I feel like I need another traditional slipjoint

[KennyB]

I've had a few slippies over the years, but none that I've really seemed that persistent to hold on to. Some Uncle Henry stockmans ( two to be precise, I liked the model once so much I bought backup but eventually got rid of both ) a Case Trapper, and a couple of Old Timer's whose model names or numbers are beyond me. I think one was a dog-leg jack... The other was similar but with only one clip point. Both were sharpened down to nubs or some kind of recurved hawkbill shape by my grandfather and so well patina'd I use to refer to them as "black steel". So they don't really represent the newer ones of that model...

I've had my eyes on the Swayback jacks for a while, but it's just too much money for me to want to spend on it and wind up not liking it. I want something kind of small, inexpensive, like a toothpick or a congress pattern. I've got a really nice Rough Rider/Steel Warrior congress pattern with a coping, sheepsfoot, clip and pen blade that I use as a beater knife I could go get another one of, but I want something a little nicer without the cheesey logos and everything.

Only issue I have with most other congress patterns I've seen is that they have two pen blades, and no clip blade. I'm not really a fan of the drop-point, pen-blade style really. I think something like a miniature stockman would be great... Less than 2" blades, very thin, but with a nice clip point, a sheepsfoot... Not really crazy about the spey but you get the idea.

Something like a texas toothpick clip point, with a nice little sheepsfoot or coping blade would be great.

 

[matt1987]

check out a Buck Lancer

 

[bonky]

A Great Eastern #62 Maverick might fit the bill. It's a small stockman on a congress frame.

 

[Humppa]

If the SBJs are out of your price range - I would think about getting a Buck, but that´s not carbon steel ...

I would check out the CASE CV lineup (Yeller Delrin, Chestnut Bone, Amber Bone etc etc) if you want something with carbonsteel blades.

GECs are great knives - but they should be out of your price...

 

[black mamba]

Rough Rider makes a beautiful little stockman on a Eureka frame, with a slender clip, sheepfoot and spey.
Here are the four handle materials (stag bone, red bone, yellow comp and brown bone) with each of the blades out.
The clip main is 2-1/8" from plunge to tip, and the closed up knife is 3-3/8" long.

This is the smallest stockman that I really enjoy using.

 

[Thalestin]

I think paying the sash for the swayback would be worth it. If it isn't up to your standards, you could just flip it as they are a popular model. Likely you wouldn't lose much money and most likely less than if you tried to flip a less popular model.

I really like that you called your grandfathers knives "black steel". I'd sure love to see pics of those knives if you still have them

Mark

 

[Will Power]

Rough Rider makes a beautiful little stockman on a Eureka frame, with a slender clip, sheepfoot and spey.
Here are the four handle materials (stag bone, red bone, yellow comp and brown bone) with each of the blades out.
The clip main is 2-1/8" from plunge to tip, and the closed up knife is 3-3/8" long.

This is the smallest stockman that I really enjoy using.

Jeff, I'm glad you posted these as you put me onto this pattern. I have the yellow and Redbone and I find it to be one of RR's very best. Not just an unusual pattern, which is a bonus, but the knife is well turned out, compact and has near sunk-joints. Another compact RR I recommend is their Old Yellow Whittler: Clip master, small clip and Pen with a very well done split backspring. Could suit the OP's needs.

Regards, Will