Recommendation? Stockman or Trapper

Railsplitter said:
Good point about crinked blades, Hickory n steel.

That's another plug for the Humpback Stockman discussed above. The blades are offset instead of crinked.
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By offset do you mean ground offset from the tang ? Because I'm not sure I've ever actually seen a knife with offset blades in person. My only stockman was a defective Shcrade 34OT that I have taken apart to modify into a single clip blade.
 
Hickory n steel said:
By offset do you mean ground offset from the tang ? Because I'm not sure I've ever actually seen a knife with offset blades in person. My only stockman was a defective Shcrade 34OT that I have taken apart to modify into a single clip blade.
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Yes, that's a good way to describe it. I'll try to get a pic real quick before the sun goes down.
 
Here's a photographic example of offset blades on my Harvest Orange Humpback Stockman pictured above. This isn't the greatest example as this one does have some blade rub.

Anyway, you can see that none of the blades are bent or crinked but offset at the tang like you mentioned.

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Hi!
Million thanks to all for Your reply!
English not my first language, as you guessed! :)

I'll probably choose stockman over trapper, for versatility like many of you pointed out.

And I'll check that Buck Stockman for my father, it might work fine (better) for him.
Though I did find nice looking green Case John Deer Medium Stockman...
(kind of gift package)

And, really I did spend half night checking those different Stockman variants,
damn hard to choose what I like best.

One more question:
Trapper has two blades, right?
And there's Peanut with two blades.
So what's difference with Trapper and Peanut?
 
Peanuts are typically 2⅞" closed length, while trappers are usually 3⅞ to 4¼" closed.
 
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My Stockman. Three blades is nice to have.
 
Between the two I'd go with Case. As fas as pattern goes I like and have both but I favor the stockman more.
 
Now that you've heard from all the stockman fans let me be the odd man out and tell you to get the Trapper. They are both great patterns and i carry both but if i could only have one it would be a trapper.
I would suggest a Case #54 in either yellow Delrin or Amber Bone with CV blades. Its all the knife you will ever need and will be equally useful on the job site, at the hunting camp, or in the office. My 2 cents.
 
Railsplitter said:
Here's a photographic example of offset blades on my Harvest Orange Humpback Stockman pictured above. This isn't the greatest example as this one does have some blade rub.

Anyway, you can see that none of the blades are bent or crinked but offset at the tang like you mentioned.

View attachment 705003
Click to expand...
That's what I thought, and just realized that I actually do have a knife with offset blades. It just so happens to be a frost cutlery Congress with buffalo horn scales ( from their frost family line ) it's not the greatest in the world but worth 5$ and is pretty sharp.
 
For my uses, I don't find two long skinny blades particularly useful. Some folks use pocket knives to cut food and the long blades on a trapper work well for that purpose... but a folding knife is not ideal for food and the joint on a pocket knife will need to be kept clean. I use kitchen knives for food. And I'd use a fixed blade for hunting or fishing.

Now trappers come in many sizes and with single, double, triple, etc blades.... some even have a saw or a screwdriver/cap lifter.

From Case's regular production knives, I like their mini trapper with clip and Wharncliffe blades. At around 3.5" it's a good size. The combination of a clip blade and a straight edge blade is useful to me. It's a well designed knife. And the idea for the knife is uncredited but it originated with the custom knife maker Tony Bose. Case did do a couple Bose collaboration knives (sort of a mid tech... as close to custom as a production knife can get) but those knives typically cost much more than the regular production knives.

Now lots of other companies have copied Tony. GEC has several versions of Wharncliffe trappers... a recent run might still have some stock.

I definitely prefer stock knives (serpentine) and cattle knives (equal end generally though there are "fancy" versions with other handle shapes). I particularly like the combination of a clip or spear blade with a sheepfoot blade. The third blade is mostly an extra to me... if it's a spey, then it usually gets used for scraping and other mildly abusive tasks. The sheepfoot is great for starting a cut in the middle of something. And the shorter length (compared to a Wharncliffe on a trapper) gives more control.

There are stock knives in lots of different shapes and sizes. My favorite from Case is the sowbelly. It's a Tony Bose pattern he made for Case based on 100 year old knives. Although it is a Bose pattern, it is a regular production run so it is very affordable. I've bought LOTS of them since I like the pattern and also have given them as gifts. I highly recommend that knife. The large stockman and humpback stockman are also especially nice patterns. One is huge and the other is smaller. The sowbelly is in between the two with respect to size.

I don't buy or recommend knives from Frost.
 
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I feel the Case medium Stockman is one of the best values out there, and an all around great knife to carry. The only, tiny thing that doesn't make it perfect for me is that I have no need for the spey blade. But it doesn't really make the knife any bigger, so no big deal at all.

I personally do not like the full size standard trapper. Again, I have no use for the spey, and it does add girth to an already fairly large knife.

The Case 6207w mini trapper on the other hand is my favorite Case pattern. It is 3.5", and replaces the spey with a Wharncliffe. The GEC improved trapper is a better knife, but is a little larger, and more than twice the cost. Beautiful knife though.

GEC will be making its #66 Calf Roper sometime soon (guessing this summer). It is similar to the Case medium stockman, but a bit "beefier". This will also likely be over $100 per piece.

As others have expressed, if you want to go the inexpensive route, I'd recommend Rough Rider over Frost. I've had some of each, and Rough Rider is typically a better knife.

I apologise for the crappy photos, but I included the ones I have to compare.

Starting at top of the 1st photo is:
1. Case 6318 medium stockman
2. GEC #66 Calf Roper stockman
3. Rough Rider stockman
4. GEC #48 Improved Trapper
5. Case 6207w Mini Trapper
6. Case Peanut
IMG_20170505_234427.jpg

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The GEC 66 calf roper is a good suggestion. If you want carbon steel and if it's within the budget (close to twice the price of a yellow delrin Case sowbelly), that would be a good choice. I'm looking forward to that upcoming run from GEC.

If you do some searching, you may be able to find a USA made Schrade 8OT that is still in new condition. That will also have 1095 steel similar to the knives from GEC. It's not as pretty but just as functional. It's one of my favorite users. The pattern is similar to GEC's 81 pattern. That's a great knife also and it has prettier handles but it is unfortunately hard to find.

Misc photos

Case sowbelly
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Case humpback
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GEC 66
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GEC 81 and Schrade 8OT
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Misc Knives
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Ok, so this is coming from a guy who just bought a 3 blade whittler... it depends on what you will do with the knife. I find a trapper very useful around the house and garden. A clip works well for long cuts such as breaking down boxes, where the blade's belly continues to cut as your wrist rolls downward. The other, flatter blade is a bit safer (ie less 'pointy') and comes in handy as you move along with an open blade, eg while pruning in the garden. A very small blade is sometimes useful, for me primarily when using the knife around the 'risk-adverse' folks. For this I much prefer a 2 blade Barlow, and often carry one of these to the office. For me, >= 3 blades is just too much.

Have you considered a Barlow?
 
When I am in the mood to carry a bigger slipjoint, I kind of alternate between a Case Trapper and a Case Large Stockman. If I think I'll be using it to cut food during the day, then I take the Trapper. Love the long spey for food tasks. If I think I'll be doing more home handyman chore related stuff, then the Stockman.

Just general carry during the week, a Case Medium Stockman (6318 in Pocket Worn Old Red Bone recently) is usually in my pocket, though I'll go with a 2-blade Jack or Mini Trapper if I feel like it. Really no bad choices, just different choices.
 
Highly recommend the Case Sowbelly, I would like to try the humpback stockman though.

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Of the brands listed I would go Case no question asked but unlike many I prefer the trapper over the stockman. I love the way they carry in pocket and I dont see any situation needing three blades when the two on the trapper are sufficient for most tasks. (I carry a second knife that is not a traditional to do all my heavy cutting with)
 
Take a look at Rough Rider stockman and sowbelly. They make a great variety of styles, scales, etc. I especially like the RR 4 blade stockman - just like a regular stockman but with a flat head screwdriver and bottle opener. Same width as a regular stockman. You get an extra useful tool with no additional size of knife.
Rich
 
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