Getting back in to traditionals

ebidis

ebidis

Joined
Jun 23, 2012
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I used to always carry a Case med Stockman, blue jigged bone, in my pocket, and it was my most used and useful knife (also became my preferred pattern). A couple of years ago, I gave it to a guy that I met who was just getting into knives.

I had the intention of replacing it, but I didn't get around to it, and time just passed. After a couple of years without carrying a traditional, I guess I just forgot how useful they really are.

A couple of weeks ago, I was going through a box of stuff and found this.



I had forgotten I even had it, and was excited. It's like getting a new knife. I put it in my pocket and started carrying it, and enjoying it, but I was really missing the med Stockman pattern, so I took a trip to my local knife shop a couple of days ago, and picked this up.

Med Stockman, jade jigged bone.



I know it's nothing extraordinary, or amazing, but I'm gonna use the tar out of it.

I'm already contemplating more trad's. Hmmm... I've never owned a GEC, I suppose they have Stockmans.:)

What brands would you all suggest? I like medium Stockmans, and jigged bone, but I'm willing to try different handle materials.

I also have no problem spending the money for good knives (for instance I own Chris Reeve Knives, ZT's, etc).
 
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GEC is where it's at in the traditional world these days. Problem with them is that they are a relatively small shop and they don't have any standard production patterns, so if you want a stockman you have to wait until they decide to make some, or pick up some of the less popular handle materials from the few that dealers may still have, or buy them in the secondary market. Also, GEC has become so popular that many of their production runs are largely sold out via pre-order, so you'll need to get cozy with a dealer who accepts pre-orders and be willing to buy sight-unseen. It has been a while since their last medium-sized stockman. Their more recent runs have been in the 4" range.

Queen is another higher quality maker but their QC seems to be hit and miss from what I have read. I have a Queen stockman and it is very high quality product, up there with GEC's best efforts. However, I don't know when it was made so it may have been older stock. I can't speak for their current production.

Canal Street Cutlery makes great knives though their selection of handle materials is limited, and their only stockman pattern is a 4".

Case still produces a large number of knives in multiple stockman patterns, stainless and carbon steel, and a wide variety of handle materials and colors, at a lower price point than the others, but with hit-and-miss QC as well. Depends on what level of perfection you expect in your pocket tools as to whether you will care or not.
 
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Welcome back!! I went through my phase of having spyderco's and benchmade's but found my way back to traditionals pretty easily.

The only stockman I have from GEC is the 66 serpentine pattern. I probably should look at their other stockman offerings such as the 81 or 82. You'll pay more than the Case. I can't comment on quality difference because I don't have many Case knives. This is my 66 Calf Roper in ebony (etch has been removed). You can find any GEC in a variety of handle materials which makes it nice.

 
ebidis said:
I used to always carry a Case med Stockman, blue jigged bone, in my pocket, and it was my most used and useful knife (also became my preferred pattern). A couple of years ago, I gave it to a guy that I met who was just getting into knives. ...

I had the intention of replacing it, but I didn't get around to it, and time just passed.
I'm already contemplating more trad's. Hmmm... I've never owned a GEC, I suppose they have Stockmans.:)

What brands would you all suggest? I like medium Stockmans, and jigged bone, but I'm willing to try different handle materials.

I also have no problem spending the money for good knives ...
Click to expand...

Good on you for gifting that stockman to a friend in need. :thumbup: BTW, that's a sweet green stockman you have.

As to what's next, my advice is to check out a GEC for sure. The 66 calf roper stockman would be a perfect fit for you.

Be sure to let us know what you end up with, and how it suits you.

-- Mark
 
jc57 said:
GEC is where it's at in the traditional world these days. Problem with them is that they are a relatively small shop and they don't have any standard production patterns, so if you want a stockman you have to wait until they decide to make some, or pick up some of the less popular handle materials from the few that dealers may still have, or buy them in the secondary market. Also, GEC has become so popular that many of their production runs are largely sold out via pre-order, so you'll need to get cozy with a dealer who accepts pre-orders and be willing to buy sight-unseen. It has been a while since their last medium-sized stockman. Their more recent runs have been in the 4" range.

Queen is another higher quality maker but their QC seems to be hit and miss from what I have read. I have a Queen stockman and it is very high quality product, up there with GEC's best efforts. However, I don't know when it was made so it may have been older stock. I can't speak for their current production.

Canal Street Cutlery makes great knives though their selection of handle materials is limited, and their only stockman pattern is a 4".

Case is still produces a large number of knives in multiple stockman patterns, stainless and carbon steel, and a wide variety of handle materials and colors, at a lower price point than the others, but with hit-and-miss QC as well. Depends on what level of perfection you expect in your pocket tools as to whether you will care or not.
Click to expand...

The case I just bought has acceptable f&f, but I know there is better, but I've also seen worse. In my experience Case is kind of hit or miss, but the good ones are pretty nice. This new stockman is better than my Case Canoe, and way better than my med Stockmans from Buck, or Bear and Sons.

Fortunately my local knife shop carries a large selection of Case knive, so I can inspect before buying. Unfortunately, they do not (yet) carry any other brands.

I have been collecting and using knives for years, and I like high end, quality pieces. Plus, sometimes the thrill of the hunt is what's the most fun.
 
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GEC doesn't have any stockman patterns that are a direct equivalent of the Case 6318 you have there. Their medium stockman patterns are a bit chunkier. They made them on their #66 equal-end serpentine frame and #68 equal-end cigar frame, both 3 1/2" closed. The only difference in the two knives is a slight serpentine bend in the frame - otherwise same blades, same size, same general shape. They did an interesting run on the 62 frame called the Maverick - 3 3/4" long but slimmer, and on more of a congress-type frame. Dealers still have a few of all of those I mentioned, but your choice in handle materials will be limited, or you may have to pay a little higher for one of the serial numbered versions.

The other thing to know about GEC is that the majority of their products are only available in 1095 carbon steel, so they are subject to patina forming and rusting if not cared for. If you prefer a stainless blade, they do make a few in 440C occasionally but only in a few patterns so far, and the handle choices are limited to certain handles that they have chosen to pair with the SS blades. Kind of like Case only sells their CV carbon in a few handle families.

For my daily use I find Case knives to be just fine, and I tend to overlook their minor flaws as long as they don't affect the functionality of the knife. But GEC is undoubtedly a higher quality and higher priced brand.
 
GEC makes some great knives, or you could always grab a vintage Case stockman in red bone or yellow composition. But for now, looks like your all set with that jade bomb shield!
 
The GEC #81 Abilene Stockman is an extremely well built knife and feels great in hand, I would highly recommend it.
 
The Queen Railsplitter is a nice knife with blades very similar to the Stockman pattern. The Spey blade is replaced with a Pen blade, which I like, and the handle is rather beefy and hand filling. Comes in D2 steel. Currently available in Amber Carved Stag Bone, American Walnut, and Feathered Buffalo Horn. Makes for a mighty fine knife.

Tuna Valley Cutlery (a division of Queen) makes a Stag and a Feathered Buffalo Horn version of the Railsplitter with 154 CM steel.
 
The #66 Calf Roper by GEC is a very popular 3.5" stockman. I've had a couple of them and wasn't overly impressed. They are fine knives, but there's nothing about them that justifies their high prices in my mind. They were about the equal to my Schrade USA 34OT. This is no good for me because I can buy 5 to 10 Schrades for the cost of one GEC. My calf ropers have both been passed on to new owners.

Queen has really impressed me with this year's knives. I'd highly recommend them. They have a 4" and a 3 1/4" stockmen, which are #9 and #26 respectively, as well as the #49 cattle king which is 4" and the #63 railsplitter which is 3 3/4". Look for DFC on the tang stamp to make sure you're getting a knife from this year, as there have been reports of less than stellar knives coming out of their shop in past years. They were recently bought by one of the former owners of GEC, and he seems to be righting the ship. I have had 7 of this year's knives and they've all been good.

In general, GEC is a great brand and I carry one of their knives every day. I just wasn't blown away by their stockman. My personal opinion is to go with Queen for the stockman and grab a different GEC. Their trappers and #15 boy's knife are really great. Of course, I did say that the #66 calf roper stockman is very popular so there are obviously those that disagree with me.
 
jc57 said:
GEC doesn't have any stockman patterns that are a direct equivalent of the Case 6318 you have there. Their medium stockman patterns are a bit chunkier. They made them on their #66 equal-end serpentine frame and #68 equal-end cigar frame, both 3 1/2" closed. The only difference in the two knives is a slight serpentine bend in the frame - otherwise same blades, same size, same general shape. They did an interesting run on the 62 frame called the Maverick - 3 3/4" long but slimmer, and on more of a congress-type frame. Dealers still have a few of all of those I mentioned, but your choice in handle materials will be limited, or you may have to pay a little higher for one of the serial numbered versions.

The other thing to know about GEC is that the majority of their products are only available in 1095 carbon steel, so they are subject to patina forming and rusting if not cared for. If you prefer a stainless blade, they do make a few in 440C occasionally but only in a few patterns so far, and the handle choices are limited to certain handles that they have chosen to pair with the SS blades. Kind of like Case only sells their CV carbon in a few handle families.

For my daily use I find Case knives to be just fine, and I tend to overlook their minor flaws as long as they don't affect the functionality of the knife. But GEC is undoubtedly a higher quality and higher priced brand.
Click to expand...

I can go with carbon or stainless, although I slightly prefer carbon (I like patina). Sounds like I would like the GEC patterns.
 
Railsplitter said:
The Queen Railsplitter is a nice knife with blades very similar to the Stockman pattern. The Spey blade is replaced with a Pen blade, which I like, and the handle is rather beefy and hand filling. Comes in D2 steel. Currently available in Amber Carved Stag Bone, American Walnut, and Feathered Buffalo Horn. Makes for a mighty fine knife.

Tuna Valley Cutlery (a division of Queen) makes a Stag and a Feathered Buffalo Horn version of the Railsplitter with 154 CM steel.
Click to expand...

Those Queen patterns sound nice, I'll have to check them out.
 
To echo most of the other posts - I really like GEC build and quality. I know you said you like the medium stock, I too think that size is most useful. But if you want something different, consider a Buck 307 large stockman. They were built by Camillus - build and quality are excellent. This knife was discontinued in the 90's. There are still plenty of good ones running around on the used market. The one I got below still had factory edge.
- Rex
Buck 307 by tens339, on Flickr

Buck 307 with my Case med stockman
 
I agree with Cory, Queens Feathered Buffalo Horn line has been great. I have four myself. I have the large stockman and the railsplitter, I recommend them both.
 
Actually GEC #82 Dixie Stockman is more like your Case with the rounded bolsters and the long slim clip blade.
 
bozack said:
I agree with Cory, Queens Feathered Buffalo Horn line has been great. I have four myself. I have the large stockman and the railsplitter, I recommend them both.
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I was just checking out Queen's website. Apparently their small stockman is just a tad larger than Case's med stockman, and the Rail Splitter is just a tad smaller. Looks to 1/8" in either direction. Either of these would be fine, and they both look really nice in the brushed buffalo horn.

Thanks for the suggestion.
 
rbeggs said:
Actually GEC #82 Dixie Stockman is more like your Case with the rounded bolsters and the long slim clip blade.
Click to expand...

Just googled GEC #82, very nice, but too big. I have a Case large stockman, and I never carry it. Too big in the pocket. That extra 1/2-3/4", plus the added girth makes all the difference.
 
RexRazorX said:
To echo most of the other posts - I really like GEC build and quality. I know you said you like the medium stock, I too think that size is most useful. But if you want something different, consider a Buck 307 large stockman. They were built by Camillus - build and quality are excellent. This knife was discontinued in the 90's. There are still plenty of good ones running around on the used market. The one I got below still had factory edge.
- Rex
Buck 307 by tens339, on Flickr

Buck 307 with my Case med stockman
Click to expand...

It's not so much the usefulness as the size in pocket. I just find the medium more comfortable to carry. I carry larger modern folders for bigger tasks, but they clip to the pocket. That makes a big difference when it is not rattling around loose in my pocket.

I just love the size/weight of the med stockman (as case sizes it, apparently different companies might call that size a small), it's easy to carry, and I know I will carry it.
 
Thanks everyone for the great suggestions and info. I think I'm gonna save my pennies for some Queens, and something in the GEC line. Might get a few more Case's as well.
 
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