Ken Erickson: "Stockman" - Lineage, Heritage & Tradition

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Anyone who has spent some time on this sub-forum should be pretty well acquainted with the excellent knives coming out of Waupaca, WI. In a relatively few years, Ken Erickson has come to represent (imho) one of the finest makers of traditional knives on the planet. I will admit to some bias based upon our friendship but I think anyone with a good eye would be hard pressed to deny what I deem obvious.

Anyway, one of, if not my most treasured traditional knife is this "cattle knife" that Ken built for me on a 3.75" frame with our own custom tweaks.

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To me, the knife represents the long, proud lineage of working knives that helped build the American west of a bygone era.

Ken and I have long discussed building a stock knife that would speak to that same tradition and I further asked him to try to build one that would show its shared familial heritage with the cattle knife and the classic stock knives of yesteryear.

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(Remington catalog courtesy of my good friend, Rick Menefee.)

What follows are a couple of stock knives that Ken has built recently at my request and with my input as to size, blade selection, bone, etc . (The knives are not for sale or otherwise available.)

They each share a mutually agreed upon 3.75" frame, CPM-154 blade steel, Ken's own jigged and dyed bone and integral liners/bolsters. I believe the knives weigh in right around 3 ounces.
(I'll be able to provide more information in a couple of days after they arrive here for my examination.)

Ken will, I'm sure, chime in himself with further information and images as we go forward.

Without further ado...

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I think Ken nailed it. But then again, I admit to my prejudices...

...As always, your thoughts and comments are most welcome.
 
A little choked up,not surprised any more,though,from what I see from Ken.
Elliott you have an awesome collection of some of the most gorgeous custom knives & impeccable taste.Another masterpiece from Ken Fabulous!!
WTG Ken & Elliott :thumbup:,
-Vince :)
Ahh,maybe not so "choked up" for words,it's a stunner,though :thumbup:
 
Absolutely stunning. Stockmen with a pen or clip instead of the spey are my favorites and I like how the sheepsfoot doesn't stick up too far. But I've gotta say Elliott, that your cattle knife is the most appealing traditional knife that I've ever seen.
adam
 
VCM3 said:
A little choked up,not surprised any more,though,from what I see from Ken.
Elliott you have an awesome collection of some of the most gorgeous custom knives & impeccable taste.Another masterpiece from Ken Fabulous!!
WTG Ken & Elliott :thumbup:,
-Vince :)
Ahh,maybe not so "choked up" for words,it's a stunner,though :thumbup:
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Thanks, Vince. Knowing you as I do and your eye for knives of the highest quality, your words say a lot.

I forgot to mention (above) that Ken spun the pins and you'll also notice that the sheepfoot blade does not ride "high" (a pet peeve of mine and Ken's).
This will afford a great deal more comfort when the knife is employed.

Naturally, the substitution for the "spey" blade was at my request. Ken and I have been incorporating modified wharncliffes as secondary blades since our very first project together. :cool:
 
SAKsRCool said:
Absolutely stunning. Stockmen with a pen or clip instead of the spey are my favorites and I like how the sheepsfoot doesn't stick up too far. But I've gotta say Elliott, that your cattle knife is the most appealing traditional knife that I've ever seen.
adam
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Adam, you'll have no argument from me on any count. ;)
 
That bone is awesome to me I agree with George. The jigging just floors me might just be my most favorite I have seen on a custom.

I already know the knives are jaw dropping in every aspect. Great looking work Ken. Congratulations my brother.
 
I'm also a big fan of stocks and that's a wonderfully coordinated set Elliott. The bone scales are beautiful, and the knives themselves are just fantastic. I really like the flat ground blades and the zulu pen is a nice touch. I've never been a fan of spey blades so I think the addition substitution of the the pen blade is a marked improvement.

- Christian
 
Two more beautiful knives by Ken-perfect examples of a great pattern-congrats to both maker and owner for the colaboration...Ken makes it easy to take an active part in the process.I like everything about these knives, from the color and jigging of the bone, to the blade selection, a pen blade always seemed more useful on this pattern than a spey blade....Tony:thumbup:
 
Well, not sure I can add anything else other than a hearty congrats to both Ken and Elliott. I knew you were getting a stockman from Ken, but I had no idea. :eek:
 
:confused: Here I was thinking I was seeing double,overwhealmed.
There is 2 !
That's quite a pair & not,a halucination.
-Vince :o
 
Yum. I do believe I could eat those right up. They look positively delicious. :thumbup:

Absolute perfection. To my mind, those are the very definition of what a stockman should be. Masterpieces.
 
Great lookin knives by Ken, as usual. We'd be surprised if they were crappy and even more surprised if you said so. :D

Lots of stockman(s) have sheeps foot blades and, if my memory serves me correctly, the sheeps foot usually "rides high"(on purpose). So...what gives with the peavage? After a few hundred years of stockmanz it seems like you woulda got used to it by now. :D
 
KnifeHead said:
Great lookin knives by Ken, as usual. We'd be surprised if they were crappy and even more surprised if you said so. :D

Lots of stockman(s) have sheeps foot blades and, if my memory serves me correctly, the sheeps foot usually "rides high"(on purpose). So...what gives with the peavage? After a few hundred years of stockmanz it seems like you woulda got used to it by now. :D
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Guilty on all counts...and as to the last, I guess I'm just a slow learner. :D

Really appreciate all the kind comments. :cool::thumbup:
 
Ok guys..Elliot has let it slip he has two of those stunners, SURELY hes not going to keep BOTH of them ... that would be just plain greedy :D :D

On a serious note...WOW, I think we are in total agreement of Kens talent, Thank you for showing us these great knives Elliot-awesome...it gives people like me something to aim for :thumbup:
 
Ken ... Elliott ... words fail me ..... (15 minute pause still trying to think of the right words) ..... :thumbup: :D :cool: ;)
 
The Cattle Knife has real excellence in its proportions, the blade arrangement is particularly admirable. An unusual and very welcome Spear with Longpull and that small Clip blade give the knife its individuality, it compliments the round bolsters and gives it that bye-gone age look:thumbup:
 
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