Looking for a "better" quality Scout knife

P

PythonDR

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Sep 20, 2005
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I'm looking to buy a good quality Boy Scout-pattern pocket knife (actually, two of them for a special occasion.) I've been searching the usual places, and so far the best thing I've been able to find is the Schatt & Morgan Scout - which looks nice (as all their products do), but what I don't like is the 420 steel!

What I'd like to find is that pattern (or something similar - I'm after that very traditional look) with better steel. Budget is ~$200/knife (street price, naturally.)

Any suggestions?
 
Try a SAK, they make a variety of Official Scout Knives. Also the Marbles Workman is a good knife.
Rich
 
Doesn't case make a scout still?

Mostly I see rough rider and marbles.
 
G Sakai makes 2 scout models (one wood, one plastic scaled) that have the standard 420 steel for the implements...but the main spear blade is ZDP-189...might be worth a look. Not USA made, not especially traditional, but I think they're only about $90.
 
Google danger ranger bear scout knife. It has a few different colors of bone handles and is in 154cm.

They do not specify the maker but it looks to be queen made.
 
I really liked my schatt and morgan scout, edc daily for at least 4 years.
Unfortunately I lost it. I had bought it to carry new at my wedding, so I really can't
replace it. You can also look at Boker, I can't recall the steel they use in theirs...
 
Tuna Valley made scout knives with 154cm blade steel and stag handles. I don't know the price off hand and you'd need to do some searching to find them but I've seen them for sale at a few places... just don't remember where. I've only seen them in photos. I think Queen made them so they are probably similar to the knives that you are considering but they have better blade steel which seems to be of importance to you.

A Victorinox Pioneer would be a good choice imho.
 
A.G. Russell had a Camillus-made Premium Scout pattern run in 2004 or so. They had a 154CM main spear blade and 420 can opener, caplifter, punch blades. F&F is top notch. You'd be looking on the secondary market, but they should run under your budget and they are fantastic.
 
Something i have learned over many years of buying knives is that price and quality are not necessarily connected; i.e. more money does not always give you a better knife, even though one would logically think otherwise.
Rough Rider knives have been around for about 10 years now, are very inexpensive and have proved themselves to be very good knives. Swiss Army Knives (SAK) have been arounf 'forever' are not expensive and seem to last almost 'forever'.
So, find a knife that you like and do not be concerned if the price is low.
The Marbles Workman series has already been mentioned and i have one of their Scout type knives and think it is very good.
So is the Alox SAK with a saw blade (Pioneer ??).
kj
 
Thanks for the tips!

The Tuna Valley and Danger Ranger appear to be the same knife (the unique can opener configuration is a Queen pattern, IIRC.) They fit the criteria perfectly and I just need to find someone who has them in stock.

The G Sakai is interesting, not exactly the look I was after but it might be a second choice. I'll look for the AG Russell knife as well.

Keep 'em coming - I appreciate any suggestions!
 
Out of curiosity - can anyone tell me about the edgeholding ability of the 420 steel used in the S&M (or Queen, which is the same knife) compared to a Victorinox SAK (which I have in abundance and am very familiar with.)

Better? Worse? About the same?
 
Just shy of $200 is what the AG Russells are running. I watched one go up and up and up in amazement. Beautiful knife though.
 
The AG Russell Premium Scout is a fantastic knife, I picked one up a few months ago. Mine is from 2001. I have been looking for another since I got it :).

 
The 420 steel of S&M is hardened well to get and retain a fine edge
I have quite a few S&M as EDCs and hold better than Case SS and as good as Buck
I do not let the 420 be a stopper
 
Does anyone know if the AGR Scout was made 'in house' ? I bought an AGR Stockman made in the AGR shop in 2007 and only recently began using it. I am surprised that the steel is rather soft and will not hold a sharp edge well. I think the steel is 1095. For a $150 knife and for an AGR knife i am surprised and disappointed.
It might be that this batch of knives had a poor heat treatment and the other in-house AGR made knives are fine. Also, i do not know if the AGR Scout was made in-house.
kj
 
I would agree with Kootenay Joe more coin is not necessarily better, if you are looking for something that will stand the test of time and still look good and be fictional SAK Alox farmer is hard to beat and you can have something engraved on the pile side scale as there is a spot for engraving, if you are looking for something more unique go to the secondary market and search for Ulster Scout Knives, I picked up a few at flea markets cheap, a really nice Ulster Dwight Divine and sons 1923-1941 for $25, and a Kastor Camillus for $3 broken scale but a really nice knife I know something like this is not what you are looking for as a gift, but you can find these on auction sites in new condition for less than your budget, I've bought the Case Scout as a gift for a friend and it's nice but I thought the implements were on the flimsy side particularly the screwdriver cap lifter. The white Ulster BSA is my scout knife from when I was a kid it's lasted 35+ years.






Pete
 
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