Old Timer Knives were a line of knives produced by the Imperial Schrade Corporation. Beginning as Schrade Cutlery in 1904, the Old Timers consisted of traditional jackknives, fixed-bladed knives, folding knives and other pieces that captured the spirit of the nation’s pioneering backwoodsmen. The company closed its doors in 2004. However, it is still a great design, and Schrade’s decision to move manufacturing to China has not seemed to have too great of a negative impact on overall quality. Masterpieces of their kind, Schrade Old Timer Knives are prized by collectors and outdoor enthusiasts.
Antique Old Timer Knives
One of Schrade’s popular knife lines, the Old Timer, began in 1959 with the release of the 20T model. Schrade made more than 75 different models and iterations of its Old Timer series from 1959 to 2004, when the company closed.
The model number helps differentiate antique Old Timer knives from newer models, although the models don’t entirely follow numerical order. The Schrade 34OT, for instance, was made from 1964 to 2004, while the 33OT, a similar knife, was produced from 1976 through 2004. The “OT” on the knife indicates an Old Timer model, while “UH” on the model number indicates an Uncle Henry model.
Find your Old Timer knife’s model number on the tang stamp near the state or country of origin. Look up that number on collector sites to help pinpoint the age range of the model. Some collectors have gone to extensive lengths to properly catalog the years of each Schrade knife model’s production. Old Timer knives’ values vary greatly from one to the next, depending upon how rare and desirable they are.
That being said if you can find one of the older American made versions, I highly recommend grabbing it. They can still be found on Ebay or Yier knife City websites.
Knife Specs
7Cr17 High Carbon Stainless Steel Clip Point Skinner Blade
Pro Hunter Sawcut Handle Slabs with Lanyard Hole
Black Leather Belt Sheath
Blade Length: 3.3 inch
Handle Length: 3.7 inch
Overall Length: 7.1 inch
Weight: 0.19 pounds
Features
Prices of authentic Old Timer Knives vary considerably according to the style of the knife. A small one-bladed jackknife sold for as little as $5 in 2009, while a Woodsman with a hefty 9 1/2 inch blade and sheath commanded more than $50. Combination knives tend to sell for more than single-bladed examples, but it is the overall size and weight that most influences cost. The Woodsman, for example, with clip, sheepfoot and spey blades, can be bought for less than $30, while the very similar Senior knife sold for approximately $40 because of the difference in handle style — not its greater age. Older examples are not necessarily worth more than later models.
Blade Construction
The Sharpfinger’s blade is a full tang and made of 7Cr17 High Carbon Stainless Steel. The general conscientious is that the Chinese 7Cr17 is comparable to 440A stainless steel which means it has good rust resistance (better than 440C) and holds an edge better than some softer steels like 420 stainless steel. However it doesn’t hold it’s edge as well as a 440C Stainless Steel blade.
The Old Timer Sharpfinger that I received was really sharp right out of the box, and it held it’s edge well even after cutting some cardboard, doing a bit of whittling and some fish cleaning. After a few days of semi steady use the edge began to dull which was not a surprise, and it was easy to get the edge back with a leather strop. Overall the Sharpinger design worked well for most of the outdoor tasks I threw at it. I have not used it for field dressing yet, but it is highly regarded by most hunters who use it as a very capable hunting knife. In fact it is one of the knives that is considered to be responsible for the growing popularity of small hunting knives in the mid to late 70’s.
The blade has an upswept clip point design that has been copied by several other knife brands due to the popularity of the Sharpfinger. I found the overall shape of the blade ideal for cleaning fish. It is also serviceable as a fillet knife when camping although the blade is a little thick to make it an ideal fillet knife.
Considerations
Genuine Schrade Old Timer knives are fully serviceable and are priced similarly to brand new examples. When Imperial Schrade closed its doors, much of the Old Timer line was purchased by Taylor, LLC. Taylor continues to market spring-loaded knives as Old Timers. These pieces are similar to the older varieties, but typically cost in the range of $10 to $20.
Potential
Schrade Old Timer knives retain their value over time. Knives in good condition regularly appear on specialty sites like The Knife Auction and also on more general auction sites like eBay and BizRate. $10 to $20 is the typical final price for most models here as well, with larger versions going for as much as $50 or more.
History
Old Timer Knives are made of high-quality AISI 1095 carbon steel. Containing from .95 to 1.05 % carbon, the blade holds a keen edge and is especially easy to sharpen. Older blades tend to discolor if not properly cleaned. Using them on meat and fish darkens the steel. Carbon steel is not stainless steel; it must be thoroughly dried after cleaning. Periodically, Old Timer blades should receive a light coating of oil.
Types
Not all Old Timers are hunting knives. Schrade produced numerous multi-purpose pieces. Blades are shaped to their specific use. Knives with more than one blade serve a variety of functions, with each blade moving seamlessly over the adjacent ones by means of crinks, or slight bends, that prevent the blades from hitting each other. Pointed and sharp-edged blades are useful to both craftsmen and hunters. Squared-off blades double as screwdrivers or coping tools, while unusual shapes provide can openers and punches.
Conclusion
Overall I think this is one of the best knives on the market at the sub $20 price point. I wish Schrade would come out with an American made version that had S30v steel and a higher quality sheath, because myself and many others would be willing to pay a premium for such a knife. That being said I think the Sharpfinger is worth owning, and it is a great relatively inexpensive gift for knife collectors and enthusiasts.
Any of our winning options are quality knives that will serve you well, but selecting the perfect one is about your preferences and ideal price point.Want more recommendations for the best Schrade knives to complete your knife set? Check out our guides to the yier Schrade knife.
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