Favorite: Stockman or Friction Folder (includes Opinel) [bracket]

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pinnah

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Jul 28, 2011
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What is your favorite style of knife and why:
Stockman
Friction folding peasants knife (includes the Opinel)


We're in the semi-finals now.

The criteria for "favorite" is entirely up to you. All I ask beyond telling us which is your favorite is that you explain your own thinking. Pictures of your favorites and stories describing why they're your favorite are strongly encouraged. It's really the point, actually.

This question is a part of a summer "bracket" discussion series. I took nominations for patterns in a related thread but in the end, I selected 8 finalist based on whim and bias. Sort of like the NCAA tournament.

Below is the bracket for the final four. The results from the quarter final round are below that (winners in bold).

Make your "vote" clear and I'll work to tally the results. Voting on this round will end in about a week. It's summer and I'm not going to be punctual.


SEMI-FINAL HEATS
------------------
QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 1. <--- don't vote on this one; winner in bold
Serpentine Jack (includes the peanut)
Scout/Camper/Swiss Army Knife (particularly the 3-5 blade versions)

QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 2 <--- vote on this one
Stockman
Friction folding peasants knife (includes the Opinel)



QUARTER FINAL RESULTS (winners in bold)
-----------------------------------------
QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 1.
Bowie/Ka-Bar fixed blade (particularly with 5"-9" blades)
Serpentine Jack (includes the peanut)

QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 2
Lockback folding hunter (e.g. Buck 110, GEC #72)
Scout/Camper/Swiss Army Knife (particularly the 3-5 blade versions)

QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 3
Stockman
Finnish/Swedish Puukko (includes the Mora)

QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 4
Friction folding peasants knife (includes the Opinel)
German Hippekniep (aka Sod Buster)
 
Last edited:
pinnah said:
SEMI-FINAL HEATS
------------------
QUARTER FINALS - MATCH 1. <--- don't vote on this one; winner in bold
Serpentine Jack (includes the peanut)
Scout/Camper/Swiss Army Knife (particularly the 3-5 blade versions)
Click to expand...

Nunh-UH!

(Bolding trouble?)

I now return you to your regularly scheduled bracket thingy.

~ P.
 
This is a tuff one Stockman are great, three useful blades, Opinel #9 is also a fav, for more then 6 years a Boker large stockman and my Opi #9 were paired as my everyday carry, I'm going to have to think about this, before I can pick one or the other.
 
Stockman all the way. I do use my Opinel somewhat regularly, as I keep it in my front room for opening packages which come in. But the stockman is my favorite for carry because of the multiple blades. I always have whatever I need with a stockman.
 
I've never owned an opinel and probably never will. They don't appeal to me at all. Stockman knives, on the other hand, are a favorite pattern. I own about two dozen different models and am on the lookout for more. They have three different blade profiles so they can handle any cutting chore. They are made in many different sizes from peanut sized models up to 4" or more. They are very versatile and range from plain-jane utilitarian examples all the way to deluxe custom models made by famous makers like Tony Bose or Ken Erickson. To me there is no contest; the stockman is the winning pattern.
 
Stockman.

I keep trying other patterns, but keep returning to the stockman as the one most useful to me.
 
I have evolved into a dyed-in-the-wool stockman fan, all the way. I like my Opinels too, but always have at least one stockman in the pocket (and sometimes two). :)

My vote is for the stockman. :thumbup:
 
I find that my standard go-to daily selection of a pocket knife every morning most often lands on a stockman pattern of some sort. I love being able to utilize both a sheepsfoot and a clip blade depending on circumstances, and the variety of shapes and styles within the stockman group is quite impressive. One of my favorite pocket knives of all time is a Case medium stockman, the serpentine one in cv steel; this knife was my first proper traditional style pocket folder and really was the gateway to my current collection. As such, I will always have a strong fondness for the stockman pattern.
 
Very easy vote for me. The Opinel by a long shot.

Can't get into the clip point of the stockman. Just can't. Truth be told, I simply prefer locking knives.

Feather light. Tough as nails. Incredible blade. I'm never without one.


opinel #10 by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
To me, it´s the stockman. You have three blades with different pros and cons. This setup is hard to beat... Opinels are nice, for sure. But Stockmen are nicer.

Kind regards
Andi
 
Stockman because of blade selection, myriad of sizes, from <3" to >4", handle materials and even blade steels. I have one Opinel #8 that hangs out in my Scouting bag as a general purpose knife and like it, but the Stockman pattern has grown on me to the point where I have a nice selection.

The only other friction folder I've tried is the Svord and it was too big for pocket carry for me so I gave it to my bro-in-law and he loves it in a belt sheath. I've seen some nice ones here like the Morris and custom Japanese Higonokami and may try other, but my vote in this bracket is Stockman.
 
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