Codger_64
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- Oct 8, 2004
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I just received another Sharpfinger clone in the mail. As with the other Sharpfinger copies and clones Ive found, I am going to review it in a side by side comparison with the Schrade Sharpfinger.
This knife, the Winchester G9447 is imported and marketed by Carolina Knife and Tool of Portland, Oregon, and according to the box, made in China. There is no warranty paper in the box, nor a warranty statement printed on the box. The Winchester logo text and horseman appears in prominently four places on the woodgrain motif box ( a registered trademark of the Olin Corporation used with permission as stated on the box in micro-text). The importer/distributors name is on the back in text 1/16" tall with the country of origin in likewise tiny text.
The knifes blade has the general outline of a Schrade Sharpfinger. And the handle design resembles the United Rigid/Harley knife well enough in photos to fool me into thinking they were the same knifecritter. They arent. As stated, this is a Chinese import from CK&T which is, if I remember correctly, a Gerber/Fiskar company.
The blade itself is hollow ground, black coated metal. Some of the hollow secondary grind lines show through the paint near the choil. What the paint is, I haven't a clue. The final grind is not bad, fairly even from side to side, and with only two catches when drawn over the thumbnail. Since there is no included paperwork, and no listing on the box just what the metal is, it is anyones guess.
There was no attempt to tangstamp the knife with model number, manufacturer, or importer names. The only identifier on the knife is the Winchester logo etched onto an oblong Old Timer shaped silver toned metal shield (also of unknown material) set into the left handle cover. The two black sawcut textured plastic (also of unknown composition) covers are secured with two black torx head screws set flush with the covers. The plastic is semi-rigid like delrin, but soft enough to mar the surface with your thumbnail. The three fingergrooves on the bottom of the handle do not evenly follow the contour of the tang, so that the amount of metal exposed varies. Overall, it does provide a fairly comfortable grip, but prevents one from adjusting their hold foreward for delicate work, a feature the tapered Old Timer handle excelled at.
The sheath is not a genuine leather item, top grain cowhide or naugahide or reconstituted leather. Rather it is a stitched ballistic nylon affair, and fairly well made. It follows the contours of the leather original closely with the exception of the handle retainer strap location, one inch above the sheath throat instead of 3/8" above on the original leather one. This location was determined by the location of the center finger groove on the knife handle. With a bit of work stretching the strap, the sheath works with the Schrade Sharpfinger. The Winchester also fits in the stock Schrade sheath, though the modernistic black handle looks out of place there in the russett leather. I may use the nylon sheath with one of the Peterson Publishing promo knives I have, the black delrin 152 Guns & Ammo. Id need to cut off the one inch by two inch Winchester logo label from the sheath front first, but it might be worth the effort. The knife itself is destined for the box where all the other Chinese Schrades have gone to rest.
Overall, Id say save your ten bucks unless you just want to get one of the sheaths to try. At half the cost of a good used Sharpfinger, it is less than half the knife in my opinion.
I still have to snag a Rigid branded rendition from United to complete the review of the US production Sharpfingers clones.
Codger
This knife, the Winchester G9447 is imported and marketed by Carolina Knife and Tool of Portland, Oregon, and according to the box, made in China. There is no warranty paper in the box, nor a warranty statement printed on the box. The Winchester logo text and horseman appears in prominently four places on the woodgrain motif box ( a registered trademark of the Olin Corporation used with permission as stated on the box in micro-text). The importer/distributors name is on the back in text 1/16" tall with the country of origin in likewise tiny text.
The knifes blade has the general outline of a Schrade Sharpfinger. And the handle design resembles the United Rigid/Harley knife well enough in photos to fool me into thinking they were the same knifecritter. They arent. As stated, this is a Chinese import from CK&T which is, if I remember correctly, a Gerber/Fiskar company.
The blade itself is hollow ground, black coated metal. Some of the hollow secondary grind lines show through the paint near the choil. What the paint is, I haven't a clue. The final grind is not bad, fairly even from side to side, and with only two catches when drawn over the thumbnail. Since there is no included paperwork, and no listing on the box just what the metal is, it is anyones guess.
There was no attempt to tangstamp the knife with model number, manufacturer, or importer names. The only identifier on the knife is the Winchester logo etched onto an oblong Old Timer shaped silver toned metal shield (also of unknown material) set into the left handle cover. The two black sawcut textured plastic (also of unknown composition) covers are secured with two black torx head screws set flush with the covers. The plastic is semi-rigid like delrin, but soft enough to mar the surface with your thumbnail. The three fingergrooves on the bottom of the handle do not evenly follow the contour of the tang, so that the amount of metal exposed varies. Overall, it does provide a fairly comfortable grip, but prevents one from adjusting their hold foreward for delicate work, a feature the tapered Old Timer handle excelled at.
The sheath is not a genuine leather item, top grain cowhide or naugahide or reconstituted leather. Rather it is a stitched ballistic nylon affair, and fairly well made. It follows the contours of the leather original closely with the exception of the handle retainer strap location, one inch above the sheath throat instead of 3/8" above on the original leather one. This location was determined by the location of the center finger groove on the knife handle. With a bit of work stretching the strap, the sheath works with the Schrade Sharpfinger. The Winchester also fits in the stock Schrade sheath, though the modernistic black handle looks out of place there in the russett leather. I may use the nylon sheath with one of the Peterson Publishing promo knives I have, the black delrin 152 Guns & Ammo. Id need to cut off the one inch by two inch Winchester logo label from the sheath front first, but it might be worth the effort. The knife itself is destined for the box where all the other Chinese Schrades have gone to rest.
Overall, Id say save your ten bucks unless you just want to get one of the sheaths to try. At half the cost of a good used Sharpfinger, it is less than half the knife in my opinion.
I still have to snag a Rigid branded rendition from United to complete the review of the US production Sharpfingers clones.
Codger