Assistance with Knife Recommendation for Step-Father

Totally Judy

Totally Judy

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
Messages
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Last week I was just visiting my mother and step-father in Oklahoma. My step-father, Bob, carries a slipjoint as his EDC. I don't think he even has another knife. One evening he used it to help me open something (I couldn't carry any knives with me on the flight), and he left it open and laying on the counter.

I took a quick peak at it and on the outside it had "Gordon" on it. There wasn't time for me to go get my camera and take a photo of all the knife with all 3 blades open for reference.

Bob has been very good to my mother and they have been married for 26 years. I would like to show my appreciation by gifting him with a nice EDC. Bob, of course, will tell me that he bought his knife at Home Depot, or Harbor Freight, for $7.95 or some such (he prides himself on paying less than anything I purchase). I don't give a hoot.

The handle material appeared to be a medium brown stag. 3 blades. Bob does a lot of handyman stuff around the house and yard, and I'd love to get him a functional knife that would be appropriate.

It is not something I would know to select, and my uses for my knives differs greatly from what men use their knives for, and I don't have a clue what blades would be the best.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

TJ
 
I'd say the closed length was approximately 3" - no shorter. The blade that was open was approximately 3".

Budget - $200 or less.
 
I just looked at some stockman images on Google, and if i recall, the large blade was a bit more narrow than the blade shown.
 
Gordon does seem to be a Harbor Freight brand, so that fits in.

If he prides himself on getting the most for his money, he may not want a "too nice to use" knife. I have some ideas in mind but it would depend on what you are looking for.

For example, the Case Carhartt line of knives with brown G-10 handles are nice if you want something functional, and are on a clearance sale at one of the larger Case dealers right now, so you could get him a nice knife and impress him with the bargain price.

If you want a real bargain, Rough Rider (made in China) are really good knives for about $10 or under. I have a couple and have no complaints at all.

If you want to really get him something nice, then Great Eastern Cutlery is a good choice. Prices are going to be in the $80 to $120 range in general. Almost all of the GEC knives currently available are made with 1095 carbon steel, so if he wants stainless then I would look at Canal Street Cutlery. Great knives, just a more limited selection of handles and patterns.
 
I would suggest a Case Medium Stockman 6318 Pattern in "Pocketworn Old Red Jigged Bone". Three blade, 440C Stainless Steel Blades, Medium size, medium price. Case is the most recognized brand of Traditional "Slip Joint" in this country. And they are American Made, and readily available.
 
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jc57 said:
Gordon does seem to be a Harbor Freight brand, so that fits in.

If he prides himself on getting the most for his money, he may not want a "too nice to use" knife. I have some ideas in mind but it would depend on what you are looking for.

For example, the Case Carhartt line of knives with brown G-10 handles are nice if you want something functional, and are on a clearance sale at one of the largerCase C Case dealers right now, so you could get him a nice knife and impress him with the bargain price.

If you want a real bargain, Rough Rider (made in China) are really good knives for about $10 or under. I have a couple and have no complaints at all.

If you want to really get him something nice, then Great Eastern Cutlery is a good choice. Prices are going to be in the $80 to $120 range in general. Almost all of the GEC knives currently available are made with 1095 carbon steel, so if he wants stainless then I would look at Canal Street Cutlery. Great knives, just a more limited selection of handles and patterns.
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I'll look at the Case Carhartt knives and also the GEC's.

I'm still uncertain about what blades the knive needs to have.

My brother is visiting there now. I think I'll email him and ask him to "borrow" Bob's knife to take a photo of because he is looking for a pocket knife for himself, but doesn't know what to get. Bob knows that I collect knives and would have been suspicious has I asked to take a photo.
 
This is quite hard, I understand you want to show your appreciation but if your father-in-law is a thrifty type he might not like you spending a load of money on this...200 will get you a stellar production Traditional, or even two

3" shut is quite a small pocket-knife and I think it cannot have a 3" main blade in that size frame.

Does he like stainless or carbon steel do you think? Were the blades blackened or patinated?

There are numerous Stockman 3 blade knives in many different sizes from say CASE, Buck, GEC. Queen Cutlery representing fine American makers and Rough Rider, China do very good knives indeed at low cost-certainly not junk in any way. Böker Germany offer good Stockmans too.

Alternatively, you could take a look at a Whittler pattern, my favourite 3 blade knife. Böker do a very nice one, GEC's 38 pattern is excellent but a bit big perhaps, Queen Cutlery's Whittler is more compact and could be the one to go for in bone or wood. You say the blade looked narrow, this could either be from long use and sharpening or it had a Turkish Clip master blade which is slimmer, some CASE Stoskmans have this and they are only about 3.5" closed, massive choice of handles and carbon or stainless.

All the knives I suggested are good attractive workers and will be found for under 100 USD.

Let us know how the hunt progresses.

Thanks, Will

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In addition to Case, which I like and own more of than any other brand, Buck makes some good sturdy 3-blade stockman patterns, also in the US.

Buck 301


Buck 301 and smaller brother, the 303:


Several Case stockman patterns for comparison:




Full range of Case Stockman patterns (including some discontinued patterns):
 
Very cool! I appreciate all suggestions thus far, plus the photos.

I just talked to my brother and told him I sent the email. So while I'm looking at suggested knives above, my brother will get some photos and I also asked him to ask Bob questions about the knife and blades, pretending that he is interested in getting a pocket knife but knows nothing about them - which is actually true.

Off to look at knives. Thanks for the suggestions.

TJ
 
Will Power said:
This is quite hard, I understand you want to show your appreciation but if your father-in-law is a thrifty type he might not like you spending a load of money on this...200 will get you a stellar production Traditional, or even two

3" shut is quite a small pocket-knife and I think it cannot have a 3" main blade in that size frame.

Does he like stainless or carbon steel do you think? Were the blades blackened or patinated?
Click to expand...

I agree. Bob is a know-if-all, and appears to be very competitive with me when it comes to anything I own or purchase, including bread. His choice is always better and always less expensive. As if I care.

So I will try to find a knife that is useful and in the lower price range.

I don't have answers to any of your questions at this point, except that the one blade see when it was laying on the counter was well worn. I did see a sharpening stone in a drawer someplace when looking for something else.

Once my brother sends me photos, that should help. I certainly don't want to gift him with a knife he would just stick in a drawer and never use because the blades are the right ones, the right size, or it appears to be too expensive.

Besides all that, he is hard headed and always right. A difficult man to be around, unless one is a very submissive and passive person, which are two words never associated with me.

TJ
 
Totally Judy said:
Very cool! I appreciate all suggestions thus far, plus the photos.

I just talked to my brother and told him I sent the email. So while I'm looking at suggested knives above, my brother will get some photos and I also asked him to ask Bob questions about the knife and blades, pretending that he is interested in getting a pocket knife but knows nothing about them - which is actually true.

Off to look at knives. Thanks for the suggestions.

TJ
Click to expand...

Great idea to have your brother do some recon for us. Better info will help us focus on a good replacement/upgrade for him.

I'm also thinking a Stockman is a good idea. What size and whether stainless or carbon steel is the main question now.
 
Pick out a Case pattern you like, then get on fleabay and find one that has been carried, but not worn out. You will save some change that way, eliminate the possibility of 'too nice to use', and be able to brag on the deal you got. Dont try and go too old, or you will start paying a premium for the collector value.

Shoot, you can even find some pretty Purple Bone handled Cases that will be quite affordable due to their lack of age, and you will be sure he remembers where his purple knife came from every time it comes out.

This is the big stockman, I liked the color myself...
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Tricky- he already has the knife he likes and doesn't need another. I wonder if you could get a new Buck or Case, brag about how cheap it was, and then ask to trade with him because yours just doesn't cut as well as his and he's so good at sharpening.
 
You make a valid point. I'm wondering if I am just wasting my time and money by getting him a nice new knife. If I told him my knife doesn't cut as well as his, he would just take my knife and sharpen it for me.

Several years ago I did mention knives to him, and he did comment that he was happy with the knife he has. But maybe he would actually use it. He does appreciate that I treat him with respect (not always deserved) and do nice things for him.

He could surprise me and be delighted with it and proudly show it off!
 
You mentioned that he does a lot of handyman stuff. Had you considered a Victorinox SAK of some sort? And you could always tell him that you know he has a knife he really likes, but you just wanted to do something to show your appreciation to him for being so good to your Mom, if you think that might eliminate the competitive aspect of it.
 
popedandy said:
You mentioned that he does a lot of handyman stuff. Had you considered a Victorinox SAK of some sort? And you could always tell him that you know he has a knife he really likes, but you just wanted to do something to show your appreciation to him for being so good to your Mom, if you think that might eliminate the competitive aspect of it.
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A SAK us definitely something I need to consider. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
If he doesn't own one, a SAK could be a great choice.
If you want to get him something similar to what he carries now (a stockman), then my vote goes for the Buck 301.

Fausto
:cool:
 
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