Schrade collector who bought his first Boker

K

kevins73cigars

Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
276
My first knife was an LB7. I have come to see Schrade knives as a benchmark and usually judge a knife by how it compares to the Schrade counterpart... I recently bought my first Boker - a relatively inexpensive Boker trapper (2525BD) and am unimpressed by the looks of its construction. Based on the hunting knives I was given by my grandfather, I was under the impression that the knife makers in Solingen Germany produced high quality knives. The blades do not look forged - they appear to have been stamped! Am I jumping the gun on this brand? Does anyone have an informed opinion on the difference between the blades of a 285UH and a Boker Tree Brand trapper?
 
It sounds like you answered your own question. I guess thats why there is so many Schradeaholics.
Welcome to the forum, Rick
 
Welcome to the forum Kevin.
You can probably find out more info on the Boker USA forum under Manifacturer's Forums.

I have 4 or 5 Bokers, 3 of which are German. I know they do make some in Argentina, where they have a factory. They also import some even from china. I am not sure which one you have, but from what I have seen there is a definite difference in quality.

Dale
 
I don't think all Bokers were created equal. Our friend Don Luis has shown us some that are exceptionally good quality. Years ago I had a Boker Tree Brand stockman that was a good quality knife. I have not examined them closely this century to see what they are like.

Buy more Schrades
Codger
 
Welcome to our forum, Kevin!

I have a few Bokers, nice knives for the most part But like every cutlery company nowadays (and most in the past), they have a top of the line and the bottom of the barrel. Heck, Schrade did as well. Boker has a made in China brand as well-- the 'Magnums', which aren't bad (as orvet reminds us).

I guess what I am saying is that you must compare apples to apples, oranges to oranges. I agree that the LB7 is a benchmark for other production brands in it's price point.. and some priced higher. Same true for the Uncle Henry line.

In any event, glad you have joined us here.

Phil
 
Sorry about the wise crack Kevin, I guess I should not post after my second drink. I hope you found the info your were seeking, there are very few questions that go answered around here.
Agian, welcome
Rick
 
Por la contra. I see no problem with loyalty. However what you prefer is a matter of individuality. I had some relatives some 10, 000 years ago who were partial to chipped stone blades.

As far as posting after two drinks I also concur. It certainly is not enough and why would you consider posting in this exercise in futility if not totaly inebreiated. I have noticed a concerned gentility recently towards imports a kinder gentler oh well what can you do inference. In fact I must have caught the congeniality. I am considering coming out of retirment and applying for a job with Smokey.

I have some Bokers that date to original George Schrade designs that were stolen from him prior to WWI when he was kicked out of Germany and his patents factory and holdings were confiscated and since have become considered of German origin ( ie the lever automatic still produced by several German companies ie, Hubertus for one ). Sorry there I go again with facts curtesy of history.

There is nothing wrong with any servicable tool unfortunately in some cases that cannot be said for the ambitions of those that make or sell them.

For those who might construe my postings as post any libations not true when I am intoxicated my writings become much gentler and my spelling better ( how could it be any worse ).

Well done Upstream and never trust anyone whos hands do not shake a little bit when they wake up in the morning. I never met a sober man who didnt lie and I never met a drinker who didn't tell the truth ( even if inadvertantly ). When drinking. LT PS Welcome aboard CEEGAR 73. Oh yes by the way them old Bokars were some of the finest ever made.
 
textoothpk said:
Welcome to our forum, Kevin!

I have a few Bokers, nice knives for the most part But like every cutlery company nowadays (and most in the past), they have a top of the line and the bottom of the barrel. Heck, Schrade did as well. Boker has a made in China brand as well-- the 'Magnums', which aren't bad (as orvet reminds us).

Phil
Click to expand...

I may have been misunderstood. I have some German Bokers that are good knives. The ones made in Argentina, are not as well made. I do have two that I purchased and then found were made in china. The fit and finish of those knives, while better than some of the junk coming from china, is a FAR CRY form the quality of the German or even Argentinian knives.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. My Granddaughter and I were rear-ended Friday evening by a pickup pulling a horse trailer and we have been medicated, (per doctors instructions) maybe I shouldn't post while taking Valium! :o

Dale
 
Seriously I hope all is well. However on a lighter note do you mean you got run over by a horse attached to a truck. Wow this is obviously another communist Chinese plot. I mean who else would have thought of it. Medication is better when not prescribed. Try washing it down with a shot it makes the medicine last longer and like a spoon full of sugar it helps the medicine go down in the most delightful way.

Sorry about your accident I truly hope it is nothing serious. I know they cannot hurt an old warhorse like you but hopefully you both are OK. Stay well Rich. PS please submit more postings while under the influence they make more sense.pps Dale only a joke about the booze and pills Dale Dale ?????
 
Dale I hope you and your granddaughter are fine.

He he, am I allowed to comment here?, I'm holding a half full (or is it half empty?) glass of Irish vodka right now (Boru brand, fine and not expensive, they sure know how to do alcohol in Ireland).

If I remember correctly my first knife was a Pastor Aleman, my second was a Boker stockman and my third was a Schrade 34OT, sometime back in the 60's

I have some nice Bokers, mostly about 25 or 30 years old, including one of those lever automatics, they are good but were expensive. I believe I have mentioned before that I'll take a Schrade over a Boker any day.

IMHO Boker's 440C steel does seem to be very good, on the downside in their stag handled models they seem not to worry much about matching scales. I have the distributor "Casa Boker" not far from home (short hop in the subway) so I can hand pick a knife when I want one. For a long while they only had a few models but lately they have a bunch, good now that American knives have mostly disappeared from Mexican stores.

At the end of last year I bought one of their new Classic Series, a whittler in 1095 and wood scales, it is nice indeed, they also had a nice looking trapper in stainless and red bone and other models including some Argentinian made automatics that looked quite good, on the high end they had some Damascus and MOP. Seems to me that they are trying to rebuild their old image and trying to regain some market, they sure beat up the Chinese cheapos that are around everywhere now.

Dang, this vodka seems to be evaporating, glass is almost empty now...

Luis
 
Strange that you mention the scale thing. Older european firms actually had an interesting way of scaling knives. Especially the italian knife makers. As the story goes they would have two buckets with the pre formed handles.( a bucket for lefts and a bucket for rights ), When they would assemble they would simply reach into each of the buckets and grab any handle at random, thus often the scales would often be slightly different. In reality it gave each knife a uniqueness which to day can affect the knives value. LT
 
Well, thanks for all the replies - both the sober and otherwise...

I've decided to keep collecting Schrade exclusively. I guess it really is a matter of taste. The 285UH's and the 2525BD's are probably not that far apart (maybe $5 bucks or so...) Either way, I'm going to get rid of the Bokers - only so many cigar boxes will fit in a bedroom closet!

Thanks again,
Kevin
 
I've bought a few Boker slipjoints with bone scales (tang stamped Solingen, Germany) - stockmans, copperheads, congress, trapper - over the past couple of years, and I think they are really nicely made.

Also have a few of their models in 440C (also made in Solingen) and I think it's excellent steel. Easy to sharpen and takes a wicked edge that lasts.

Haven't seen or handled any of their Argentine manufactured product, so can't comment on them.

Have seen some of their Chinese made product, and well...let's just say they weren't for me.
 
I've got a few bokers, older ones...

Here is a nice one, IMHO...

DSCF0012.jpg


Glenn
 
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