sak vs stockman

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
5,944
Was out camping this weekend..kept it real primitive and had a blast brought along my vic farmer...and a larger blade for fire wood...I love my farmer sak but am constantly drawn between using that or one of my stockmany...The both have advantages I guess..
My sak is tough as nails has great little saw and a wood awl...I guess in an emergency they're good to have but I didn't use them at all,
My stockman look cool and have specific use blades
I did end up cleaning a few bluegills while away and had no reservations about cleaning my sak out with a little soap and water..I miight be a little reluctant to do the same with one of my carbon steel slippies..any how which would you prefer if you where going out for a few days into the woods and why...I realize this might be more of a wilderness and survival thread...but I'd rather seek the opinion of the more experienced slippy users...THanks...
 
My camping trips tend to be less primitive these days than in the past, as I now bring along my wife and 3 (soon to be 4) kids. Most of the time I've used the saw or other tools on a SAK or multi-tool in the woods, it has been an intentional novelty. Unless I was literally stranded with nothing but the contents of my pockets, I camp with better tools for those purposes. I don't baton wood or saw off limbs with a pocket knife.

The stockman, to me, is the ideal "away from home" pattern. There is no other pocketable knife I can think of that gives you more blade inches while still having the precision to handle smaller tasks. When you're away from maintenance tools, the ability to switch to another blade after dulling or damaging one is a big asset.

A good clip point simply trounces a spear blade for anything involving piercing or precision. The ability to have a rougher/toothy edge for cutting things like rope while keeping other blades mirror polished for push cutting/carving is nice.

As to maintenance, I have an old Schrade with a carbon clip point that has been my "tackle box knife" for over ten years. I rinse it with soap and water and wipe/blow it dry, then drop it back in the box. Occasionally, I'll hit it with a scrubbie and finish with a light coat of oil. I've never seen so much as a spot of rust on the blade or backspring.

The one SAK feature that is very hard to replace is scissors. When they're the right tool for a job, there simply is nothing better. Never the less, scissors are much more useful to me around the house/office than in the woods.

Either choice is good, but I really prefer the stockman.
 
Good points I agree on the clip poit being superior for piercing..I was skinning a few squirrels this past fall with my sak and the hardest part was getting the spear point tip theough the thick hide without piercing to deep..(I was wishing for a clip point than) I'm not worried abut rust on my blades so much as the inner workings...Thanks again..Keep 'em coming guys.
 
It does not make any real difference to me what I use, it will be what ever I'm carrying that day. My pocket knife of the day is expected to do whatever. So far for pan fish duty, I've used my old yellow CV peanut, my bone stag true sharp peanut, my yellow CV sodbuster, Buck 303 cadet, and Wenger SI. All received a cleaning after with very warm water and Dawn dish soap using a toothbrush to get inside. A bit of Hoppe's gun oil came later.

It's okay to use carbon steel. A good soap and water wash up won't hurt it. Just dry it off and put a drop of oil on the joints and its good to go. They're ment to be used, don't baby them.:D
 
As much as I love a basic, traditional folder with only cutting blades, I always find myself reaching for a SAK when utility is the main factor. My latest notion for meshing my aesthetic pleasure of traditional slippies and my desire for SAK-like utility is that I want to get a good scout pattern. I wonder if there was ever a scout with a clip rather than spear blade? Maybe if someone were handy with a grinder . . .
 
I was in the same predicament when my Case mini trapper arrived. I knew I was going to need a screwdriver that was a bit more substantial than the Classic SD on my keys, and I tend to use the saw and awl a good bit. I use the saw alot for trap triggers,fireboards, and stock removal when whittling, and the awl sees use for a few drilling tasks here and there.
So, I decided the mini trapper was going to ride in the front right pocket and handle all cutting chores, food prep/eating chores. The Farmer would still tag along, but in the rear right with my wallet. The Classic SD has been relegated to grooming needs, and the nail file helps smooth out some of the rough spots when whittling.
With those three knives I've pretty much got my bases covered, occasionally the farmer even stays home and I make do with the Classic, Mini Trapper, and P38 on my keys.


Gautier
 
I was out on a trout fishing expedition this week and I actually carried both a Vic Soldier and a stockman. I used the SAK more. Unlike some Stockman carriers that I've seen post I keep all blades sharp. As much as I like to try to be simple I prefer to have the right tool for the job, or as close to the right tool as possible, so I like the tools on SAKs. I'm also pretty particular about keeping blades sharp, so most blades I own are for cutting only, not much prying, scraping or anything else is done with them. So for me I vote SAK. I still love my Stockman though.
 
Foilist check out the bulldog scout nife it seems to have a spear pont and a smaller clip point blade.....I've been palying with the stockman pattern knives for a while and I found in terms of wood work as far as making fire boards or traps I can do all the same stuff that I can with a sak, although sometimes the saw makes things quicker..as far as keeping my blades sharp..every edge on everything I own can shave..(that's why I have hairless arms and legs now..sigh..) just an idiosyncracy I have. However I do keep my spey blade a little on the toothy side for utility cutting..Opening boxes and such
 
That is my problem. I tend to sharpen ALL my blades, whether it's my Peanut or my Stockman, which means they are used for cutting, and nothing else. My SAKs are more diverse and functional. I use the awl on my Wenger SI for any poking or penetrating I may have to do, and the main blade for cutting. I've been carrying my Wenger alot lately and have found myself using the awl for many things. I never really used it before, but this latest go around with my SI has proven very constructive.
 
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