Sweet sweet pork belly (sowbelly)

Neko2

Neko2

Joined
Jul 18, 2003
Messages
1,889
So I've been on the hunt for a sowbelly stockman after seeing some prime examples on this very forum but after seeing how much the Case models are going for I started to look at the AG Russel and Rough Rider etc. models as well to give 'em a good handlin' before dropping $50+ which for me is a lot of money.

I'll take any advice and experience but would also love to see some of your sowbelly (stockman) knives as well. One might just call to me and make the decision.

Here's a few I fancied the looks of.
rus-cs13swb-s-yd.jpg

Even with the stubby spey, which I secretly kinda like.

RR1504.jpg

I like the color and cut of the bone on this Rough Rider (and the price).

172506855919_1.jpg

Almost had one of these for under $30 but it turned out to be a "pricing error".
Looks wise I like the fatter look of the Case.

All right, bring home the bacon!
 
I've got two Sowbelly's. A Rough Rider and S&M File & Wire that I just got yesterday. The S&M isn't a Stockman but it's what I've got in the Sowbelly pattern.

I carried the Rough Rider for several months and I was happy with it with one exception. I don't really like how the Spey blade follows the curve of the knife when all the way open. I don't have an open blade pic to demonstrate but that A.G. Russell pic illustrates what I'm referring to. Some people like the feature but I didn't care for it.

Among the knives you're looking at, I would recommend the A.G. Russell. My experience with his China made slip joints has been impressive.

View attachment 714716

View attachment 714717
 
I have the Case, AGR and RR sowbellys. In my opinion, the Case is the best. The AGR is very good also. The RR sowbelly is one of the brands best offerings. You can't go wrong with any of them, but if I were buying one to own for a lifetime and then pass down to my grandson, it would be the Case for sure.
 
Hands down I love the Case Chestnut bone CV Sowbelly. I filed the kick down on the middle (sheepsfoot) blade and it sits comfortably in my hand now.
Highly recommended!!
CaseSWBJ_01.jpg
 
I do like sowbellies; it's a very comfortable pattern, both in the pocket and in the hand.

4850862d-db9e-49b4-82e1-8091541ffcd6_zpsahxbyzmv.jpg~original


The top two are RR stag and Winchester stag. Left is RR brown sawcut bone, right is Marbles ram's horn. Bottom two are Case bone, middle three are Owl Heads in ram's horn and cracked ice acrylic sandwiching an imported Remington in abalone shell. I think I prefer the more slender RRs, with Case being the chunkiest and the S&M in between.
 
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Black Mamba - top right looks like a Case Sowbelly in Bone Stag?

The AG Russell looks nice of the ones you listed.

That said, I really like the Case Sowbelly & I'm not a stockman/more than 2 blade fan.
 
I'm loving all the pictures and the suggestions. Maybe I'll have to save up for the Case or AG since it seems to be split pretty evenly between the three.

Dontcha' wish you could get a Case knife for $12?
 
Welllllllllll, no. Case would have to move production offshore to sell a knife at the price.
 
No, I just meant "wouldn't a wonderful fairy land of cheap quality USA made knives be grand?" I want Case, Queen, Gec and everybody else that's left to stay right here :D
 
Neko, another "economy model" you might consider is a Marbles sowbelly. Jeff showed a ram's horn version above, and here's a stag bone Marbles sowbelly stockman:
DMdwcdB.jpg


ehwYjHq.jpg


(FWIW, it has a rather funky spey blade, and no sheepsfoot.)

- GT
 
5K Qs said:
Neko, another "economy model" you might consider is a Marbles sowbelly. Jeff showed a ram's horn version above, and here's a stag bone Marbles sowbelly stockman:
DMdwcdB.jpg


ehwYjHq.jpg


(FWIW, it has a rather funky spey blade, and no sheepsfoot.)

- GT
Click to expand...
I'd miss the sheepsfoot but I like the looks of that knife!
 
I, too, really like the looks of that AGR sowbelly. Been on my radar for a long time. Prolly would hsve gotten it had I not began selling off production knives in favor of customs.
 
I'm not normally a big fan of Case patterns. They tend to feel a bit too thin, light, and delicate in my hand. But I have to give credit where credit is due. Their Sowbelly Stockman is absolutely superb. I love the extra large sheepsfoot, since it's my most commonly used blade on this knife. The clip is a nice "do everything" shape. I especially appreciate the clip and sheepsfoot blades having nail nicks on the mark side of the knife, where they're easy to access, and the seldom used spey blade's nick relegated to the pile side.

This is a beefy knife in comparison to most of my other Case knives. It kind of reminds me of my Case 6445R scout knife, in that it's chunky with very substantial blades. The knife fills the hand well, for a secure grip, and the blades tend to cant a bit, to conform to the curvature of the handle. Fit and finish on my sample is better than I usually get from Case. No horizontal blade play. No scratching between blades. Very nice looking bone covers and my preference for carbon steel. This model is more a "work of art" than I usually see from Case. Highly recommended.

hjOXUmBh.jpg
 
I've always wanted to try a sowbelly, but never got around to it. I'll admit, I really have been digging that A.G. Russell. The stubby spey is pretty cool IMO. I've always like the spey blade though.
 
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