Help with choosing Dad's Christmas gift

L

LutzSpearo

Joined
Nov 1, 2013
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Hi everyone. I want to get my dad a nice gift for Christmas, and I'm thinking about a pocket knife. He has always carried one, but it's one of those big ugly no-name things with a millions gadgets that never get used, and he honestly never actually uses it.

He is about to move to the "country" and will likely have use of a proper pocket knife, so that's why I have the idea to get him one for Christmas.

Recently he found an old Boker that came from one of my grandfathers, we are still trying to figure out if it was his dad's or my mom's dad's. He really likes it either way, but it has too much sentimental value for him to be comfortable carrying it.

So I want to get him a medium size folder that won't take up too much room in his pocket, and one that is nice to look at as well. Natural material for the handles (bone, wood, etc.), no synthetic stuff.

One of the knives I'm leaning towards is a Boker Copperhead from the Evergreen Series, with beautiful olive wood handles. My only hesitation with this knife is that the wood seems to be very light in color, and I wonder how well it will hold up over time and use. Does anyone here have one? Do the handles get dingy looking if they are exposed to mud, water, oil etc? What is your overall opinion of them in general?

The other knife I am thinking of is a Case XX Mini Copperlock. It's of similar size, and has the added feature of having a locking blade. Since he is 65 and only getting older, I somewhat like the added safety of a locking blade for him.

I'm leaning towards the Boker, I think having the same brand as that inherited one will be nice, and I think Boker's are a little better quality than Case (?)...

I'd love some opinions on this, as well as any other brand/model recommendations, as I am new to pocket knives. If price range helps, I'm comfortable spending around $100 or so. Thanks.
 
How many blades? I recently got the Queen Country Cousin with micarta handles and it's a really nice one blad eknife with good steel (D2). A.G. Russell makes some really nice knives as well in classic designs. For a two blade knife you might look at some different Barlow style knives. This is a classic pattern that many older folks enjoy. None of these are locking blades though. The possibilities are really endless.
 
I think he would prefer the simplicity of 1, maximum 2, blades. I would imagine it also helps keep the knife a little more slim in profile. My pocket knife has two blades, and I have never used anything other than it's main blade.

I can certainly see the choices are endless! Thanks for recommending Queen, but I can't seem to find a working website for them. I have looked at AG Russell and GEC as well, and am still looking around.

If I can add one other question... I have read most people say to steer clear of Case stag handles unless you can buy in person, which I cannot... it sounds like GEC and of course AG Russell use great stag and most would feel comfortable ordering online... how about Queen and Boker? Are their stag handles generally acceptable and matching on both sides?
 
I would have suggested a Case Sodbuster but you want natural handles. GEC has lots to offer. I like the White Owl models personally. Not too big, not too small, just too blades, and the White Owls don't seem to be in their "bear trap" line of stiff openers. Seem to run a three or four on the pulls for this line.
 
Plenty of great knives to choose from. I have no experience of Boker's stag, but Boker make a decent knife. Olive wood I think lasts and wears well.
 
Can't go wrong with a simple feature Swiss Army Knife and it won't break the bank. If your dad's not a knife aficionado and you present him with something really fancy there is a good chance he'll hide it in a drawer so as not to risk damaging or losing it. Which defeats the purpose of the whole exercise.
 
I think a Case mini Copperlock is a fine option. Another one to consider is the Buck 503 lockback, a simple, classy knife that would ride well in pocket and not cost an arm and a leg.

Please be sure to keep us posted on what you choose and how he likes it.

-- Mark
 
Great suggestions & advice, and I appreciate the input. Thanks for the responses.

I've been thinking all day about locking or not locking blade. Neither of my Grandfathers ever carried a locking blade type pocket knife. Neither has my Dad, so I don't think I'm going to go that route. He's made it 65 years without cutting his fingers off, I'm pretty sure he doesn't need me worrying about his safety. Plus, I want to get him something he is used to, so he uses it.

On that point, I agree that if I get him something too fancy he'll just stow it. I want to get him a quality knife that he will use, so I'm not going to spend $200 on an AG Russell (although I'm sure they are worth every penny, and I'll probably buy one for MYSELF ; )

So I've got a few knives in mind and I just need to narrow them down. I'm still really leaning towards a Boker since that carries sentimental value, which is big with my Dad (even though the jury is still out which Grandfather the old Boker knife belonged to, he was extremely close to both of them so it doesn't really matter whose it was). But there are several knives that I think would fit the bill. I'm also struggling a little with exactly what size, I'm thinking around 3.5" - 4" closed is good as he is 6'4" tall with large hands. The knives I'm considering for him:

1. BÖKER TREE BRAND™ Olive Wood Evergreen Copperhead
2. BÖKER TREE BRAND™ Appaloosa Scored Bolsters Copperhead
3. CASE XX™ Deep Canyon Jigged Burnt Natural Bone Mini Copperhead... this one may be a little small at 3 1/8" closed
4. Queen Cutlery Co Pattern #41 Aged Honey Amber Bone
5. Great Eastern Cutlery Pattern #48... this one may be too pricey, and he might not use it because of that

I don't think I could go wrong with any of these, I just need a little more time to choose the right one for him. I'm leaning towards numbers 2, 3 and 4 from the above list though.

My biggest problem is that doing all this looking, I'm finding quite a few knives I want for myself!!!
 
Victorinox or a Sodbuster. Case makes a version of the sodbuster in bone handles IIRC.
 
I like the idea of getting the same brand as the gramps knife, and I'd try to get in the same ballpark with handle materials too. If you want maximum blade in minimum bulk you might look at single blade doctor's knives.
I've got the Boker Evergreen "stockman" (really a serpentine jack) and like it a lot. I haven't had it long, but I don't think the light color should affect durability.
 
I think you should get the Boker, and I'm sure you and your dad will be more than happy.
If the color of olive wood is too light for you, you might still be able to find one of the Beer Barrel series Copperhead (which, to my eye, looks way better).

Fausto
:cool:
 
Case slim trapper, Queen utility or GEC 48 single blade trapper? The Case is available in numerous scales, I would go CV and that limits you to yellow bone I believe. The Queen utility is a great knife if you can find one that isn't a sharpened prybar (I didn't ;(). The 48 is a great pattern, and I have had several of the single blade 48s, right now I have one in orange bone. I have owned all three versions of the slim trapper from Case, Queen and Northfield and all three are very good knives. A choice of slim profiles, I have put down my 73 and Tribal Spear in favor of carrying my 48 single blade. Just an experiment to be sure...
 
First, let me say this is a great idea.

I would stay away from a locking blade. He may have trouble unlocking it. Both are easy to find with two blades. I recommend at least two blades because that gives an option as to which to use.

Boker makes nice knives; I've got several. But I think the stag is too thick (a common German problem). If you look at their website they have closeouts on two knives you may want to consider. First is a Medium Stockman (3 blades) with red bone scales and the other is a Canoe pattern they call the Apaloosa, with tan bone scales. Both are very reasonable and would make a really nice present.
 
LutzSpearo said:
I've been thinking all day about locking or not locking blade. Neither of my Grandfathers ever carried a locking blade type pocket knife. Neither has my Dad, so I don't think I'm going to go that route. He's made it 65 years without cutting his fingers off, I'm pretty sure he doesn't need me worrying about his safety. Plus, I want to get him something he is used to, so he uses it.
Click to expand...

Good call here. So scratch my Buck 503 tip. Boker makes some great knives in Germany. Be aware that they do make some in China too; that may or may not make a difference to you and Dad. Just something to keep in mind as you're making your choice.

-- Mark
 
They make some of their fixed blades in Argentina, or did. Do they have any folders made in Argentina? I think these were the Tree Brand line.
 
A few of the members here have spoken well of the Boker Olivewood Evergreen knives, specifically the 2-blade stockman. The GEC #48 is very nice, especially with the wharncliffe secondary blade.
 
The improved 48 with the wharncliff is a great knife, and not too thick in the pocket. Forgot all about it.
 
Oh wow, what a bunch of replies! Thanks for all of the interest and input!

I don't know what that old Boker looks like, and as i live in South Korea, I can't see it in person. So I've recruited my Mom into this effort, and have asked her to send me some photos of it if she can do so without my Dad knowing.

I have to run right now, but I will more thoroughly read everyone's input later and reply accordingly. I'll be out of town for the next two days, so I'll reply when I get back. Again, many thanks to everyone, this is all very helpful advice!
 
I have limited exposure to traditional slipjoints compared to most, but I will say I love the Canoe pattern. The blades and handle size are quite similar to a swiss army knife but to me my cheap Rough Rider feels a LOT more secure in my hand with the jigged bone and sturdier both in the handle and the blade. I know the swiss army knives can handle a lot of abuse from experience, but it's just due to the materials used and blade shape. The jigged bone and handle shape leads to the better grip compared to the more straight swiss army design, and the blade is wider than the swiss army knife. But I find myself reaching for the Canoe every time over my swiss army knife despite the fact they are always next to each other.

Something you may want to think about as well, though I would go with a higher end brand than the Rough Rider.
 
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