Stocky stockman

K

Kronos

Joined
Jan 10, 2004
Messages
143
Hey everyone,
I've recently gotten into traditional knives after years of carrying the tactical stuff. I've been partial to a yellow buck 301, and I love it, but I'm looking for something a little larger. I just picked up a GEC sunfish in crimson grizzly, and its beautiful, but a little too much for edc. I think I want to stick to a stockman style pattern, but I am just overwhelmed by the options out there. Could you folks recommend me something that is bigger and sturdier than a 301, current production, and made in the USA? Thanks so much.
P.S. I'm looking for something not just longer, but bigger in general.
Kevin
 
My 75s:

20130727_100046_zpsedd4db54.jpg


20130723_083023_zps54d70280.jpg
 
GEC #53 Cuban Stockman is actually a cattle knife that you might be interested in. Here's a thread with lots of pics. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/813578-Cuban-Madness! The #53 is 4 1/8" long with about a 3" main blade. If you're looking for serpentine, GEC is working on their 4" serpentine stockman, the #81 Abilene, but it's not out yet. Here are their prototype pics. http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/gallery/new-knife/. The #66 Calf Roper and #68 Buckaroo are smaller knives at 3 1/2" long.
 
Lots of sweet older U.S.A. made Schrades out there on the big auction site. Made sure the blade is stamped U.S.A. If it's not it is from China and I will not own one. The Uncle Henry line is nice. The steel sharpens up nicely and will hold a reasonable edge.

There are some nice deals out there at a reasonable price. Many are NIB or NOS (new old stock). Good luck, the stockman is one of my favorite patterns. I have around 12+ Schrade USA Old Timer and Uncle Henry stockmans. The Uncle Henry 885 is 4" closed and the 897 is 3.5" closed. I really like the 897 and have two of them, NOS.

Tom
 
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GEC #53 Cuban is pretty sizeable. The Queen #49 Cattle King is 4 1/4" closed.
 
When reading 'stocky stockman', I immediately thought of the Case Sowbelly (3-7/8" closed, and FAT in the hand). To me, that's almost a textbook illustration of a 'stocky' stockman. :D


David
 
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My Moore Maker #5304 stockman is 4-3/8" closed, but still pocketable with round bolsters. A great, large pocket knife. 1095 steel.

IMG_0071-4.jpg~original
 
Try a Queen Cutlery Stockman in Amber Bone or Zebrawood., these are D2.

Their Heritage series Woodsman is very hefty, comes in Bone or Ebony and is carbon.
 
I'm surprised Railsplitter hasn't weighed in with his namesake recommendation yet :confused:
 
The Schrade Old Timer 858ot is a monster. Here's a comparison shot of a few Old Timer stockman models:

858OTsizecomparison.jpg

From top to bottom, rough guess of exact models (many OT models share the same frame): 108ot, 34ot, 8ot, 61ot, 858ot. These are all original Old Timers, made by the Imperial-Schrade Corporation, and are easily identified as such by their USA tang stamps.

The 34OT is similar in size to the Case Medium Stockman, and the 8OT is similar to the Case Large Stockman.

My favorite for pocket carry of the above is the 61ot, so slender and graceful.
The 858 comes in a sheath. ;)
 
Holy cow guys! I'm going to be broke in a month. That north woods xl is one of the most beautiful knives I've ever seen. I found some comparison pics and that case 75 is certainly bigger than the buck 301, I hadn't realized the small difference in size would actually be so dramatic, which is exactly what I want. Every knife you guys posted is beautiful, but I find myself wanting that northwoods for some reason. Maybe I should start with a case 75 though, since its a classic, and that GEC looks like a tank so I'll have to keep an eye out for one of those, and that Moore maker looks awesome.... uh oh.
Double Ott
I actually have a couple old scharades and love them, definitely good to hear there are still USA made ones floating around, I'll have to check it out. Never managed to get an Uncle Henry and always regretted it, so maybe there is still hope!
Thanks so much for all the suggestions guys, if you think of anything else let me know, my boss has been hounding me to work overtime anyway :)
 
I really like my Henckels (by Boker):

henckels.jpg


Discontinued but I see them on that online auction place.
 
Quick follow up question. What handle materials are for use, and which ones are better for display? I have read that some of the woods can crack, and it seems to me that bone or stag would be pretty sturdy, but then I've been wrong before.
 
Obsessed with edges,
That sowbelly is beautiful. I wasn't crazy about the pattern until I saw those pics :D. How does it feel in hand? Does the sheepsfoot dig into your palm?
 
Kronos said:
Obsessed with edges,
That sowbelly is beautiful. I wasn't crazy about the pattern until I saw those pics :D. How does it feel in hand? Does the sheepsfoot dig into your palm?
Click to expand...

The way I typically hold & use knives like this (stockman patterns), I've never really had issues with the sheepsfoot blade. Having said that, I still have lowered the sheepsfoot on one or two other stockman knives of mine (one is a Queen 'Cattle King'), when it's possible to do so. I've done that more to slim/narrow the overall profile for pocket carry, and I also think it looks a bit better.

The 'fatness' of the sowbelly pattern feels great in-hand, BTW. On my particular stag version, the scale covers are a bit rounder/fatter than found on most bone-handled versions of the same knife (I have a few of those as well; pics below). All of them fill up the palm of the hand nicely.


Here's another one of mine, in so-called 'Barb Wire' bone handles:


...and another 'TESTED XX' in 'midnight bone' (5-blade):



David
 
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For what it's worth, the Bose/Case sowbelly is an awesome knife. I've purchased five of them, and have none left due to friends and family. Yessir, they really are that good. With a bit of searching, one can be found in stag with cv steel, which would be my first pick, although some of their jigged bone might change my mind. Obsessed With Edges has it right, they feel great "in-hand".

My go-to knife for the last several years has been a #53 Cuban stockman from Great Eastern, I'd be lost without it. I carry other knives in addition to it, but it would take a heck of a knife to replace it.
 
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