CS or Boker

[kamagong]

I'm thinking of picking up a new slipjoint. I have two choices, a Boker Red Bone whittler or a CS stockman.

Boker
Pros-
Actual bone handles instead of the plastic handles of the CS
Slightly prefer the whittler pattern to the stockman

CS
Pros-
Carbon V steel
CS consistently produces sharp knives

As you can see it's a toss up at this point. The two knives I'm considering are about equal in price so cost is not an issue. What are your experiences with these companies? Which one produces knives with better fit and finish? Which company's knives have better walk and talk?

 

[JD Mandrell]

I would personally get the Boker, especially if it has carbon steel blades. The Cold Steel, is actually made by Camillus, not a bad knife at all, but I have been very impressed with my Boker Congress. (German made line, not the Magnum line)

 

[Sharpthangs]

Boker. Hands Down.

The Boker will probably come a little duller initially, but that's easily fixable.

I have two of the CS knives (made by Camillus), and while both are great users, they do not compare to the Bokers in fit/finish/walk/talk or anything else.

The clincher for me is the handle material. The jigged delrin of the CS works fine, but it doesn't hold a candle to bone.

You'll probably be happy either way, but there's my $.02.

 

[kamagong]

I only have a couple of slipjoints--a Laguiole and a Buck medium stockman. Do you guys know if the Boker has two springs or three springs? Can anyone please post a pic of a Boker stockman or whittler from above so I can see how the blades are set in the handle?

Thanks.

 

[airyq]

I've got the Boker Smooth Red Bone Stepped Bolster Congress, the Boker Smooth Red Bone Stockman, the Boker Jigged Red Bone Stockman and the CS Stockman.

First off, the Boker Congress is much better made, in the sense of walk n talk, as compared to the 2 Boker stockman. My 2 stockman do not have half stops and the springs are a bit soft.

The CS on the other hand is well put together and has good snap. I also love the Carbon V/Becker steel that is used. Mine came razor sharp.

Have not seen the Boker whittler though.

From what I see, the knives in the Boker Red Bone series are not made equal. The only thing consistent with all 3 is that the shields have come off through mere handling and have had to be glued back on.

Hopefully, some one who has the Boker whittler will chip in.

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

I have a 280 Stag Boker Whittler with stainless steel blades. I prefer carbon steel, but wanted something in stainless to try out for summer carry here in south central Texas where you get sweat and humidity. It doesn't seem to walk and talk, but there is hesitation at the midway point. The master blade seems to be binding a little. I'll clean and oil the joint at some time and work it. I have the feeling that will make a difference. Since this is a true whittler in that the main blade uses both backsprings, while the two smaller blades only use one spring each, the master blade is held open pretty solid and closes with a strong snap. The master blade is reasonably sharp, the two smaller blades are less so, but usable. All three could use a trip to the sharpening bench to get them spot on.

I like Boker, but the newer ones I've dealt with recently seem to have a lot of variance. I haven't had a lot of Bokers, but the ones I've had from the last century (still seems wierd to say that.) had crisper actions out of the box. They just felt like a good solid slippy. My old Boker barlow, even after having gotten wet in storage and rusting along the backsprings, still walks and talks on both blades with authority.

The Boker congress pattern 5452 models, from my experience and what a dealer told me, have soft springs. The other models of congress have stronger springs. Even the soft sprung 5452 HH stag I had (sent back to Boker for replacement) had some walk n' talk to it, just soft all the way around.

I can't comment on the CS one as I haven't seen it. I would say that if you can look at and handle the Boker so you can pick one that has all the things you're looking for, do so. I don't have a problem with delrin on my Old Timers as that's how I've always known them, but I've come to really like bone, stag, or almost anything else on my other knives. Not that I'm anti-synthetic as evidenced by the yellow handled Cases that ride in my pockets nearly every day.

Whatever you get you need to let us know and if possible toss in a few pics. Good luck.