Is there any blade more traditional than a Stockman?

[mrjefe2u]

I have owned more Stockman's as working knives than any other pattern, even with the spey.

To me, a stockman with a clip/sheepsfoot/punch is my traditional version of a multi-tool.

Do you have a favorite Stockman?

 

[Brian.Evans]

I like the slightly less fancy version or a three bladed knife, the equal ended cattle knife. I think that is even better than the serpentine frame of a stockman pattern. Both stock knives, just slightly different.

 

[mrjefe2u]

cattle knife

I have been reading Bernard Levine's writing's on the

Cattle knife, stock knife (stockman) and Premium stock

all around 1870-1890.

 

[jc57]

Hard to claim one pattern is more traditional than another per se. I would think that 1 and 2-bladed jacks probably came first. Certainly the Barlow pattern is quite old and continuously produced for centuries.

I am quite fond of 3-blade patterns, the stockman included. Of the ones I own, the Case 63032 Medium Stockman with a serpentine frame and square bolsters is my favorite. I'm carrying a slightly different version right now, in fact, the 6318 with rounded bolsters.

Guess I should throw up some pics:





Either of them could easily be my "only" knife if I didn't enjoy the variety so much.

For pure working knives it's hard to beat Buck's versions, the 301 and 303. Here's my 301:

 

[black mamba]

The 3-7/8" to 4" stockman is my favorite. Still slim and light, but plenty of blade length.

With round bolsters and D2 steel, the Queen #9 is hard to beat.

 

[Planterz]

For me, it's a toss-up between the Case 6332 and the 6318HE (mid-'70's or earlier).

The 6332 is the predecessor of the 63032, and is IMO is much superior in a few ways: Most importantly, all the blades have half-stops, which very few stockmans do. Secondly, the nail nick on the sheepsfoot is better placed; on the 63032 the pen blade can catch on the sheepfoot's nail nick, and on the 6332 it doesn't. And of course, the quality of the older pre-'80's Cases are superior.

Like the 6332 (and 63032), the 6318HE has a pen blade in place of the typical spay blade. The older 6318HE's were made on a different frame than the later (and current) ones. Slightly smaller at 3.5" compared to 3.625", but carries much better because it's not as thick, and the bolsters taper, giving it a profile that's quite noticeably smaller and lighter, despite having the same length blades.

 

[knarfeng]

I have a fair number of stockman knives.

I think that my favorite is the Camillus made Remington with the gosh covers in the upper left corner of the pic.

 

[FarmKid]

Frank, how does that utica compare to a buck 301? I like the looks of the utica but don't know anything about them.

 

[knarfeng]

Actually, I rather like the Utica. IIRC I paid a fair amount less than the price of a similar sized Case knife. The fit and finish is a bit less than that of a Case, but it uses just fine. Be advised that on some Utica Stockman knives, only the main blade is carbon steel. It is so on mine.

It's a good user, very comfortable in the hand when cutting, with no blade wobble. Springs are not super strong and have a couple of minor gaps, but the springs are all flush in both open and closed positions for all blades. Has a bit of an odd shape to the spey, almost a cross between a spey and a pen blade. Looks a bit odd but cuts well. The covers fit well and have no gaps. The blades are nice and thin and are good slicers. I seem to remember that it came pretty sharp, and had good bevels so it was easy to sharpen up to full sharpness.

I likely wouldn't recommend it to a collector who likes GEC fancy. But I found it to be a good user. I've owned considerably poorer knives over the years.

 

[Old Hunter]

I carry a Stockman pattern more than any other; here are some of my 4" Stockman knives (with a couple of Texas Jacks hiding in there). OH

 

[markpmc]

Before I fell down the slipjoint rabbit hole I carried a Case 6318 for 10 years. That and a Buck 110 rounded out my knives for many years. The case has since gone missing, it's been replaced by the PERFECT stockman. 4" or so long, slender turkish clip, spey replaced by a small

clip.

 

[rayban]

Love my new modded Case '18 stockman with punch....

 

[Modoc ED]

4 1/4" CV Case 6375 Large Stockman with amber jigged bone covers.

 

[dougkn]

Donlt have that pattern yet, but its on the list

 

[Steven65]

I too love the Stockman pattern and I carry one every day...........usually my little 825 Schrade Walden.

Here are some of my other favourites..........