First Traditional/Slip Joint

LightGuy

LightGuy

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Sep 12, 2010
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I am considering picking up my first traditional slip joint blade, and I'm considering the Boker yellow bone copperhead. Carbon steel is a must have, and this has it, and I love the size, style and handle.

Thoughts? Any others comparable in this size with carbon steel I should consider for around $50?
 
My experience with German-made Boker traditional pocketknives has been 100% positive. Go for it.
 
I have 2 Tree brand stockman knives. The are identical except for color and fit and finish. One is flawless. One is a total POS.
 
Queen makes some Copperheads under the Queen City line with 1095 in addition to their regular single blade D2 version. Eye Brand is another to look out for. That said, I think the Boker looks nice with the yellow bone. I also really like the carbon steel that they use.

A yeller handled, carbon steel slip joint is a great way to get started.:cool:
 
At that price, I would steer you to GEC (Particularly their Scharade branded GEC made #73 model collectorknives.com has them in a few colors). They are simply fantastic. But, are about $10 more.
 
Just picked up a Boker Copperhead in blue bone couple weeks ago. Great knife, I've been very pleased with all the Solingen Bokers I've gotten, both carbon and stainless.
 
The copperhead is a great pattern. Good size, sturdy blade, easy on the pocket and affordable. The Boker you've picked out is a very good choice. There are some others out there. Case's copperhead is a bit bigger and not shaped exactly the same. You can look and see if that one strikes your fancy. Black mamba has posted a new blue bone wharncliffe model on the "What are you totin' " thead in the last week. You might take a look at it to determine if you might like the handle shape better. I have a red bone one like it, but don't have one of the ones with a standard clip blade (must do something about that).

I think the copperhead is a very nice pattern. If the Boker you are looking at strikes your fancy, go for it and let us know what you think about it.

Queen City copperhead:

DecKnives002.jpg


Ed J
 
joepa150 said:
How do you know if the Boker is German or not?
Click to expand...

I stand to be corrected, but if it says Boker (as opposed to Boker Plus, Boker Magnum, or Boker Arborlito), it should be made in Solingen, Germany.
 
What Jack wrote, it should have the Böker tree on the tang too, usually has on the handles a Böker coin shaped shield with the Chestnut tree in it.

My experience of Böker is highly positive, got maybe 10 and no poor ones yet. Their carbon sharpen up very satisfyingly. Just looking over the Copperhead in Grand Canyon bone now: good longpull on the Master blade, thick bone handles, NO gaps or play. I'd say Böker Germany is usually well ahead of CASE in fit&finish issues, not far off GEC only much cheaper and milder springs. I've always preferred the Copperhead over say a Trapper, more compact and something different.

Thanks, Will
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions. Sounds like the Boker copperhead might be like a good starter for me. I'm also considering the red bone whittler, since that's actually the activity I'll be doing quite a bit of with this knife. Anyone have the Boker Whittler? Is it any good?
 
Böker Whittler is a very nice 3 blade knife. Good Clip, Pen and Coping blades. Serpentine frame with a tapered backspring. Just surprised more people don't like them.
 
I agree that Boker knives are a good value for the money. Boker also made a swell centre whittler a few years ago.

This is the serpentine 280 pattern in redbone

28-08001.jpg
 
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Good shot s-k Thanks too for providing the pattern No. I didn't know that. Mine are in Washboard Bone and Appalossa Bone.

Regards, Will
 
smiling-knife said:
I agree that Boker knives are a good value for the money. Boker also made a swell centre whittler a few years ago.

This is the serpentine 280 pattern in redbone
Click to expand...

Great pic! Thanks for posting.

Well, I couldn't decide between the red bone whittler and the yellow bone copperhead, so I ordered one of each! I ordered from deadwoodknives. Never dealt with them before, so I hope they are reputable.

I'm hoping the steel is a good high carbon like O1 or 1095. Not sure what "Soligen" carbon steel is, but hopefully it's a true high carbon.

I'll check back in and post some pics once I get them. Thanks for all the input!
 
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Boker's Solingen carbon steel is C75. Here is a link to their steel chart. I have found that it takes a very nice edge with little effort. Looking forward to the forthcoming pics.:thumbup:
 
Your first traditional slip joint,and already following the Traditional Forum Creed "Buy Them Both"
Congrats and enjoy them.
Stan
 
dannyp said:
Boker's Solingen carbon steel is C75. Here is a link to their steel chart. I have found that it takes a very nice edge with little effort. Looking forward to the forthcoming pics.:thumbup:
Click to expand...
Thanks much - that's good to know about the steel. I was a little disappointed to see the Rockwell as low as 55 on the C75 vs 59 on the 1095. But, I guess that will make it all the easier to sharpen.
 
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