Looking for a Wharncliffe/Sheepsfoot, advice needed

[LaunchPad]

I figured I'd throw this question out there, as my search so far hasn't gone well. I've recently added a Victorinox Gardener to my rotation and it seems to be my go to knife a lot lately. The more I use it, the more I find I prefer the straight cutting edge. So I'm in search of something along the same lines, but with nicer/more traditional materials/construction. Delrin, jigged bone, or wood, I have no real preference here. Stainless steel (440C or better - I'm not fond of Case's stainless). Wharncliffe, sheepsfoot, lambsfoot, even a coping would work. Length closed, say anywhere from 3.5" to 4.5". While I would prefer a single blade slipjoint, 2 blades would also be considered. I ran across GEC's Furtaker Muskrat in 440C, however I'd like to try and keep this at say $70 or less if possible. I would prefer made in USA, but I'm open to all options. Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[knarfeng]

Boker had a special series they called their "evergreen series". Among the knives is a serpentine jack (I call it a stockman jack, but that is incorrect.) It has a clip blade and a sheepsfoot. The blade steel is 440C. It has olive wood covers and is 4" closed length. I note that Grand Prarie Knives, a BF Dealer Member, has one in stock. With shipping it should be just about $70.

Here's mine. I like it a lot...

 

[Planterz]

There aren't many knives out there that fit those specs, even at prices well above $70.

For a single blade, there's the Schatt and Morgan (by Queen) File and Wire Cotton Sampler. ATS-34 blade. It's a pretty sizable knife though - 4 1/8" closed, and rather wide. Should run you about $80. They make a "Jr" cotton sampler that's $70, but it has 420HC steel (which, in all honesty, should be fine). They make other cotton samplers, but they're also in 420HC, so if it's this knife you want, make sure you get the File and Wire one.

A.G. Russell sells a couple wharncliffe slipjoints under their own name, the Sowbelly and Curved Jack. But they're made in China and have 8Cr13MoV. Well made knives though.



The following suggestions have 2 blades, but both ride on a single backspring and as such will be thinner and easier to carry.

You can find GEC half congresses in 440C (look for the acorn shield) with a sheepsfoot or wharncliffe main and pen secondary, but they'll cost as much as any of the Furtakers. Personally I'd go with the #62 Easy Pocket, since the main blade is longer than on the #61. I want to pick one up myself one of these days.

You can find a S&M half congress with a sheepsfoot and coping, but again, it has 420HC steel.

I paid about $70 for my Canal Street Hawbaker muskrat (one clip, one wharncliffe), but that was a few years ago and they've dried up a while ago. 14-4 CrMo steel (similar to 154CM/ATS-34). Great knife, if you can find one. You can find a number of Schatt and Morgan or Robeson (both made by Queen) Hawbaker muskrats as well, but these will all have 420HC steel. Some S&Ms though have 2 backsprings, so make sure you're sure which you're getting before ordering (I think the 2 spring ones are also the ones with the broader clip blade rather than the narrow, skinny "California" clip).

A.G. Russell sells a Queen half-whittler with a wharncliffe main and pen secondary, but it's a small knife at only 3" closed. D2 steel (main blade is 2" long) is "semi-stainless", having 12% chromium, so it won't rust if you look at it cross-eyed like a carbon steel might, but you shouldn't neglect it or leave it wet either. I only recently saw this knife, and immediately it went on my "want" list.

There's the Northwoods Mini-Moose. More of a mini muskrat, Hawbaker style. Smallish, at 3 1/4", and has ATS-34 steel. $105 though.