father's day gift

[hlee]

NOW IMPROVED... WITH PICTURES!!

I'm looking for a gift for my dad. Trapper or large stockman pattern. Stag scales. Steel of known provenance (not "surgical stainless"), carbon or higher end stainelss steel preferred. Good fit, finish, walk, and talk. Un/fortunately, my dad will use it like he stole it so I'm not looking for a custom at this time. I'd like to keep the price at or less than $100 give or take 10%. I'm willing to push on the price a bit for a really fine specimen.

He's always carried a trapper or stockman of one kind or another, but I distinctly remember his cursing a manufacturer for using stainless that "would get dull in your pocket." I know his "ole yeller handled" knife always got high praise for sharpness and edge holding. He will most likely use it for things that a pocket knife shouldn't be used for so all of those nice customs in the makers' forum are out.

There are so many production makers that it can be a bit overwhelming to sift though them all. Add to it that I ususally carry a benchmade or a spyderco brand knife (although I have been carrying an opinel #9 lately) and I am mostly at a loss for where to start.

Please forgive that I am trying to use this group to do the leg work that I haven't, but I figure that most of it has already been done by others in this forum. So... any suggestions?

 

[YayILikePie]

How about that Case Swayback Jack with CV blades and chestnut bone handle scales? Seems like quite a knife, and I believe it is less than $100. If you wanna get fancy, there's also a stag version.

 

[texasflyfisher]

Great Eastern Cutlery has the #73 and #23 trapper models in 1095 carbon steel that should meet the price range and meet or exceed the quality requirements.

 

[jackknife]

He's always carried a trapper or stockman of one kind or another, but I distinctly remember his cursing a manufacturer for using stainless that "would get dull in your pocket." I know his "ole yeller handled" knife always got high praise for sharpness and edge holding. He will most likely use it for things that a pocket knife shouldn't be used for so all of those nice customs in the makers' forum are out.

Why not buy him a new version of what he gave such high praise to before?

Case makes some very nice yellow handle pocket knives with CV blades just like the ones he probably grew up with.

If he loved his "ol yeller handle knife", get him a new one that he can use for all sorts of things. Do you lknow what pattern his old one was?

From what you say, he sounds like an old timer who knew the old days. He won't be happy with any new stainless knife, so don't buy him what you think he'd like. Buy him what he knows HE likes.

 

[kamagong]

Take a look at Great Eastern Cutlery. Their Northfield line is made with good old 1095 steel, and offers knives with gorgeous sambar stag scales.

 

[mnblade]

I'm looking for a gift for my dad. Trapper or large stockman pattern. Stag scales ... carbon or higher end stainelss steel preferred. Good fit, finish, walk, and talk. Un/fortunately, my dad will use it like he stole it so I'm not looking for a custom at this time. ... I distinctly remember his cursing a manufacturer for using stainless that "would get dull in your pocket." I know his "ole yeller handled" knife always got high praise ...

I'm a big Case fan (I'm a knife user, not collector), so I'd suggest one of the following:

Trapper in chestnut bone with CV steel.

Trapper in amber bone with CV steel.

Trapper in yellow with CV steel.

Large stockman in amber bone.

If you think he might consider a smaller pattern, like a medium stockman or mini trapper, here is the link for all the CV knives Case makes.

Other good options include Moore Maker, Boker and Queen.

 

[hlee]

Thanks for the replies. I'll look into Great Eastern.

To reply to jackknife, it was a trapper, but I don't know the model #. He is a BIG fan of good stag, and while he will- and I want him to- use the knife, I want something that is upscaled from yellow derlin.

 

[Will Power]

The Stag handled GEC No.73 Liner lock I have takes some beating in the beauty and Traditional dept. Will cost more than 100 though.Bone handled versions are cheaper.

GEC also do Harness Jacks and Muskrats that might fit the bill .Look at their website for dealers, they are all very reliable,many good galleries too.

 

[kamagong]

He is a BIG fan of good stag, and while he will- and I want him to- use the knife, I want something that is upscaled from yellow derlin.

That's good, because GEC uses good stag on their knives.

 

[d.parker]

Check this one out, I believe it's 1095 carbon steel.. Call this man he is a good one to deal with and will answer all of your questions... Click Here

 

[mnblade]

I just noticed that VintageKnives.com also now has a link that shows all the Case CV knives they sell. Handy for us folksy carbon snobs.

 

[hlee]

Finally addign some pictures. These showed up in another thread. GEC does use some good stag. #26 is staying here, #29 is going to my dad when he comes out here next month. The long pull w/o end caps is staying as well.

 

[hlee]

Better pictures of the #73LP.