lunumbra said:
On another post, Codger, suggested I look into getting, what else, a Sharpfinger. Well, I'm taking his advice, and I've got some questions. Forgive me if these have been covered else-where, I am a beginner at Schrade knives.
Beware of anyone who claims to be an eggspurt! We, here in the forum, have done varying amounts of research, and it never fails that new details surface just when we think we have the production of this pattern pegged.
lunumbra said:
What is the difference between the Old Timer and Old Henry lines? I have from a untrustworthy source that the Old Henry line is of higher quality, true?
The Old Timer and Uncle Henry lines both are quality knives. The Uncle Henry line has slightly fancier handle scales, and Schrade+ stainless blades, wheeras historically, the Old Timer line used high carbon 1095HC cutlery steel. Now this, we have found, is not always a hard and fast rule, as Schrade began a running changeover to all stainless in the late '90's. The Old Times scales are usually brown sawcut textured delrin, resembeling burnt bone. The Uncle Henry scales usually are "Staglon" delrin, colored and textured to resemble genuine stag. Most, but not all of the Old Timers have a counterpart in the UH line. Most, but not all of the Uncle Henry line have counterparts in the Old Timer line.
lunumbra said:
There are two knives very similiar to the 152. The 150, which is larger, and another one called 502cr? (That designation may not be exactly right.) I can not tell the difference between the 152 and the 502, can anyone explain this?
The Sharpfinger, 152OT, is the base knife pattern for several variants. The 15 OT (note it is a 15, not 150 T!) Deerslayer is a predecessor patented by Henry Baer (early '60's), and the inspiration for the smaller 152OT Sharpfinger. Varients such as the scrimshaw line had normally white delrin handles with artistic imprints designed by Frank Georgianni beginning in 1976, and used pattern numbers 502SC, 205SC. Several other varients exist, including ones with Uncle Henry Staglon scales, genuine stag scales, bone, wood and ...er...uh... well, it has always been a popular pattern and has been used for many special issues and privite special orders like the ducks unlimited, and the Master Mechanic MM152, and a stainless Old Timer the 512OT
lunumbra said:
I've browsed a couple of threads here, before I starting writing this, and there doesn't seem to be any hard bias against any of the steels the Schrade used. I do detect that the early carbon blades are a slight favorite. Earlier Codger gave us some clues that might lead me to a carbon blade. One piece of data I don't have - What would the early boxes, the one containing a carbon blade, look like?
The surest way to get a carbon blade, if that is your preference, is to get one still in it's woodgrained box. FIrst the slip-top, then the fold down. Most of the tan boxed knives are carbon steel, but not all. They did begin making stainless blades somewhere around 1997. Unboxed knives are cheaper and easier to find. Some small pepper spots on the exposed tang, a seriffed "1" in the 152 stamp, and an original sheath with a choil keeper strap instead of the later handle keeper strap are also pretty positive clues. The Scrimshaw knives are usually carbon steel as well. The knife linked in the beginning of this thread is a carbon steel first production years.
That said, there is nothing wrong with the stainless versions, and many people do prefer them. The worst that happens if you buy a Sharpfinger that is stainless and you seek carbon is that you have to get another one. Kinda like potato chips!
lunumbra said:
Thanx, it has been a pleasure browsing around here. Folks have shown a knowledge and passion.
Lunumbra
You are quite welcome.
Codger