Sharps Bros. Meanstreak Review: Keen, Mean Cutting Machine

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Sharps Bros. Meanstreak Review: Keen, Mean Cutting Machine
The button lock disengages by pressing the logo on the bolster.

A somewhat new player, Sharps Bros. makes the cut with the Meanstreak.

Relatively new to the knife arena, Sharps Bros. made its original mark in the gun world. The company team used their machining know-how to produce some well-built fixed blades and folders. The Meanstreak 3-inch Button Lock Folder is one of the latter.

The author said the machining of the Meanstreak’s titanium frame is “superb.”
The author said the machining of the Meanstreak’s titanium frame is “superb.”

It’s a button lock—to unlock the blade, simply depress the logo button on the bolster. The blade opens manually via a flipper. The machine work on the titanium frame is superb. Opening and closing the knife is smooth. Question is, does the blade cut?

Meanstreak Specs

Company: Sharps Bros.
Knife type: Flipper folder
Blade length: 3”
Blade steel: CPM S35VN stainless
Blade grind: Hollow
Blade finish: Non-glare
Pivot: Brass and ceramic bearing system
Lock: Button lock
Handle: Titanium and stainless
Pocket clip: Titanium, deep carry
Hardware: Torx
Weight: 5 ozs.
Closed length: 4.25”
MSRP: $200

Pros

  • Exceptional Blade Performance
  • Smooth Button Lock Mechanism
  • Superb Machining Quality

Cons

  • Potential Hot Spots

Light-Duty Cutting

I used the Meanstreak straight from the box to slice 20-pound bond paper. The knife did so smoothly and aggressively. I could hear every slice. The handle shape aided in positive control. (I had already nicked the meat of my thumb on the blade tip. Ouch.)

The edge withstood 30 antler whacks and then cut the paper smoothly to culminate testing. Spot-on heat treatment!
The edge withstood 30 antler whacks and then cut the paper smoothly to culminate testing. Spot-on heat treatment!

Single-walled cardboard was next on the test menu and the Meanstreak made short work of slicing it up. The relatively small blade cut straight with no hangups. From there it was time to slice leather scraps. I cut sideways into the 8-ounce leather and the CPM S35VN blade zipped through the medium as fast as I could move my fingers out of the way. The folder made some very nice crunching noises.

I wanted to hear more crunching, so I started skiving the leather. It was easy to control the Meanstreak, so I didn’t cut all the way through the material. This is a sharp little knife!

Heavy-Duty Cutting

Next up: whittling a fire stick. To get it to curl I used dry wood and shallow cuts. With my thumb on the spine notches, the curls started coming. Controlling depth was easy, though the inside of the frame was a little too sharp on my hand for the grip I was using. The Meanstreak made nice curlicues.

The Meanstreak made nice curlicues. However, the inside of the frame was a tad too sharp on the author’s hand for the the grip he used.
The Meanstreak made nice curlicues. However, the inside of the frame was a tad too sharp on the author’s hand for the the grip he used.

On to my favorite test medium: sisal rope. The Meanstreak produced 225 crunching cuts and was ready for more, but my arm was done. It was very forceful cutting. I wore a thin glove to protect my hand against hot spots as I used more pressure with the cuts. A fine emery board would take care of the unwanted sharp areas.

To check the edge for brittleness, I subjected it to several whacks on my trusty whitetail deer horn. After 30 hard whacks there was no edge damage. Heat treatment is spot on—excellent job! To prove it, I sliced up the other half of the 20-pound bond paper from the initial test. I could not tell the difference in blade performance between the first and last paper slices.

Final Cut


As for changes, soften the inside edges of the handle frame. (Editor’s note: The pivot could use better action as well as the blade is a bit sluggish when opened via the flipper.)

For a factory knife especially, fit and finish is impressive.
For a factory knife especially, fit and finish is impressive.

The Meanstreak is one sharp knife. Since there was no dulling of the blade it seemed like I didn’t cut anything with it at all. Plus, it’s made in the USA!

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