Traditional Knife Companies (Recommendations)

T

TheSharpStuff

Joined
May 31, 2011
Messages
406
Hey guys/gals just wanted some imput on what traditional knife companys you like. I am kind of unfamiliar with the traditional companys outside of Case and Victorinox. Feel free to put some of your favorite patterns to use and collect also.;)
 
Great Eastern/Tidioute/Northfield/UNXLD/Beaver Tail (GEC)

Buck's slipjoint line

Case

Queen/Schatt and Morgan

Kutmaster

Boker

Camillus made Remingtons

USA Schrade

Ulster





Queen and GEC make a lot of knives for other companies, including some GEC made Taylor brand Schrades out there.
 
Case and Buck are the two I have the most experience with. I think both make fine knives. I was given a Bulldog Canoe by another forum member and I find it to be without flaw. I would pick up another in a heartbeat, but right now Buck and Case (303 and Canoe respectively) seem to do the job just fine for me.
 
how are bucks american made slipjoint springs? I have a chinese 371 and i hate the knife. a slight breeze will close and and it came dull not to mention it has gaps all up and down the back springs.
 
TheSharpStuff said:
how are bucks american made slipjoint springs? I have a chinese 371 and i hate the knife. a slight breeze will close and and it came dull not to mention it has gaps all up and down the back springs.
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The ones I have are just fine. Not too heavy, not too light. And the edges (in general) are pretty well sharpened as well.
 
I suspect I will always be a big fan of Case knives. Especially the older ones.

The handsome finish on most Schatt & Morgan knives has always impressed me. Hard for me to resist.

GEC is rapidly becoming my favorite.

Buck has been a part of my life for a long time. If I remember correctly, the first knife that I ever bought for myself was a Buck Stockman. Man, I loved that knife!

I also like Rough Riders.
 
I like all of the above mentioned.Right now though,I'm really diggin' Case(CV and Damascus).
 
current offerings... (in addition to case)
schatt & morgan
Queen
GEC (my 2011 forum knife which i dont have yet, but i'm sure it'll be fantastic):)
From days gone by:
Anything by Camillus
Schrade
Utica/Kutmaster
gene
 
Most of my slippies are from Case. I really like their knives, both stainless and their CV. I also have a bunch of Victorinox knives that I dearly love. I also have a few USA Schrades that are great knives. I have a few Bucks, and an Ulster, and a Chamillus. But, the one knife company I've really been liking here lately is Queen. I REALLY like their D2 steel. I have a canoe and a copperhead in D2 from them, along with a fixed blade. I love the way that steel just keeps an edge. I also love the quality of the Queen slippies. My two examples are nearly flawless.
 
My top brands are Case, Queen, Buck, GEC, Utica/Kutmaster, Rough Rider, Kissing Krane ( the older german made knives as well as the newer imported knives) and Victorinox.
 
The majority of mine are Case. I have a few Boker, a Queen with another on the way, a couple Buck 110's and a whittler, a couple GEC's, Canal Street, and 5 or 6 Victorionx's.
 
I took a look at some of Schatt and Morgans knives and I like their designs but I want something with carbon steal. What can you guys tell me about boker? Im currently leaning toward gec because I like slipys with overbuilt back springs (that seems to be what most poeple talk about with them) Im drooling over the furtaker patterns.
 
TheSharpStuff said:
I took a look at some of Schatt and Morgans knives and I like their designs but I want something with carbon steal. What can you guys tell me about boker? Im currently leaning toward gec because I like slipys with overbuilt back springs (that seems to be what most poeple talk about with them) Im drooling over the furtaker patterns.
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I don't own any Bokers so I will let others comment on those.

It should be noted that some GEC's have stronger backsprings than other GEC's. I have learned that as a general guidline, the ones with half stops have the strongest pull strength. If you like them really stiff, for example an 8 to 10 on the pull scale, try to find one that you like that has half stops. If you like a little lighter pull the half stop free patterns are generally around 4 to 7 on the pull scale depending on the model. These are my own personal observations. YMMV.

The #53 patterns, including the Furtakers, do not have half stops. The pull strength on my #53 Muskrat is just about perfect for me at about a 6.
 
I personally like Bear. Good value for the money. GEC is great of course. So is Case. I don't have any Queens yet.
I have never been excited by the looks or steel of Bucks but they keep finding their way in my pocket. I really like
the blade shape on my 303.
 
The main reason i am considering anything besides case is because I have handled 10-15 cases at a store and i picked a humpback stockman because for some reason it had better walk and talk then most of the rest. Do cases vary with patterns? If so what cases have strong backsprings? I also handled a canou and it had very good back springs but it was about 120 bucks. I also have a barlow and it has great backsprings to. Sorry that I have so many questions.

PS what would you rate the average case mediam stockmans backsprings?
 
Case, Buck 300's, anbd Victorinox.

I think Victorinox is my standard for what a slip joint should feel like opening and fit and finish.

Carl.
 
GEC/Northfield/Tidioute (with 1095 or 440C blades)
Schatt & Morgan File & Wire (with ATS-34 blades)
Queen (with D2 blades)
Case (with Chrome Vanadium blades)

The F&W ATS-34 and the Queen D2 are both hard steels, around 60-61 HRc, so diamond hones are preferred.
GEC's 1095 and Case CV sharpen beautifully on just about anything, but still hold a good edge, though not as long as the other two.

I think the older S&M File & Wire knives from series 1-3 are about the best quality/value obtainable in a factory knife.
 
Yes mamba i exerienced d2 being very hard when i tried to sharpen my benchmade bone collector in d2 I counldnt do much with it on my sharpmaker.
 
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