A convert's upgrading dilemma

P

Patrick Kabat

Joined
Oct 29, 2002
Messages
12
Hello all!
My EDC was a spyderco delica, but lately I've discovered that a little Old Timer peanut has eclipsed it-this may sound odd, but I've developed a genuine fondness for this "low end" knife. I would like to upgrade. What I would like is a nice, bone-handled traditional folder(the peanut is wonderful, but I like the look of the smaller stockman patterns, the 3.5-3.75" closed length is about as large as I want to go) with excellent fit, finish, and durability. I have about 60-70 dollars to spend. This knife will be carried frequently, and used for mundane office tasks, the occasional apple, and whatever else may arise. I suppose my questions boil down to this...

1) I like the small size of the OT, and would like to stay under 3.75"closed. What styles have left impressions as excellent EDCs?

2)What companies make such a knife? Browsing, I like the looks of Case, Queen, and Henckels, but I've never spoken with owners of these brands. Is the fit and finish as good as it looks in the pictures? how do they hold up?

3) Whatever knives are recommended, what's the steel like? I'd like to try for something in stainless, but if I'd have to pay an extraordinary amount of money to get a good stainless steel blade, I would settle for the carbon steel- I presume Henckels carbon is good- how is queens and case, or any others?

4)How durable are the knives?

Incidentally, thank you all for bearing with the length.
-P
 
All the brands you mentioned are good, you won't go too far wrong with any of them. You may want to look at whittler patterns or small congress knives, they are my favorites. I actually prefer carbon steel. The Boker steel is very good as is the Case CV steel. Old Timers would be better (just about perfect actually) if they had bone scales. I am sure some others will chime in with their favorites, but you are off to a great start with just what you mentioned.
 
>"Old Timers would be better (just about perfect actually) if they had bone scales."

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A thousand amens! :) How is it that Schrade has never offered these with bone? I <i>know</i> they've offered bone handled slip joints, but they've always had that lousy "Schrade+" steel. :barf: If they were to just combine the quality steel, fit-and-finish, and value of the standard Old Timer with an upgrade to bone, that'd be awesome!

I'd like to think I could just buy myself one of these <a href="http://www.newgraham.com/amber_cv.htm">Case Amber Bone</a> knives with chrome vanadium blades instead. But I hear horror stories about Case's quality control and, unless I could go through a bunch of knives at a brick & mortar store to find the one I want (I can't), I'm not about to risk ordering a Case sight unseen over the internet.
 
I like the offerings Queen has with their new D2 knives. I have two of their stockmans, and they are very nice. I had to put an edge on that was satisfactory to me though. This is best accomplished with diamond sharpeners though.
For just pure user/abuser stockmans, I like the Camillus carbon steel series, and the Old Timers. Both use 1095 carbon steel, which easily sharpens with a nice toothy edge. You can find either in the $20 range, so they won't make you cry if you happen to kill one. I haven't killed mine yet though.
Good luck on your search
Mongo
 
Patrick,
Welcome aboard!
Like you, I've recently gotten heavily into traditional slipjoints.
Check out Mooremaker Knives and Bulldog's.
These are 2 of my favorites. Mooremakers are made by Queen I believe and come in many patterns (my fave is the Stockman in the same size you like). Bulldogs are also high quality and have the very cool matchstriker nail nicks to further distinguish them from run of the mill slipjoints.
When it comes to slipjoints, however, I always prefer carbon steel if it's a user. Super easy to sharpen, and takes a wicked edge. Collector knives that just go in the drawer are usually SS.
Good luck finding the perfect one.
Lenny
 
my $.02 worth:

I just got one of those Puma stockman with buffalo horn scales that have been all over Ebay. This is a beautiful, very well made knife. Excellent fit and finish. The 440C blades came fairly sharp and were easily polished to shaving sharp.

Ditto on previous post about the Queen D2's. My current all-round favorite.

I've had good luck with Case CV, though I only own one. It's a 4 1/4" stockman wi/yellow handles. It's the only stockman I have with hollow ground blades. I like it almost as much as queen.
 
Originally posted by Rauder
What exactly is Schrade+ steel? 420, 440A?
Click to expand...

I'm no expert but all of the above designations mean run-of-the-mill stanless steel that is used on most inexpensive slip joints. Somewhere on this site (or maybe on the other forum) is a steel FAQ that is very educational. Well worth checking out.
 
Wow, thank you all for your enthusiastic responses! Lenny, I ended up salivating over the Mooremaker and Bulldog Brand knives, but I don't have the capital!!! Would that I did...
So it looks like the verdict is fast approaching a Boker Carbon Steel, Queen D2 or Henckels carbon steel stockman! Next chance I get I'll look around online to see what patterns strike me-any favorites?
Again, thanks for the support!
 
go for a case peanut in bone!!! shepherd hills cutlery has a wonderful selection of case knives!!! also you can get a schrade old timer peanut in bone from bass pro. There is a series schrade did this last yera of oldtimers in special tins with bone scales. There quite nice!!
 
All the brands mentined are good quality knives. I have a lot of them. I am partial to Buck's 303 Cadet. It's 3 1/4 inches long, 3 blades and can be found in bone on Ebay and flea markets. Wal Mart has a 303 in a poly peart that is real nice looking. I would like to have all of those mentioned but a daughter in college and two other kids still at home so the budget is limited. The poly pearl Buck is around $25. Happy hunting.
 
Patrick,
Before you lay down your hard earned cash, go to a gun & knife show(most weekends).You will get to see & handle various knives & can make a great deal on something that you didn't realise you could afford!:D
jim
 
Thank you, rev_jch for the tip! I looked at the Shepherd Hills Cutlery site, and again, I like the look of the Case knives, but I worry about the QC.Are my fears illusory? I love the look of the red pocket-worn bone, and the mini-copperhead has caught my attention in the natural bone. With the exception of the Amber Bone, the blade material is a stainless. What sort? is it serviceable? Thank you for the tip on the CV, jazzrabbi. Also, it's been my experience that the backspring is never stainless steel- is this true? if so, all maintenance issues are moot and carbon is definitely the way to go.
Jim, I'd love to go to a gun show. However, Hamilton, New York doesn't have any within a reasonable distance, and my workload (I'm at Colgate University) keeps me grounded here on the weekends.
Thanks again!
 
For anyone looking for a great deal on a new Buck 303 stockman, take a look pronto at Ebay auction nos. 730386654 and 1576921519. I don't know the seller and I don't have one of these knives (yet) but that's a great price. They won't last long. If you do get one, just be sure to post a review. ;)
 
Go for the Queen in D2 if you don't mind putting a little effort into sharpening it (D2 is tough stuff). D2 is semi-stainless so it won't rust or discolor as quickly as the carbon steel knives (Case CV, Henckels, Bulldog, etc). My Queen dogleg jack in D2 is my perm. EDC now. :D

If you want something easier to sharpen with nice bone handles look for the Case 3.5 inch serpentine stockman w/ Chestnut bone. The one I'm thinking of (http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?CA079) has a pen blade instead of a spey blade which I find a little more useful day-to-day. I really, really like this knife and would highly recommend it also.

Bulldog and Henckels are both good. I'd recomment Bulldog over Henckels unless you can ask the retailer to hand-pick a Henckels with good strong springs (they tend to vary).

Actually, it'd be a good idea to ask the retailer to hand pick one with good strong springs no matter what brand it is...

Enjoy. :)

Jon
 
>"Queen in D2 it is!!!"

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Which model, sir? Inquiring minds want to know. And please be sure to post a review once you get yours. :)
 
Like mnblade said, please post which model you buy along with your opinions and/or a review when you receive it. :)
 
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