Best/favorite stockman?

MVF

MVF

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Sep 2, 2005
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I've recently developed a craving for a stockman. A salesman had me pretty well sold on a Case (mostly because he was so sold on them) but in looking at them, I was kind of shocked at the workmanship :eek:. All of the ones I looked at had a sway in the straight edges, sloppy edge grinds, and the points on the sheepsfoot blades were very poorly done.

I thought of Buck, but the only one they had was made in China. He told me the "new" Old Timers are made in China too :grumpy:. I really like the blade shapes and sizes on the older Old Timers. I would love carbon steel, but will accept good stainless, Delrin, or such, is fine for the scales, but if it's jigged bone I prefer natural colors. As far under $100 as possible would be nice :o

So, with all that, what's your favorite stockman?
 
I carried a 301 Buck stockman for a bit over 20 years and it was a great knife. Still available and made in U.S.A..

Also try the German Eye-Brand, very good using knives and available with European red deer stag.
 
USA made bucks are great working knives, buck uses a decent stainless for them.

I used to have carbon steel boker I picked up when I visited the factory, but gave it away to a good friend that needed a knife.
I already ordered a new one to replace it, but it takes a long time, this pattern is not very popular over here, although its german made, their easier to get in the US.

Peter
 
My favorite stockman was the first knife I ever recieved for christmas one year, it was an old timer stockman with carbon blades and I loved that knife, but alas! Someone stole it from me at a family outting. I would love to get that knife back but you can't find old timers like that anymore =(
 
This will be severly slanted, but IMHO, get yourself an OLDTIMER,USAmade, carbon steel they are still to be had, Pawn shops, e-bay, garage-estate sales,etc. They are the only thing I carried for 30+yrs until I got here and since have bought some Case knives and the OT's still get in my pocket more! I guess it is hard hard to break old habits but, knife habits are THE BEST!!!!
 
(Playing to the gallery here:)

I hope it will be the forthcoming Blade Forum Northwood's Stockman in carbon with stag.
Not to late to sign up for one either....
 
MVF said:
I thought of Buck, but the only one they had was made in China. He told me the "new" Old Timers are made in China too :grumpy:.
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Buck still makes their 301 and 303 stockman knives in America. You can buy 'em online easily.

Like you, I would never buy an "Old Timer" made oversees. But, like 6.0stroker mentioned, you can still find new-old stock American-made Old Timers floating around pretty easily. For the money you're willing to pay, you can probably get TWO unused 34OTs from the 'bay. Or do what I'd do: Get one and spend the rest of the money on beer. :D
 
MVF said:
So, with all that, what's your favorite stockman?
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Queen medium/large black cherry, Mooremaker version of same, but in yellow jigged bone, or for the biggie, Queen Cattle King....best current production 3-blade stockman EVER, imo.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I'm too conflicted to choose a favorite. I think my Schatt & Morgan (Series IX) is the nicest looking in terms of scales, blades and grinds.

The big Moore Maker 5304 (yellow smooth bone) has great appeal to me as does the RAT (Queen) ram's horn handled large stockman which replaces the spey with a punch.

(But I love all nine of my production stockman knives as any good father would. ;))
 
I am now carring a large Northwoods stag Stockman and am looking forward to the Medium one someday. The D2 was tough to get really sharp (came with a terrible burr on it) but got that taken care of. I grew up with an oldtimer 80T and it was great. I have also been tempted to get one of the buck 301s. My problem is that I tend to be a snob as far the handle material goes these days. I tend to stay with either Ivory or stag (with a few execeptions for TD's work). Steven
 
As I sit here, I have my 21 year-old Schrade 34OT medium stockman with me. It's all rounded off and worn, and the blades have been re-shaped a little to suit me. It's not fancy by any means, but it's carbon steel blades take and hold a great edge! This little knife has traveled with me all over the world (and it's with me right now here in the "lovely" Middle East!). Whatever other knives I have around, this little guy always seems to wind up in my pocket.

Ron
 
Blues said:
I'm too conflicted to choose a favorite. I think my Schatt & Morgan (Series IX) is the nicest looking in terms of scales, blades and grinds.

The big Moore Maker 5304 (yellow smooth bone) has great appeal to me
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I love the Moore Maker 5304 in yellow smooth bone, incredibly solid and beautifully designed stockman.
Very comfortable in the pocket as well with its rounded bolsters.

And I really like the 5302 as well, it's a great using knife.

But I'd have to say my favorites are the Schatt & Morgans.
Fit & finish, etched blades, details like swedges, dual nail pulls etc...
(I'm including what Schatt & Morgan calls their "Gunstock" and "Reverse Gunstock" models
because I think they are basically a stockman design.)
 
I would have to agree with you on the fit and finish of the Case knives. I see more and more rounded tips and poor edge grinds. They are not worth what they ask for them in some cases. If I use a Case now it's the delrin that I grab. They are more affordable and the scales last longer. One of the brand that I really like that far exceeds the fit and finish of a Case knives are Queen.
 
I don't know - - it seems like youve got to check out whatever you buy real carefully before putting your money down, or at least finalizing the purchase. I buy Case CV stockman knives and have had good luck with fit & finish. They weren't always 'perfect', but acceptable for a everyday working knife. And, that CV carbon steel can be made nice and sharp. - - I bought a Northwoods (Queen built with Schatt & Morgan finish - then sent to Northwoods for new handles) and wasn't impressed by the finish of the knife. Brass liners protruding, gouged/rough tangs, & dull. Nothing critical. Nothing that would have an effect on actual function (I had the D2 blade convex ground/sharpened and it cuts like a son-of-a-gun). But the quality on this particular knife was lower than Case CV carbon steel knives that I bought for less than half the money. I haven't found a carbon steel, US made, stockman knife at around $45 from anyone else. - - I bought a Great Eastern Cutlery trapper that had cracked stag handles, but sent it back to the factory & got it back in a few weeks with beautiful replacement stag. The fit & finish on this knife is outstanding - better than anything else I've personally seen in a traditional slipjoint style US made production knife. So, as soon as I'm in the market for another stockman, I'll check out Great Eastern Cutlery # 53. IMO its a good idea to check it out whatever you decide to buy real carefully & buy from a good dealer who will make returns easy if youre dissatisfied. - - For slipjoint 'perfection' I had personally come to the conclusion that I'll need to eventually get a custom for that. Regards, - -
 
My favorite is the Moore Maker 5301. Second is the Queen #9. The Eye Brand and Boker stockmans are pretty good, too.

I'm kind of partial to the stockman pattern, too.

Knives005.jpg
 
I have a good many case Stockmans, and my favorite Case stockman isn't made anymore - the rounded bolster 47 pattern - 3 7/8" long.

I kind of collect that pattern in 1979 and older versions, and I will be the first to admit that the fit & finish is all over the place, but if you look hard you can find some from 1977 or 1978 - and I have more knives with excellent fit & finish from those years than any others. Particularly 1977. Every knife I have from that year is great.

If you are looking new and in stores I would stick with the Case yellow handle CVs. Probably a 3318, which is a little smaller but a great pattern.

The Eye Brand and Bulldogs are both OK, but both are blocky feeling.

The USA made Old Timers are solid knives, and I've rarely seen a bad one.

Moore Makers are hit and miss, but in stockman patterns I don't care for the main blade shape - the tip is swept back too far to me.

I've never been a Buck fan, but they are on par with the Old Timers - but stainless. I like Carbon.
 
My father gave me a Case Stockman in '97, and I inherited an old Robeson (1930's) from my grandfather. That kind of got me stuck on that pattern; I've got several now, and I add to the collection 6-7 times a year.

(Lambertiana - awesome pic! :thumbup: )

thx - cpr
 
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