Stockman question

Cosmic Superchunk

Cosmic Superchunk

Joined
Jan 28, 2001
Messages
3,709
Ok guys, I need a little feedback from you Stockman fans.
In my knife collection I only have 2 stockmans, both are from Schrade. I have a carbon steel model 80T Senior and a signature Uncle Henry model 897UH and these are the only traditional type pocketknives I have. I have been thinking about purchasing another and I've been thinking about the Buck Cadet or a Buck Stockman or even one of Camillus' offerings. They're inexpensive, but I wonder if anyone has owned them and can share their thoughts on the quality of these knives? Also, I was looking at Cold Steel's website and saw their faux bone stockmans as well. They are a bit on the expensive side, but has anyone handled these as well?
 
I like Camillus. I have a Trapper model in the Tortoise shell celluloid that I got from A. G. Russell. The fit and finish are great for the money, and the 1095 blades get wickedly sharp and take a nice patina.

I have handled the Cold Steel slipjoints, and while they are well made, the Delrin just leaves me a little cold. Carbon V is a great steel though.
 
Check out the German factories like Boker,Fighting Rooster,Bulldog to name some. All produce a very well made traditional folder.
Bob
 
I've had the Buck stockman (301), for about 10 years. It's still going strong. I'd highly recommend it.
 
www.queencutlerycollectors.com/
Hopefully the above link works.Check out Queen Cutlery Collectors website and go to the shop online section.I think they have a Large Stockman,looks to be a Schatt & Morgan with peach bone.Never the less it is made by Queen anyway.This is the top of the line slipjoints,best you can get short of customs.I have a few myself.
 
By the way, according to the website they discontinued the ats-34.So I guess whatever knives left in stock in ats-34,that will be it.
 
I have both of the Bucks you mention. I also have a couple of Camillus slipjoints, but not a Camillus stockman. I even have your Old Timer, as well as many various other stockmans.

The Bucks come with a sharpened edge. Much sharper than any other slipjoints I've purchased. They cut well and are stainless. They even have blades that run parallel to one another, so the blades don't tend to scratch against each other. Their "walk in talk" aren't in a league with Camillus or Schrade, but acceptable.

My guess, based on a lifetime of Camillus knives, is that a carbon steel Camillus stockman will you get you the same level of quality as your Old Timer, but with a nicer handle. A stainless Camillus is generally a better knife than a similar Uncle Henry.

As Strider mentioned, the German knives, particularly the carbon steel models, are darned good. They really know how to make a slipjoint in every way. But if you buy a stag handle, be careful. A few of my Hen and Rooster slipjoints have terribly mismatched pieces of stag. My Bulldogs are perfect in pretty much every way. Bulldog did a great job with their "Tennessee Walking Horse" series.

So what are my favorites. I take Buck for stainless steel. I take Bulldog for carbon steel, just because of the variety of patterns and availablity of natural handle materials. Otherwise, I'd do a Camillus.

And what are my least favorites. I'm very disppointed with all of my Case knives. I'm not too hot on the Uncle Henry's either. Both dissatisfactions come from the choice of steel.

If you want to get a great deal on a slipjoint, do a little Ebay searching. Some great old knives pop up here and there. They'll cost you an average of about $45.00 for the older ones, but an American made, mint old carbon steel slipjoint, with a bone handle, is hard to beat for the price. You can also get the German slipjoints for much less on ebay.
 
There's an article in the latest TK mag about CS traditional carbon steel slip joints, Camillus carbon steel slip joints, and the 2 new Kershaw knives that look like slip joints but aren't. They have SS.

In some other forum/thread, I wrote a lot about this article and why I thought the writer refused to name any of the reviewed knives the favorite. The only answer that makes any real sense to me is that he liked the Camillus best, and knew the CS were made by Camillus, tho they cost 2-3x as much. I may well be wrong, but until I read strong comparisons of the knives with the CS coming far out on top, I think the slipjoint I'll buy will be the Camillus Trapper.
 
I read the thread, and it wasn't really a tear up or anything. Bugs just noticed a few things, which others (including myself) also have. The big one is the similarity between the Camillus carbon steel slipjoints and the Cold Steel carbon steel slipjoints. They are remarkably similar in appearance. Combine this unusual similarity with the Camillus notoriety for making knives for other companies, and a logical possible conclusion is that Camillus made the knives for Cold Steel. Then look at the price difference.

To tell you the truth, I think all slipjoint fans greatly enjoyed the article. It’s great to see a traditional pattern get some press attention, instead of just another tactical review. It’s especially nice to see some press attention given to carbon steel slipjoints.

But next time you do such an article…………. Demand that they make a real bone handled version!!!! They won’t listen to little old me!!!!
:eek:
 
Gentlemen, thank you for your replies and suggestions. I may end up getting several, so your input is appreciated. By the way, does anyone know why the sheepfsfoot blade on the Buck Stockman and Cadet are on the opposite end of the handle?
 
For one of the best traditional styled knives, try Mooremaker. The large Trapper I bought has jigged rust colored bone handles, and non SS blades. I use it everyday and it takes a wicked edge. Fit and finish is the best I've seen. I also have a Queen that is beautiful, but, alas, only has SS blades. I'd also recommend Schatt & Morgan and Robeson which are all made by Queen.
I also have a Henckels with smooth white bone handles, and non SS blades. Very nice. Check out EB*y, that's where I got the Henckels. I've also seen Hen & Rooster and Bulldog there.
Good luck.
Lenny



http://catalog.mooremaker.com/browseGroup.cfm?item_group_id=29383
 
Since Steven Dick has also responded to this thread I'll offer this. After reading his book on
working knives I bought a 4 1//4" stockman from SMKW on a whim. It's a Buck (camillus)
307 Yellow handled stockman. THIS knife is now an everyday companion just as Steven has
recommended. What amazed me what that the blade size's are just right for 99.9% of daily chores.
I also carry a lockback for those jobs that need a little insurance but the stockman gets all the work.
It really is to bad that the slipjoints don't get more press here and in magazines. They have way
more to offer than all of the one hand wonders put togther.
 
Anyone know of a traditional 3-blade stockman to fit this bill?: 3.5", with bone or wood or stag handles (no plastic), with rounded bolsters, with carbon steel blades, and without a lot of writing all over the blade/s (i.e. no Boker Tree Brand). Also, NOT made by Case. This is a hard-to-find combination. :confused:
 
mnblade,

You should check with A.G. Russel. He likes traditional folders and can probably find you whatever you are looking for.

As I write this I have a cheap Camillus (remington) stockman on my desk which I purchased about 10 years back for a grand total of about $5. It was originally intended to temporarily replace my Buck 110 for a couple short hikes that afternoon; but, has since traveled with me all over the globe, and has been with me almost 100% of the time.

The simple carbon blades have long since blued and are probably a little shorter than they once were; but, this knife is by far the most used knife in my collection. To be sure there is a drawer full of replacements just waiting to take over... and, the old stockman just keeps going, and going, and going.

n2s
 
I think it's most likely a fact that Camillus makes the traditional patterns for Cold Steel. I've heard they do make all of Cold Steel's Carbon V fixed-blades.

I like both Buck and Camillus stockmans. Although my Camillus stockman has an odd smell to it, it's perfectly fitted, quite sharp, stainless blades, and nice, rounded bolsters. The Buck is excellent, too, and the main blade is straighter because as mentioned earlier, each blade has its own spring. My 301 is an older flat-ground version, but I see they now make the blades hollow-ground, and with the bolsters a little more rounded at the corners than before.

I have two 3 5/8" Case stockmans, one brown bone and one red bone, that I actually like a lot. Although the tips of the clip point blades came slightly rounded. The Tru-Sharp stainless held up well, and they are comfortable to carry. I only stopped carrying them because I was afraid of dropping/breaking the bone handles, now they stay in the collection.

I think Schrade makes a very good stockman, but I just seem to like the Buck, Camillus, and Case knives better for some reason.
Jim
 
so......

suppose someone was torn between getting a 1095 carbon steel stockman or a carbon v stockman (questions of who makes the cold steel aside), would the carbon v steel be a better enough choice to justify the cost difference, assuming all else is equal (fit, finish, etc..)

the answer to this is important to me, and thanks for any responses.

regards,
bill o.
 
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