stockman recommendations

N

neoflare

Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
23
Hi, I would like to ask you guys a question. I'm looking at getting a second large stockmans knife, my current one is an old shrade 80T, I frequently carry
it but have it supplemented with with either a buck alpha hunter or 110
depending on where I am.

I need help deciding on what to get, I've been looking at the boker appaloosa
but nothing is set in stone yet. I would like to get your opinions as my slipjoint
experience is limited to sak, buck and shrade models. I'm trying to stay within
$80 or close to it.

Thank you
 
Not sure if you want stainless or carbon blades. If the latter then I would recommend a Great Eastern Tidioute Cuban stockman with 1095 steel blades. Available for less than $80 and very well built.
 
Thanking you for those suggestions. I should've mentioned what steel at the start, in these I
much prefer carbon steel, but I'm open to stainless as well.

*edit*
texasflyfisher those Tidioute's are very nice looking knives :). Schatt and Morgan aren't so bad either, keep them flowing, I didn't
know either of those existed, I get to expand my knowledge as a bonus :)
 
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For an inexpensive work horse stockman, I would suggest Boker, Case, Buck, or an old USA made Shrade or Camillus. For a little more money and better quality, those already mentioned above are very nice, also Queen makes a great knife and they fall in the middle price wise. I am a huge fan of the 8OT and I picked up a couple on e-bay a couple months back, I also really like my case knives. I like Boker's selection but I haven't had too many so I can't comment on quality. I just ordered a Boker Barlow in green jigged bone and I will post a review when I get it. IMHO Boker makes the best sized stockman with carbon blades at 4" closed, it feels close to my 8OT which is 3 7/8" closed, it is also very well priced.
 
The Stockman is my favorite traditional design.

When I compared Case to Buck, I found the Case had better fit and finish, but the Buck had much better edge retention. (Buck 420HC was also better than Case CV.) I've not tried 420 blades from other houses yet, but, if edge retention is important to you in a 420 blade, I'd go with a Buck 301 as no one that I know of does 420HC better.

If you're willing to spend a spell sharpening, you might also look at a Queen stockman with D2 blades. http://www.soonerstateknives.com/queenbirdseyemaple.htm
Don't have one yet, but it's on my get list.
 
I think CASE still makes one in Bonestag 6.5 and this is a really nice handle option. Oddly enough, it doesn't take to mineral-oil soaking, it gets grey/black.
 
knarfeng said:
The Stockman is my favorite traditional design.

When I compared Case to Buck, I found the Case had better fit and finish, but the Buck had much better edge retention. (Buck 420HC was also better than Case CV.) I've not tried 420 blades from other houses yet, but, if edge retention is important to you in a 420 blade, I'd go with a Buck 301 as no one that I know of does 420HC better.

If you're willing to spend a spell sharpening, you might also look at a Queen stockman with D2 blades. http://www.soonerstateknives.com/queenbirdseyemaple.htm
Don't have one yet, but it's on my get list.
Click to expand...

Any of the three sizes of Queen are very good, with a very good Fit & Finish
I have all three sizes, from 3 1/4', 4" or 4 1/4"
Worth the extra $s for a well made knife with D2

The amber stagbone is very attractive
http://www.cumberlandknifeworks.com...facturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=28
 
Look into Eye Brand as well, they made some nice large stockman.
425DSlargestagstockman.jpg
 
willgoy said:
I think CASE still makes one in Bonestag 6.5 and this is a really nice handle option. Oddly enough, it doesn't take to mineral-oil soaking, it gets grey/black.
Click to expand...


I love my Case large stockman in bonestag with the CV blades.


casecvstcman.jpg


I whittled a large walking stick yesterday while I was smoking the Thanksgiving turkeys. I was using a piece of maple and really gave the spey blade a workout.

It held an edge REALLY well. I was expecting it to be quite dull but a few hits on the Sharpmaker fine stones and it was shaving sharp again.

I have dozens of knives and am really fond of the Case in CV. It was about 50 bucks IIRC.
 
Eknifeworks has Case stockmans and for $40.00 you can't beat it in chrome vanadium. I may pick up another. 3 5/8.Or the bigger one like willgoy and lwt210 says.
CA6332.jpg

the old dog....
P1010041-2.jpg


They may still make this one...
P1010012.jpg

Nope, didn't see the round bolstered one just the square one like lwt's, which is nice.
 
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I am in a minority here I think, but I have been very pleased with the Moore Maker Knives I have owned. They have been my favorite production slipjoints. I have both a 4 1/4, and a 4 1/2 large stockman from MM, the 4 1/2 is my favorite, getting it rehandled right now, and a new sheath to carry it on my belt. Their 1095 steel takes and holds a good edge for me. It is right around your cost. Give them a look to.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Durbin
 
For a working knife, I've been pleased with my Queen Bonestag stockman in D2...since I sacrificed the blade etch and thinned out the clip blade on a belt sander. The sheepsfoot and spey blades were ground thin and readily took a great edge, but the main blade was thick and the edge angle belonged on a cold chisel. It is still thicker than the 8OT, but the D2 holds an edge better than 1095 in my use. YMMV.
 
yablanowitz said:
For a working knife, I've been pleased with my Queen Bonestag stockman in D2...since I sacrificed the blade etch and thinned out the clip blade on a belt sander. The sheepsfoot and spey blades were ground thin and readily took a great edge, but the main blade was thick and the edge angle belonged on a cold chisel. It is still thicker than the 8OT, but the D2 holds an edge better than 1095 in my use. YMMV.
Click to expand...

The Queen factory grind has much to be desired!!

I rebeveled my Queen 4" on the DMT Aligner Jig at second from lowest angle.
It grinds a big bevel that comes to very sharp.
Very easy to resharpen afterwards.
 
I didn't like the looks of the blade once I had a decent edge angle on it, so I just thinned the whole blade until it had a narrow edge bevel again. I did the same thing to the main blade on my D2 whittler. Thankfully, my D2 toothpick was ground thin to begin with. :D
 
If ya like 2 blades you might consider a Case 6292 jack knife.
I picked one up from the early 70's with red bone and carbon blades. Very nice and beefy.. This one is pristine, I think I paid 65.00 for it.
 
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Thank you for the idea's everyone and the pics, those are some very nice looking knives
, some of what I've seen really makes me wish I could afford to spend a little bit more.
I'll be checking them out and I'll let ya's know what one I decide on.
 
Many of the Moore Makers were made by Camillus. IIRC, all of them are carbon steel. I have several & love them! My EDC is bone handled, carbon steel.
Great Eastern uses carbon steel & I like mine. Great knives.
I also like Canal Street. They are well made knives, but I'm not sure about what they make in a stockman (steel wise), but I love my Canittler in D2. They have excellent fit & finish.
There are plenty of Schrades & Camillus' on ebay, many selling for less than their last MSRP.
While not carbon steel, I am VERY impressed with my large Buck (USA) stockman. Best factory edge I have seen on a stockman.
I like the old carbon steel Cases, but am not as impressed with their stainless, however I really like my Seahorse Whittler in stainless.

I guess if I were in your shoes I would buy one of each! :D
Just stick with American made & you should be happy. :thumbup:

Dale
 
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