Besides for GEC…

I’m far from an expert on this but…

Barlow: depending on your price range and if you want more traditional or a little modern, Boker, Case, Bill Ruple, Lion Steel, Enrique Peña come to mind,

Stockman: I really like Case XX Tony Bose Collab, Eugene Shadley (I don’t own but he’s well known for multiple blade slip joints)

Trapper: Again Case XX Tony Bose Collabs have a few really nice versions. Case in general but quality can sometimes be an issue but that has not been my experience in a few new ones I bought recently. I also have a few 1960s to 1970s have pinned shields and nice quality.
 
I prefer Boker's, especially since they don't use half-stops. SMKW has some neat exclusive options in O1 and burlap. I thonk Knifecenter carried options as well. It looks like they may have moved to D2 recently and I can't figure if they're Chinese made or not. I'm nit against Chinese made stuff if it's still quality, but I've had really bad luck with Chinese made Bokers, specifically in their Boker Plus line in fixed blades.

Boker from Solingen Germany have been great for me, but do come with unsharp edges occasionally.
 
GusSharp68 said:
I’m far from an expert on this but…

Barlow: depending on your price range and if you want more traditional or a little modern, Boker, Case, Bill Ruple, Lion Steel, Enrique Peña come to mind,

Stockman: I really like Case XX Tony Bose Collab, Eugene Shadley (I don’t own but he’s well known for multiple blade slip joints)

Trapper: Again Case XX Tony Bose Collabs have a few really nice versions. Case in general but quality can sometimes be an issue but that has not been my experience in a few new ones I bought recently. I also have a few 1960s to 1970s have pinned shields and nice quality.
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Yes, traditional style. Stag, wood. Carbon. Something along those lines.
 
Depends on if you want American made and those stipulations.

Case
Boker
RoseCraft
Rough Rider/Ryder
Kershaw makes a damn good Barlow called the Culpepper
Buck makes a good stockman and trapper
Cooper Cutlery all though they are now like GEC a little harder to obtain new runs
Queen has new stuff that is American made but I think it's sourced through Bear & Son
Esnyx



Too many to list to be honest.
 
Rough Ryder makes some fine barlow, trapper and stockmans, various covers, and (with limited cover choices) T10 carbon steel blades. The 440A bladed models have more cover choices. Offshore, low price point, high quality.

Buck still makes the 301 ("large"; 3 7/8" closed)stockman and 303 (medium;~3.5 inch closed) stockman in Idaho.
425HC standard blade steel (with BOS heat treat, even hho not specified on the knife) for a little less than Case.
Currently no Buck carbon steel blade option. Stainless only.

The offshore Schrade, Old Timer. and Uncle Henry stockman, barlow, and trapper are good.
The Imperial line only has 3CR whatever MoV blade steel. The other schrade brands 7CR15MOV and/or 9CR18MoV, if memory serves.
Schrade has a couple folders, the 34OT stockman among them, made in the USA again. I think the new onshore production "Heritage" series have stainless blades.

Bear & Son makes the patterns you mention. However, I've never owned or handled one their producs, so I can't say anything on the qualty.

The Boker PLUS and Magnum's I have are good. Tree Brand (made in Solengin, Germany) are probably better, but are way out of my budget.

I believe Queen/Queen City has a made in USA trapper out. I don't know who is making it for them. SMKW may have moved Queen/Queen City manufacture onshore. I didn't see any of the offshore Queen/Queen City knives the last time I looked.

If you go used/vintage ... Camillus/Uster/Schrade/Old Timer/Uncle Henry/Hammer Brand/Imperial (Ikco/Forester/Wilkinson are a few of the sub brands the various divisions had) Western, Colonial, Sears/Craftsman (made by Camillus or Schrade depending on model and era) Utica, Russell, several hardware stores had knives made with their names ... literally hundreds of brand choices for good USA made vintage knives.
 
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As far as barlows no one but GEC currently makes a quality traditional factory knife. Case can be decent but they are not a regular production anymore.
In my opinion you need to look at vintage barlows in good condition, also some of the barlows produced in the 1980's and 90's are quality knives such as Ka-Bar, Queen made Robeson's and Cripple Creeks. Older Case barlows especially the 1940's through 1970's red bones and the earlier Case Tested are great knives.



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I don’t think anyone mentioned Tuna Valley yet, I think they’re a fairly decent brand. I own one of their artist series and it’s pretty nice. Can’t speak to the normal owes but they do make barlows and they do seem just fine.
 
60s, 70s, and 80s Case knives in carbon steel are amazing. They can be had for reasonable money.

As far as current production. Boker Solingen, Case, Daniels Family Brands come to mind.

Like people have said, Custom is a great way to go if you have the money.

GEC is always my number 1 recommendation. They make such a great product. They can be hard to get, but it is worth it
 
You could also try a Sheffied maker, if you can see it before you buy.
 
afishhunter said:
Buck still makes the 301 ("large"; 3 7/8" closed)stockman and 303 (medium;~3.5 inch closed) stockman in Idaho.
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Yes! I've had some 301's and 303's with great fit/finish as well as some less stellar examples. They're all fantastic knives though. My favorites tend to be the standard valox ones, but if you might be able to find the BF 301 from a few years ago, or the BCCI 301 from a few years before that. There's also some other limited releases floating around (micarta, carbon fiber, stag) and various wooden covers. My most carried is probably a valox 303 from 2018 or '19. Great little knife!
 
FranklinG said:
Yes! I've had some 301's and 303's with great fit/finish as well as some less stellar examples. They're all fantastic knives though. My favorites tend to be the standard valox ones, but if you might be able to find the BF 301 from a few years ago, or the BCCI 301 from a few years before that. There's also some other limited releases floating around (micarta, carbon fiber, stag) and various wooden covers. My most carried is probably a valox 303 from 2018 or '19. Great little knife!
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I have the elk handled BF 301. I also had the last run of canal street cutlery knives BF did but I sold it. I’ve currently got a case medium stockman, a boker congress, the elk 301 and 3 buck 110’s.
After looking on eBay I like the GEC Cody scout pattern. Thinner stock looks like flat grind. I’m not crazy about the lock back, I’d like a slip joint. I like darker woods or like curly maple type looking wood.
 
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