Odd realization

I agree that in the real world 2 blades usually has it over 3 in terms of practicality, and that, following that logic, 1 is honestly plenty.

I haven’t found a Stockman yet that just thrills me, though. The small ones don’t give you a whole lot of big beefy straight edge for ripping into things, and the big ones are just …big.

I think what I don’t like about the stockman is that there’s the disadvantages of three blades, but the two secondaries are short and stubby. But maybe short and stubby is more practical for work in the real world? That being said, I live in the ‘burbs and work in an office. I don’t need a knife tailored for a ranch in West Texas.

For me, a two blade jack or pen pattern of some kind is the ideal. It doesn’t even much matter what the blades are, I’ll find a use for all of them.
 
That is just fine, I like either pattern but I can see your point. Some stockmans are uncomfortable. Of course, some trappers are too. Brace yourselves folks, guard your feelings lol. I had to sell a GEC improved trapper #48 because they made it exclusively to go on a shelf I guess, it was a trapper which I normally find comfortable but it had a really thin swedged wharncliffe blade that dug into your hand painfully when you used the main clip blade, plus both blades had really sharp tangs that were just painful in the pocket and hand. Even the jigging was sharp (almost a splintery, unfinished feel to it). Easy on the eyes and hard on the fingers, it was a gorgeous knife that was just awful to actually use. :poop::thumbsdown::( A stockman felt great compared to it lol.
Mostly though, I agree. Trappers are great! :thumbsup:
 
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I like the looks of a trapper, but the prefer the third blade in a stockman. I carry a Buck 307 every day. It's very comfortable in the hand and to use. Others may have a different experience than I have.
 
When fiddling around and coon fingering my knives, I prefer a trapper, but a medium case stockman finds its way into my pocket more often, I especially like the pinch-able sheep’s foot. One of my favorite stockmen is the Old Timer 8OT, I think they just nailed that pattern, love the sawcut scales, the execution of the blades, the long pull, it’s just what I judge all full size stockmen patterns upon personally. They can still be had for around the same price as a new Case, just make sure it’s an older USA made model.
 
I would be hard pressed to choose between a full size trapper and a medium stockman, but a medium trapper (under 4in closed) and a medium stockman is an easy choice. Never cared for Cases mini trapper, but their full size really takes the cake as far as I’m concerned with the pattern, it’s lovely.
Having both a case large stockman and a similarly sized regular trapper, I prefer the trapper all day, it carries better and feels better in hand, the Spey blade isn’t useless but isn’t my go to either. This is all personal preference, as I said above, if using case patterns as a metric, their medium stockman compares favorably for me to a full size regular trapper.
I much prefer the trappers clip point blade, but I really like having that pinchable sheep’s foot…..
 
I didn't think I liked the mini trapper either
Tried it, put it up for like ...10 years

Then back in December/January I made myself EDC it and actually use it for a month
And I ain't gonna lie. She really impressed me

Now I joked the entire time that she was a plain old yellow delrin model that she was the ugly knife
But that ugly knife did everything I asked of her and more all in that little 3 1/2 package that filled my larger than average hand much better then I ever expected
 
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