Schrade Sharpfinger: My All-time Outdoor Knife Of Choice

If you were to ask my family they would probably tell you I have a fetish about knives.   Each year when I go to the Minnesota State Fair I get sucked into those salesman demonstrations watching the “Ginzu” knives in action cutting a nail or a pop can in half.   I can’t help it…for as long as I’ve been a sportsmen knives just seem to fascinate me.   Besides, any self-respecting outdoorsman is going to have a bevy of good knives they can reach for no matter what the task at hand may be.

Now mind you I’m by no means a knife collector.   I don’t even profess to have a deep breadth of knowledge about the cutlery world like some collectors would.   I just like a quality, practical knife.   When you need a knife there is nothing else in this world that will substitute.   Ever try gutting a deer with a dull knife?   Not much fun, huh?   Same goes for a knife designed for one purpose but that must be used for something else.

When I think back I would have to say my all-time favorite knife would be the Schrade “Uncle Henry’s” Sharpfinger.   It was the second knife I ever owned.   In fact, I saved my money and purchased it back in the late 1970’s at the local Coast to Coast hardware store that had a nice little display of knives.   I must have ogled that display for several months, when finally I had enough cash saved up from mowing lawns to purchase it.   That day when I walked out of the hardware store I had never felt more proud of what I was carrying.

The Schrade Sharpfinger is a perfect knife for pelting mink, muskrat, raccoon, yet I even gutted deer with my beloved knife.   The design just seemed to be the perfect extension to my hand allowing me to make all the delicate cuts I needed and to do it quickly.   To learn more about the history of the Schrade Sharpfinger download this.

As it turns out the knife I have is one of the originals.   Manufactured back in the day when the company used top notch materials and U.S.A craftsmanship.   Oh sure, you can still buy the Schrade Sharpfinger today but it’s not the same.   You see, the original company went bankrupt back in 2004 and the knives sold today are now imported from China and only sold under the Shrade brand.

Over the years I have certainly purchased better quality knives than the Schrade.   I guess I never found it to hold an edge as good as some knives, but considering it was the workhorse in my fur shed it’s to be expected it might require lots of sharpening.

In recent years I have not done much trapping so this knife has seen little use.   Indeed, if the Sharpfinger had one major drawback it would have to be the sheath.   It protected the blade, but that’s about it.   It was not a knife I found comfortable to wear on a belt.  In fact, with the strangely designed sheath it was downright dangerous to even do that.

So tell me, what old knife holds a special place in your heart as an outdoorsman?   It doesn’t have to be a fancy knife or even the most expensive one you own.   Perhaps it was passed down to you from a parent or grandparent.   No matter what…knives are a key tool we all use outdoors and for some of us their importance is much deeper than simply making a cut in the rope.

2008 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.