School me on picking out a new case stockman

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robertj298

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Mar 7, 2014
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I'm new to collecting and am going to a shop tomorrow and would really like a medium stockman. The shop I'm going to is a Case platinum shop. I've read it is always better if you can hand pick a knife but I'm not really sure what to look for. Any info or websites you could give me would be appreciated...Bob
 
robertj298 said:
I'm new to collecting and am going to a shop tomorrow and would really like a medium stockman. The shop I'm going to is a Case platinum shop. I've read it is always better if you can hand pick a knife but I'm not really sure what to look for. Any info or websites you could give me would be appreciated...Bob
Click to expand...

Go to this web site for a detailed rundown of the Stockman patterns. There are several patterns, so read up on each and decide which blade configuration, whether yoyu want round or square bolsters, and what size closed.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wr_case/patterns_by_number/61_75.php

Here are pattern #'s to help you out:

Small Stockman - #'s 27 and 33

Medium Stockman - #'s 18, 32, 087, 44, 032, and 47
Stockman with Punch - 18PU

Large Stockman - 75

Mind you, not all the above pattern numbers are available...some are retired, in a vault, etc. Good luck; the Stockman is one of my favorite patterns.
 
Alnamvet68 said:
Go to this web site for a detailed rundown of the Stockman patterns. There are several patterns, so read up on each and decide which blade configuration, whether yoyu want round or square bolsters, and what size closed.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wr_case/patterns_by_number/61_75.php

Here are pattern #'s to help you out:

Small Stockman - #'s 27 and 33

Medium Stockman - #'s 18, 32, 087, 44, 032, and 47
Stockman with Punch - 18PU

Large Stockman - 75

Mind you, not all the above pattern numbers are available...some are retired, in a vault, etc. Good luck; the Stockman is one of my favorite patterns.
Click to expand...

I'm actually more interested in being able to choose the best copy of a certain pattern.
 
Alnamvet68 said:
Go to this web site for a detailed rundown of the Stockman patterns. There are several patterns, so read up on each and decide which blade configuration, whether yoyu want round or square bolsters, and what size closed.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wr_case/patterns_by_number/61_75.php

Here are pattern #'s to help you out:

Small Stockman - #'s 27 and 33

Medium Stockman - #'s 18, 32, 087, 44, 032, and 47
Stockman with Punch - 18PU

Large Stockman - 75

Mind you, not all the above pattern numbers are available...some are retired, in a vault, etc. Good luck; the Stockman is one of my favorite patterns.
Click to expand...

Thanks Alnamvet68. I found your info and link very interesting. :)
 
What I would look for on a new stockman would be:

Sides of the handles to be closely matched assuming you're looking at bone
Good snap when opening and closing
Minimal blade rub of the 3 blades
Springs on back to be flush when the blades are open and closed. (This is the one that bugs me the most for whatever reason)
No big gaps between the springs and liners
And just pick the model you like best! :) Good luck!
 
If you can't hand pick it, the only advice I can give you is choosing a reputable dealer, and explaining exactly what you look for, or what you don't want to get.

Fausto
:cool:
 
Flint Hills said:
What I would look for on a new stockman would be:

Sides of the handles to be closely matched assuming you're looking at bone
Good snap when opening and closing
Minimal blade rub of the 3 blades
Springs on back to be flush when the blades are open and closed. (This is the one that bugs me the most for whatever reason)
No big gaps between the springs and liners
And just pick the model you like best! :) Good luck!
Click to expand...

Absolutely perfect in my opinion. Just don't make yourself crazy and have fun.

Don
 
Flint Hills said:
What I would look for on a new stockman would be:

Sides of the handles to be closely matched assuming you're looking at bone
Good snap when opening and closing
Minimal blade rub of the 3 blades
Springs on back to be flush when the blades are open and closed. (This is the one that bugs me the most for whatever reason)
No big gaps between the springs and liners
And just pick the model you like best! :) Good luck!
Click to expand...

Dead on, exactly what I do and why I like buying in person.
 
This maybe my first comment. At any rate, I've had my SBJ, CV, for over a year now. It rides in my jeans watch pocket with a brass Zippo. I've tend to go with one traditional pocket knife for a decade or two. This one may be my last. (If I don't wear it out just fondling it.) Oh come on you know what I mean.
 
lbrasi said:
This maybe my first comment. At any rate, I've had my SBJ, CV, for over a year now. It rides in my jeans watch pocket with a brass Zippo. I've tend to go with one traditional pocket knife for a decade or two. This one may be my last. (If I don't wear it out just fondling it.) Oh come on you know what I mean.
Click to expand...

You joined in 2007 & this is your first post! That's got to be a record breaker there. :)
 
lbrasi...you are clearly a man (i presume) of few words! Come on!....lets hear & see more of that SBJ! To the OP....yup....what Flint Hills said. let us know where you land.

Peter
 
:eek: lbrasi, I look forward to your next post in 2021!

Back to the stockman pattern:

- How does it feel in your hand?

- How about in your pocket?

- Do the handles match well in coloring and jigging?

- Is the dye the right color throughout for the knife, keeping in mind that some variation is intentional (i.e, if it's supposed to be Red, then no pinks or white areas).

- No (or small) gaps between the springs and liners. It's more of a cosmetic thing. I have some Case knives with liner gaps. Doesn't bother me a bit, but none of them are excessive.

- Modest blade rub is unavoidable in most stockman patterns, but it doesn't have to be excessive. Pick one that's not too bad. Some rare few have almost none, but if it's going to be a user it will develop some anyway.

- Do you want stainless steel or chrome vanadium (carbon steel)? The choice of steel type locks you into certain handle materials, and vice versa (usually, though there are some exceptions where you can get the same knife in both)

- Look for good "walk and talk" - i.e. blades that both sound and feel right when you open and close them. Not too stiff, or too rough, or too light. Sometimes new knives need to have their joints rinsed out after you get home with them so a knife that's a little rough may do fine once cleaned and oiled. This one you just kind of have to get for yourself, it's hard to explain without handing someone a knife that has it and one that doesn't.

- Pick one that looks good to you. If you like green bone, get green bone. If you like yellow Delrin, get yellow Delrin. These sorts of things are totally up to individual taste.

Unless you get one with genuine manufacturing defects, you really can't go wrong. There's not a single Case Stockman I own that isn't a great knife that I'm happy to have bought.
 
The medium stockman with rounded bolsters is my favorite Case pattern, and a pattern that Case does consistently well.
Still, it's good to purchase in person as you are planning. Here are some things to look for with Case knives, to be sure you're getting the best example possible:
- Jagged, coarsely-finished edges. May not matter if you're going to sharpen and use it anyway.
- Blade wobble.
- Weak spring action on any of the three blades.

Good luck in your quest!
 
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