Saw a Sharpfinger clone made by Outdoor Life at Kmart Today. It was in a display case so I didn't get a close look at it because there was nobody around to open the case. It said made in USA on the clampack. It had a leather sheath and full tang construction. So are these knives made by United Cutlery. Did I hear that Bear was making the USA knives?????
Outdoor Life Sharpfinger at Kmart
- Thread starter wing40
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Do a search on this forum. Codger did a real good review on this knife. Unfortunately, United Cutlery is belly up. They were making three Sharpfinger clones under four namebrands. The Outdoor Life Small Hunter model you mentioned; a Rigid version called the Bear Tooth Hunter; and a tactical looking knife which they marketed as the Black Foot Hunter under the Rigid nameplate and also marketed as the Roadrunner under the Harley Davidson name (kinda of a take off of the Schrade X-Timer prototype version of the Sharpfinger). Stainless steel on the United Knives is probably not the best, but, they are not $125.00 knives either. They were made in U.S.A. and United did a pretty decent job on them, IMHO. Camillus has been selling a U.S.A. produced 1095 carbon steel version of the Sharpfinger as part of their Gran'pa series (Model #GP152). Might be the closest U.S.A. new production knife to the original. However, Camillus is going through a financial reorganization. They say they plan to continue to produce their Sharpfinger clone in the U.S.A. out of 1095 carbon steel; but, I have put a couple of NIB's back just in case. Bear & Son Cutlery is making a U.S.A. produced Sharpfinger clone with several different handle materials including India Stag. They are using 420HC steel hardened to a Rockwell 56-58 (marginal steel - pretty good Rockwell IMHO). If you feel compelled to buy an Outdoor Life model you can do better than K-Mart, price wise. I bought the last three SMKW had @ $12.60 each plus shipping. There are places on the internet that you can get them for under $20.00. However, that said, you can pick up a used Schrade 152OT Sharpfinger for a user knife @ $15.00 - $25.00 plus shipping; NIB for around $40.00 or less plus shipping of you're patient. Then you would have a carbon steel blade and a real deal Schrade. Hope that helps and is not information overload or that I'm not preaching to the choir and you know all this already. This forum is loaded with posts on the original Schrade 152OT Sharpfingers and all the good, bad, and ugly clones and copies.
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Yes, I looked at those at my Local K-Mart. On the back of the packaging they say "Licensed by United Cutlery.