Hey guys. I've been looking for a larger stockman style knife. I carry a Schrade 34ot quite a bit, but sometime would like something a little more hand filling. I've been really drawn to the Queen large stockman in ACSB, and the yeller Case Sowbelly in CV. Does anyone by chance own both of these models? If not, I'd like to hear any thoughts/ opinions on either of them. I'm particularly curious how the sowbelly feels in the hand with the clip blade opened. It looks like the sheep's foot blade may dig into the palm. Thanks for your time.
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Queen Lg. Stockman or Case Sowbelly
- Thread starter mdsmith
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I own both a Queen Cattle King 4 1/4" stockman and a Case Sowbelly in CV.
For the sowbelly, I find that because of the way the humped back of the knife settles into the palm of my hand, the protruding of the sheepsfoot is not that noticeable to me when I'm using the clip blade. YMMV.
The Queen sheepsfoot protrudes less, but with the basically flat shape of the handle, I think I feel the Queen sheepsfoot about as much as I feel that of the Case when using the clip on either.
Both knives feel excellent to me when in use.
My Queen is a couple of years old. Fit and finish are excellent. Edge came dull. Had to reprofile with diamond hones. Once sharpened, the D2 holds an edge very well. I find that D2 is reasonably resistant to corrosion and patina. The Case knife had good fit and finish. The CV takes a wicked sharp edge with not much effort, but does not hold it as well as the D2. (In my usage, the CV does not hold an edge as well as the 1095 in my 80T Schrade OT. I think Schrade ran their steel harder than Case does.)
I find that both those knives are comfortable in the hand, but noticeable in the pocket. The Queen is longer, while the Case is wider and feels heavy because of the thick blades and springs. If you don't mind the size in the pocket, both are nice knives.
As an added suggestion, if you are switching up from a 3 5/8" knife, you might find that 3 7/8" or 4" is a good size. I find that size to be hand filling, but not pocket filling. It's my favorite size for a stockman.
For the sowbelly, I find that because of the way the humped back of the knife settles into the palm of my hand, the protruding of the sheepsfoot is not that noticeable to me when I'm using the clip blade. YMMV.
The Queen sheepsfoot protrudes less, but with the basically flat shape of the handle, I think I feel the Queen sheepsfoot about as much as I feel that of the Case when using the clip on either.
Both knives feel excellent to me when in use.
My Queen is a couple of years old. Fit and finish are excellent. Edge came dull. Had to reprofile with diamond hones. Once sharpened, the D2 holds an edge very well. I find that D2 is reasonably resistant to corrosion and patina. The Case knife had good fit and finish. The CV takes a wicked sharp edge with not much effort, but does not hold it as well as the D2. (In my usage, the CV does not hold an edge as well as the 1095 in my 80T Schrade OT. I think Schrade ran their steel harder than Case does.)
I find that both those knives are comfortable in the hand, but noticeable in the pocket. The Queen is longer, while the Case is wider and feels heavy because of the thick blades and springs. If you don't mind the size in the pocket, both are nice knives.
As an added suggestion, if you are switching up from a 3 5/8" knife, you might find that 3 7/8" or 4" is a good size. I find that size to be hand filling, but not pocket filling. It's my favorite size for a stockman.
I have both the Queen #49 Cattle King 4 1/4" stockman and the Queen #9 4" Stockman
Comments as Frank has said....
I find the 4" to be plenty of knife for daily use and the 4 1/4" to be large and use it if I am doing lots hard work or in the woods
I carry both in leather belt pouches so I do not feel the weight to carry
Both are fine knives
Comments as Frank has said....
I find the 4" to be plenty of knife for daily use and the 4 1/4" to be large and use it if I am doing lots hard work or in the woods
I carry both in leather belt pouches so I do not feel the weight to carry
Both are fine knives
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Thinking about the question, I should have added that I also have two Queen 4" stockman knives. One in 1095, an SFO from one of the larger dealers. The other in standard D2. For the price I paid for the SFO, I considered it to have fit and finish issues. I do recommend the standard D2 model with the honey amber covers. It did come dull and I had to work a bit to put a good edge on it.
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I wholeheartedly agree with that. What a difference two things can make in your pocket; 1) just a quarter of an inch in length, and 2) rounded bolsters.
4" is fine in my work jeans and is a more heavy duty working stockman that my mediums, but on the very rare occasion of dress pants, I drop back down to a medium stockman.
I think have just found a 4" stockman with well rounded bolsters. Could it be I have found my ideal knife?
Robert
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To me, the Case sowbelly does feel 'bigger' in-hand and in-pocket, due to the thick build of the pattern. It's not as long as the Queen Cattle King (3-7/8" vs 4-1/4"), but definitely feels like a 'big' stockman. In part, some of the thickness of it will vary according to handle/cover material; my stag sowbelly (seen in my avatar picture) has fuller, rounder covers on it than others of mine in bone, which tend to be flatter/slimmer, as Case finishes them anyway. I'd assume the yellow Delrin covers will also be relatively thin. And my sowbelly looks almost massive when sitting next to my Schrade 8OT, of the same length.
Regarding height of the sheepsfoot, there's some wiggle-room for adjustment there, if one wishes to file the kick on the sheepsfoot blade. I've already done this to my Cattle King, and there's about 1/8" of leeway to drop the sheepsfoot on my sowbelly, if/when I decide to do that. Sheepsfoot almost always has a lot of open space below the edge, inside the blade well, so most of the wiggle-room will be dictated by how much, or if, the nail nick is/isn't compromised by lowering it.
Edited to add:
For what it's worth, I used a flexible fabric tape measure to (very unscientifically) gauge the 'girth' of each of my T.B. 5339 SS sowbelly (~3" around), Queen #49 ACSB Cattle King (~2-3/4"), and Schrade 8OT (~2-1/2"). I wrapped the tape around the central portion of each knife to include the highest portion of the sheepsfoot's spine on each. I'm sure the factory Queen might've measured a bit bigger, if omitting the aftermarket 'mod' I did to lower it on mine.
Regarding height of the sheepsfoot, there's some wiggle-room for adjustment there, if one wishes to file the kick on the sheepsfoot blade. I've already done this to my Cattle King, and there's about 1/8" of leeway to drop the sheepsfoot on my sowbelly, if/when I decide to do that. Sheepsfoot almost always has a lot of open space below the edge, inside the blade well, so most of the wiggle-room will be dictated by how much, or if, the nail nick is/isn't compromised by lowering it.
Edited to add:
For what it's worth, I used a flexible fabric tape measure to (very unscientifically) gauge the 'girth' of each of my T.B. 5339 SS sowbelly (~3" around), Queen #49 ACSB Cattle King (~2-3/4"), and Schrade 8OT (~2-1/2"). I wrapped the tape around the central portion of each knife to include the highest portion of the sheepsfoot's spine on each. I'm sure the factory Queen might've measured a bit bigger, if omitting the aftermarket 'mod' I did to lower it on mine.
Last edited:
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I have no experience with the ones you mention, but since you are accustomed to the 34OT, what about picking up a used 8OT? They are not hard to locate.
Just going on appearance though, I would have to recommend the ACSB of the Queen over the sawcut delin of the Schrade, but you are asking about use and feel in the hand, not appearance.
Just going on appearance though, I would have to recommend the ACSB of the Queen over the sawcut delin of the Schrade, but you are asking about use and feel in the hand, not appearance.
Will Power
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Lately I've become very taken with D2. If you get a nicely finished Queen in the ACSB you will be a proud owner for sure .The handles are satisfyingly grippy and deep jigged (jugg??).
Another worthy Stockman is the Böker (Germany) in carbon. Slimmer than the large CASE and round bolsters, a big enough knife without much bulk.
Another worthy Stockman is the Böker (Germany) in carbon. Slimmer than the large CASE and round bolsters, a big enough knife without much bulk.
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I have a Queen made Marbles Jumbo Stockman and a Case Sowbelly, and agree with Frank as well! I carry both of these mostly in jeans and then they carry about like anything. For my hand the sowbelly feels the best bar none, then my Case 47 series, then the jumbo stockman! It's very close between the last two!
I've never owned either but my friend loves and carries the sow belly. He likes the thick blades and the handle shape. Now I own some 4 1/4 stockmans and they are handfuls and pocketfuls. It's all in which u like best but I like the sow bellies better because of being more pocket friendly.