Competitors to Buck 302 Solitaire?

19-3ben

19-3ben

Joined
Jul 27, 2015
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Hey all. I'm a real newb when it comes to traditionals, so figured I'd come here and ask.

I'm looking for a single-bladed traditional. It has to be kind of classic/classy looking because it's going to be in a professional office setting so I'm going to rule out something like the basic looking Case Sodbuster, great knife though it is.

Right now, numero uno is the Buck 302. Wood and brass is darn classy. I'm sure Case and Boker and maybe a couple others must have competitors though.
-Bone is always nice.
-Prefer made in USA, given the choice.
-I prefer slipjoints to friction folders (otherwise an olive wood Opinel would be a great choice as well)
-Open to both stainless vs. carbon steel, but slight preference goes to carbon steel or Case's CV.

So what say you? What are my options?
 
Case Teardrop Jack
This one is in 6.5 Bonestag and Tru-Sharp stainless
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Case Sway Back Gent. Smaller than the Teardrop.
The knife below will give you the idea though it is a Swayback Jack with two blades. This one is in CV and Chestnut bone

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Case is making a lot of non-plain Sodbusters these days in various with various bone colors, jigging, and shields.

They offer a few single blade mini trappers, usually with a wharncliffe blade. A really nice knife. They have offered the patterns with a single clip point, but unfortunately not too often.

My favorite pattern is the Slimline Trapper. Case has 'em with all kinds of colors of bone, single or dual bolsters. The patterns is a little larger than I generally like to carry, but the slimline is an exception, pocketing more comfortably than the smaller Sodbuster Jr.
 
The slimline trapper would be my vote as well. Case also offers the mini copper lock that could be what you're looking for.
 
Perfect. Slimline trapper is exactly the alternative I was looking for.

So how does the Case SL trapper compare to the Buck Solitaire?
 
Case did a run of their 47 pattern (normally only offered as a Premium Stockman) in a Jack about 15 years ago. Case offered the 6147SS handled in Antique Bone with a highly polished SS blade and in Red Delrin with the As Ground (Workman) SS blade. I bought this one from a dealer showcase in the last year or two - the Case single blade jacks are out there and are nice knives. I own a Buck 302 as well - I would place the quality between the two I own as dead even. OH

Case_6147_SS_-_2002_Mark_.JPG


Buck_302_Solitaire_-_MFG_-_2010.JPG
 
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