Is a Med Stockman 53226 a good first Case? Other recommendations for under $100?

Sharpie, The Case 44 pattern Medium Stockman (blue bone, second from top in my photo) is a nice, smallish square bolster pocketknife, (about the size of the Buck 303 Cadet) or a scaled back 32 pattern if you will. If you like rounded bolsters, as I prefer, look for a Case 87 pattern Medium Stockman (third knife down from top in my photo). As Gabriel mentioned, Stockman pattern knives are a general purpose pocketknife; several years ago I found a bag full of old neckerchief slides and letter opener blanks my Dad had bought when he was our troop's Assistant Scoutmaster in the late 1960's. I pulled out these Indian Chief letter opener blanks out and carved one of them with the Sheepfoot using an old Frontier 3-3/8" Medium Stockman (same size as the Case 44 pattern). OH

2012-09-28_18-33-51_406.jpg
 
Last edited:
Here are pictures of a Case 44 and a Case 087 with open blades; 3-1/4" & 3-3/8" OAL respectively - I would make sure I had a Sheepfoot on the one I chose - for me a more useful blade than a Spey. OH

Case_6344_SS_Medium_Stockman_2013_Mark_.JPG


Case_53087_Medium_Stockman_Mark_.JPG
 
Old Hunter said:
Sharpie, The Case 44 pattern Medium Stockman (blue bone, second from top in my photo) is a nice, smallish square bolster pocketknife, (about the size of the Buck 303 Cadet) or a scaled back 32 pattern if you will. If you like rounded bolsters, as I prefer, look for a Case 87 pattern Medium Stockman (third knife down from top in my photo). As Gabriel mentioned, Stockman pattern knives are a general purpose pocketknife; several years ago I found a bag full of old neckerchief slides and letter opener blanks my Dad had bought when he was our troop's Assistant Scoutmaster in the late 1960's. I pulled out these Indian Chief letter opener blanks out and carved one of them with the Sheepfoot using an old Frontier 3-3/8" Medium Stockman (same size as the Case 44 pattern). OH

2012-09-28_18-33-51_406.jpg
Click to expand...
Amazing job there!:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
SharpieB said:
Hey all,

Looking to get my first Case and the Medium Stockman (Autumn jigged bone, fileworked nickel silver bolsters and bowtie script shield) seems like a good choice. I love the look and the blade configuration but would possibly consider a bigger Case with only 2 blades. Pic below of the Med Stockman...

I also considered the Case Limited Edition 9200 Muskrat 24-Karat Corelon, but this will be carried and used a lot. The Muskrat I am looking at is too pretty.

Any other recommendations for under a hundred bucks?

Thanks!

View attachment 898238
Click to expand...
The Bass Pro store near me has a wide selection of Case knives in display, so if you're asking after how they feel and handle, you might consider visiting the one near you in Vaughan Mills.

Zieg
 
SharpieB said:
I think I have decided on a Trapper but now want to add a smaller Case. Yeah, I have a problem. :rolleyes:

What would be a good smaller Case to complement the larger Trapper? I love my Buck 55 but don’t want to go much smaller. I have enough keychain sized knives. :)

Thanks for all,of the suggestions, folks. Looking forward to getting my first couple of Case knives!
Click to expand...


Sharpie I'm happy for you that you decided on a knife. :thumbsup: This is not a suggestion for a particular knife but rather a general suggestion. Don't know where you live but most towns in the US have a Case dealer somewhere close so try to find one. If you can find one you feel is close enough to you go and check out the knives find the one you like and are satisfied with the F&F. The reason I say this is #1 even though Case is doing much better IMO you can still get a bad one and this can forever mar your opinion of Case.#2 I don't believe anyone other than yourself can pick a knife for you because we all have our individual taste. For example I seem to prefer a single blade clip point jacknife however not all of them are for me because of some detail. Also sometimes I get surprised at a totally different pattern I never thought would be for me a good example is that I won a Northfield 66 calf roper from supratentorial supratentorial in a GAW. I would never have bought this knife for myself but once I had it in hand I fell in love. Turns out it is one of my most carried knives. I have and have had many different stockman patterns the ones I've kept are not often used but rather just another knife in my collection. For me there was just something special about that 66 however I have read many post that the poster would say they simply do not like the 66. So I guess different strokes for different folks is true in the knife world also.
 
Gabriel Velasco said:
What do you plan to do with it? Just EDC? Whittling or carving? Lots of cutting? Cardboard, rope? Skinning?

If you're going to be doing LOTS of woodwork, like whittling, then you might want to focus on a CV (carbon steel) rather than an SS (stainless steel) blade because you can sharpen the CV more easily. The Stockman is a very good general purpose pattern that can also be used for whittling. But, if whittling is your main focus, you should consider either the Seahorse or the Half Whittler. I'm starting to collect folders, but with the purpose of whittling. I have a Buck medium Stockman, but I'm purchasing a Case Yellow CV Large Stockman because the Buck medium is a bit too small for me. I've also got my eye on a Seahorse. Case made a CV Seahorse for a while, but it's not available right now, so you have to find them used or new old stock.
Click to expand...

See previous post!!
 
r redden said:
Sharpie I'm happy for you that you decided on a knife. :thumbsup: This is not a suggestion for a particular knife but rather a general suggestion. Don't know where you live but most towns in the US have a Case dealer somewhere close so try to find one. If you can find one you feel is close enough to you go and check out the knives find the one you like and are satisfied with the F&F. The reason I say this is #1 even though Case is doing much better IMO you can still get a bad one and this can forever mar your opinion of Case.#2 I don't believe anyone other than yourself can pick a knife for you because we all have our individual taste. For example I seem to prefer a single blade clip point jacknife however not all of them are for me because of some detail. Also sometimes I get surprised at a totally different pattern I never thought would be for me a good example is that I won a Northfield 66 calf roper from supratentorial supratentorial in a GAW. I would never have bought this knife for myself but once I had it in hand I fell in love. Turns out it is one of my most carried knives. I have and have had many different stockman patterns the ones I've kept are not often used but rather just another knife in my collection. For me there was just something special about that 66 however I have read many post that the poster would say they simply do not like the 66. So I guess different strokes for different folks is true in the knife world also.
Click to expand...
Thanks Randy. Good info.

I ended up ordering both the 65010 Trapper Buffalo Horn And 9200 Muskrat 24-Karat Limited Edition. I got a deal on the two and there isn’t really a Case dealer nearby. Didn’t think I could go wrong with these two as my first Case knives.

I have a summer place 3 miles from the US border, so I will stop by Bass/Cabellas in Watertown, NY in the next couple of weeks to look at Stockmans,

Thanks all!
 
Any of these knives would be a great choice especially if you get to check them in person as opposed to ordering them online, but my idea is to try picking up two different case models to try how about a bone handled sodbuster Junior and case peanut? You might even have a little bit a change left over for another sodbuster. Edit Sorry that was a stupid move I didn’t see your post above until after I typed this both good choices!
 
Last edited:
SharpieB said:
65010 Trapper Buffalo Horn And 9200 Muskrat 24-Karat Limited Edition
Click to expand...
Interesting choices. I have most of the Case stockman patterns (missing the Sowbelly and Humpback varieties) and they are overall among my favorites to carry. I find the '18 and '47 patterns the most pocketable. I carry a '44 pattern sometimes in lieu of a Peanut. It's bigger than a Peanut but manages to fit in my jeans watch pocket.

The '087 model would be a great compromise (rounded bolsters for carry ease, a little bigger for utility) but it goes with a clip-spey-pen with no straight-edge, which is for me the real attraction of a stockman - having a straight edge in addition to the main clip. Decent little knife, though. Like a Case Pen knife with an extra spey blade.

The '090 would be another good choice for ease of carry. I do own one in that pattern but it never makes it into my pocket. I guess I have too many alternative options.
 
r redden said:
...Also sometimes I get surprised at a totally different pattern I never thought would be for me a good example is that I won a Northfield 66 calf roper from supratentorial supratentorial in a GAW. I would never have bought this knife for myself but once I had it in hand I fell in love. Turns out it is one of my most carried knives. I have and have had many different stockman patterns the ones I've kept are not often used but rather just another knife in my collection. For me there was just something special about that 66 however I have read many post that the poster would say they simply do not like the 66. So I guess different strokes for different folks is true in the knife world also.
Click to expand...

Happy you're enjoying the knife! :)
 
Actually, I read of the possibility of a CV Seahorse on this forum in this thread:

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/in-praise-of-the-case-seahorse-whittler.1160975/

But rereading the thread I only see an example of the Seahorse in ATS-34, and it was apparently a short run.

Later in the thread Alnamvet68 says "They do, it's Chestnut Bone in CV available now at your favorite store." But, then he takes it back. :( I hadn't read his retraction the first time I read this.

You can still find the CV Humpback Whittler (3 springs, Spear, Pen, Spey) and the CV Humpback Stockman (2 Springs, Spear, Sheepsfoot, Spey), but I really want the Wharncliffe and coping blades on the Seahorse.

Sorry for getting everyone's hopes up...again.
 
WinchesteRalox said:
Any of these knives would be a great choice especially if you get to track them in person as opposed to ordering them online, but my idea is to try picking up two different case models to try how about a bone handled sodbuster Junior and case peanut? You might even have a little bit a change left over for another sodbuster. Edit Sorry that was a stupid move I didn’t see your post above until after I typed this both good choices!
Click to expand...
I don’t think the 2 I bought will be my last so thanks for the input. Sodbusters, Peanuts and Stockmans are also on the radar.:cool:

I have enough modern and fixed blade knives to last a lifetime and I am finding that I am carrying smaller traditional type knives more and more as I don’t really like pocket clips and prefer pocket carry for EDC.

I ordered online as I trust the retailer I bought from to check the knives over before shipping as they know I am a good customer and not extremely picky, but the knives will go back if the F&F is terrible.
 
jc57 said:
Interesting choices.
Click to expand...
“Interesting choices” is right as I really don’t know what I am doing when it comes to Case knives. :D

I honestly bought the two as I liked the look, blade types and the sizes (I think). ;)
 
If you check out the Case knives at Cabela's down in Watertown, check out the mini-trappers. Same closed length as the medium stockman but a real nice pattern. You get the obligatory clip point blade, but also a reverse tanto too. It's like a mini-940.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top