Steven Dick magazine article on Premium Stockman Knives

That Buck 307 was produced by Camillus. I remembered that my brother had one back in the 80s. He still has it, in unused condition as it was so big. He's sending it to me. They also made the Big Stockman with Remington branding. Also branded Camillus with sawcut green and yellow Delrin. I have two Camillus Model 89 Rancher models from the Indian Stag line. This was their premium , handmade, Sword Brand line. Thanks again everyone.
 
Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference between a stockman and a premium stockman?
 
kamagong said:
Forgive my ignorance, but what is the difference between a stockman and a premium stockman?
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If you read "Levine's Guide" you'll find various iterations and definitions...but essentially the key difference was that it was a double end knife with three or more blades, (clip, sheepsfoot, spay), built on a serpentine frame, vs the "cattle knife" pattern. The smaller versions were referred to as "Junior" premium stock knives.

Different makers at different times seemed to use the term "premium" in more than one way, and even Levine uses the term loosely in his section on "premium" stock knives.
 
kamagong said:
Thanks Elliott. So the 2024 Bladeforums knife is a premium stockman?
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I'm not familiar with which specific patterns were issued as annual forum knives from one year to the next. I've never collected them.
 
Here's a couple of what I would consider a Premium Stockman from Ken Erickson since I don't have the forum knives...

...The bolstered version would fit the more classical definition...but as I say, even within the Levine guide, it's not defined in absolute terms.

IMGP8951_0781_edited-1.jpgErickson Stockman 1.jpg
 
LAG3 said:
My friend, you have just made me very happy. I was just thinking how I can't believe Bladeforums has survived. So many other forums disappeared with the advent of Facebook Groups, Instagram, etc. This is just one example of why I am still a member. When John Larsen chimed in above, I immediately recognized his name and the history of Steven Dick and John Jobson. I would read and reread those magazines. My Mom subscribed to Knife World for me when I was in my early teens. I even had some questions answered on some old knives I had in one of the columns. I'm afraid much of this knowledge is already fading away. And might be lost to history before too long. Thanks everyone.
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I can't count the number of times I re-read the few issues of Blade and some of the old annuals, like the one that Gutmann used to publish every year. They were our only source of information in those day, unless you attended shows and had the opportunity to talk with people directly.
 
I just read the entire article and I remembered it by heart! I just saw two of those extra large, 5" closed Eye Brand Stockmans for sale on eBay and both had been well used. I guess old Steve got the"working knife " part right. Thank you so much everyone. I really have had this in the back of my mind for over 30 years.
 
Lesknife said:
This is going back a long time. That article seems familiar to me but I couldn’t recall the author or publisher. I think i read it from an old barber shop magazine rack back in the 1990s . I’ve always been interested in the stockman pattern since I was a little kid. And the bigguns get me excited. 😆

I finally got a large 4.25 Buck 307 wrangler a few years ago after years looking for a good specimen. It is the kind of knife that makes you feel well equipped for just about anything. I missed out on a few other big stockmans that I really liked but I wasn’t quick enough to pounce on them. I do prefer the good stainless steel ones as I’ve had some bad rust experiences with the carbon steel ones. I know some folks don’t want to carry that large of a knife in pocket but with a sheath it makes it more manageable. For everyday carry I like the medium size around the 3.25 - 3.8 depending on what im doing. Anyway thanks for posting this. I’m going to try and find it.
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Honestly, I just picked up the Camillus Rancher after all these years and I find it a bit bulky for EDC. I have a Camillus 23 cigar pattern jack that is the same length but not as girthy that I do enjoy carrying. I was 21 in 1990. 😁😉
 
LAG3 said:
That's it! After all these years! It was shortly after I read this that I bought a Carl Schlieper German Eye Brand Model 425Y and a Buck Creek Big Diamondback.
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I have Carl Schlieper Eye Brand Stockman's with those pale Yellow scales, a 425Y model which I like. I have an Olsen Stockman with the blade stamped deeply "Premium Stock Knife", but it is a little smaller, just about 3 7/8 inches closed and made in Solingen. I also have an Ontario Rat 2 in D2 with Ram's Horn scales but to sure it qualifies as a Stockman as it has an awl instead of a spey blade? John
 
John A. Larsen said:
I have Carl Schlieper Eye Brand Stockman's with those pale Yellow scales, a 425Y model which I like. I have an Olsen Stockman with the blade stamped deeply "Premium Stock Knife", but it is a little smaller, just about 3 7/8 inches closed and made in Solingen. I also have an Ontario Rat 2 in D2 with Ram's Horn scales but to sure it qualifies as a Stockman as it has an awl instead of a spey blade? John
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I forgot to say I agreed with Steve back then, I don't love the spey blade. I'd much rather have a nice, long, thin pen blade. I know a lot of the cigar pattern Cattle knives with 3 or 4 blades often included a punch. I have seen some serpetine stockmans with a punch. Case, Camillus, Kabar all made them. Moore Maker Knives out of Texas makes a current medium serpentine stockman with a punch. They are real working knives and fairly priced. They also make a true 4 1/4" serpentine stockman. I have only seen that pattern on those really large Eye Brand knives.
 
LAG3 said:
I forgot to say I agreed with Steve back then, I don't love the spey blade. I'd much rather have a nice, long, thin pen blade. I know a lot of the cigar pattern Cattle knives with 3 or 4 blades often included a punch. I have seen some serpetine stockmans with a punch. Case, Camillus, Kabar all made them. Moore Maker Knives out of Texas makes a current medium serpentine stockman with a punch. They are real working knives and fairly priced. They also make a true 4 1/4" serpentine stockman. I have only seen that pattern on those really large Eye Brand knives.
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The one vintage cattle knife I have has a clip, spey, and punch. No sheepsfoot!
 
I just noticed that my Olsen marked knife, stamped with "Premium Stock Knife" on the clip blade has a spey blade and an awl, not a sheeps foot blade. The Ontario RAT 2 in D2 has a clip blade, a sheepsfoot blade and an awl. So again not sure what specifically is considered a Premium Stock Knife? John
 
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