Little help for a new guy. Best quality 2 or 3 blade pocket knives

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worksjo

Joined
Nov 9, 2013
Messages
4
Hello everyone,

I'm new to knife collecting and was hoping for some advice. What I'm currently in the hunt for a Christmas present for my dad. He has carried the same 3 blade pocket knife for 30 years and it is pretty wrecked. I was wanting to get him something top quality, 2 or 3 blade slipjoint, carbon or damascus steel in that $200-$400 range. Does anyone have any suggestions? All I seem to find are fixed blades and lock backs in the nice stuff. Is there anyone making higher quality 2 or 3 blade pocket knives? Like I said I'm a Newbie so any help pointing me to a good maker or company would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help.
 
I assume your father owns a stockman or cattle knife...which opens a world of opportunities and suggestions on this forum.
I'm not the best person here to give you advice on that sort of slipjoints, but I will throw in some suggestions to start discussion.
GEC knives are 1095 carbon steel, Queen knives are D2. As for damascus, I don't know of any production model, but other will be more helpful.

Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC):
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Queen cutlery:
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Fausto
:cool:
 
Case/Bose collaboration knives run up into that price range, though they come out with one pattern per year in multiple handle materials. This year's is a Wharncliffe trapper that's actually a bit higher than your target range, I think more in the $460 price point.

Great Eastern Cutlery makes great knives in the $80 to $150 range, depending on handle material choices. Northwoods knives (knivesshipfree.com) are some great knives that are made by Great Eastern for Derrick Bohn.

AGRussell.com has some higher end knives. Look for the ones made under the AG Russell brand name.
 
Try looking at customs by J.Oeser, he may have/ be able to make a knife in that price range. His work is absolutely gorgeous.
 
GEC makes some very nice, top-quality folders for $100-$150 that you will have to look very hard to find fault in. The Northfield line is their "Premium" line-up. Take a look at them and I'd guess your Dad would be very pleased with one of those.
 
Thanks for the help guys.
I know my price range is kind of in that no mans land between factory and custom but I would stretch it if I found something perfect. I would like it to be something that could be an heirloom piece so I guess price isn't my number one concern. Really it's beauty, quality, durability and collect-ability.

CJZ you were not kidding J.Oeser's work is beautiful (I'm drooling over them now). Problem is I doubt I can get a hold of one by Christmas for my dad (let alone a second one for myself now:)). He's not taking orders currently any idea where to get a hold of one? I already checked the for sale section of bladeforums :(.
 
Anyone have any experience good/bad with Bear&Son Cutlery? I am eyeing a Damascus mini trapper for $140. Opinions?
 
worksjo said:
Anyone have any experience good/bad with Bear&Son Cutlery? I am eyeing a Damascus mini trapper for $140. Opinions?
Click to expand...

I'd pass on that. While some have posted of having satisfactory experiences with B&C, most have posted negatively.
 
It would help if you provided a little more detail. How big a knife do you want? Sub-3"? 3.5" and up?

What type of two-blader are you looking for? Pen or jack? A pen has its blades on opposite ends. Jacks have their blades on the same end.

Pen
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Jack
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- Christian
 
If he's carried the same knife for 30 years, he's obviously comfortable with it. What can you tell us about it? The main question is, how big is it?

Also, I have a hard time envisioning a guy who carried the same pocketknife for 30 years being comfortable carrying a $200-$400 knife. Honestly, I'd pick the GEC model he'd like best and then get one in sweet stag. $150 TOPS. Good luck and please let us know how it works out.

-- Mark
 
good point, more info would probably narrow this down some. What he has had all these years is actually a three bladed Stockman 3.5" or something like it. I know he really only uses two blades and would probably like something that was a little thinner profile so it wasn't so bulky in his pocket (Pen knife like above may be a good fit). He isn't really drawn to flashy, but has a real love for things that are built with craftsmanship. He thinks Stainless Steel is garbage and has a real case of the "they don't make'um like they used too's" :p. But at the same time would never actually spend the money to get something really nice. Hence the Christmas present. He does have a weakness for Damascus steel though he has a couple shotguns with Damascus barrels and loves to talk about them to anyone who will listen. Your probably right and I will most likely end up with something from GEC they seem to be good quality and everyone loves them. I was just hoping to find something a little more jaw dropping if you know what I mean.
Ok I'm rambling now. Thanks again everyone for your help and input.
 
worksjo said:
Anyone have any experience good/bad with Bear&Son Cutlery? I am eyeing a Damascus mini trapper for $140. Opinions?
Click to expand...

I'd skip on the Bear.
Case has some Damascus knives. Quality?

Sounds like he might love a #68 White Owl from Great Eastern. Available in stag, bone, wood, and other handles. 1095 carbon steel is an option. Easy to open and "gentlemanly", more slender than a stockman. Clip point or spear point. Pinched bolsters or plain. With bail or without... Prices are in the $80-120 range, depending.

681211%20primitive%2026.jpg

http://shop.oldhundredcollectibles.com/68-White-Owl-Equal-End_c40.htm

GEML682211BBH__51400.1381275389.1280.1280.JPG

http://www.collectorknives.net/gec-68/
 
After your last post, I would lean towards the 3,5" GEC frames (#66 and #68), both in the three bladed configurations (#66 calf roper and #68 buckaroo) and the two bladed ones (#66 jack and #68 white owl). Ebony would be my first choice :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
If he has a weakness for damascus, then would keep an eye on the big auction site for a damascus bladed case/bose collaboration. They come up regularly enough. I have a 154cm tribal spear, and the workmanship is very impressive.
 
worksjo said:
What he has had all these years is actually a three bladed Stockman 3.5" or something like it. I know he really only uses two blades and would probably like something that was a little thinner profile so it wasn't so bulky in his pocket (Pen knife like above may be a good fit). He isn't really drawn to flashy, but has a real love for things that are built with craftsmanship. He thinks Stainless Steel is garbage and has a real case of the "they don't make'um like they used too's" :p.
Click to expand...

Boy, you can't go wrong following Fausto's advice :thumbup: .....

quattromori said:
I would lean towards the 3,5" GEC frames (#66 and #68), both in the three bladed configurations (#66 calf roper and #68 buckaroo) and the two bladed ones (#66 jack and #68 white owl). Ebony would be my first choice :)

Fausto
:cool:
Click to expand...
 
quattromori said:
After your last post, I would lean towards the 3,5" GEC frames (#66 and #68), both in the three bladed configurations (#66 calf roper and #68 buckaroo) and the two bladed ones (#66 jack and #68 white owl). Ebony would be my first choice :)

Fausto
:cool:
Click to expand...

Fausto's suggestion is a good one. Here's a beautifully made stock man in stag.

81stockman1_zps7e905c9d.jpg

Image by waynorth

- Christian
 
I stalk knives I can't afford on Ebay, and there has been one there for sale for quite a while that meets your requirements. I am not affiliated with the sale, nor do I know the seller, but the knife is a Gene Wiseman 2-blade sow belly with 1095 steel. It looks like a great user for a custom knife, and it's in the cost sweet spot you are looking for.

For a couple bills more there is also a custom stockman by Dunlap. Another really nice looking knife...


Cheers,
Daniel
 
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