Buying a nice slippie, advice needed

Noshtero

Noshtero

Joined
Oct 10, 2002
Messages
1,551
Hey all,

I'm crossing over (at least to try it) from the darkside of tactical folders.

I want a nice slippie in the $100 or less category.

I like the stockman pattern with a wharncliffe or sheepsfoot blade, spey blade, and standard. I think that's a standard stockman, but I've seen a few that replace the wharncliffe with another drop or clip point.

Here's the ones I've kinda looked at so far:
Bulldog Sowbelly
Case Stockman
GEC Cuban
GEC Stockman
Hen & Rooster Stockman
Moore Maker Stockman
Queen Cattle King
Schatt & Morgan Sowbelly

Thoughts?
Benefits of one over the other?

I'm thinking to keep the spey super sharp for surgury, wharncliffe for work, main blade for food. I find that the accute point on the wharncliffe is nice for cutting open boxes and what not.

Thanks!
 
Thought I'd throw a couple links to specific ones I'm looking at in case I'm describing them wrong. These may not be the specific scales I would get, but the patterns are right. Images borrowed from collectorknives

Hen & Rooster Stockman:
HRJV343CBLPBKY.JPG


GEC Cuban:
GEMLT53CB07.JPG


Bulldog Sowbelly:
BDML25thNBSB.JPG


Case Stockman:
CAML965318R.JPG


GEC Stockman:
GEML538308RW.JPG


Moore Maker Stockman:
MMML995302J.JPG


Queen Cattle King:
QNML49ACSB.JPG


Schatt & Morgan:
SMMLO43160.JPG
 
Last edited:
Sorry to trickle this in.

Let me also say that I would like to stay under 4".
I prefer a beefier knife instead of a gentlemanly thin knife.
I prefer a decently strong spring because I'm used to locking knives and do not want this to accidentally close on me.

Thanks again guys!
 
Noshtero said:
Sorry to trickle this in.

Let me also say that I would like to stay under 4".
I prefer a beefier knife instead of a gentlemanly thin knife.
I prefer a decently strong spring because I'm used to locking knives and do not want this to accidentally close on me.

Thanks again guys!
Click to expand...

Welcome to the folksy side.;)

Those all look good and I think the Tidioutes all have a firm lockup...at least the ones I have handled do. I don't have any knowlege about the others much except to say that any knife with half stops might be a bit safer,(this might be a controversial statement to some :) )

I think if you push agin the sharp side to cut stuff you should be safe no matter what :D. I've never had a slip joint fold up on me when I was using it properly.
 
Welcome to this little corner of the woods.

Its a really close one, and you cant go wrong with any of 'em, but if I had to pinpoint one, I'd say go for the Queen Cattle King.
The sheepsfoot is the most used blade in my stockman, and it is the best utility blade shape in my opinion.
If you like the pattern I'd recommend the US made Schrade 8OT as a beater(aka work knife)

peter
 
I have liked what I've seen from Amherst Cutlery, I think they are worth a look.

Also, some of the older Bucks may fit the bill for you, worth a look.
 
I have the Case, the GEC and the Schatt & Morgan models that you've posted above.

The Case medium stockman is a bit small for what you are looking for, I think. It is a classic pattern and a good knife- it's one of the most popular Case patterns for a reason. But I would not really consider it a heavy-duty knife. The Case large stockman with amber bone and CV blades might be more your style. That's a great knife to consider as well.

The GEC Cuban is great- most GEC's are. It's big and beefy, looks good and has great steel. The springs on mine are a little bit lighter than most of my other GEC's, I don't know if that's just that one individual knife, or if it is characteristic of that pattern. The GEC seems bigger than either the Case or the Schatt & Morgan. It is a big, manly knife. The Cuban and the Stockman are the same pattern, by the way. They just have different scales on them.

The Schatt & Morgan sowbelly is gorgeous. The fit and finish is perfect, it is just a jewel of a knife overall. It's a lot bigger than it feels or looks. I thought it was a small knife until I set it next to a GEC Scout- it has almost identical dimensions. Where GEC's feel stout and chunky, Schatt & Morgan feels elegant and classy. It is an unusual pattern- something you don't see every day. It is very comfortable in the hand, is very robust and cuts well. What's not to like?

I think all of the knives you're looking at are nice. I don't think you can really make a bad choice out of those. I would personally recommend the Schatt & Morgan, because I am very happy with mine.
 
I have the smaller Case Stockman, a Moore Maker Stockman, and the Queen Cattle King. All are well made. My stockmans are the smaller size, so I can't comment on the feel of the large ones that you would be looking at. The Cattle King has some heft to it and has strong springs, but not so strong it will rip your thumbnail off. It is one of my favorite traditional knives.
 
I see the Schatt and Morgan sowbelly is part of the 420HC line. I looked into the file and wire line and apparently they didn't make a stockman pattern in that. Shame.

I would prefer a little nicer steel than 420hc. I think the Queen is D2 right? The tidioutes are 1095 I think.
 
Of those you discussed, I also have the case 6375 stockman in cv steel, nice knife, good user. the Queen model 9 stockman in D2 steel, another really good user knive. The D2 really holds a good edge (once you get it there). And a number of MooreMaker stockmans, the 3 7/8, and 4 1/4 both in 1095 carbon steel. Of these that you mentioned, I love the Mooremakers, in carbon steel. you cant beat that edge. It sharpens incredibly well, and is easy to restore the edge after lenghty use. My preference is the MM 5301 3 7/8". Great user.
Jay
 
neeman said:
You show the Queen Cattle King in D2 it is 4 1/4"
The Queen large Stockman is 4"
Click to expand...

Nit picker ;)

OK I want stay "Around" 4".

I didn't realize that sizes were huge differences in the traditional slipjoint world. I'm not used to seeing size differences come down to eigths of an inch. The one stockman I looked at had a size of 3 5/8", and a different one was 3 7/8".

As a test run, I carried a 3 1/2" SAK around today and it rode just fine. Another 1/2" on it would have been fine too.

Thanks for the catch. I hadn't even looked at the size of the various ones I posted.
 
I think due to steel choices, I'm down to this short list:

Moore Maker Stockman #5301
GEC Tidioute Cuban #53
Queen Large Stockman #3253 / Cattle King #3268

Is the only difference on the Queens the size?
If you haven't rung in yet, pick from these three please.

Thanks so much guys!
 
I have the Queen Cattle King, it is my definition of a "working man's knife". It is a proper sized handful and the springs are just right.
 
I don't thank you cold go wrong with the GEC :thumbup:1095 carbon and hefty to boot great usability IMHO!;)
 
Noshtero said:
Nit picker ;)

OK I want stay "Around" 4".

I didn't realize that sizes were huge differences in the traditional slipjoint world. I'm not used to seeing size differences come down to eigths of an inch. The one stockman I looked at had a size of 3 5/8", and a different one was 3 7/8".

As a test run, I carried a 3 1/2" SAK around today and it rode just fine. Another 1/2" on it would have been fine too.

Thanks for the catch. I hadn't even looked at the size of the various ones I posted.
Click to expand...

LOL
They are very different sizes

The Cattle King #49 is a much larger and robust knife than the Large Stockman #9
I would wear the Cattle King in a leather belt pouch not in my pocket!

Not that the Large Stockman is any slouch, but much more pocketable.

The D2 holds an edge for ever...
 
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