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Looking for my first new traditional in over 20 years -have $50 to spend at Cabelas

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earthhawk

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Hi everyone. I'm looking for a traditional and wanted to hear your thoughts. I'm a newbie when it comes to what pattern would work best for which tasks. My uses would be opening packages, cutting cardboard boxes, fruit, maybe a pumpkin carving every now and again, cheese, whittling, fishing, and basic camping stuff. I already have a Buck 703 (medium stockman) and my dad's Camco peanut that I'm not inclined to leave the house with since it cannot be replaced.

I've got $50 to spend at Cabela's ... so what do you think?
 
I carried a 703 about 10 years ago for doing just about everything you are mentioning but food prep.

So I like that one. What are you really looking for over the 703? Blade length?
 
I think that Cabelas (online) has a pretty crappy selection of traditionals.

In terms of straight up function and sticking within your price range, sticking with a traditional and what I just saw scrolling through Cabela's offering of folders, I would have to suggest looking at the following:

1) Buck 55. It's made in the US. Buck's 420HC is a good stainless if you want stainless. Classic looks. On the downside, I don't care for clip blades for EDC use and I find the 55's blade on the short side for food prep. But, the blade locks which I find helpful for things like box cutting and pumpkins.

2) Uncle Henry Bruin. This is a very painful suggestion for me to make. I have an original made in the USA Schrade 5OT Bruin in my pocket as I write this. The blade is a very useful drop point and it's just long enough to be useable for food prep. The frame is nice and thin and it pockets wonderfully. The current Old Timer 5OTs and the Uncle Henry Bruins (close twins) are made in China and have generic 400 series stainless. I love the pattern but don't like the current execution. Very sad knife to my eyes. If Cabelas stocked the Buck 501, I would suggest that instead. Made in the US with better 420HC steel.

3) Case Mini Copperlock. This is just a tick out of your $50 limit. There also a bunch of Case slipjoints in your price range.

Hope this helps. Note, I've very biased towards locking blades.

Last, last note... Cabelas does have the Buck 110 for around $40. It's a best of a knife and will destroy boxes, pumpkins and the bottom of your jeans pockets with ease. By far, it's the most knife for the money that they have in a tradition. I find it to be too much for EDC use but am very, very glad I own one.
 
Since you already have a medium stockman (geat choice!) I too would go with the Buck 110 or the Buck 102 Woodsman fixed blade, which is on sale right now.
 
Well, you own already a Buck Traditional. What about another? The 301 would be nice and in your prize limit, I think.

BTW: Which steel do you prefer? Carbon or Stainless?

In the size of a Medium Stockman a Case Mini Trapper would also make it nice... Or, as Kevin already told you, the Yellow Delrin Trapper by Case...

Kind regards
Andi
 
I have both the Buck 110 and the Buck 55. Both would work well for your uses. I usually carry the 110 in a belt sheath and the 55 in my jeans watch pocket.

If you want something different from a Buck since you already have one, I would buy either a Case mini trapper in amber bone (slipjoint) or pay ten extra bucks to get a Case copperlock in amber bone (Lock-back). A slipjoint with a +3" blade would suit all your chores easily except for perhaps the pumpkin, where you would need to be careful without a lock in my experience.
 
Thanks for all of the fantastic replies. The thing about my 703 is that I've had it for so long and there are so many great stories associated with it that I don't want to run the risk of losing it. It is important to me to be able to hand the 703 down to my son when he is old enough. The stories won't be quite as sweet without the knife to go along with them.

I love all of the 110 suggestions. I went on a 110 buying spree here lately and will be keeping 2 or 3 of the bunch that I bought (I guess for whatever reason, I didn't think of a 110 as a traditional). I don't have any problem at all with sticking a 110 in my pocket for the day. If I pull a 110 out in polite circles, I most certainly receive looks of horror in return, so I'm looking for something a bit less frightening. I may try a 112 on for size in the future, but unfortunately at this time there are no 112s at Cabelas or any other place in my area.

I do love the look of a CV blade after it has obtained some experience. It's like the knife equivalent of an old guitar with the checked lacquer and mellowed finish. My dad's camco has that effect. I guess that would point me in the Case yeller direction. The smaller lock backs and mini trappers seem like they could work well. The Bruin is right on the money pattern-wise, and I do like the look of amber bone, but I don't want to get something that is poorly executed. The Case mini trapper in bone or the lock back version would be good but I think Cabelas has the SS version rather than the CV.

Any opinions on the Bear and Son bone lock back? I was going to use the $20 free gear bonus to buy a pair of hiking shoes ($70 total), but if something is worth spending a bit more on, then so be it.
 
earthhawk said:
I do love the look of a CV blade after it has obtained some experience. It's like the knife equivalent of an old guitar with the checked lacquer and mellowed finish. My dad's camco has that effect. I guess that would point me in the Case yeller direction. The smaller lock backs and mini trappers seem like they could work well. The Bruin is right on the money pattern-wise, and I do like the look of amber bone, but I don't want to get something that is poorly executed. The Case mini trapper in bone or the lock back version would be good but I think Cabelas has the SS version rather than the CV.
Click to expand...

I should clarify, since I'm the one who made the poorly executed snark.

Please don't let my personal hang ups and beefs about the price of tea (and knife manufacturing) in China affect you adversely. I'm a pretty big fan of old Ulsters, Imperials and Schrades - as in made in New York type Schrades. So, I sort of bristle with the thought of Uncle Henry and Old Timer knives being made in China. Don't get me wrong. I'm the worst of hypocrites and have scads of things in my possession that read "made in china". Best one was an NSA mug that I bought at the NSA's own crypto museum. Can't make that stuff up, you know. But Old Timer and Uncle Henry knives? Ouch. That stings a bit.

I've no reason at all to believe that the construction of the Uncle Henry is any different than, say, Rough Riders. Generic 400 series stainless is the low point here. But it's a nice pattern.

Good luck with your choice. If you have a 110 (or 2), the 55 would be a nice stable mate.
 
+1 one the Case Mini Copperlock or my EDC is the Case Russlock (with the drop point blade)
 
I dont know if Cabelas would have it but case has released the Copperhead out of the vault.
 
The Buck 055 is a neat little knife and is a great size for EDC and should be under 50 bucks.
 
earthhawk said:
Any opinions on the Bear and Son bone lock back? I was going to use the $20 free gear bonus to buy a pair of hiking shoes ($70 total), but if something is worth spending a bit more on, then so be it.
Click to expand...
I say stay away from Bear. Their QC is terrible.
I carried a Case yella mini trapper for a few years, great pattern. Haven't found a task in EDC that it couldn't do.
That said, if you love the 110 type frame, the 55 is literally a half-sized 110 with different bolsters. Excellent knife.
 
I agree with you on the CV aspect. I want my first Case knife to be in CV also. I really like the Buck 110, and I have the Buck 55, which is a great knife. That being said, the Buck 55 seems to be about $15 to $20 cheaper online, and you seem to be pretty interested in a Case CV model. So I would say get the hiking boots at Cabelas because boots are MUCH easier to purchase in a store than online because you need to try them on for proper fit. Then, in a couple weeks, purchase a CV Case online or at a different store. It doesn't really look like Cabelas has a good (or any?) selection of Case CV knives.

I recommend that you get what you really sound like you want: a Case CV. That will mean shopping online or finding a good Case dealer in your area. You can go to Case's website and use the store locator to find a Case supplier. There are many forum threads on choosing a good first Case CV knife. I've narrowed my choice down to either the Case peanut in red bone or the Case swayback jack in chestnut bone.

And, if you do really want the Buck 55 instead of a Case CV, then I still think you should get the hiking boots in store and the Buck 55 cheaper online.
 
Model 055
Buck55A.jpg
 
Look, I'll tell what, I recently picked up another opinel from a gun show for 10$ after having lost my last one and it has rekindled my love for this knife.

opinel4.jpg


Near perfect handle, about the same size as a trapper or stockman, super light weight. The blade on this is made to cut, and in that aspect I find it cannot be beat. It sharpens up very, very easily to a RAZOR edge, I just strop with some 1000 grit sand paper then leather with green CroOx compound. It locks both open and closed so its very safe to carry and use. You can find hundreds of good reviews on it, very reliable well made knife. I've never ever seen or heard of a lemon.

No matter what you decide on I recommend picking one up, get the size 6 as its the smallest locking one they make.

here's a video review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmvT6BxqgFk&feature=related
 
earthhawk said:
Thanks for all of the fantastic replies. The thing about my 703 is that I've had it for so long and there are so many great stories associated with it that I don't want to run the risk of losing it. It is important to me to be able to hand the 703 down to my son when he is old enough. The stories won't be quite as sweet without the knife to go along with them.
Click to expand...

Good idea, I lost my 703 years ago. I would give a lot of knives in my collection to have the same knife back. As in the actual knife I carried.
 
I would have to say that the case trapper with yellow covers and cv blades is the best traditional pocket value known to me you can get one at Bass Pro for about 40$ and thats great knife for the price everyone should own one
 
I feel like I've been living under a rock. I don't remember ever seeing a 055! I have the Cabela's Alaskan Guide 110 with S30V, and was wanting something smaller for pocket carry. I'll have to look for this 055. Sheesh! How could I have missed this one?
 
Daniel Dorn said:
I feel like I've been living under a rock. I don't remember ever seeing a 055! I have the Cabela's Alaskan Guide 110 with S30V, and was wanting something smaller for pocket carry. I'll have to look for this 055. Sheesh! How could I have missed this one?
Click to expand...

Yep, the 55 is a great little pocketknife. Highly recommended!

-- Mark
 
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