Trapper vs stockman vs congress

[NG VI]

Medium stockman every time out of those three.

The canoe, baby butterbean, and swayback patterns are my other favorites.

 

[Ratbert]

Medium Stockman for me as well, although like others, I don't use the spey blade at all and a good punch would be my preferred blade to swap for it. I like the Mini Trapper pattern more than the full size, especially with a wharncliffe blade as the second blade. I find myself liking wharncliffes and coping blades more and more for some reason.

While I think that the Congress pattern can be a good looking knife, I don't have one in my carry rotation. Maybe it's because of the blade redundancy. I feel the same way about a Muskrat...they just don't speak to me.

 

[garddogg56]

not a trapper man,congress just to pretty,it will have to be a med.ie Schrade 34ot or a Buck 303 stockman.

 

[Grateful]

I really like the Stockman and think it is a very versitle pattern. It is probably the most common pattern i see other people carrying and the one i started with years ago. The only Congress i have is a half Congress and i think it makes a great companion carry to a Trapper. 😉
Around my house the Trapper is King and it is one of my very favorite knives. They are great outdoor knives, at home on any hunting or fishing trip. Not to shabby at work or on the hikng trail either.

Jim

 

[Will Power]

Not much choice for me, Stockman all the way (mind you, a Whittler is a better 3 blade knife in my view) especially one with Pen instead of Spey. My favourites are the CASE Medium square bolster in Chestnut Bone (forget the pattern No. sorry) CASE Humpback Stockman as already shown and GEC 82 Dixie a svelte but big knife with an outstanding blade array.

Full size Trappers have never moved me (better a Copperhead actually) and if smaller then I prefer Wharncliffe Trappers as Spey blades are not useful for my activities...

Congress? Tried them but never got on with them at all, most have duplicate blades and all are thick knives that I don't care for the feel of.

The compelling thing about Traditionals is the choice of patterns -nobody need to go dissatisfied.:thumbup:

Regards, Will

 

[Railsplitter]

Rick, I don't recall seeing that before; thanks for the "referral" and pics. It sure looks interesting!
Is it on a serpentine frame, or is that a straight equal-end frame?
Edit: And now I see it's available in chestnut bone (deep canyon or smooth)! Even more interesting!

- GT

I hadn't noticed that it's kind of hidden in my pics but there is a small downward dip in the frame right at the center pin. Not sure if that qualifies it for a serpentine or not but I think that's where the name "Humpback" came from.

On another note, I could swear that I see a phosphor bronze busing in the pivots on mine although Case doesn't advertise such a feature.

 

[knarfeng]

So guys which do y'all prefer, a two blade trapper three blade stockman or a four blade congress style knife and why

Best selection of tools.
& my additional thousand word response:

 

[Railsplitter]

Will, that's the knife I've been thinking about getting. (Harvest Orange Humpback) Yours looks like a mighty fine example.

 

[r redden]

Gary this is the one I am toting today it has rounded bolsters and I don't know what it is about this knife but it is an example of what Case is capable of. Couldn't ask for better centering, excellent walk and talk overall F&F is great. Did I say I really like this knife?

 

[Will Power]

Rick Thank you! Mine came in a nice CASE tin as well. I like the bone on it as it's pocket-worn and having sunk-joints (GEC has yet to emulate this feature..) is a really good aspect, so too the handy cut-out on the pile side for accessing the Spey. No blade rub either.

 

[Luger1952]

The Schrade congress for its aesthetic symmetry

 

[Will Power]

Magnificent bone on that Congress.

 

[Bigfattyt]

Not the exact blade selection you listed but it sounds like the GEC made Tuna Valley 4 blade stockman on the #53 frame would work for you. Here's a pic of one I used to have.

Those are ideal to me. Great blade combo.

 

[socalmarine]

Not a lot of love for the Trapper! The two bladed trapper is by far my favorite. I have big hands, and the full sized trapper is a great fit for me. I have used my yellow Case trapper to skin and clean grouse to beaver. I have used it on a couple deer now for simple field dressing - the clip and spey blades are great for what I get up to. A lot of good real estate to show off nice stag or bone (though I love my well used yellow Case).

This picture didn't turn out as nice as I would have hoped, but here is a Queen, Case and Al Warren trapper:

I just ordered this Bose/Case trapper today (could not believe the deal I got on it!). I have one other Bose/Case saddle horn, and love it. I am starting to demand half stops... does not bode well for my other knives in the collection.

A congress is on my list though! I do want one. I also just recently ordered a Barlow knife, which will be my first of that type.

 

[afishhunter]

Only Trapper I have is a Rough Rider 858 small trapper. It is a tad smaller than a peanut, and to my ancient eyes, looks more like a Barlow, than anything else.
My congress is a Taylor-Schrade Imperial. It's ok, but I don't carry or use it much. It just does not feel "right".
I have a couple stockman's. I generally have one in my picket. I like the variety of blade profiles. A canoe and camp knife are co-carries, so I should have the proper blade for whatever task comes up.

 

[Cory Hess]

The stockman is a knife that I really want to like. It's a good looking knife, and it makes sense to have all those different blades in one compact package to handle anything the day might throw at you. However, I just don't like carrying them as much as I think I should. My biggest problem is that I just don't need three blades, so I end up with a knife that isn't as comfortable as it could be and the extra blades don't add much value in actual use.

The congress is just a bit too busy for me. There are too many blades. I don't think I'm smart enough to figure it all out.

The trapper is one of my favorite patterns. One of my most common uses for my pocket knife is cutting foods, especially fruit. The trapper gives me a full-sized blade for normal usage and another full-sized blade for food with a full liner in between to keep my dirt away from my food blade. Lately, I've been trending more towards a single blade knife and using that one blade for everything, but if I'm going fishing or camping or any other situation where I anticipate particularly dirty usage and food consumption it's a trapper that's going to find it's way into my pocket.

 

[blade dude]

The stockman is a knife that I really want to like. It's a good looking knife, and it makes sense to have all those different blades in one compact package to handle anything the day might throw at you. However, I just don't like carrying them as much as I think I should. My biggest problem is that I just don't need three blades, so I end up with a knife that isn't as comfortable as it could be and the extra blades don't add much value in actual use.

The congress is just a bit too busy for me. There are too many blades. I don't think I'm smart enough to figure it all out.

The trapper is one of my favorite patterns. One of my most common uses for my pocket knife is cutting foods, especially fruit. The trapper gives me a full-sized blade for normal usage and another full-sized blade for food with a full liner in between to keep my dirt away from my food blade. Lately, I've been trending more towards a single blade knife and using that one blade for everything, but if I'm going fishing or camping or any other situation where I anticipate particularly dirty usage and food consumption it's a trapper that's going to find it's way into my pocket.

I tend to carry a delica and an older 8ot USA made stockman with two blades the third one is broken and I got it that way. Cool story sorta behind it tho

 

[bdev]

Although I don't carry any of those patterns, I'd go with the stockman without a spey. Punch or pen blade would substitute. Out of all three, I like the congress best for its looks.

 

[5K Qs]

Gary this is the one I am toting today it has rounded bolsters and I don't know what it is about this knife but it is an example of what Case is capable of. Couldn't ask for better centering, excellent walk and talk overall F&F is great. Did I say I really like this knife?

That's a beauty, Randy! I think it has most of the features I mentioned in my version of a first-class stockman. It's actually very similar to the bonestag Marbles you sent me

and the 897UH Uncle Henrys I got recently from Dean and Keith

- GT

 

[Docwaters]

I like the gunstock pattern with a long clip blade and a small pen blade. I like the Barlow pattern for the same reasons. But, of the 3 choices I would prefer a medium stockman.