Sharp news from 1975

I thought it was. And it shows a detail that most people miss. A key to being sure you are buying an early 1095HC Sharpfinger. Did you spot it?

Codger

Here is one a little bit later.
 
Looks like the older version comes with a lanyard...also known as a ...








THONG

Please understand that our own textoothpk may have cornered the market on thongs...but, that's before he moved and all. :eek: :D

Bill
 
Still have my collection of 'official Loveless/Schrade thongs'. Someday those puppies are gonna make me a HUGE amount of money. I was gonna include one with each 'forum' knife until I realized how valuable they would be in the future. Sorry about that.

Phil
edited to add: Seriously, thanks for the pics, Mike. I've copied them into my Schrade Folder.
 
Bob Loveless, of course, is the desighner for the Schrade Loveless knives. Along with Thomas Lamb, Who desighned the grip. Known as the Loveless-Lamb.. But no one gives poor o'l Finger for the Little Finger, There was a full sized one as well. Yep! There really was a Finger. L.C. Finger. One of the very first colaberations. But for some reason, He is never mentioned. Bob is ofter mentioned as being the first with a factory colab. But L>C. was just a couple of years ahead. Have one of the original Loveless Schrades. Well used unfortunatly. M. Lovett http://home.earthlink.net/~michaellovett/
 
Welcome to the Schrade Knives Collectors Forum Michael! There is nothing unfortunate about a well used knife, in my opinion. Even if it was made by a talented maker such as Loveless or yourself. When all is said and done, when all the ooohhhs and ahhhs are over with, a knife is a tool, and I think Bob would agree with this. As would George Schrade, the Baer brothers, and most of the cutlers who ever made a knife.

I hope you will pop in here regularly. Maybe you can tell us a bit about your Finger.

Yes, the thongs were included early on, and then discontinued, but it is the style of the sheath I was refering to. That style of keeper strap which is attached inside the sheath and wraps over the choil was replaced by the now familiar handle strap version because, like the similar strap on the early 15OT sheaths, it was subject to being cut by users inserting and withdrawing the blade from the sheath. Replacement sheaths of this style are difficult to find in good condition.

Just a bit of "Finger" trivia for ya!

Codger
 
For those who didn't understand my reference to "seeking a 1095HC Sharpfinger", here is a quote from a post by a former Schrade employee last fall:

UH Fan said:
...... Actually, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is very possible that the blade of your 152OT could actually be stainless. Because of difficulty with their steel suppliers in supplies and soaring prices, and the demand by stores like Walmart to keep prices down, Schrade did (I believe around 1997, if I remember correctly) begin to do a running transformation from carbon to stainless. Unfortunately, they did this hoping that if the tang stamps were not changed, no one would notice. Being in direct contact with knife enthusiasts on a daily basis, I did advise them that people would definitely know, and that they were making a big mistake. They did not feel that it would be a problem, and I was left "holding the bag", when people would return their "high carbon steel" knives because they were stainless.

This was all very unfortunate and just another of the poor business decisions that contributed to the final downfall of the Company. Quite honestly though, I knew they had switched over a lot of folders, but I was not aware that they had begun doing it with rigid blades. I guess I'm not surprised though, because they knew that if I did know, I would stick my two cents in. Sorry I don't have better news, but I have to tell you that I am disappointed also, because the 152 was always one of my favorites. My only suggestion is, if at all possible, try to locate those knives made prior to the late 1990's, because those will be made as marked. Unfortunately, it is tough to tell by just looking at them. Debbie
Click to expand...

Thus my hint for finding a carbon steel blade if that is your preference. Also, the brown woodgrain box might be a clue if you do find one NIB. We have not pinned down box design dates, but I believe the woodgrain box came first, then some of the tan boxes predate the steel change, the next ones, the blue striped boxes came out in 2001. Then the blue/gray flag box. Not sure on those dates yet.

Codger (a trivial old timer, as always)
 
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