Larger Stockmans vs smaller ones.

CL01

CL01

Joined
Apr 19, 2007
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OK, up to now, my only Stockmans were/are the '08 BFC knife (A Northwoods med. Stockman at 3.5") & a Schrade mini-Stockman (An 808, IIRC, & 2.75"). Based on those 2 knives, I didn't really care for the Stockman pattern because I didn't like how the 2 smaller blades are canted to one side to make room for each other.

Well, I just picked up a Queen Lg. Stockman (D2 with stag handles) & at 4", the smaller blades are ground off at one side for them to fit & are not canted like the smaller ones I've had.

My question is, is this typical & perhaps why some prefer the large Stockmans? Because if this is the case, I can see why this is a popular (& useful) pattern. In fact, I have to say I prefer this lg. Stockman to my whittlers.

Thanks in advance for your comments.
 
The "canting" you are referring to is known as crinking.

Crinking is necessary to greater or lesser degrees (depending on swedging, thickness etc) when a stockman uses the traditional two backspring construction. Some stockman knives these days feature three backsprings...one for each blade and don't require any crinking. (Buck, Case etc.)

I have a variety of stockman knives in various sizes and carry them all but I think my favorite overall is the 3 7/8" - 4" version. It's still very pocketable at that size, very light (generally speaking) and affords the use of both large and small blades.

The stockman is an easier pattern to build than a true whittler but it is (along with the whittler) one of the truly classic patterns. I love 'em. Custom and production.
 
My favorite pattern of all slipjoints is the Schrade 8OT, and similar sized Stockmans; I have larger, but they're pretty heavy for pocket carry. I have smaller ones too, for special occasions. As a matter of fact, I'll be carrying a Case red-jigged bone, CV small Stockman from my dad, to a Christmas-in-October party tonight. Those occasions are good for an opportunity or two to giver it some good use. ;)

thx - cpr
 
I agree with Orca8589. The 8OT is what I carry at work and around the house all the time. Going out to town and to church its a 34OT or a 108OT. If I was asked to define an all around useful and convenient knife pattern it would be the stockman. In my opinion you just can't beat it. Although I must qualify that I am not a fan of the slim stockman, but you can't knock the Texas pattern.
 
I love the medium stockman. One of the main appealing features to me is the crinking of the blades.They are the most versatile pattern to me.
 
I prefer the larger stockmans myself. And I admit there was a time when the crinking bothered me, but that was before I really learned to figure out why things are they way they are before passing judgement. Now I look to see why the blades aren't crinked when I run across a 3 spring version. ;)
 
3 7/8 - 4" is my favorite.
Got smaller ones. Got one that is bigger.
I like the ones just shy of 4" the best.
 
In the stockman pattern I don't care for anything smaller than the 34OT size. Smaller than that and you have a manicure finger nail cleaning pen knife. I have no dislikes or negative words for the larger ones myself.
 
I understand that some like the small or med. Stockman & to each his own. What I was curious about, thanks to Blues, is that is it typical to have less "crinking" on larger Stockmans?

While it might not bother some (Or most), I don't care for alot of "crinking" on the small blades & that's why I liked the lg. Stockman that I just got.

For me personally, if I want to carry a small knife (Especially if wearing formal attire), I have the Schrade 808 (An old one & it's 2.75", IIRC) or a Case SBJ CV. I was just surprised at how nice the lg. Stockman was.

Prior to this knife, I was partial to Whittlers if I wanted to carry something with several blades. I do admit I need to get a Congress, though, as I haven't handled that pattern & really like it.

Thank you for all the info, I appreciate it.
 
When I first got this one, I thought it might be a tad to big. Didn't take long to realize it is just about perfect...

DSC00856.jpg
 
6375? One of the greatest of all stockman knives. But there are a few dozen of the greatest, because it is just a great pattern.:)
 
I've liked them both, b ut at different times in my life.

From 1967 to 90something, I carried a 3 7/8ths Buck 301. I loved that knife, and it traveled over to europe and southeast Asia back to the U.S. with me. I loved the feel of it, just enough to fill my hand and large enough to get any job done. But I was in my 20's and early 30's then.

In the 90's my friend and co-worker Andy passed away sufddenly, and his wife gave me his well used but not abused old Buck cadet. At 3 1/4 inches it felt a wee bit small to me, but I started carrying it anyways. I'd seen Andy do his opening day buck with it, so I knew it was capable of real work.

After I carried it a whle, I started to like it better than my old 301. I felt a little bit of a traitor, but I kept to it. The 3 1/4 inch stockman did everything I did with the 3 7/8ths. I think this was the start of my downsizing to smaller knives in my latter years. I liked the smaller size that rode lighter in the pocket, yet still gave me the versitility of having three blads to choose from.

Last May I did some house painting, and used a sock drawer knife I had forgoten I had. Somebody gave it to me many years ago, and I never carried it, thinking it too small. It was a 2 7/8ths Schrade Uncle Henry small stockman. I used it around the house, cut painters tape, duct tape, cardboard, and it worked just fine.

I think they all work good, big small, even timy. Just depends what you wear and where you go in your day to day life s to what size works best. Heck, look at tall those old timers who got by with just a little edc pen knife. Or the fact that a Stanley utiltiy knife has a 1 1/2 inch blade at best, and it's a stabile around construction sites.

They all work, but these days I find myself going to smaller knives in the pocket.
 
The Northwood's Forum Knife is quite a small Stockman, shorter and thinner say than a CASE 6318 Medium. I find/found the CASE Medium to be a very useful allround size, a bit larger is the Böker Tree Brand Stockman at 4"/10cm, this too I like and it's not at all clumsy. But...I agree with 33837 at first the CASE 6375 Large Stockman DOES seem over large, but use it a bit especially when wearing a coat and my attitude changed.

Maybe Queen crinks differently from CASE?? What would bother me is blade rub and none of my Stockmans have it, fortunately.
 
I find it interesting that my Case 6347 it seems I could never get used to carrying it in my pocket because of the size, yet I picked up a Queen trapper which is about 1/2 inch longer and it sits in my pocket just fine. I definately thing shape has everything to do with comfort in the pocket.Sort of off topic, sorry.
 
Now this is what I love about this place! There is always something new I can learn. The different descriptive terms are cool to learn:thumbup:

I like this pattern, I like the choice of 3 blades. I do however tend to find the larger ones more useful.
Blues said:
The "canting" you are referring to is known as crinking.
Click to expand...
 
navihawk said:
yet I picked up a Queen trapper which is about 1/2 inch longer and it sits in my pocket just fine. I definately thing shape has everything to do with comfort in the pocket.Sort of off topic, sorry.
Click to expand...

No problem on being off topic, because that's part of what I meant. I understand the "old world" part of crinking & actually maybe I misspoke saying I didn't like it. I just don't care for alot of crinking on a an EDC, that's all. But it's fine for occassional carry.

The lg. Queen Stockman I just picked up is 4" & carries suprisingly well. Of course, it's all about the lines, too. I also picked up a Menefee Back Pocket Shadow last week, too, on trade, & that carries VERY well for a 4 1/8" knife.

Thank you all for the info/comments. I too am amazed at all of the knowledge & what can learn. Great stuff.

Also, because of this Forum, I've gotten into whittling (Along with my youngest, 9) & we're having alot of fun.
 
I use to say I would never carry a stockman over 4". My wife in either Chistmas 2004 or 2005 got me my Marbles Cattleking Stockman and I though before I helped pick it out that it was a 4" instead of 4 1/4"! After I got I kept an open mind and said well I'll give it a try. It has over the years become one of my favorite stockmans! I even like it better then my #9!
 
I have a Northwoods large stockman that is alright, but I don't like it as well as the 80T I carried as a kid. I am now carrying a Case medium (53090 pattern). I like the smaller size, but I still miss the larger one. I guess I have to pop onto the evil bay and get another 80T!
 
I have two stockmans that I use. A large Queen #9 and a medium case 63032. Bouth are two layers and only the case has its sheepfoot crinked. I dont think its only about how long the frame of the knife is but also about how thick a blade they want to use. The queen has a thinner blade with svedges and thinned out to meet the spay and the case is crinked to allow the spay and pen to meet even though they kept the thickness of the blades.
I have never seen a threelayer stockman but Its kind of simplyfies the workmanship of the knife in a way I dont think I apritiate as an idee. Must do the knife thicker or the blades thinner. Non of them is an advantage when carrying/ using the knife. My point- No more layers than the knife actually needs.

Bosse
 
My EDC since 1976 has been my Buck 307 lg Stockman.. It has been used everyday for something. From hearth and home to hunting and fishing to on the job duties. it's been a great companion and is in top condition given its age and use.

It's large size has never been uncomfortable in the pocket or the hand and has made a great fist load LOL but thats another story.

Ultimately it will be passed onto my son...

ST~
 
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