Boker Tree Brand Classics opinion sought...

S

Stainz

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Jun 24, 2007
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My late Dad always referred to his Boker Tree Brand pocket knife with praise, although it was 'lost' somewhere in the 60's. I recently stripped a gear and actually started 'betting' on Evil-bay - and acquired several new ones from a vendor. I liked the red bone scales - and bought a congress, copperhead, stockman, and whittler. My question concerns additional examples to get.

Which Boker Tree Brand slippies would add to my collection some representative knives in appropriate handles? I cannot afford a bunch, but I want a representative collection. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Recall, I am sixty, retired, and don't have copious amounts of moola - be kind! Thanks!

Stainz
 
My dad passed away in 2005. He carried a Boker red jigged bone copperhead, that I'm lucky enough to still have. Good luck on your quest.
 
I have 5 copperliners, including one with G-10 scales and another with some of the nicest stag I have ever seen. Nicely made and fit great in a pocket.

Also have a trapperliner and a few regular trappers, but the copperliner pattern is my favorite.
 
Both of my EDCs are carbon/ delrin. Nothing fancy, just humble workers. In the past I've had bone and even micarta but it's the delrin I hung on to. Go figure.

Frank
 
All though I am not a big fan of the Barlow, I own 3, a Boker, Sabre and a Western. It sounds like a Boker Barlow would fit in nicely with your collection.
 
Böker do a decent knife, try a Copperhead in Grand Canyon bone, very nice jigging on that and this bone pattern comes in Congress,Stockman and Barlow I believe. I have a stainless bladed pen-knife in Honeycomb bone which I like enormously,not sure what other patterns it comes in. I swapped a Canal St Trapper in D2 for a Böker large Stockman with a fellow member. This Stockman has not the usual round Tree shield but a heraldic shaped shield, the bone is a strange mottled colour but very good called Apoolossa bone (after the horse I think)
 
My experience has been hit or miss with Boker, I have a Barlow that aside from my Case stockman is my usual edc, it is great as far as F+F goes though still not a Case, I just really like the pattern. I have gotten a couple stinkers from Boker that had wobbly blades, loose scales, chipped bone, and most have had very obtuse edges. It is isn't stopping me from buying or recommending Boker and I am currently trading some of my other slippies in hopes of getting a Boker stockman.
 
Just ordered a Boker stockman from newgraham, I got the one with the red pick bone handle and carbon steel blades with no etch. Will give everyone an update when I recieve it.
 
Funny thing, I have been thinking about Boker offerings lately... I have been searching the bay lately to find a twin to the easy out jack my father carried. He passed in 2005 as well. I have not found that twin yet, but am looking hard at the Boker models with derlin and carbon like Frank mentioned. I do not know what the appeal is, but it calls out to me. Simple, functional and looks good. Price is good too. My search may be expanding to some of the regular online retailers as well.
 
Sorry for the late update. I got the Boker in the mail about a week ago and it is fantastic. The fit and finish are spot on, the springs have lighter tension than most, but I like them, they are consitant and smooth. No gaps in the springs at all and the bone is gorgeous, I love the red pick bone jigging pattern. All the blades are finished well and open straight with no cant, no play in any of the blades and all were sharp. Very happy about this knife, funny thing is I haven't carried or used it yet, can't seem to put my favorites up.

Not my pic, but shows the model and jigging pattern
redstock.jpg
 
Here's an old Boker USA Premium Stockman that was originally purchased in 1959 by my father and then given to my grandfather who carried the knife for over 20 years.

The old Boker has seen a lot of use the frame is warped a bit from use, the main blade is a little loose, the shield fell out and was out and was put back in out of center.

But still has a lot of life left in it the scales are solid, the knife still has good snap and is razor sharp. Not bad for a 50 year old knife! It also carries a lot of memories for me.

Cheers!
 
I have a Boker large soddie that at first I didn't like all that much. It wasn't that sharp out of the box and I wasn't crazy about the feel of the synthetic handle. I don't think I paid more that $20 for it and for that price it's a lot of knife at around a 4" blade. I sharpened it up a bit and stained the blade in vinegar, now it's grown on me. I can never figure out how to upload a pic but it can be seen here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28393890@N07/3425771139/
 
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I have large Boker Sodbuster, that Blues' dog decided I could have. :D I'd recommend that one to anyone looking for a good basic model to start with. Mine came fairly sharp; it's a laser now, and getting it sharper was as easy as any carbon steel blade I have. I worked the outside edges down a little, and it'll be a great user for the summer here for yardwork, etc. I'll be getting a few more Bokers here soon.

thx - cpr
 
I got a new Boker Tree Brand Washboard Red Bone Stockman and compared it with my old USA-made Buck 301 and a stag handled fellow German-made Puma Stockman, which I had bought locally at an 'Academy Sports' chain store for a song on closeout. The existing Stockman models are SS, while the Boker TB is CS - and came laser-sharp. I do believe I paid more, dollar-wise not corrected for inflation, for the Boker - but it was still less than $36 inc s/h from a dealer's evil-bay auction. Clearly, it is the nicest of the three, although I have had my Buck 301 for nearly nineteen years and, to be fair, it is the most stoutly made. Oddly, it's secondary blades are reversed, too, in comparison with the German models.

IMG_3384.jpg


Stainz
 
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