Large Stockman Recomendations?

mdauben

mdauben

Joined
Oct 24, 2005
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After years of lusting after knives in the latest style or high-tech matierial, I find myself developing a growing appreciation for "traditional" style knives. I am currently thinking about adding a stockman to my collection, but I'm not sure which ones to consider.

I have a few Case knives that I have been generally pleased with, but I have been hearing some negative reviews of their blade steel lately, so I thought I would try sampling another maker's product for the stockman. I'm looking for a high-quality 'user' and not a collectable, 4-4.25 inches closed, tradtional bolster material, quality steel (perhaps a good, non-stainless given the "traditional" nature of the knife?). A US made knife would be a plus, but not an absolute requirement. Any reasonable price.

So, any recomendations? :)
 
Check out Queen's "Cattle King" models in D2 steel. You can get it in either Carved Stag Bone or Cocobolo, D2 is a great non-stainless steel that holds an edge really well.

Carved Stag Bone
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Cocobolo
queen_49cobo.jpg




Also Case does make their large stockman in CV, their older carbon steel with Amber Bone, Yellow Delrin or Bone Stag scales, the later of which I just bought myself and quality if first rate.

Amber Bone CV
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Yellow Delrin CV
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BoneStag CV
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I've had great prices and sales service on Queen and Case knives from both of these places online.

www.cumberlandknifeworks.com
http://www.newgraham.com/
 
I'm quite pleaced with the blades of my Case amber bone large stockman in CV. Fit and finish could be better, but it's a tool.

The carbon steel Bokers are good too, with blades somewhat thinner than the Case.

I'd like to try a Cold Steel stockman (Carbon V) some day.

My favorite, though, is the (old) Schrade Old Timer 8OT. It's not quite as hefty as the Case, but it's a great knife. Too bad they don't make them anymore!
 
Another one I wanted to throw in a mention for is the Camillus Large Stockman, it's the one they used to make under contract for Buck as the Buck 307, I recently bought one and cosmetically it's not as pretty as the Case or Queen, just has black "sawcut" Delrin scales, but it's around 20.00 bucks and a real strong workhorse of a knife. The blades are stainless though.
 
Mdauben:

I have a Cattle King and it is a good knife. However, lately I have been carrying a Moore Maker #5304 stockman ( www.cumberlandknifeworks.com ) which is described as 4 1/2" closed but is actually about 4 3/8".

All three blades on this are identical in length to the corresponding blades on the Cattle King, but this one has round bolsters and is easier on the hand. Also, the yellow bone on those Moore Makers looks very antique and the carbon blades are perfectly hardened.
 
Have been thinking of picking up a Queen Cattle King Stockman for a while myself--a bit of an upgrade from an Old Timer 8OT or an Uncle Henry 885UH. I own both of the latter knives.

Isn't D2 a semi-stainless?

I wish Queen would refrain from etching their blades though. I have a Queen fixed blade hunter with stag hangles, and had to spend quite a while sanding/polishing the blade etching off. Ruins the look of the knife IMO.
 
My favorite, though, is the (old) Schrade Old Timer 8OT. It's not quite as hefty as the Case, but it's a great knife. Too bad they don't make them anymore!
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rhino, when Schrade went out of business, they put together some knives from the remaining parts in factory. I picked up one Schrade with 8OT scales but 885UH blades (Schrade+ stainless). Kind of an interesting knife.

How about Hen and Rooster? Do they make a good large stockman?
 
Guyon said:
Have been thinking of picking up a Queen Cattle King Stockman for a while myself--a bit of an upgrade from an Old Timer 8OT or an Uncle Henry 885UH. I own both of the latter knives.

Isn't D2 a semi-stainless?
Click to expand...

Sory of, some folks call it "semi-stainlesss" it has a fairly high chromium content, 11.00-13.00%.

I've been carrying Queen D2 knives in on pattern or another for almost 2 years now, and I am a BAD "sweater", and rust is a constant battle for me. When I got my first Queen D2 blade after a week or so I noticed little "pits" in the steel in a few places, and D2 tends to do that instead of regular "rust". I have since developed the routine of wiping the knife down about once a week with Inox or Rem-Oil, only takes a few seconds, but since I started that, no more problems.

D2 has become one of my favorite steels, the edge holding is something to really appreciate!
 
Anthing from the Olbertz factory in Solingen with carbon blades would be a good choice: Eye Brand, Bulldog, Indian Head, Fight'n Rooster...should run you around $49 off eBay..or less if your lucky. I second the Queen suggestions; love my Queens ! The carbon Boker's are an outstanding choice which you should be able to buy for around $35 shipped. Mooremaker I hear is good...although I don't have one everyone who does likes them. There are many good solid choices that will provide you with a nice slipjoint to last a life time !

-Regards
 
The Last Confederate said:
Sory of, some folks call it "semi-stainlesss" it has a fairly high chromium content, 11.00-13.00%.

I've been carrying Queen D2 knives in on pattern or another for almost 2 years now, and I am a BAD "sweater", and rust is a constant battle for me. When I got my first Queen D2 blade after a week or so I noticed little "pits" in the steel in a few places, and D2 tends to do that instead of regular "rust". I have since developed the routine of wiping the knife down about once a week with Inox or Rem-Oil, only takes a few seconds, but since I started that, no more problems.

D2 has become one of my favorite steels, the edge holding is something to really appreciate!
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How is it to sharpen-- Can you sharpen it easily on a diamond stone? How would you compare its edge holding to 1095 or CV?
 
Thanks for the recommendations Gramps. I'm going to look at some of those brands.
 
go one better- and much more expensive.

The Queen "REal Cattle Knife" designed by Dan Burke.
BG-42 blades.

Of course, it is expensive as all get-out.
Get it from cumberland Knife works, and you will be happy.
 
Oh, man, oh, man!

I looked at some of those Moore Maker folders, and the first I saw was their five blade model (large and small clip, spey, sheep's foot, and punch). That baby is really calling to me!

It's like a Stockman with two extra blades/tools ... :thumbup:
 
pickupman said:
How is it to sharpen-- Can you sharpen it easily on a diamond stone? How would you compare its edge holding to 1095 or CV?
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The edges are pretty thick. They need to be thinned out, that's easily accomplished on a diamond stone in a half hour or so for all 3 blades. Once you've done that, these can be sharpened in 2-3 minutes on any bench stone, no problem. My Queen D2 stockman holds an edge at least 3 times longer than 1095 and 1.5 to 2 times longer than CV. I also have a CS stockman that holds an edge about as long as Case CV. ;)
 
Wow! Lots of good recomendations. Thanks everyone. :)

Now to decide which one... That Queen Large Stockman looks like just what I am looking for. Nice slim handle, rounded ends and some quality steel (although I do agree with Guyon that it could do without the etching on the blade. Looks a bit... tacky). On the other hand, that Moore Maker Stockman with the yellow jigged bone is mighty tempting too! :D
 
sodak said:
The edges are pretty thick. They need to be thinned out, that's easily accomplished on a diamond stone in a half hour or so for all 3 blades. Once you've done that, these can be sharpened in 2-3 minutes on any bench stone, no problem. My Queen D2 stockman holds an edge at least 3 times longer than 1095 and 1.5 to 2 times longer than CV. I also have a CS stockman that holds an edge about as long as Case CV. ;)
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Thanks for the info. I have got to get one of them, one of these days.
 
mdauben said:
Wow! Lots of good recomendations. Thanks everyone. :)

Now to decide which one... That Queen Large Stockman looks like just what I am looking for. Nice slim handle, rounded ends and some quality steel (although I do agree with Guyon that it could do without the etching on the blade. Looks a bit... tacky). On the other hand, that Moore Maker Stockman with the yellow jigged bone is mighty tempting too! :D
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It sounds like others on the forum have covered all the bases, and they usually know more than I do about the subject. I can't comment on the Queens--don't have one yet, but they sure look good. Don't forget that if you buy the Mooremaker with a bone handle, they are made by Queen but the steel is different. I do have a couple of the Mooremakers and I really like them.

The best bet is to simply do what I, and I would bet, many on this forum do--buy them all! You can do it over time, little by little.
 
pickupman said:
How is it to sharpen-- Can you sharpen it easily on a diamond stone? How would you compare its edge holding to 1095 or CV?
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In my experience, D2 almost requires a diamond hone to sharpen it properly, I use a DMT and once you get the hang of it, it's not bad. As for edge holding, for me it's been MUCH better that CV or 1095. Not even in the same ballpark, D2 seems to really hold an edge.

EDIT: I just saw SODAK's post and he's right if you thin down the Queen's edge, then a regular bench stone will work, I don't that's why I still use a DMT diamond hone.
 
It took a long while to sharpen my D2 Queen fixed blade on a Sharpmaker. I wound up having to back bevel the edge at 30 degrees (15 each side) and then put a working edge of 40 degrees (20 each).

It's now shaving sharp, but man, it was some work. I almost wound up buying diamond rods for the Sharpmaker.
 
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