Shrade 165 How Good Are They

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FULMTALJKT

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Feb 25, 2006
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Question #2
I Have A Nice Shrade Walden #165 Knife That I Have Had For Approx 40 Years. It Has Never Been Used Just Sitting In A Trunk. How Good Is This Knife Quality Wise And How Would You Rate It For Survival / Woods Craft Type Work. Thanks
 
Ohhhh... what a question to ask! :D I've had mine about as long (ser. #04533) , and have been an avid outdoorsman and hunter for all of that time. After all this time, building shelters, skinning and butchering hundreds of deer and other game, it performs as well as it did when I first bought it. The only malfunction was in 1995 when the shield fell out of the handle and was lost. I mailed the knife back to Schrade, and they fixed it and returned it with a new replacement sheath. I collect these now, so I have well over a dozen spanning the production period of 1966-1991, as well as the Craftsman and Uncle Henry versions, and a few factory prototypes with hollow grinds. The fulltanged 1095HC bladestock is thick, so I've never broken one. I have on occasion seen one with the guard loose, and peening the pins tightens them right up.


The top one is the earliest about 1967-69. The next is still pre '73, and the bottom is from the early eighties.

Codger
 
Geez Mike, quit showing off...:)

Kidding, of course. As Codger has told you, they are a very tough production knife. He oughta know, you should see his obsession with fixed blade knives. It's not pretty...

IMO, they are a simply constructed, hard working, abuse taking knife. (Not that we condone knife abuse, that's immoral :D )

Mike, how well does the 1095HC stand up to moisture/corrosion, etc?

BTW, for more info on the 165, do a search. There have been many threads about it in the Schrade forum.

Glenn
 
I've never had a problem with the knife rusting, but I keep a good patina on it, and keep it oiled when not using it. I've carried it in all weather, and as long as it is not forgotten in a wet sheath, it has never rusted. If it did, I suppose I could wipe it with oily steel wool, wash it in really hot water, then reapply the patina, and give it a good oiling. I've had to do this to a few that I have acquired which were stored long term in their sheaths. The original crocus finish is seldom harmed. More of them are harmed by nimrods improperly using sharpening stones on them, scratching up the secondary grind. My original has been heavily used for years, but you can not tell that the edge has been reduced just by looking at it. Great wear characteristics, and another one of Henry Baer's great designs.

Of course any steel will stain or rust if not cared for, stainless is not stain proof. The second issue of the Uncle Henry 165UH is stainless, if you want it. I have one of the first issue 165UH (1969-70) in carbon steel, and the second issue (1994-1997) in stainless that belonged to a Texas pig hunter, and it cleaned up to an amazing semblence of it's mint state.

At the risk of causing myself competition in the knife market, I recommend that anyone with the least inclination to woods running buy a good used Woodsman 165OT, or 165UH Prospector.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352239&highlight=165OT

Codger
 
On that same note, sorta, what about an American made sharpfinger? Any good?
 
I happen to also collect the 152OT Sharpfingers. As with the 165OT Woodsman, my interest was sparked by being a long time user of the knife. Also as with the 165OT, the 152OT can be found in stainless. I've devoted quite a bit of time and energy to researching this pattern as well, and you can find the research paper on the Sharpfinger here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=365931&highlight=152OT+Research

This was Henry Baer's (Uncle Henry) favorite design. And one of the most sucessful. For many outdoorsmen, it has been their only knife for more than thirty five years. Such illustrious makers as Jerry Busse claimed it as their first EDC.



Initially produced in 1974 only in 1095 carbon steel (56-58RC), the Uncle Henry version stainless was added in 1982. Late in the production, carbon steel was elimiinated altogether as a cost saving measure, and they changed to a hollow ground blade. Schrade sold more than 60,000 of them in 2002 alone.



With such quantities made for so many years, finding a new mint knife like this is no problem. I bought this one a few weeks ago for less that twenty bucks. Some of the limited editions and special factory orders with exotic handle materials go fo more, but nearly always less than a hundred.

Codger
 
Ok Codger you made me do it. Purchase #1 is a 1502T (blade marked 152) brand new, made in USA. #2 is a Sharpfinger skinner, yet to arrive. I'll add to this in a week or two after I see how the knives perform.
 
the 152 OT (marked Schrade USA 152 ) is the Sharpfinger. Several dealers are calling the Taylor Chinese copies of the larger 15OT Deerslayer a sharpfinger skinner. Ask the seller!

 
OK Codger here is what I bought (for a song). A 1540T drop point. It appears to be an older used knife but it is in great shape.
 
I love my 1520T.

I have read that the 152 is the same knife, but in stainless.

Marc "Animal" MacYoung touts the Sharpfinger as the best low-profile EDC. Take that, overbuilt "tactical" knives!

In the same price range, I have a far, far bulkier Gerber Profile (sold at Wally World) that's pretty good once you sharpen it, and I have used the butt (I hesitate to call it a pommel) as a rock hammer. Also a nice little Bear and Son Feathermate with Zytel scales, designed by Blackie Collins. But my favorite all-around fixed-blade is the Sharpfinger. The design is so simple and brilliant.
 
2dogs said:
OK Codger here is what I bought (for a song). A 1540T drop point. It appears to be an older used knife but it is in great shape.
Click to expand...
The 154OT Drop Point Hunter was only made from 1976-88, so they are not nearly as common as the Sharpfingers. They are also great knives, 1095 carbon steel, and share the Sharpfinger sawcut delrin handle design. You can also occasionally find them in cream delrin with a buck deer scrimshaw imprint (1979). I have one in green delrin made for U.S. Tobacco with "SKOAL" shield and etch, and a black delrin one marked "Hunting" made in the early eighties for Peterson Publishing as a subscription promo. There was a guthook version too, the 158OT. I think you'll like your knife!

WeaselBites said:
I love my 1520T....I have read that the 152 is the same knife, but in stainless..
Click to expand...
No, the 152OT was not marked on the stamp with the OT designation, no idea why, since many Old Timer knives were. A 152UH is stainless (stag jigged delrin handles and Uncle Henry bomb shield). And in July of the year 2001 they made a running change to all stainless Sharpfingers, and changed the blade to hollow ground.
WeaselBites said:
...my favorite all-around fixed-blade is the Sharpfinger. The design is so simple and brilliant.
Click to expand...
I agree. Henry Baer had a good sense of ergonomic design before ergonomics became vogue. It is such a good design that it not only survived him, and his company, and is being made by several U.S. manufacturers still, and likely will be for some years to come.

Codger :thumbup:
 
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