Okay guys I hope everyone is having a great Saturday afternoon as I have a special treat for you.Today I will be doing a review on the Old Timer 152OT Sharpfinger by Schrade/Taylor Cutlery.But wait...it gets better!I'm going to compare it to the original Sharpfinger by Schrade USA.Flat out going any further I'm going to say 'I favor the original' because what I will point out leads to the fact of why the original model was better.So pull up a chair and light a cigarette...
*Handle Materials:
Taking it out of the box I do notice there's a color differential of black and tan instead of dark and light brown.It's not unattractive just different...kind of a flat color of dye used for the scales.The scales are still sawcut so this is nice.The scales I'm not convinced are real delrin.This knife feels lighter than my old Sharpfinger and if you tap on the scales...it sounds hollow.I'm leaning towards a basic nylon here and this makes a durability differential.Delrin is mostly a resin with a little plastic in it (for machining purposes) so it responds differently to damage.It dings and breaks off in small chips like a piece of resin impregnated wood except it's harder to put a split in it...excellent handle material on the original Schrade USA knives.Plastic simply will crack when it damages simple as that.And that's what's on the Taylor Cutlery version.
*Comfort:
Yes this part Taylor Cutlery still captivates through the thumb ramp and protection from slippage with the finger guard.
*Blade Steel:
To be honest I'm not too crazy about this Chinese comparative steel known as 7Cr17 Stainless which is supposed to be equivalent to 440A Stainless.The factory in China does put a good satin finish on the blade along with a decent edge.It's not equal to 440A remotely in edge retention.It's just so soft yet it was serviceable but slow sharpening.It won't dull if you cut a piece of rope but I'd definitely call it 'discount Chinese knife bin heat treated stainless'.52 to 54rc from my judgement.Doesn't reflect the quality of Schrade USA's Plus Steel and certainly far out of range from the edge retention of Old Timer's 1095 Carbon Tool Steel.1095 takes a super sharp edge from being an unalloyed steel and stays sharp for a really long time.Now that's the steel that made Old Timer so famous.You will not find a stainless steel that is simultaneously sharpens so quick and holds it's edge as long as 1095 Carbon Tool Steel.
*1095 Sounds Great but I like rust resistance...any rebuttals?
This coincides with the 'function' section of the review but I could suggest the re-handled Sharpfinger blades in Plus Steel (440A and 420HC).These were the leftover original blades from the Ellenville factory in stainless from limited editions,the Scrimshaw Series,and the last Sharpfingers that released in stainless steel not bearing the + symbol.These were also edged and heat treated at the Ellenville factory.The handle scales are in both black and brown wood scales that were riveted on in China to substitute the disposed of delrin scales.These have became quite rare but 4 or 5 years ago I was able to obtain a few on the bay for $35-$37 a pop.I wanted these for Schrade USA's good work on stainless steel,a rust resistant blade,and function of the original blades.
*Function:
The Taylor Cutlery model of the Sharpfinger was a stranger to me...there I said it.The blade has just been so drastically modified it doesn't reflect the original Sharpfinger in function.The Taylor Cutlery model has been given thicker blade stock without the spine shoulders ground all the way to the tip (unlike the original) but a hollow grind to produce a finer edge.Where differential in function kicks in is Taylor Cutlery's blade is 1/4" shorter yet has the same amount of edge as the original Sharpfinger.This is because the edge starts at completely different destinations between the two.For Schrade USA it was perfect-started parallel right at the point where the thumb rest ramps downward thus resulting in an upswept skinner entirely edge wise.The spot between the finger guard and where the actual cutting else starts is just grindwork to blend in with the look..an extension of the blade's reach.With Taylor's version of the Sharpfinger,the cutting edge starts right above the finger guard.So the result is a shorter blade with 1/4" less sweep with that 1/4" starting behind a higher rising thumb ramp.You can skin with it in shorter strokes so it works.But I have noticed in cleaning small game that thumb rest gets in the way when I go under the ribs to cut through them. It's just not efficiently designed as a game processing tool like the original model by Schrade USA obviously.Not at all in tune with the Sharpfinger I cleaned the rabbits with that we shot in our garden as a kid.
*Leather Sheath:
Hard to tell if it's real leather but it seems to be only treated differently.It does have a good stitch job and is designed just like the original model's sheath.Not the cross over button style that went over the fingerguard as when the Sharpfinger first came out.But the button strap around the handle.
Conclusion:
I'm a little behind in writing this review as I bought this Sharpfinger by Taylor Cutlery 3 years ago.I ended up chucking it and hanging on to the sheath.I still have my old one from 1989-1991 but had to have a back-up so I pursued for a well cared for Sharpfinger in 1095 Carbon Tool Steel.The 152OT by Taylor Cutlery isn't a functionless knife.But aside from cheap materials and questionable steel it just feels like a clip-point with big bump on it's back.Therefore lacking the sleekness of an actual clip-point blade.:jerkit:Not a recommend knife guys unless you get the original.Schrade USA knew what they were doing when they built this cozy little user knife.
*Handle Materials:
Taking it out of the box I do notice there's a color differential of black and tan instead of dark and light brown.It's not unattractive just different...kind of a flat color of dye used for the scales.The scales are still sawcut so this is nice.The scales I'm not convinced are real delrin.This knife feels lighter than my old Sharpfinger and if you tap on the scales...it sounds hollow.I'm leaning towards a basic nylon here and this makes a durability differential.Delrin is mostly a resin with a little plastic in it (for machining purposes) so it responds differently to damage.It dings and breaks off in small chips like a piece of resin impregnated wood except it's harder to put a split in it...excellent handle material on the original Schrade USA knives.Plastic simply will crack when it damages simple as that.And that's what's on the Taylor Cutlery version.
*Comfort:
Yes this part Taylor Cutlery still captivates through the thumb ramp and protection from slippage with the finger guard.
*Blade Steel:
To be honest I'm not too crazy about this Chinese comparative steel known as 7Cr17 Stainless which is supposed to be equivalent to 440A Stainless.The factory in China does put a good satin finish on the blade along with a decent edge.It's not equal to 440A remotely in edge retention.It's just so soft yet it was serviceable but slow sharpening.It won't dull if you cut a piece of rope but I'd definitely call it 'discount Chinese knife bin heat treated stainless'.52 to 54rc from my judgement.Doesn't reflect the quality of Schrade USA's Plus Steel and certainly far out of range from the edge retention of Old Timer's 1095 Carbon Tool Steel.1095 takes a super sharp edge from being an unalloyed steel and stays sharp for a really long time.Now that's the steel that made Old Timer so famous.You will not find a stainless steel that is simultaneously sharpens so quick and holds it's edge as long as 1095 Carbon Tool Steel.
*1095 Sounds Great but I like rust resistance...any rebuttals?
This coincides with the 'function' section of the review but I could suggest the re-handled Sharpfinger blades in Plus Steel (440A and 420HC).These were the leftover original blades from the Ellenville factory in stainless from limited editions,the Scrimshaw Series,and the last Sharpfingers that released in stainless steel not bearing the + symbol.These were also edged and heat treated at the Ellenville factory.The handle scales are in both black and brown wood scales that were riveted on in China to substitute the disposed of delrin scales.These have became quite rare but 4 or 5 years ago I was able to obtain a few on the bay for $35-$37 a pop.I wanted these for Schrade USA's good work on stainless steel,a rust resistant blade,and function of the original blades.
*Function:
The Taylor Cutlery model of the Sharpfinger was a stranger to me...there I said it.The blade has just been so drastically modified it doesn't reflect the original Sharpfinger in function.The Taylor Cutlery model has been given thicker blade stock without the spine shoulders ground all the way to the tip (unlike the original) but a hollow grind to produce a finer edge.Where differential in function kicks in is Taylor Cutlery's blade is 1/4" shorter yet has the same amount of edge as the original Sharpfinger.This is because the edge starts at completely different destinations between the two.For Schrade USA it was perfect-started parallel right at the point where the thumb rest ramps downward thus resulting in an upswept skinner entirely edge wise.The spot between the finger guard and where the actual cutting else starts is just grindwork to blend in with the look..an extension of the blade's reach.With Taylor's version of the Sharpfinger,the cutting edge starts right above the finger guard.So the result is a shorter blade with 1/4" less sweep with that 1/4" starting behind a higher rising thumb ramp.You can skin with it in shorter strokes so it works.But I have noticed in cleaning small game that thumb rest gets in the way when I go under the ribs to cut through them. It's just not efficiently designed as a game processing tool like the original model by Schrade USA obviously.Not at all in tune with the Sharpfinger I cleaned the rabbits with that we shot in our garden as a kid.
*Leather Sheath:
Hard to tell if it's real leather but it seems to be only treated differently.It does have a good stitch job and is designed just like the original model's sheath.Not the cross over button style that went over the fingerguard as when the Sharpfinger first came out.But the button strap around the handle.
Conclusion:
I'm a little behind in writing this review as I bought this Sharpfinger by Taylor Cutlery 3 years ago.I ended up chucking it and hanging on to the sheath.I still have my old one from 1989-1991 but had to have a back-up so I pursued for a well cared for Sharpfinger in 1095 Carbon Tool Steel.The 152OT by Taylor Cutlery isn't a functionless knife.But aside from cheap materials and questionable steel it just feels like a clip-point with big bump on it's back.Therefore lacking the sleekness of an actual clip-point blade.:jerkit:Not a recommend knife guys unless you get the original.Schrade USA knew what they were doing when they built this cozy little user knife.
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