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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Multi-blade users please weigh in on most useful ones to get
- Thread starter Boink
- Start date
I'm very partial to old Schrade's, so in addition to a larger EDC, I constantly carry either my old classic, 20+ year old 80T or a 227UH for everyday utility use. The larger size of my 227 often makes it more useful to me than the 80T, but I do love the inclusion of a sheepsfoot blade on the smaller knife. I also carry a Leatherman Charge XTI fairly often, so I guess I would also recommend that as an extremely darned comprehensive multi-blade tool if you don't mind carrying the bulk in your pocket (I don't like wearing belt pouches, so I do worry about it falling out of my pockets whenever I carry it)...
Kohai999
Second Degree Cutter
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2003
- Messages
- 12,554
It rusts if you have acid skin(I do)
I maintained my daily carry Large PocketWorn Amber Bone Case Stockman, religiously, and it still got rust spots and dull.
I prefer the med/large stockman pattern to all other jack knife multiblade patterns, for me it is just the most useful. In a Case model, I get SS, in the others, which I do not carry daily, it is pretty much get what you want. Some do not offer a choice of steel.
I carry a cranberry bone Case sowbelly pattern, it might fit your uses, Boink. I keep it in my jacket pocket in a William Henry Clip Case, it keeps the tobacco from my cigarettes out of the body
I also ALWAYS reprofile the blades on my stockmans'(stockmen
)
None of the manufacturers really put a shavin' sharp edge on the blades anymore, and the points are usually not pointy. Currently, I have examples from Case, Queen, Carl Schlieper, Cold Steel, Bulldog Brand, and Fightin' Rooster. You might not care, but I thought that I would warn you. You can get an idea of what you really like from the Smokey Mountain catalog, and then purchase there or online. The German models are my preference, but they can be fingernail breakers right out of the box.
For an SAK, I daily carry a black Climber, which has the scissors, and package hook.
Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
I maintained my daily carry Large PocketWorn Amber Bone Case Stockman, religiously, and it still got rust spots and dull.
I prefer the med/large stockman pattern to all other jack knife multiblade patterns, for me it is just the most useful. In a Case model, I get SS, in the others, which I do not carry daily, it is pretty much get what you want. Some do not offer a choice of steel.
I carry a cranberry bone Case sowbelly pattern, it might fit your uses, Boink. I keep it in my jacket pocket in a William Henry Clip Case, it keeps the tobacco from my cigarettes out of the body
I also ALWAYS reprofile the blades on my stockmans'(stockmen
)None of the manufacturers really put a shavin' sharp edge on the blades anymore, and the points are usually not pointy. Currently, I have examples from Case, Queen, Carl Schlieper, Cold Steel, Bulldog Brand, and Fightin' Rooster. You might not care, but I thought that I would warn you. You can get an idea of what you really like from the Smokey Mountain catalog, and then purchase there or online. The German models are my preference, but they can be fingernail breakers right out of the box.
For an SAK, I daily carry a black Climber, which has the scissors, and package hook.
Best Regards,
STeven Garsson
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2000
- Messages
- 2,116
I was in a similar position as yourself Boink and I picked up a Queen Lg. Stockman with the D2 steel. I rarely carry it. Instead I carry my Victorinox SAK Huntsman with LED light. It has a wood saw, small and large blade, pen, toothpick, tweezers, scissors, corkscrew, mini-screw driver, a pin (gotta have the pin! 
), phillips screw driver, small and large screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, punch/reamer, parcel carrier, etc. It has all the essentials and it's not overly big. It also has the handy white LED light.
), phillips screw driver, small and large screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, punch/reamer, parcel carrier, etc. It has all the essentials and it's not overly big. It also has the handy white LED light.I love trappers , I'm not a fan of the stockman type . The Vic. SAK family are probably the most usefull , and the gadgets really work ! The price of SAK's is remarkably low in relation to utility and quality . If ther was ever a top ten knife list , the SAK would be in the top 5 .
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2001
- Messages
- 26,713
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2004
- Messages
- 3,536
Starting off, I have to give it up for the basic four-blade Utility, otherwise known as the Scout knife/SAK Soldier/US Army Utility. Carry one every day somewhere on me, and I love them. The antique ones are great, though sometimes the tools can be a little outdated- I can't easily use any can opener pre-WWII, except Imperials.
Add in the classic Large Stockman. King of the work knives, and a thing of beauty in a 4 1/4" hide. Works great, looks good, and enough blade to do most anything.
Last, but not least, a pattern that is sadly vanishing from the market- the Barlow. Good size, sturdy, carries easily, but becoming hard to find.
Add in the classic Large Stockman. King of the work knives, and a thing of beauty in a 4 1/4" hide. Works great, looks good, and enough blade to do most anything.
Last, but not least, a pattern that is sadly vanishing from the market- the Barlow. Good size, sturdy, carries easily, but becoming hard to find.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2001
- Messages
- 3,415
Finally took the clip off my spyderco dyad jr micarta and dropped it loose in my pocket.
if you can't cut something with a 2.5" serrated or plain edge, you better bring out a bigger knife.
if you can't cut something with a 2.5" serrated or plain edge, you better bring out a bigger knife.
I've found the spey blade on my Buck stockman actually works pretty well as a makeshift Phillips screwdriver. That surprised the heck out of me.
The sheepsfoot blade also makes short work out of opening the blister pack a lot of small electronic items are packaged in.
SAKs do have more varied tools, etc., but once you get past the basic models with the large/small blades and the basic caplifter and can opener/screwdiver combos, you begin to get a tool that rivals Leathermans in size and weight.
When I'm not carrying my Benchmade Ares, I just like to drop my stockman in my pocket. It's so small and light, I almost forget that it's there.
The sheepsfoot blade also makes short work out of opening the blister pack a lot of small electronic items are packaged in.
SAKs do have more varied tools, etc., but once you get past the basic models with the large/small blades and the basic caplifter and can opener/screwdiver combos, you begin to get a tool that rivals Leathermans in size and weight.
When I'm not carrying my Benchmade Ares, I just like to drop my stockman in my pocket. It's so small and light, I almost forget that it's there.
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2005
- Messages
- 46
Any stockman would do but if you want a small knife with 3 blades go with the buck whittler. its a little smaller than the stockman (cadet) and only cost 20 bucks. still hard to beat a buck for as cheap as there multi blades are.(we all have our opinions) 
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2002
- Messages
- 2,986
These are all great ideas to look into and also some things to watch out for. Funny, how a small freebie knife wound up getting used more than my others in a daily suburban and urban life. So I started figuring, why not get something with a reasonable blade variety, and to be very small and unnoticeable in pocket and that had a nice scale material to make it all the more pleasurable when using it each time. I'll kick myself now for tossing a Smoky Mountain catalog that showed up some months ago. It wasn't my cup of tea then and now it's something i'm real interested in checking out thoroughly.
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2002
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- 2,986
Well, FWIW, I almost blew the work day away hunting to satisfy this itch. I wound up with two incoming: Case 6318 CV stockman with amber bone scales and an Eye Brand EB125S carbon steel stockman with stag. If I get into this carry, it's only time before I start looking at PJ Tomes' work earlier in the day the next show that rolls around.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2001
- Messages
- 8,969
Well Boink,since you already ordered a couple of nice slippies... you can ponder my advice for the next time you get the itch. Of the multi-blades I have, my 3 faves/most used are a Queen cattle king stockman with the winterbottom scales (D2 of course), my Vic Huntsman... though I wish I had gotten one with a phillips instead of the corkscrew. (I ain't no steenkin' wine sipper!) and my Camillus swell-center whittler with carbon steel blades. The Queen is a good sized knife that cuts like crazy. (after you reprofile the blades of course) The Vic gets carried every day, no matter what. The Camillus whittler is fantastic at it's intended purpose.
Post some pics when they arrive, OK?
Post some pics when they arrive, OK?
If you ever get the itch, as Mongo said, and decide to get other mulit-blade knives,
Check out the Vic SwissChamp..........mine has taken everything I've thrown at it for years.......It was replaced with another after about 12 years of carry.
Vic Cybertool 41.......everything you need for EDC, in and way from home, at about the same size and weight of the Swisschamp.........this one ended my Swisschamp's run as perennial EDC.
Vic Ranger...........Smaller than the ones above but just as versatile IMHO
Schrade 897UH.....nice slick multi-blade folder with the looks that will keep most sheeple from dialing 911
Schrade Bear Head Trapper (the model with the tweezers and field pick)...a bigger trapper but still lightweight and sturdy.
All of these, even the Schrades, can be had without breaking the bank.
Case yellow handle Two blade Trapper.....mine gets used mostly at home. A decent size for those around the house jobs.
Check out the Vic SwissChamp..........mine has taken everything I've thrown at it for years.......It was replaced with another after about 12 years of carry.
Vic Cybertool 41.......everything you need for EDC, in and way from home, at about the same size and weight of the Swisschamp.........this one ended my Swisschamp's run as perennial EDC.
Vic Ranger...........Smaller than the ones above but just as versatile IMHO
Schrade 897UH.....nice slick multi-blade folder with the looks that will keep most sheeple from dialing 911
Schrade Bear Head Trapper (the model with the tweezers and field pick)...a bigger trapper but still lightweight and sturdy.
All of these, even the Schrades, can be had without breaking the bank.
Case yellow handle Two blade Trapper.....mine gets used mostly at home. A decent size for those around the house jobs.
I was personnaly very reluctant with buying a multiblade tool. But the Charge ti from leatherman is simply great !!
The blades are strong, sharpened and all tools lock.
Even the saw is very efficient.
This is simply a great multiblade and multitools knife
Walhalark
The blades are strong, sharpened and all tools lock.
Even the saw is very efficient.
This is simply a great multiblade and multitools knife
Walhalark
I hope I'm not being discouraging.
One of the (nit-picky) points I don't like about the "serpentine" shaped handle Stockman like the Case 6318 and Schrade Uncle Henry 897UH is the way the main large (Turkish) clip-point blade sits fully open to the handle.
I think it's because of the "serpentine" handle design - but the blades look distinctly oriented downward from the back - almost like they are about ready to close. This is not confidence inspiring to me. Compare the two Stockmans to the SAK in the photo above.
I also do not like the way the sheepsfoot blade protrudes, sticks up - I do realize that's to allow access to the blade - but it just is not that nice.
However these nit-picky points are far out-weighed by the good aspects including aethetics/looks - that's why I own them -
but then they really haven't had any hard use, unlike my trusted SAKs.......
--
Vincent
http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
One of the (nit-picky) points I don't like about the "serpentine" shaped handle Stockman like the Case 6318 and Schrade Uncle Henry 897UH is the way the main large (Turkish) clip-point blade sits fully open to the handle.
I think it's because of the "serpentine" handle design - but the blades look distinctly oriented downward from the back - almost like they are about ready to close. This is not confidence inspiring to me. Compare the two Stockmans to the SAK in the photo above.
I also do not like the way the sheepsfoot blade protrudes, sticks up - I do realize that's to allow access to the blade - but it just is not that nice.
However these nit-picky points are far out-weighed by the good aspects including aethetics/looks - that's why I own them -
but then they really haven't had any hard use, unlike my trusted SAKs.......
--
Vincent
http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
UnknownVT said:
Interesting point. I wonder why it was/is made that way. I've seen this on other stockmans as well.
Some guesses:
1. Allows more control when whittling/carving using the blade near the pivot? (you can control the angle of the edge better because the blade is not straight to the handle..extreme example would be the 90 degree handle on a straight razor.)
2. Forces you to 'pull' when draw-cutting, which is less likely to close the blade?
3. It has to be that way to fit in the handle?
Someone must know...
I hope we are not hijacking the thread...
I like the blade and handle to be along a straight line when open, but I think the blade at a downward angle is popular, not only in the stockman, in some knives the handle even looks a bit like a pistol grip, there are knives that angle the other way, like the Canadian Grohmann/Russell style:
http://www.covecutlery.com/Category.cfm?CategoryID=45.
In slipjoints the angle between the open blade and the handle is regulated by the back top of the tang and the end of the backspring, the handle stops opening when the back top of the tang hits the end of the backspring, in theory you could make the blade open further by filing at this point (either the tang or the backspring) a little bit, in practice it is not that simple because if the blade opens too much the inside part of the tang could hit the inside of the backspring pushing it up and out and messing the whole setup.
I often file down the kicks of my blades a little to make them go further down inside the handle, but there is a limit and they have to be out enough to grab the nail nick, this makes multibladed knives a bit uncomfortable to use, I can live with that. In the stockman it could be made better by using a wider handle (as in SAKs) but I prefer the slender serpentine just for tradition.
Luis
I like the blade and handle to be along a straight line when open, but I think the blade at a downward angle is popular, not only in the stockman, in some knives the handle even looks a bit like a pistol grip, there are knives that angle the other way, like the Canadian Grohmann/Russell style:
http://www.covecutlery.com/Category.cfm?CategoryID=45.
In slipjoints the angle between the open blade and the handle is regulated by the back top of the tang and the end of the backspring, the handle stops opening when the back top of the tang hits the end of the backspring, in theory you could make the blade open further by filing at this point (either the tang or the backspring) a little bit, in practice it is not that simple because if the blade opens too much the inside part of the tang could hit the inside of the backspring pushing it up and out and messing the whole setup.
I often file down the kicks of my blades a little to make them go further down inside the handle, but there is a limit and they have to be out enough to grab the nail nick, this makes multibladed knives a bit uncomfortable to use, I can live with that. In the stockman it could be made better by using a wider handle (as in SAKs) but I prefer the slender serpentine just for tradition.
Luis