Fight'n Rooster Stockman info

Signalprick

Signalprick

Jason Ritchie
Gold Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2009
Messages
3,260
So I like a good stockman! Who doesn't right! Well I saw a Fight'n Rooster on the auction site that really caught my eye. Love the bone and bomb shield. Tossed the seller a great offer in my favor and he accepted but honestly, I don't know a whole lot about these knives? Is this one maybe older? How would or could I date it? Stainless or carbon steel? I've seen a few postings that say the non celluloid are pretty nice quality knives. Anyway, I got it for a pretty great price and I'm looking forward to it. Appreciate any info from the experts! Thanks!

Here's a pic from the sellers listing.
s-l400.jpg
 
It looks like a more recent knife to me, but hard to tell. When you get it, take closeups of ALL the tang stamps and the main blade etch, then we can date fairly accurately. They were made by the Friedrich Olbertz factory in Solingen.
 
Frank Buster Cutlery stamped knives were from '76-'82, FB Celebrated stamped knives from '83-'94, and FB and Sons Celebrated knives from '95 on.

A couple more things: their celluloid knives have a reputation (self observed, unfortunately) of being gas bombs, and their carbon blades spot very easily, so keep them well oiled.
 
Looks like Frank Buster & Son stamped. Was the carbon steel junk on them?
s-l400 (1).jpg
 
Last edited:
No, the carbon steel is good, gets scary sharp, just seems to spot more than say, Case CV. Some think the 3rd generation "& Sons" knives have a slight loss of quality from the earlier ones, but it really goes on a knife by knife basis. I have two 3rd gen knives and they are both very nice, but my latest one is from 1996. I think as you get further on into the 200s there might be some loss of F&F.
 
Pardon my ignorance. Although the one I bought is bone, what does it mean when you say a celluloid handle is a "gas bomb"?
 
Depending on the chemical compounds used when the celluloid was manufactured later in life these would interact... break down and create what is known as gassing causing pitting on the exposed blade... at first on the spine then later the whole knife...

No their isn’t a way to tell whom used what type of celluloid..... or which manufactures...but I can say that the Fightn Rooster celluloid does gas from experience...
 
Boggs said:
Depending on the chemical compounds used when the celluloid was manufactured later in life these would interact... break down and create what is known as gassing causing pitting on the exposed blade... at first on the spine then later the whole knife...

No their isn’t a way to tell whom used what type of celluloid..... or which manufactures...but I can say that the Fightn Rooster celluloid does gas from experience...
Click to expand...
Interesting. I've never really been interested in the celluloid knives but this is good to know. Thanks!
 
I neglected to mention that stored with other knives this gassing will effect them as well
 
I have a number of the Fight'n Rooster knives. I think they are a great value provided you do not have celluloid scales. I can attest to the fact that those will out-gas and have a horrible effect on the knives. What's truly sad is that the colors on their cell scales was amazing.

That being said, the MOP and jigged bone scales are as good as it gets, and the F&F are hard to beat. The "Captain's" MOP knives are among the best I've seen from any maker. All the blades I've seen are carbon steel and very highly polished. I find them very easy to keep razor sharp.

It's kind of funny, since most of these were made in short runs (like GEC does today) but they have fairly limited collectability. You can still find a number of these in very nice shape, but the packaging is harder to come by.
 
I've never collected the Fight'n Rooster knives as a brand, but loving a nice Stockman pattern, I bought this one a number of years ago. It doesn't disappoint; I have many Stockman pattern knives and this Frank Buster Celebrated is certainly one of my nicest, easily on par with early 1970's Case Stockman pattern knives. You have yourself a nice Stockman there Jason, enjoy. I like the factories use of the longer bolster and narrow clip main blade - mine has the same features. OH
Fight_n_Rooster_Stockman_Green_Pick_Bone.jpg
 
Last edited:
Old Hunter said:
I've never collected the Fight'n Rooster knives as a brand, but loving a nice Stockman pattern, I bought this one a number of years ago. It doesn't disappoint; I have many Stockman pattern knives and this Frank Buster Celebrated is certainly one of my nicest, easily on par with early 1970's Case Stockman pattern knives. You have yourself a nice Stockman there Jason, enjoy. I like the factories use of the longer bolster and narrow clip main blade - mine has the same features. OH
Fight_n_Rooster_Stockman_Green_Pick_Bone.jpg
Click to expand...
Very cool. I saw one like this too and almost went for it instead. Thanks for the post, you got me excited!
 
They were truly the GEC of their day. Beautiful knives you have there Jeff. OH
Ps I recall seeing your Black Widow before - nice knife with a cool etch.
 
Yeah, B., it's got the same deep, random jigging that your green bone has. Great stuff!
 
The bone jigging on my green bone F'nR is probably the best jigging on any bone handled pocketknife I own. It is definitely one of my favorites, that is for sure (not sure how many Stockman pattern pocketknives I own - I'll guess around 130 - 150). OH

Ps My guess got me rambling around last night. I was way off; found 75 so far with a number missing (just sitting somewhere I have forgotten). I'm going to downsize my estimate to 90 - 100 (I sure feel better about my excessive ways knowing I own so many fewer!)
 
Last edited:
The stockman showed up today and it's pretty dang sweet to be honest. I like it! Bone is great in person, too notch jigging. Love the bomb shield on this one. Glad I took the plunge on it and even happier the seller gave me a great deal! Here's some pics along with a comparison shot next to my others.
20180523_114531.jpg

20180523_114541.jpg

20180523_114606.jpg

20180523_114813.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top