Stockman/Sowbelly users, what tasks do you use each blade for?

hsherzfeld

hsherzfeld

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For many years, I have wanted to love the Stockman pattern of pocket knife, and I have bought multiple Stockman knives from Buck, Case, and others in the hope that I would fall in love with them and carry them every day. But my lack of uses for three blades, combined with the feeling of that darned hump of the sheepsfoot blade digging into my fingers has always driven me away from Stockman knives and back to two-bladed knives like SAKs and Peanuts.

This is all a long-winded way of saying that I just bought a Case 6347 Stockman in SS amber bone, and I am determined to incorporate it into my everyday carry. So I submit this question to all of you who carry and use a Stockman every day: for what specific tasks do you use each blade?
 
I was a long time carrier of Stockmen patterns but I switched to a GEC Churchill about a year ago because I didn't really need that third blade. A Clip (or Spear) and a Sheepsfoot blade is all I really need.

I use the Sheepsfoot blade almost exclusively to open boxes but it encounters a few other tasks from time to time. Opening boxes is primarily what I use a pocket knife for so the Clip blade doesn't see as much use. When it does, it's usually used to cut shrink wrap and/or nylon bands from a pallet.

I know that a lot of people are bothered by the hump that a Sheepsfoot blade often imposes but I've never been bothered by that even when the hump is excessive. I suppose I'm not bothered by it because I rarely have to grip my pocket knives for any length of time. It's usually just a few quick cuts and it's back in my pocket again.
 
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If you want an excellent stockman pattern that has low-lying blades, then you should look at either the GEC #53 Cuban or the #82 Dixie.

#53 in elk stag
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#82 in burnt stag
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Both knives are a little over 4" closed, but due to their slim nature they carry smaller. I use the slender clip main for opening mail and for cutting food, the sheepfoot for cutting cardboard and for precision cuts against a table, and the third blade for scraping and "dirty" work.
 
I find myself carrying a Stockman everyday. I use the appropriate blade for the task at hand.
I use the clip mostly for clean cutting such as food or nipping a seegar, but also for dirty tasks that need the length and possibly the belly at the point (those are few and far between).
The sheepsfoot gets used to open boxes, envelopes, bags of dog food , cut rope, weed eater twine, rubber hose etc... dirty work. It is my most used blade.
The Spey blade I keep very sharp and use it as a back up to the clip or when the lack of point with large belly is needed such as removing decals from glass or opening packages where puncturing the interns contents is a possibility. It sees seldom use but when it’s the right blade it’s awesome to have it.
Slowing down to choose the proper blade for a task has a nice calming effect for me working in the hustle and bustle of the city, something I am not nor ever will be used to.
 
Typically, I want pen and what cliff secindaries. The wharncliff or sheep's foot gets the most use. From opening packages to trimming stuff or whatever. The next most used is the main clip (normally). Its used for food prep if needed or tasks that need a longer reach. Lastly, the pen or Spey I keep screaming sharp for when I might need something like that. To hook a splinter, cut a skin, tasks that require a very keen edge.
 
I mostly use the main and sheepsfoot blade for various tasks. But I have two stockman knives that have a pen instead of a Spey. One is a Case, the other an Old Timer 340T my Granddad filed down. I really, really like the pen with a good sharp point for doing some fine work and digging when necessary.
 
I understand the OP's position but have to state that I'm moving away from 3 bladed knives. I admire the patterns, Stockman, Cattleknife, Whittler etc and I like the skill in construction that such knives demand. But, I more and more veer towards the single blade or single spring 2 blade knife with a blade at each end, they just get much more use and carry.

However, picking a Stockman with a low riding Sheepfoot may help the OP get the best out of the pattern. Jeff black mamba black mamba showed a knife I particularly admire the GEC 82 Dixie that has sleek outline and 3 exceptionally useful blades- Turkish Clip, Wharncliffe and Drop-Point. But it is not easy to find and no re-run in GEC's very controlled pipeline. I think you can also consider the smaller type Stockman as it is a neat tidy carry. The Queen Cutlery No.26 is my favourite seen here and can still be found in various scales if you are a bit patient. The big virtue is D2 steel that is well ahead of any carbon and the knife has a very low riding Sheepfoot meaning it's comfortable to hold when having the master Clip blade open. I use it a good deal in the garden, the Clip can cut fruits very well, Sheepfoot takes cuttings or cuts sticks, harvests veggies and the Spey well you could just about castrate small animals with it if inclined..:eek:;) but it's a good wire stripper and cuts hose or other plastics with ease. Thing is it's a smaller knife but the proportions and feel of it are good even if you have larger hands ( I don't admittedly) and it is a good blend of sedentary type knife and worker.

CASE also have a good EE pattern Stockman that's nice in the pocket due to sunk joints (SAK can do them why not more makers?) but I do find its master Clip a bit puny and lacking .

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Thanks for all of your answers and advice. I guess I should have clarified that my new Case stockman knife arrived with a fairly low-profile sheepfoot blade, which I made even more discreet by grinding off a bit of the portion of the tang that contacts the backspring in the closed position (is there a term for that?). My comment about the hump of the sheepfoot blade was in regards to my previous experiences with other stockman knives.

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hsherzfeld said:
Thanks for all of your answers and advice. I guess I should have clarified that my new Case stockman knife arrived with a fairly low-profile sheepfoot blade, which I made even more discreet by grinding off a bit of the portion of the tang that contacts the backspring in the closed position (is there a term for that?). My comment about the hump of the sheepfoot blade was in regards to my previous experiences with other stockman knives.

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I have this very same pattern. I carried the knife for about 10 years, but my uncle who gave it to me is ill. I wanted to put it away for sentimental reason. I still carry a stockman and use all the blades
The long clip I use to cut apples, peel potatoes and many other things when I need a little more length.
The sheep is the one I use the most. From opening a box , cleaning a trout or opening mail it see alot of action.
The spey I use if I need to scrape off something like maybe an old gasket from am engine or something. The blade design lends itself well to many tasks
 
Looks like I’m a little different here. I use the Spey in my 6347 as a detail skinner (if more detail is needed a scalpel with a 22 or 15 blade), bovine/ovine castration, any softer material that needs sharp cutting with a little control.

The sheep’s foot is a great general task cutter. The other day it was opening bags of rfid bovine ear tags.

The clip is great for piercing and opening abscesses in bovines. As well as a good all around use blade.

I guess I don’t think of my knife as having a food prep role.
 
Ok I'll throw in to, seems to be two camps forming here lol. Almost everyone uses the main and sheepsfoot the same seems like. The big difference is the spey, some like it super sharp, others like it for "grunge" work. I fall in the grunge work camp. Not only for scraping and such, but also in situations where there's a chance the edge may contact a hard surface.
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The clip on mine sees some tougher chores from time to time, still haven't found a better caulk removing tool:D;)
 
I use the clip and sheepsfoot most, like the other posters here. I use the castrater blade to open the end of cigars if I don't have my cigar cutter with me. Don't smoke 'em everyday, but I always have a knife on me, and often a stockman and/or a trapper. Know people that use the castrater blade for its original purpose.
 
I've carried a Stockman pattern pocketknife since I was in high school (since about 1970-71). I zeroed in on the Case 18 pattern after carrying Stockman and Cattle knives that measured from 2-7/8" to 4-1/4". My point: you cannot force yourself to "love" a particular pocketknife pattern - it either appeals to you or it doesn't. I've tried to make a Congress pattern my EDC - the eye appeal is wonderful to me and the big Sheepfoot blade suits me fine - I've bought them in two, three, and four blade models. Aside from a day here or there I just don't carry them, they feel "weird" in my hand. A knife has to feel good in the hand to become your regular companion. Conversely I just can't leave my Stockman on the dresser, I feel somethings missing without one in my pocket. As to the blades and their uses; I pretty much use all three for most anything but lean to the Sheepfoot blade for drywall cuts, notching big game tags, and cutting cardboard. I use the Clip for opening envelopes, skinning wire, cutting meat, etc. My favorite EDC Case 18 has a Pen for its third blade; I keep it in reserve for a clean, sharp backup blade. I'm not fastidious in any of this. OH
 
I've got some Sowbelly knives

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and I've got some Stockman knives

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I use the main blade (clip point) blade for general tasks such as cutting string, opening boxes, trimming a fence post, etc. I use the Sheepfoot blade for things needing high pressure by placing my thumb over the hump of the blade and for things that require working on a flat surface like just the other day when I took the cylinder head off a lawn tractor engine. The Sheepfoot blade made a great gasket scraper. The hump of a closed Sheepfoot blade in hand has never bothered me. I keep the Spey blade for personal matters. Splinter removal, trimming a corn on the ball of my big toe, providing side pressure when removing a tick off one of the dogs, and trimming a hang nail of one of the dogs.

As much as I like the Stockman, I do not carry it exclusively.
 
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