Browning folder quality?

A

Amos Iron Wolf

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Mar 7, 2006
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I know S&W folders are usually considered junk. (Forgive me, I did just pick up a trapper in sheeps' horn cheap, just for the pattern and handle material.) What about the Browning knives? Who makes them, what steel, and are there years that were good vs years that were not so good?

Most of the Browning stuff, especially the current line, doesn't appeal to me, but I've seen a few older folders that catch my eye. I'm not really familiar with them so I come to this gathering of esteemed and opinionated reprobates of all ages to access the accumulated wisdom. My kind of people. :thumbup:
 
I am just gowing to poke at you S&W comment for a moment. Their cheapo linerlocks are junk, but I have one of their sheephorn stockman's and it is a very nice knife. The quality seems excellent on the one I have.

As to the brownings, I find the current design to be less than desireable as well. At least some of them were USA made. I can't speak for the current one.
 
I have a couple of Browning slips, one a 3" Trapper Genuine Stag BR 342with AUS 8A and the other is a Med Stockman BR520 Amber Bone,both have nickel silver bolsters,,,,,Japanese made I beleive, but I still prefer my US made slipjoints.

Kap
 
mp510, Glad to hear that about the sheeps horn S&W. The one I bought is part of the Cutting Horse series. It will be shipping today. I like Trappers and I really liked the look of that sheeps horn on it. The price was right, the shipping was good and the guy had good feedback, there was only a minute or so left on the auction so I figured what the heck, for 11 bucks shipped, why not. I won't be the least bit bothered if it turns out to be a good knife. ;) So I don't have a problem with eating my words. Yours are reassuring. The main thing I've heard on a bunch of their slippies has centered around the steel being a little too soft. Construction has generally been considered decent.

Kapt, thanks for the info. I'm looking at a 1980s in the Bridger line.
 
The traditional style Brownings in my experience are pretty good. I have some of the older USA made browning folding hunters, and one made in Japan, and they all have 440C steel and are first rate. I believe they were all made in the 70's and 80's. I also have a contemporary folding lockback skinner with stag handles that is extremely nice. That one was made in Italy.

In my limited experience the quality is very good, and definitely not in the same league as the S&W low cost chinese made stuff.
 
The USA made Browning's were very high quality knives. I used the large folding hunter the entire time I was in Boy Scouts and it still had a lot of life left in it. As I recall I gave it to my little brother when he started Scouts.
 
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