small stockman recommendation

C

catfish579

Joined
Jan 8, 2013
Messages
166
hi all. im in the market for a small stockman. 3 and 1/4 or smaller. currently looking at a buck cadet and two case workman with the brown scales. its just to keep in my change pouch so it will likely be beaten up so it has to be solid. I like smaller pocket knives with multiple blades and larger jacks so figure this will add to the versatility of tools in my many pockets. have heard good things about all the blades im looking at but id like to ask the experts. thoughts and pictures would be nice. case has always had a special place in my heart but the cadet seems like a more sturdy knife and im curious of their sawcut black scales. thank you all for any posts to be made.
 
How about a Schrade Old Timer 108OT? They can be found in mint condition for less than $40-00 and you will have a truly classic traditional knife.:)

Steven
 
Buck 303 Cadet is a sturdy tank of a knife. The Case version is their '44 pattern, 6344, which is slightly slimmer to carry because it uses 2 backsprings versus the Buck's 3.

The Buck pattern has the sheepsfoot blade hinged opposite the clip. blade. This results in a longer and thicker blade than the Case. Also, when using the main clip blade, I find that the Case sheepsfoot sits proud as they usually do, and the spine of it presses noticeably against your middle finger when firmly gripping the knife. On the Buck, the Sheepsfoot sits lower, and right beside the modified spey, so it's not noticeable. It's much more comfortable to hold the Buck knife firmly with the main blade open.

In general all of the blades on the Buck 303 have thicker spines, and use a saber & hollow grind, whereas the Case knives use a continuous hollow grind.

The result is tougher but thicker blades on the Buck, and thinner more graceful blades on the Case. It's really the most noticeable on the sheepsfoot blades. The Case blade is a thin scalpel-like slicer. The Buck is more like a sturdy utility-knife blade.

If you want a sturdy working tool, I'd go with the Buck. For a more lightweight carry with blades suited better for slicing and more delicate work, I'd go with the Case.

Another option if you want to go up a notch is the Queen #26 small stockman. It's also 3 1/4" closed and gets you D2 steel. I've never owned or handled one of those so I can't really comment.

Actually, everything you need to know about the Case versus Buck is in this thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...03-to-Case-Medium-Stockman-(Dark-Red-Bone-CV)
 
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I think if you want a small beater of a stockman, look no further than the Buck 303. Get the black sawcut version; the bolsters/liners are either stainless or nickel silver, either of which is tougher than brass.
 
When I was a kid my first pocket knife was a Schrade Old Timer small stockman. I used that knife for years, until the blades were sharpened to toothpicks. Then I bought another just like it. Tough as nails, reliable quality, I recommend it. As Steven said, they are still available old but unused.

If you want a Jr. Stockman with a small spay blade, get the Buck. If you want a pen blade instead, get the Schrade.
 
Catfish, if you PM me your addy, I'll send you a small Rough Rider stockman for free. It's my favorite pattern of theirs.
 
black mamba said:
Catfish, if you PM me your addy, I'll send you a small Rough Rider stockman for free. It's my favorite pattern of theirs.
Click to expand...

Another BF RAK (random act of kindness).




+1 on the Schrade stockman, and you can get one with some use on it for a lot less than that.
 
Queen #26
Three and a quarter inches closed.
D2 blades.
Curly zebra wood or honey amber stag bone.
Here's mine.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1390771311.243482.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1390771383.459387.jpg
And a size comparison
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1390771482.436164.jpg

Paul
 
I have been curious of an old timer. just don't know where to find a good one for the right price. thoughts on that? also thank you for the current thoughts. guessing I wouldn't been doing any fine work with the knife, never found small knives good for detailed whittling, seems like the current favor is for the buck.
 
jc57 said:
Buck 303 Cadet is a sturdy tank of a knife. The Case version is their '44 pattern, 6344, which is slightly slimmer to carry because it uses 2 backsprings versus the Buck's 3.

The Buck pattern has the sheepsfoot blade hinged opposite the clip. blade. This results in a longer and thicker blade than the Case. Also, when using the main clip blade, I find that the Case sheepsfoot sits proud as they usually do, and the spine of it presses noticeably against your middle finger when firmly gripping the knife. On the Buck, the Sheepsfoot sits lower, and right beside the modified spey, so it's not noticeable. It's much more comfortable to hold the Buck knife firmly with the main blade open.

In general all of the blades on the Buck 303 have thicker spines, and use a saber & hollow grind, whereas the Case knives use a continuous hollow grind.

The result is tougher but thicker blades on the Buck, and thinner more graceful blades on the Case. It's really the most noticeable on the sheepsfoot blades. The Case blade is a thin scalpel-like slicer. The Buck is more like a sturdy utility-knife blade.

If you want a sturdy working tool, I'd go with the Buck. For a more lightweight carry with blades suited better for slicing and more delicate work, I'd go with the Case.

Another option if you want to go up a notch is the Queen #26 small stockman. It's also 3 1/4" closed and gets you D2 steel. I've never owned or handled one of those so I can't really comment.

Actually, everything you need to know about the Case versus Buck is in this thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...03-to-Case-Medium-Stockman-(Dark-Red-Bone-CV)
Click to expand...

A more complete suggestion cannot be made.
So I will just say "+1"
 
You would think I would have something profound to say, but I do not. I collect the Cadets, as do a couple of my friends. They work at it more than I do. Buck has discontinued the smooth yellow delrin version, if you like those you better grab some still on shelves.
I miss the ten year or so period when they did jigged bone, and some other fancy scaled stockman back in the 90's. You can still get a 303 with Rosewood scales and brass bolsters, I haven't carried mine but it is pleasing to look at. I take spells on what I carry, for a while I carried a TL-29 Schrade about as much as a Buck. Have a SAK on the dresser and carry it sometimes just for something different.

I will bait the hook and say I heard on the winter wind the possible issue of a special stockman later in the year. If I hear solid information based on actual facts I will let you Buck guys know. 300
 
You can't go wrong with the Buck 303 but you might also want to look at the Case 63087 Medium Stockman (Pen, Spey & Clip), same size as the 303 but with round bolsters. Rugged and rides nice in the pocket.
 
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