Help Selecting a Slip Joint

Buzzbait

Buzzbait

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Feb 25, 2001
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I’m looking for a new stockman to match my stag handled Buck110. Does anybody know of a stockman that matches these criteria?

1. Stag or light bone handle

2. Better steel than the usual 440A. I don’t have a problem with using carbon steel, and love Buck’s 420HC stainless

3. Blades that fold up like a Buck stockman. The blades in a Buck run parallel to each other, instead of the center blade folding sideways.

4. Brass bolsters, instead of nickel/silver bolsters

I recently picked up a Hen&Rooster, hoping that it would do the job, but the knife was pretty disappointing. The stag handles didn’t even remotely match up, the bolsters were all scratched up, and the knife actually felt kind of wimpy. It was even rusting in spots, and it was a stainless model. The new knife is going to be a hard user, so I’m after overall toughness and edge holding. But I’d like to see both stag slabs match each other.

I’m hoping that there are some serious slip joint collectors hanging around here that can help me out. It seems like many slip joint manufacturers, particularly the European ones, are kind of hit and miss. I’d go with a custom, but all I see are these $500.00 ones, which is WAY more than I can afford. I really need to stay in the $50.00 to $60.00 price range.

I’ve looked at the Case web site, but can’t make heads or tails of the knives there. They don’t mention what knives use what steel. Are any of them a good quality carbon steel? I may settle for something other than a stockman, if it has two or three various sized blades. I just want something small enough to fit in my jeans pocket.

I did find a German Eye stockman that seems to fit most of the bill. The handle is stag, it uses carbon steel and brass bolsters. I’m just not sure whether I’ll get another junk handle like on my Hen&Rooster, or whether the center blade folds in at an angle. The folding method isn’t that big a deal, but I really like how the Buck folds up. There isn’t any blade tip rubbing against the side of the blade next to it.

I should mention that I don’t really care about the finish on the blades. I don’t have any wish for beautifully polished blades. This knife is going to be user. If the blades are polished, I’ll probably just scotch-brite them anyways.

To tell you the truth, I’d happily stick with my Buck Cadet if it had stag handles. It’s an awesome slip joint. I just want something that matches my custom 110.

Any ideas?
 
I am with you man. There seems to be a limited selection of classic style slip joint folders. You mostly get delrin or plastic scales and stainless steels. Like you I prefer bone or stag, and I also like carbon over stainless steel. Mooremaker is one I have heard good things about, but I have heard they are made by Queen anyway, who also makes the Schatt&Morgans. Camillus is good but does not have bone as a handle option. I am going to give the Mooremakers a shot when I get the cash. Boker may have something too.
 
i'll heartily recommend case knives. they offer chrome vanadium steel blades, which hold an edge just grest. however, i'm not sure if they offer those blades with stag scales... check out www.wrcase.com for their catalog, although you may want to shop around for better prices.
good luck!
peace.
aleX.
 
I have been a big Case fan all of my life or at least since I have been about 4. I also own a few Buck slipjoints that have served well. Over the last few years I think the best factory slip joints can be found in the Schatt & Morgan, Winchester, A.G. Russell and Case Classic lines. (many were made under license by Queen, a few of the Case Classics may have other origins. I am not sure where A.G. has his made.) Cutlery companies making knives for other Cutlery companies is a phenomenon that has a long history.

A lot of folks have had problems with them, but I really like the Case Bose knives also (the annual collaborations). I have handled about 20 (1999 and 2000 versions) and the only problems I saw or felt were blade burrs on some of the 1999 patterns.

Some of the Schatt & Morgan series knives come in ATS-34. All are very well made. Handle material on these knives (especially the pearl) can be exceptional at times.

Some if not most of the Case Classics are non-stainless high carbon from what I have read in the Case Classic book. Some of the most beautiful stag that I have seen in the last 15 years appears on some of the larger knives in that series.

The Winchesters are well made and represent a good buy for the $ in my opinion.

A.G. constantly has some great patterns with different handle materials and steels.

The Hen and Rooster knives of today are not the Hen and Rooster knives of long ago, not saying that they are bad just that the knives of the early 70's (and before) are very nice.

Another option is to look for older much older knives that are in good shape. They will have carbon blades that sharpen easily. They can make nice carries for under 30 dollars.


The custom slipjoints/multiblades are on another level all together.
 
I would recommend Moore Maker, they have stag hadled versions. But the blades do not fold the way you prefer. They have a large 4 1/2" moose pattern on which the folding angles due to the size of the knife are not so appearent. The bolsters are nickel-silver, fit & finish. better than on Case knives. Blade steel is 1095, mirror polished. The springs are much stronger than on most other folders. The back of the sheepfoot blade will stick out when closed. Prices around $ 65-75 for the yellow bone handled versions (Big Bend Saddlery shop). Stag scales demand more than $ 100! I think the stag knives are available from Morre Maker Inc. only.
A.G. Russell's stockmans are very fine knives but they have 440A blades which you don't like. Prices around $ 80-100.
The Schatt & Morgan limited edition stockman uses ATS-34 for the master blade only, the sheepfoot and spey blades are 440A! The ones with ATS-34 clip point blades have "ATS-34" etched on the blade. I have never seen one with stag scales.
Prices on these more than $ 60. I have seen on the net for less too but the knife shown had a Queen Steel etch on the master blade. Never asked was it the ATS-34 advertised knife itself or just the pattern was shown.
I am not sure you can find the Buck's fold-up feature on Case knives either. Their stainless steel, the "Tru-Sharp Surgical SS" is 420HC. I don't know how well it will stand up for heavier use though. Heard that Buck's 425 modified HC is a better user SS. For user knives Case recommends their Chrome-Vanadium carbon steel line. Not sure there is a stag handled version of these knives. Case's regular or vintage stag handles are beautiful, only hard to find now. Search for prices, not sure you can find in your price range unless you want a small (3 3/8" or even smaller) knife.
IMHO the 440A is a good steel for a working pocketknife. Will resist stain and rust better than ATS-34.
Brass bolsters tend to be heavier than the nickel-silver ones.
The German Eye brand (Carl Schlieper) has very good reputation. It is made in Germany. Ask the dealers for the fold-up features. Maybe this is the knife you are looking for.
Pay attention to the sheepfoot blades in closed position: you may or may not like it's "sticking out" feature most stockmans come with. Comfortable handle shape, right feel (weight) in the pocket and personal satisfaction with the knife's talk and walk are more important features than the scale material or steel on a working knife IMHO.
 
Since I have been talking about them on the Custom forum alot, I suggest you go up a few dollars and get a Whitewing. They are over $200 dollars but they are produced by a major custom knife maker (Bailey Bradshaw) and they use very high end steel (CPM3V). Also you can get a genuine custom slip by somebody like P.J. Tomes for under $200 if you are willing to look wide and low.
 
Great suggestion Anthony.
 
Another "thumbs up" for PJ Tomes, great knives, good prices (if you can find them, AZCK had two of his slip joint folders for $130 but they were gone in minutes)

Ray Cover Sr. Another great folder maker. I picked up an absolutely beautiful slip joint with burl scales, red liners and D2 steel for $200 from AZCK

WC Davis: Great guy, makes really nice knives in the $150-$175 range (stag or jigged bone, ATS-34 or whatever) I got a nice little stag lockback (I know not a slipjoint but....) with D2 steel, 416 stainless bolsters/liners for $165

There are others just gotta look:D
 
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