Boker Opinions?

RDaneel

RDaneel

Joined
Apr 23, 2000
Messages
5,501
First off, let me say how much I have learned from y'all. This is a great forum and I've learned a lot the last few months. I come in and out of BladeForums over the years, but the Traditional forum is a great group.

So, what is your opinion of Boker knives. I have bought 2 recently - a stockman and a congress. I'm pretty happy with them. Good steel, good fit for a great price. I like German cutlery overall and have been to Germany several times. While it is fun to buy knives there, I find that buying them here can be much cheaper and I speak the language :)

Dean
 
I think they're great. The ones I have compare very favorably to other brands, some costing quite a bit more. I wrote a review on here a few months ago comparing Boker and Queen Canoes; The Boker did quite well. Overall I think the brand is one of the best knife bargains out there.

I recently picked up a series 280 (serpentine) whittler in Grand Canyon bone and am very impressed. Fit & finish is flawless, I like the GC bone, with its nice deep grooves, and the springs and liners are beautifully flush and smooth. The springs have a nice taper to accommodate the three blade design -- no shims or washers here. I couldn't be happier for the $35 including shipping.

The higher end knives (Double Tree, etc) look quite nice too, though I don't own any.

-- Sam
 
I've got two, a Barlow and a Trapper. While the fit and finish is good I can't get a really good edge on them. It's an 'OK edge', but no better than that.
And...no!... it's not my sharpening.
I won't buy any more Bokers for that reason.
I don't know why this should be because others swear by their Bokers?
 
Oh, I wanted to add: My experience has been with the "Tang Stamp" and "Tree Brand" series, both of which use carbon steel for their blades.

I've never had a lick of trouble sharpening these. In fact, I tend to keep the factory 20 degree bevel and they slice quite well at that angle. I usually bring it down to 12-15 degrees (per side), at least as a primary bevel. No need here. They also have all come razor sharp from the factory.

I'm about to receive a stainless pen knife. Hopefully my good experience will continue.

-- Sam
 
Only have 1 Boker, a carbon steel Congress pattern and it's a slick little pocketknfie, takes a wicked edge and the fit and finish are tops.
 
I've got about a dozen of 'em and think they're great.
(Mostly slipjoints but a few lockbacks.) Scales of wood,
stag, and smooth and jigged bone too.

Sharp out of the box (not hairsplitting sharp, but nicely sharp)
and uniformly excellent fit and finish.

They all see regular use around here.
 
I have purchased a couple in the past but have none at the present. I agree with everyone else that the quality is great at an affordable price. And if you look hard enough they have some amazingly beautiful pieces out there that have that Old World Cutlery look that sets it apart from what is being offered in the States..

Sunburst
 
Jacknife, don't feel alone. I've got a few carbon Bokers that I just can't get sharp the way I want them either. I also have some that are just fine and sharpen up easy. Go figure.

I do like Boker in general and have some nice stag slippies by them, all German. I have a carbon steel, Delrin stocked, canoe that is a dandy little carry and has good blades.
 
I just ordered another one. This time it was a Grand Canyon Stockman. Very reasonable priced. I'll probably have it in hand next week.:)

Dean
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
Jacknife, don't feel alone. I've got a few carbon Bokers that I just can't get sharp the way I want them either. I also have some that are just fine and sharpen up easy. Go figure.

I do like Boker in general and have some nice stag slippies by them, all German. I have a carbon steel, Delrin stocked, canoe that is a dandy little carry and has good blades.
Click to expand...

Thanks Amos :thumbup:
Perhaps I'll give Boker another try one day. The fit and finish is good.
 
I recently bought a Boker Barlow, carbon, faux tortise. I love this knife. I did take some 600g to smooth out the edges of the bolster. I sharpen it using a sandpaper of a leather pad... It gets very sharp. I have used it in some bush carft (fuzz sticks, snare triggers) and it performed well.

I am very happy with mine fit, finish and function.

tjg
 
I like Boker a lot. I have a stag whittler, stag congress, yellow handled stockman and a couple of magnums. Thay have a great fit and finish and great snap closing. I haven't dulled one yet so I can't say much anout sharpening.
 
Got my third Boker recently. They've all been great. In fact, I recently realized I've seen more defects and issues with my Queens and Cases than I have with Boker. And while I know most of us are fully capable of sharpening our knives, I really wish Queen (and their premier brand, S&M) could figure out how to sharpen a knife before it left the factory. My sub $30 Bokers have all arrived razor sharp. Why won't manufacturers of knives that cost twice as much and more deliver similarly sharp knives?

-- Sam
 
I recently bought a Barlow it came very sharp and after a couple swipes on a loaded strop, it was perfect. It is my favorite "pocket knife". I am very pleased with the purchase. Fit and finish were very nice though I took so 600g to the bolster edges. Mine has the faux tortoise handle and it is perfect, "dressy", for office carry.
 
jacknife said:
I've got two, a Barlow and a Trapper. While the fit and finish is good I can't get a really good edge on them. It's an 'OK edge', but no better than that.
And...no!... it's not my sharpening.
I won't buy any more Bokers for that reason.
I don't know why this should be because others swear by their Bokers?
Click to expand...


I thought I'd better bring this thread back up and eat some humble pie. :o

Looks like it was my sharpening at fault. I had another go at sharpening these two Bokers and having given them a few strokes on a stone they came up pretty sharp.

Now I'm pretty pleased with them :)
 
I've seen some very nice bokers,But about everyone I've ordered left me disapointed.A imatation toriseshell stockman with two wobble blades right out of the box,loose handles big gaps in the springs etc.Buffalo horn lockback with a chip in the handle,big nick in a bolster and side to side play in the blade.Top lock was a disapointment as well really overpriced for 420 at 52rc and a terrible lock in my opinion(Might make more sense if mine was an auto)

The one boker I own and like is my black sodbuster,inexpensive,tough and wellmade.:)

I don't mean to put them down,but I wouldn't buy another unless I hand picked it and it was 50% off.:mad:
 
i have 2 boker folders (stockman 4474, and 1 blade trapper (# 93), both made in germany and stainless (tho the #93 was listed as carbon steel) and both with v. good fit and finish and sharp.
i have just ordered a trapper, carbon steel, made in U.S.A. and it is cheaper in price than the other 2.
so, are U.S.A. made bokers up to the same standard as the German ones ?
 
I've had mixed experiences with Bokers, they are quite popular here in Argentina so they were the first slippies I handled.

The ones my dad has, with carbon steel blades are excellent. Fit and finish is great, nice looking stag and sharp blades.

I've got two in stainless steel which I HATE. They are very well built, good springs and excellent fit and finish, but the blades are quite bad.

I have problems keeping them sharp, the only knives in my 350+ collection that I can't get scary sharp. Plus my copperhead has stainless blades but the springs will rust if you look at them, that sort of defeats the purpose of stainless blades.

Anyway, the carbon steel ones are really good. Stay away from any of the mistery stainless ones.
 
Be careful what you get.

Boker "Tree Brand" and "Tang Stamp" series knives are carbon steel, German-made knives. Not the best handle materials, but a good knife, cheaper than Case, at least as well made, and a good deal for the money, imo.

Boker "Arbolito" and many of their stainless knives come out of Argentina. Can't really comment on these. I think many of their "tactical" knives are also made here.

There's also the "Magnum" line, which is Chinese. Again, can't comment on these, other than that they're cheap.

Be sure you're comparing apples to apples.

-- Sam
 
I had a carbon Boker stockman. I still have the barlow that Boker made for AG Russell and a Boker made/ Burnt Chimney labeled single blade trapper. All three were made in Germany. The trapper is stainless but for my suburban office uses it's okay. The whole thing is just too nice to not carry. Great fit and finish. Strong spring. So, it's stainless. YMMV

Frank
 
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