Browning knives?

mnblade

mnblade

Joined
Feb 7, 2000
Messages
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I noticed that a lot of the Browning folders use AUS-8 steel. Not the latest and greatest, I reckon, but I once had an AUS-8 Spyderco Delica and I thought it was darn good using steel; certainly not your crappy, run-of-the-mill "surgical stainless." Any thoughts on the Browning pocketknives? Who manufactures them? I've never handled one but they seem to be pretty sweet slipjoints in the <$40 market.
 
They are made by the same folks who bring you those quality firearms and fly fishing gear. Slip joints are only a small percentage of their total knife production. I have a trapper in what they call their "featherweight" line...it is their version of a using knife, but still almost too pretty to beat up, IMO. They are very good at the presentation/limited edition type stuff.

BTW, this trapper came from the factory very, very sharp...it's the only knife I have made out of AUS8A and I have not used it enough to be able to make a judgment about the steel.
 
When I was looking for a stockman pattern knife I handled the larger browning stockman model at a local gun store. The wood handles were a nice touch at the pricepoint as is the steel compared to other stainless steels on the sub $30 stockmen. The blades had OK walk and talk but the fit between the brass liners and springs wasn't as good as the Buck Cadet that I have which doesn't have any gaps at all. This probably doesn't make a difference in actual use, but it bugs me just the same. I ended up buying a queen cocobolo cattle king stockman and then returning it as the overall quality of the individual one that I got wasn't worth the price but I have read from other posts here that a lot of folks got great samples. I now have a less expensive queen winterbottom stockman.
 
I love Browning knives! I have three, a medium lockback, a 4 inch drop-point fixed blade, and a mini-trapper, all in the "feather-lite" series. They are all made in Japan, Seki City, I would guess.

The steel is really good, as good as my old Gerber's 440c. The only thing I don't like is the finish on the blade's pivots look kinda rough, and the folders don't open as smooth as, say, any of my other knives. Nice and snappy, just not smooth. I like the looks of the plastic/wood on this series, too.

I do wish the fixed blade was convex ground instead of hollow ground, but this is only a minor thing. It cuts like a champ.

I keep hoping that one day they will give away a free BPS with every knife purchase, but this hasn't happened yet. I'm sure they would sell a lot of knives if they tried this. :D
 
This Browning <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2100675883&r=0&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=1021237895&indexURL=0&rd=1">stockman</a>. Has my preferred blade layout, plus great-looking stag handles. For me, though, it's a half inch too long (I asked the guy, it's a four incher) and I prefer rounded bolsters. A GREAT looking knife, nonetheless.
 
Wow, Mnblade! That's a German made Browning. I think they are all made in Japan now. It's probably got "Soligen" steel, like a lot of the German makers call their steel. I don't know when they stopped making them in Germany, or if that is a special release. Sure looks cool, though. Nice to see a stockman with a pen blade instead of a spey. Nothing against speys, I would just like to have the option of a pen blade from time to time.
 
Although Browning does use other manufacturers (sp?), a very reliable source tells me the presentation folders are made by MOKI (hence the AUS-8). Most of their higher end knives are made by MOKI including the new presentation fixed blades. It's tough to get much better than that product IMHO.
 
I just picked up a fixed blade browning knife 1970s era it is 3 inch blade brass handle with brazilian rosewood inset in handle overall length is 6 1/2 inches no sheath though can anyone recommend where I can get an inexpensive sheath for this knife I can post pic if I knew how ? Someone tell me how to post pic
ps this browning knife is the sportsmans series
garand
 
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