full hollow or flat grind. This will likely raise the cutting ability and edge retention.

Of course 1095 at ~58 HRC isn't poor in this area to begin with, and the SharpFinger already cuts well, but once you find a design that you really like, why not take it that much further.

-Cliff

 

[collecter]

Instead of paying a custom maker I'd rather make it myself. I'm extremely critical of blade grind symmetry and everything else being perfect...I'd be a terrible client!

I guess I'll buy this Camillus version and see how it is.

I can see myself making one or several, I like the design that much!

Thanks for your advice,
Collecter