Chaps my behind

[Okiecruffler]

I've been out of hunting big game for many years, but decided to pick up the habit again. But my trusty Old Timer SharpFinger has long since been given away, so I went to replace it only to find that OldTimers/Shrades are now made in....CHINA! Just when did this happen and why wasn't I informed?

 

[Rupestris]

Happened in 2004 when Schrade folded and Taylor bought all the rights.

We didn't tell you because we are trying to gather up all the old USA made Schrades for ourselves .

BTW, Camillus also went under along with their Western and Becker Knife and Tool lines.

Becker is being picked up by KaBar if I'm not mistaken and should be reintroduced later this year.

Best suggestion is to ebay, flea markets and G&K shows or post a "Wanted" ad over at Bladeforums.com.

HTH
Chris

 

[Okiecruffler]

I checked Ebite, old worn out pieces going for 3X origianal. Gonna hit a few flea markets this weekend and hope for the best. Should have never gotten rid of the old gut nipper.

 

[Todd A]

Which model are you looking for? The 152ot Sharpfinger generally goes for $20-$30 in very good shape. $30-$45 range for "new" with box on eBay.

The 156ot "Lit'l finger" generally will go for $40 plus with lots of bidders.

Of course it seems Old Timer models go in spurts,what is hot bidding one week will barely get any bites the next.

Good luck on your search.

 

[hso]

why wasn't I informed?

Didn't you get the memo?

Long established American knife companies have folded up like card tables over the past few years. Not only is Schrade gone, but Camillus has passed as well. Even a new company like United that was starting to manufacture in the US is gone.

New incarnations under the old trusted names offer knives that may look like the ones you've been carrying for decades, but are now made in China.

 

[Cougfan2]

Is Case still made in the U.S.?

 

[Rupestris]

Is Case still made in the U.S.?

Yes it is.

Some Buck knives are still US made as well.

Others that offer classic slipjoints are:
Great Eastern Cutlery
Queen
Northwood
Canal Street
Schatt & Morgan
A.G. Russell
Rigid

 

[TrapperReady]

Okiecruffler -

Send me a PM with your mailing address and I'll send you a very lightly used USA-made Sharpfinger. For free.

I picked it up for almost nothing a while back when a local hardware store was closing out some display knives. It's a decent knife, but I've got plenty of others. I'd rather give it to you and see it used then let it sit on a shelf around here.

Anyone who works in a PICU deserves a little payback once in a while!

 

[Rupestris]

Darn nice of you Trapper Ready!

The generosity of the gun and knife crowd never ceases to amaze me.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Imperial Shrade products, including the Old Timers, started going down the tube in around 2001. I would not spend much at all on a new Buck, Gerber, or Schrade made since 2000. I wouldn't say junk, but not too far away. Too much pressure from cheap overseas labor-using makers. Even Benchmade had to cave to a certain extent, and offer the black boxes and red boxes, with the black being premium-priced American made, and red boxed Benchmades made in I believe the Philippines. Same knife quality, lower price.

That's one reason I buy Kershaws a lot - my understanding is they're still American made. And well-made at that.

I believe the memo was sent to your house, but you thought it was Ed McMahon saying that you won the sweepstakes, so you trashed it.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Buck - USA

Some Buck knives are still US made as well.

Actually, quite a few Buck designs are made stateside, at their factory in Idaho, about 8 miles from my house.

I go over to the factory every few weeks and browse their little retail outlet to see what's new. There's always stuff there that I haven't seen on the shelves anywhere.

Their old standbys, the 110, 112, 119, 102, 105, 301, and so on are all still made right here. Their newer patterns, like the 297 and 298 (Sirus) are also made here. Their line of kitchen knives . . . right here.

There are import versions of several models. For example, the Stockman and Cadet are made here, but there's a wood-handled import version. Most of their Mayo designs are made here, but some are imports.

They still honor their lifetime warranty. I've actually watched as an older gentleman brought in an old beat-up 112, thinking he would pay to have it serviced. They swapped it out with a smile. Of course he then went next door to the retail shoppe and blew $300 on other product.

Mostly, I buy the USA Bucks, but I have a couple of their imports with which I'm quite pleased.

I will say that, for the most part, the fit and finish of Case is superior to that of Buck, but take a Buck 298 and line it up with its Kershaw equivalent. I think you'll be impressed. And then do what I did: buy both.

Hey, it's easier than trying to choose between them.

 

[hso]

Premium Sauces,

What makes you think that all Kershaws are made in the US? Only those with the "Made in the USA" caption on their website are made here.

 

[Fat_46]

Premium Sauces,

From the Kershaw website:

Kershaw products are made in the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Sweden and China as indicated on the product.

 

[The Tourist]

Send me a PM with your mailing address and I'll send you a very lightly used USA-made Sharpfinger. For free.

That is the spirit of a true gentleman on The High Road.

I'll sharpen it for free.

 

[TrapperReady]

I just want to make sure that people notice the reason why Okicruffler is missing his in the first place...

But my trusty Old Timer SharpFinger has long since been given away

There are a lot of folks on this board who step up and help each other. I'm just glad that I've got something that might be useful to another member.

BTW, Okiecruffler, from what I've seen, I'd take Tourist up on his offer if I were you. Then again, you might have to rename the knife "Sharpestfinger". It'd be a piece of cake to send it to him first.

 

[The Tourist]

help each other

Truth be told, one of the reasons I hang around with gun and knife people is this very sense of community.

I don't know how many of you are members of KnifeForums, but there is a section there called "Keeping Sharp." It's the hang-out of most professional "tinkers" as sharpeners are called.

About a month ago, one of our members got caught under a car, and had to use his neck knife to cut himself free. His arm was damaged in the accident, and his custom knife lost.

Not only did the members replace his knife, but they also offered to do his commercial sharpening to bring money in during his recuperation. Knowing the financial situation, our tool distributor shipped him a free box of supplies.

Now get this. Most of us have never met him. He's just a fellow tinker with bills to pay, and we could help.

 

[sm]

This is what it is all about.

*smile*

Steve

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Uh, Yeah . . .

Indeed it is.

 

[Okiecruffler]

Trapper, you are a scholar and a gentleman. I have to pass this story along to those of you who believe in karma, kismit or what have you.

I once knew a young man, he would come over and watch me reload in the garage. A quiet, respectful fellow. Over the months I got to know a great deal about him. His mother was a CNA working in a nursing home, long hours for little pay and even less respect. His father had been military. Died not in battle, but when a drunk hit him head on. Family lived in Washington state. I spoke with his mother, nice lady who wasn't apposed to a little range time for her son. Saftey lesson was taught and we spent a day burning a brick of 22 ammo thru a Marlin mod60. Several more range trips followed. Boy took a liking to my old lever 30-30. Christmas that year the mod 60 became his. By spring he had a plan to mow yards for money so he could buy his own 30-30. Only problem was, he didn't have a lawn mower. I had a mower and a lawn, but not the desire to keep them aquainted with each other. A deal was struck. I got my yard mowed for the summer and a boy got his very own, tho slightly used, 30-30. Mom met another military fella that summer and they hit it off. A bright young man who's family owned a nice farm to deer hunt on. That year the boy was going with him for his first deer hunt, but needed a good knife. I had the gutnipper, and wasn't using it anyway.
I'd like to tell you how he went and got a 12 point buck with that old 30-30. I'd even settle for telling you how he got his first spike. But that would be a magazine ending and reality often falls short. What he did get to do was spend a few days camping in the woods with the man who would become his step-daddy and that may just be better than a 12 point buck.
I tell you this story, because today my wife came home from the market and asked if I knew who she saw at the market. The young man is now a high school graduate, and soon to enter the Army. She gave him our new address and I'm sure he'll drop in. Sometimes God reminds you why you're here. And maybe today I'm here just to share this story. And if you've put up with me for this long of a post, maybe it'll touch you just enough so that you spend a little time with that lonely kid who keeps walking past your garage tomorrow. And then you'll have your story to share. Because in the end, all you'll have left are the stories.

 

[sm]

Okiecruffler,

Thank you for sharing my friend.

To keep it - give it away.

Steve

 

[sixgunner455]

Stuff is just stuff. Some of it's nice, but in the end, it's just stuff.

People and memories are all you can keep forever.

 

[hso]

Okiecruffler,

Nicely done and well said.

 

[bannockburn]

Okiecruffler

A wonderful story, expertly told. And in the end, all we really have to show for our time here are our memories. Thank you for sharing one of yours.

 

[eliphalet]

Well told Okiecruffer

I tend to think Okiecruffler and the like get as much out of the deal so to say, as the kid or youngin that gets the item. When I was young it was a rare occasion to "give" something away, but I have a few things that someone "gave" me that are worth to me many times what it would cost to replace them. The older I get the more I "give" a young guy or kid something. I dunno but think that many times I get as much or perhaps more out of the deal as the youngin. I also believe this is a fairly common thing we do as we age.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I work with kids for a very selfish reason. It's the only thing I do that makes me feel like maybe I'm a little better than I think I am. And besides, if , God forbid, anything ever happened to me, what would I wish for this guy....


And besides, most adults just annoy the crap out of me.

Not you guys, you guys are alright.