Please help me narrow it down

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

Slipjoint Addict
Joined
Feb 2, 2005
Messages
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Well, I have gotten the slippie bug so bad, I have to make a choice. I have decided I should at least give a slippie a try, leave the one hand opener at home for a week or a month. Looking through my collection, I have a fair amount of choices to use. Buck 301BB stockman, Queen Mountain Man slippie, Case Bose Tribal Spear :cool:, an old Boker stockman that is just begging to be used, a Queen canoe and a Tidioute 73 trapper. These are just a few of the traditionals I have to choose from.

Being a knife nut, I have an excuse to get a new one however, for EDC. I have been eyeing up the Great Eastern Pioneer trappers, the cattle baron and cattle rancher stockmans, but obviously, they are a little bit big for an EDC. I have also been eyeing up the Case Backpocket and the Case humpback stockman, in bone stag, which no one seems to have :(. I know that the Cases will see a lot of work, the Great Easterns will probably be too big for anything other than "woodcraft".

Which ones would you get, and why? I am a steel snob, but the humpback stockman is only offered in SS, and I will definitely get the Backpocket in CV steel. For the Great Easterns, I am looking at any of the umbrella brands. GEC, Northfield or Tidioute. 1095 or 440C are good for me.

Thanks for the suggestions!
 
I would start with a GEC toothpick, any brand, but the Northfields have the nice swedges.

They ride smaller than their 4" size would imply, and feel awesome in the hand.
 
black mamba said:
I would start with a GEC toothpick, any brand, but the Northfields have the nice swedges.

They ride smaller than their 4" size would imply, and feel awesome in the hand.
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Jeff is quite right. For a 4" knife it sure is pocket friendly and only 2 5/8 ounces. Takes a very nice edge too with a little work.

orig.jpg
 
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black mamba said:
I would start with a GEC toothpick, any brand, but the Northfields have the nice swedges.

They ride smaller than their 4" size would imply, and feel awesome in the hand.
Click to expand...

+1 This is a very easy carrying knife. Also since it has only one blade, it is rather light for its size. And the shape allows it to ride easily next to my cell in my front right pocket, my wallet in my rear pocket, or in my watch pocket. And they sure are purdy.
 
Thanks for the suggestion concerning the toothpick, I have not been particularly fond of toothpicks. However, I like these GEC models.

I may have just found my EDC, in the Queen Dan Burke single clip blade barlow. Reading the AG Russell catalog on break, I instantly fell in love with it. Looks like a great knife.

This is a sickness :eek:.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I am a steel snob, but the humpback stockman is only offered in SS, and I will definitely get the Backpocket in CV steel. For the Great Easterns, I am looking at any of the umbrella brands. GEC, Northfield or Tidioute. 1095 or 440C are good for me.

Thanks for the suggestions!
Click to expand...

For what its worth, I actually prefer Case's SS and Buck's 420HC over 440C. It really is good stuff and sharpening is a joy.

Give that Buck a test run. Personally I don't like the grinds on the Buck Stockmans but I think that steel will surprise you.
 
Rupestris said:
For what its worth, I actually prefer Case's SS and Buck's 420HC over 440C. It really is good stuff and sharpening is a joy.

Give that Buck a test run. Personally I don't like the grinds on the Buck Stockmans but I think that steel will surprise you.
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The Buck is actually their brown bone model, with 425M steel and a full flat grind.
 
I would suggest a Mooremaker 5300 stockman.1095 steel and it dissapears in your pocket. One of the reasons would be the nail nick is on the same side as the main clip, making each blade open the same.
And they sure are perty...

P1010094.jpg
 
Get the single blade or twin blade version of the GEC #48 dogleg trapper. Here's another forum's knife on that pattern. I like it so well that I'm going to buy some more 48's. I think it's the perfect size for a trapper pattern.

AAPKtrapper.jpg


Oh, and that 194OT in the picture would be a good choice as well.

You do know that starting a thread like this is asking for us forumites to throw gasoline on the fire.

Ed
 
Buzzbait said:
It would be a crime not to carry the Tribal Spear.
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Thats the one I would pick as well.


Of the ones you don't have, I would go with the Case Back Pocket. Great design, and I'm sure they will do it right.
 
Ed, how long is that GEC closed? They make a great looking trapper, and the stag is #1.
 
I handled a Case BP over the weekend and, I must say, they did one heck of a job with that pattern. It's going to be a hot item. If you want a big knife I think you would be happy with one.
 
My GEC Cattle Rancher has been a great EDC so far. I carry it in the watch pocket of my jeans. It kinda pops in there horizontally and makes its own sheath this way.

It is the only cutting tool i have been carrying too.
 
I don't know your daily uses for a knife, but for me the trapper patterns never worked real well. I want a long blade, along with a shorter blade, or two. For this Whittler patterns fit well, as do Stockman patterns, plus you have three blades. For two blades, long/short, I favor a Gunstock pattern, and a 2-bladed Copperhead pattern, especially the Case pattern.
 
mnblade said:
You really carry a 4 1/8" knife in your watch pocket? :confused:

-- Mark
Click to expand...
Yes:D It just rides in there perfectly with maybe a 1/2" to spare. It is very unobtrusive this way and i never notice it like i did when i carried loose in the pocket. It won't work in the carhartts that way because the pocket is too small but it has with wranglers and lee jeans.
 
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