Trapper vs stockman vs congress

JD Bear said:
That's really nice my friend. I usually carry two on me all the time anyway. Always a traditional and most of the time a OHO. I wish that pattern wasn't discontinued. That would definitely be a good companion for the trapper or 112. Unfortunately wood doesn't seem to be a popular material with Case. Not like that stops me from buying them :)
Click to expand...

They actually have a few now..... The sycamore looks great... they are also doing colored maple.... just not that knife.
 
afishhunter said:
Case 11031SH single blade sheepsfoot. You might find one on the used market. The one I have is a nine dot, not sure when they stopped making it.
Click to expand...

TsarBomba said:
Carried mine just yesterday. It's a wonderful, lightweight, attractive folder. Worth carrying a supplemental blade with a belly on it, though, just in case. :)

Click to expand...

I forgot about those but I gots to say I like em!! That's the problem with traditionals you see something you really like then you get distracted and it's off to something else. Then when you see one again you pull out your credit card and start searching so you can happily over pay for one.
 
I've used a Case mini trapper to skin out a variety of small and medium game. From a working knife standpoint the pattern is excellent in that capacity. If your looking for a knife to skin a trapper won't let you down. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with a stockman or congress but I'm hoping to change that in the future.
 
r redden said:
I forgot about those but I gots to say I like em!! That's the problem with traditionals you see something you really like then you get distracted and it's off to something else. Then when you see one again you pull out your credit card and start searching so you can happily over pay for one.
Click to expand...

Hear hear! In this thread I've been forcing myself to stick (mostly :p) to the titular patterns, because if I let my imagination run wild about Barlows or swell-ends or cigars or linesman's knives or scouts or or or... then I'll really end up going down the rabbit hole -- and bringing a bunch of you with me. :D The best thing about this hobby IMO is that there's almost always a pattern, variation or style for everybody. :thumbup:
 
StoneBeard said:
If your looking for a knife to skin a trapper...
Click to expand...

You better be careful. Them Trapper folk can be ornery & mean, and downright dangerous. I knew a couple trappers in Montana - not sure how they'd take to being skinned. :p

Kidding aside, one of the guys I knew used a Case large Trapper for almost all of his medium-to-large skinning chores. He cleaned it by running it under hot tap water for a minute or two, let it dry, then a little butcher block oil (mineral oil) in each joint. He used butcher block oil because it's non-toxic.

He had a much smaller knife (I'm not sure of the pattern) for smaller critters.

~Chris
 
Last edited:
The Congress (four blade version) is my favorite pattern that I don't like to carry - I feel I should like them; they look cool and are very Southern BUT they don't feel right in my pocket or in my hand. The Trapper is a pattern I just have never learned to appreciate it's looks; I have a number of them and they are nicely made but simply don't trip my trigger. As to the last choice, I can hardly find a Stockman I don't like! I have lot's and lot's of Stockman pattern knives, from pen knife size to jumbo's and I like them all, can't bear to part with one either, don't know how many I own (plenty!) My favorite to carry? A Case 18, a Buck 303, or a Schrade 897UH. OH

2012-10-24_14-29-01_281.jpg
 
Last edited:
Without a doubt, I prefer a jack knife with the Trapper pattern being very representative. I like two blades; not three or four on a slip joint. I have a few traditional Trappers as that is where I started, but by far, I have more jack knives. I was never a fan of the Congress pattern. Didn't get the forum knife when it was a congress.

Was looking at one of my older Stockmans the other day (Obertz medium stockman) and it is a really nice knife that I have own for over 20 years and never used.

I'd take a jack knife over most patterns and I don't mind if the secondary blade is smaller than the primary. I used a Case for years with a classic clip and pen blades.
 
I don't have a Case medium stockman at the moment, but I do like the large. How do they compare to the Buck 301 size wise?
 
GEC likes to call certain patterns "trappers", but they certainly don't look like any Case Trapper I have seen. GEC changed me to "jack knife" as I question the labels.
 
I'm lucky enough to have quite a few Stockman knives, I certainly prefer them over Trappers or Congress but I don't frequently carry the pattern. One that I do tote and I can say is my favourite is Queen's No.26 Small Stockman. I like the fact that the tangs aren't too obtrusive, the blades sit low with the Sheepfoot barely above the Clip master, the D2 steel is hard to sharpen at first but hard to blunt too-stropping keeps it there. At 3 3/8" 8.2cm it is nicely compact, yet it's like having a Pen-Knife with 3 blades.:cool:

Shown here top in WCSB with its stablemate that uses the same frame the No.2 Jack in ACSB. Yeah, I know, the shield is upside down - it fell out (grhhh!) and in my panic I glued it in upside down. But, when it's in your hand...:D:thumbup:

IMG_2765.jpg
 
Will, you need to "up" your story . . . it's a factory blem and worth triple the going price (only 3 got out with the upside down shield), a real collector's item! ;) :D
 
Will Power said:
Shown here top in WCSB with its stablemate that uses the same frame the No.2 Jack in ACSB. Yeah, I know, the shield is upside down - it fell out (grhhh!) and in my panic I glued it in upside down. But, when it's in your hand...:D:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I think you've got yourself a notable pair, and the upside-down shield gives you a host of cool photos you can take of the two. :cool:

black mamba said:
Will, you need to "up" your story . . . it's a factory blem and worth triple the going price (only 3 got out with the upside down shield), a real collector's item! ;) :D
Click to expand...

Now watch that big auction site get flooded with serpentine Queens featuring "factory blem" shields. :o :D
 
I like stock and and whittlers for the 3 blade variety, but those single blade GEC 48's with the clip just scream classy to me. My perfect "gentleman's" knife!
 
I find myself carrying my Case medium stockman and mini trapper equally...both remind me of my grandpa who gave me my first knife (an old stockman). I always get weird looks being a young pup (24) drooling over the Case knife display at my local sporting goods store. Most guys my age are going for more modern tastes...ah well. My mom and wife both say I have an old soul!

If you buy a stockman you'll find yourself right back buying a trapper too and vice versa...keep the traditional knife carry alive, it's a really fun world :)
 
I have used the same Schrade 811 stockman since 1973.
Any one of these 1980's Schrade red bone stockman knives, would made a good replacement for my old 811.
image.php

I believe Schrade sold more 34OT Stockman, than any other knife.
That speaks for it's self.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top