Good stockman to pick up

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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Over the past several months, I've developed a new appreciation for stockman knives. I have a Schrade Uncle Henry 897UH, Buck stockman 301, and a Case amber bone medium stockman. I had a Schrade Old Timer 34OT on eBay, but I think, after it didn't sell, I might just keep it and use it as an EDC rather than the Buck Cadet I have on order. I'm going to be getting a Queen cocobolo stockman and medium stockman in the next couple months.

I'm dipping my toes in the custom knife and higher end production knife arenas, and would like to know what stockmans to get that have high quality steel. The Queens have D2 steel, which is better than what the stockmen I have now have to offer. I'd love to get a Reese Bose knife, but I can't afford it right now. I already have a few "tactical" pieces that I use, these stockman would just be "gentlemanly" knives (don't laugh), and the Old Timer or Buck Cadet is going to be my small EDC for my back pocket.

Unless it's carbon steel, I'm not interested in any other Case stockmen, except for a large amber bone stockman. Not interested in the new Schrades, Cold Steels line of stockmans, no Camillus. Looking for natural scales and good steels.
 
Queen Cattle King. In the past few weeks, I've bought several stockman knives. That one, hands down, is the best in terms of "walk and talk," fit and finish, and steel.

I also like the Case large stockman in CV/Bonestag. But it doesn't have near the snap that the Queen does.

There are also a lot of German options that I'm sure folks here will point you to.
 
Check out Bulldog Brand from Germany. Nice knives with a variety of scale materiels. Buffalo horn, stag, bone, and if you can find them, ivory. Also lots of different types of celluloid if you want that.

German Eye(Carl Schlieper) brand also makes nice stuff in stag and bone.

Don't forget to check ebay for old Case's, Queens and such. Lots of nice classics there if you want to look around.
 
I'll second the Queen Cattle King. I've been really impressed with the edge holding of the D2, and the good looks of Queen's carved stag bone and cocobolo. One small detail that Queen also gets right is sharp tips -- I find Case and even Boker lack the needle-sharpness of a Queen.

Buy from www.cumberlandknifeworks.com because Bill Horn will make sure you get a good one.
 
At the risk of sounding like a broken record I'll suggest an older Winchester. Made by Queen, excellent steel, vintage bone and generally excellent construction. In my experience they are made as good or better than current brands and for usually less money on eBay.

Here's two up now, they're not mine and I'm not familiar with the sellers. Both have reserves but typically it would be around $50 give or take $10 based on bid activity.

Stockman 1

Stockman 2
 
If you haven't tried Mooremaker, you really should. I'm a stockman freak, and my favorite EDC is a MM punchblade stockman in yellow delrin. I also have one in Buffalo horn I've not used, but will probably after I wear out the delrin. Steel is 1095 carbon.

I prefer this by far to my Case CV stockmen. I also like my Indian Head and Fightin Bull stockmen a lot. The MM just seems like a real work knife more than the others.

I don't own a Queen Cattle knife with D2 but I believe it when others say it's a great knife. I have a couple Schatt and Morgan "Railsplitter" stockmen that are very similar, but they have 420 HC blades and are pure drawer queens. Look great and feel great in the hand though.
 
CASE or BOKER in Carbon steel. Very easy to sharpen. Queen D2 may be great, I've never used Queen D2 but I love the sharp edges CV Case takes and how quick and easy Case and Boker carbon steel is to sharpen.
 
Just last Friday I went downtown to "Casa Boker" and got a Boker Whittler in carbon steel, I'm a stockman fan and they had some, but I saw this cutie and had to have it. I also handled a couple of trappers and campers and they all seemed fine, most were stainless.

The knife is nice, good walk and talk and fit and finish, the spring on the pen blade stands up a little bit high when open, not much and is the only flaw I can see. The main blade was sharpened a bit obtuse and irregular specially near the tip and the pen had some burr, all was easily fixed with a few passes on a fine DMT hone. Took a nice patina after 20 minutes in soft drink, I have carried it this past few days and I think that it will become a regular.

Luis

Edited to put up a better picture, also I did some reprofiling on the edges:

i1jmsy.jpg
 
Boker makes an excellent knife.

This is the knife for when I'm feeling traditional.

7474.jpg


The sheepsfoot and clip point blades are scary, scary, scary sharp. I ground a more obtuse angle on the spey blade and it'll chew through just about anything.

It was an impulse buy, got it on ebay for just under $30. It's a wonderful little knife with great snap and a good heft in the hand but not too much in the pocket.
 
I'm going to be picking up lg, med and small Queen cocobolo stockman, and a large Case amber bone stockman, if I can find one in carbon steel.
 
Get on Ebay and do a search for "Stag Stockman". Then, sift through all the crap and check out the Eye Brand or Hen and Roosters. See if you can find a nice, near mint condition carbon steel version. My Eye Brands and Hen and Roosters in carbon just seem to be better edge holders than a lot of the others.
 
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