boker opinions

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bruss

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Apr 21, 2009
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just developed an urge to buy some slipjoints..i got my first from the buy forum here (case hunter) and then i ended up at cabelas and bought a new blue bone case trapper which i just cant put down..now after looking around on the net im curious as to how the quality is on the inexpensive boker slippies, how do they compare to the case products (fit finish sharpness blade wobble etc) thanks
 
Hi,

I've got a few Case knives and I've had 2 German made Bokers. A Copperhead and a Barlow. I gave the Copperhead to my Father-in-law when he needed a new knife. He likes it and uses it a lot. I have the Barlow in my EDC rotation and find it not only a good user, but also handsome.

I would rate the fit and finish maybe a 1/2 step below Case. But still very well made knives. Personally, I think Boker could run their C75 steel a bit harder than they do. It would compare a bit better to Case's CV then. But all in all, it holds an edge well enough and is easy to sharpen.

I have yet to see and hold a Chinese made Boker. I think those are the Magnum line. So I don't have an opinion on those.

dalee
 
For years I've been very impressed with the fit and finish of the Solingen, Germany made Boker slipjoints.
(I've had about 50 of them in various patterns.)

I'd stay away from the Boker Magnum series.
 
Over the past few years, I would say I've had better luck with the Bokers I've owned compared to the Cases. I'll betcha at one point I had 3 Bokers for every 1 Case. I had a run on Case where they just weren't right, so I started buying Boker and kept until I had a nice little collection.

Recently, I am quite impressed with the 2 Cases I've bought. A swayback jack in CV and slimline trapper. These seem much better than the ones from a few years ago. I recently bought a Boker Congress and noticed that the blades were a little thinner than a similar one I bought a couple years ago. Go figure?

I just noticed you mentioned "inexpensive" Boker. I don't have any experience with the Magnum line if that's what you're referring to. I can only speak of the non-Magnum slippies.

I would still buy the Bokers and would consider giving Case some more business. (BTW the older Cases from the '70's and beyond are incredible.) Try one of these if you ever get a chance. I think you'd be impressed.

Matt
 
my boker barlow is a little better than any case knife i've handled give a few.
 
By "inexpensive", are you talking about the Boker Magnums or German made Bokers? As has been said, the Boker Magnums are made in China (Nothing against that, I actually like the Rough Riders I've had & keep hearing how nice Kissing Cranes are), but I don't think they compare to the German made Bokers.

Personally, I thought my German made Boker was just about the equal of my Case CV, steelwise, but the F&F on my Cases (Later models) are VERY good (Better than the Boker, IMHO).
 
My Boker Barlow Grand Canyon is wonderful. It only had one issue that slipped past the quality folks. The pen blade wouldn't open all the way in line with the spine like it should. It was about 10 degrees short. I filed part of the kick (?) and it's perfect. The rest of the knife is right at CASE for me. And I love the carbon steel.
 
I own three of the Boker Magnums (China). A Medium Stockman, a large 4 blade Congress, and a Copperhead.

They are all pretty well built. The Stockman and the Congress I don't carry much. The Stockman's springs could be a little stronger, and the Congress is pretty hefty, but the Copperhead is pretty sweet. The Copperhead is on par with most standard Case knives as far as initial F&F goes. The slightly strong pull is just right IMO for blades without 1/2 stops, right between case and GEC. The scales thmselves feel and look a little less refined than our domestics or German built, but there are no gaps, the springs are flush, the blades are sharp and look better than the $7.50 (to my door) that I paid for it says they should. Time will tell just how big of a bargain (or not) these turn out to be, but IMO for $7-&10 you reallly can't go wrong.

I have a few Rough Riders as well and I feel like the Boker are just a little better in the F&F department, and the blades are finished/ground just a little better.
 
I can't speak for the current Bokers vs. Case, as I have a liking for the older slipjoint's. I have been carrying an older Boker stockman ( mdl #8586 ) and I love the knife. Take's a good edge and holds it well. It's a working knife with a lot of character. I own a couple of Case's as well but they just haven't been able to work their way into my pocket yet! The new Boker's( Germany ) appear to be well made, in traditional German method. The new Case's are good looking knives as well.
 
Have have several of both Cases and Bokers. I have a Boker Barlow on me today. Carbon steel blade, faux tortoise shell handle. I love this knife. I have not owned their stainless. Compared to my Case mini-trapper and bareheaded trapper, I like the grinds better on my Boker Copperhead and Barlow. They seem flatter. I will say this - one of my all time favorite yard knives is a stainless Sodbuster. Simplicity at its finest.
 
If you want "CHEAP" get a rough rider instead of a Boker Magnum. If you are wanting a Boker Made in Germany it's a good knife. Another "CHEAP" slip joints that I personally like are the Kissing Cranes. Some Kissing Cranes are made in Italy, Germany, and China. I have 1 fomr China and Germany but none from Italy, but I was told they are good for the price. Hope this helps in your search!:thumbup:;)
 
The jigging on Böker's Grand Canyon series is extremely good, deep,varied and well cut.
Finish is a bit variable, when good it's excellent,when not good it's still acceptable(a rough edge here or there,snap is not always strong but many people like that)The Russell Barlow I have from Böker is a very fine small knife. I find their stainless better than carbon,the latter is not so good at edge holding but still reasonable. To sum up, worth getting.
 
A good knife in a carbon, softer than Case CV.
The blades are thinner than Case and are flat ground which sharpens very easily and keeps well.
They open softer than American knives, but this is how I remember buying knives in England as a kid.

I did not pay more than $40 for any of them.
Very good value indeed

Unhapply I just lost the Congress :(

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I have a Henkels and Boker in SS, which gets very sharp and lasts.
 
I've had only good experiences with the German made Bokers. None of them cost me more than $40. All of them were carbon except one. Mostly users in delrin but very capable work knives with good walk and talk.

Frank
 
mshambone said:
Recently, I am quite impressed with the 2 Cases I've bought. A swayback jack in CV and slimline trapper. These seem much better than the ones from a few years ago.
Matt
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CL01 said:
the F&F on my Cases (Later models) are VERY good
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I've also found this to be true - the (new) Case knives I've bought recently have been excellent as to fit, finish, and edge. :thumbup:
 
thanks for the advice, i guess i'll stay away from the china ones and maybe pick up new case/fleabay german bokers/70's case, sounds like a plan ?
 
bruss said:
thanks for the advice, i guess i'll stay away from the china ones and maybe pick up new case/fleabay german bokers/70's case, sounds like a plan ?
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Sounds like a good plan - just be aware that those 70's Case knives fetch some pretty hefty prices. They're classic "collector items" with a solid following.

Either a German made Boker or a currently manufactured Case should do you fine. :)
 
Good thread. I was wanting a tortoise scaled slippie and have looked at Bokers line. This info was a help.:thumbup:
 
The only Boker slippie I have is a Magnum one, a copperhead, I like the backsprings, they're pretty strong and stiff in a good way, fit and finish isn't great, 1 blade hits the backspring when closed.
 
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