What are some of the better stockmans on the market today?

[supratentorial]

I agree with gunstockjack on several recommendations. The old "black box" Winchesters can be a bargain on the secondary market. The old USA made Schrade 8OT with 1095 steel is a great user and can also be very inexpensive. If you have more money to spend and can find one of these knives (might take some time unless they do another run), then the GEC Abilene stockman is a great choice. Functionally, it's very similar to the 8OT but it has nicer handle materials and a pinned shield. The GEC Calf Roper is also a nice knife. It's more compact (3.5") but there's a lot of blade packed into the handle. For a stockman, it has an unusually slight curve to it. The GEC Abilene is a more typical shape. If you are also open to equal end cattle knives (stock knives are serpentine. cattle knives aren't.), then there's minimal difference between the equal end GEC Buckaroo and the slightly serpentine GEC Calf Roper. You might also consider a sowbelly which is a stockman with a big curve. Case, Moore Maker, and the old Winchesters are pretty good sowbelly knives.

 

[afishhunter]

New, without regard to price, I would have to say Buck and Rough Rider are among the top stockmans available.

My Rough Rider Stoneworx, Stroke of Luck, and six blade have no bad/evil issues.
The Buck 301 and 371 I have are a three spring design, no blade rub. The Stoneworx and Stroke of Luck are two spring, but have no blade rub. Not sure yet if the six blade has any.

 

[Stevenmw]

I agree with gunstockjack on several recommendations. The old "black box" Winchesters can be a bargain on the secondary market. The old USA made Schrade 8OT with 1095 steel is a great user and can also be very inexpensive. If you have more money to spend and can find one of these knives (might take some time unless they do another run), then the GEC Abilene stockman is a great choice. Functionally, it's very similar to the 8OT but it has nicer handle materials and a pinned shield. The GEC Calf Roper is also a nice knife. It's more compact (3.5") but there's a lot of blade packed into the handle. For a stockman, it has an unusually slight curve to it. The GEC Abilene is a more typical shape. If you are also open to equal end cattle knives (stock knives are serpentine. cattle knives aren't.), then there's minimal difference between the equal end GEC Buckaroo and the slightly serpentine GEC Calf Roper. You might also consider a sowbelly which is a stockman with a big curve. Case, Moore Maker, and the old Winchesters are pretty good sowbelly knives.

Is there a reason the Abilene isn't on GECs official site? Looks like it is #86. I found it in a third party sight. Good looking knife. 1095 and 4 closed.

 

[supratentorial]

Is there a reason the Abilene isn't on GECs official site? Looks like it is #86. I found it in a third party sight. Good looking knife. 1095 and 4 closed.

It's below the "coon skinner" which is a muskrat pattern.
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/patterns/patterns-78-99/81-coon-skinner/

Here are some photos of the Abilene stockman next to a Schrade 8OT.






Here's an older Schrade with nice peach seed jigged bone covers.

 

[Stevenmw]

@supratentorial Thanks. Ill take a look. Ive had a couple Old Timers I inherited from uncles and my grandfather. I got them when I was younger and they were all rusted by the time I had them so I didnt make it a point to hang onto them.

 

[Camillus]

This has been a very interesting thread. My favourite stockman knives are all smaller than those pictures above - the Schrade 897UH and its 1095 cousins. I read somewhere that these are the most popular knives that Schrade made. They are wonderful in the pocket.

 

[deskil]

This has been a very interesting thread. My favourite stockman knives are all smaller than those pictures above - the Schrade 897UH and its 1095 cousins. I read somewhere that these are the most popular knives that Schrade made. They are wonderful in the pocket.

Judging from your name and size preference, you might like the Camillus 883 - 3 1/4". It has a generous palm swell and a low riding sheepsfoot blade that make it very comfortable, for a smaller stockman.

 

[Dean51]

I would look hard at GEC If he likes 1095 or Schatt and Morgan for 420HC. Both of these companies do a good job with their steel.

As much as I like Queens #9 stockmans, D2 steel would be a bear to sharpen for someone who is not set up for it.

 

[Stevenmw]

I agree with gunstockjack on several recommendations. The old "black box" Winchesters can be a bargain on the secondary market. The old USA made Schrade 8OT with 1095 steel is a great user and can also be very inexpensive. If you have more money to spend and can find one of these knives (might take some time unless they do another run), then the GEC Abilene stockman is a great choice. Functionally, it's very similar to the 8OT but it has nicer handle materials and a pinned shield. The GEC Calf Roper is also a nice knife. It's more compact (3.5") but there's a lot of blade packed into the handle. For a stockman, it has an unusually slight curve to it. The GEC Abilene is a more typical shape. If you are also open to equal end cattle knives (stock knives are serpentine. cattle knives aren't.), then there's minimal difference between the equal end GEC Buckaroo and the slightly serpentine GEC Calf Roper. You might also consider a sowbelly which is a stockman with a big curve. Case, Moore Maker, and the old Winchesters are pretty good sowbelly knives.

Can you tell me what all of these are from left to right please? Some are obvious, and some aren't.

 

[Cory Hess]

Can you tell me what all of these are from left to right please? Some are obvious, and some aren't.

Not my picture, but I can take a guess.

GEC 66, Moore Maker 5503, Case 6339, Buck 301, GEC 81, GEC 53, GEC 82, Moore Maker 5304.

I'd be interested in finding out how close I am.

 

[deltaboy]

I got 2 nice Old Timer 8OT' s off the bay since Jan and you can still get NOS one's . But I been field testing a 2015 Taylor made 8OT in Iron wood since Jan and they are just fine .

 

[gruntmedik]

Easily one of my favorite stockman, the GEC #66 Cattle Roper.

 

[supratentorial]

Can you tell me what all of these are from left to right please? Some are obvious, and some aren't.

Not my picture, but I can take a guess.

GEC 66, Moore Maker 5503, Case 6339, Buck 301, GEC 81, GEC 53, GEC 82, Moore Maker 5304.

I'd be interested in finding out how close I am.

Cory got a perfect score. :thumbup:

The 53 isn't a stockman (not serpentine) but I reused an old photo.

 

[koldgold]

This has been a very interesting thread. My favourite stockman knives are all smaller than those pictures above - the Schrade 897UH and its 1095 cousins. I read somewhere that these are the most popular knives that Schrade made. They are wonderful in the pocket.

Try this one... Ken

The Schrade 34OT was their biggest sellers.

 

[supratentorial]

This has been a very interesting thread. My favourite stockman knives are all smaller than those pictures above - the Schrade 897UH and its 1095 cousins. I read somewhere that these are the most popular knives that Schrade made. They are wonderful in the pocket.

Your forum name reminded me of the Camillus Cam Loc... I'm not sure if I spelled that correctly. It was a nice large stockman with a locking main blade. The unlocking switch looked like a power switch from 1960s/1970s electronics. It's a fantastic large stockman with stainless blades.

You might like the Winchester/Primble "black box" knives that gunstockjack recommended. They are not quite as large. I've heard they were made with old dies (as he also mentioned). It's probably as close to the oldies as you can get. And at 25+ years old, some of the younger collectors might think of them as old knives. They have 1095 steel and pinned shields. You can still find the knives in mint condition.

 

[mnblade]

Long story short, my dad gave me the old Case XX he carried around for probably a little over 20 years. Not in the best shape, but it works. I want to get him something to replace it. ... I just want to get him a quality stockman to last him into old age.

I know I'm late to the party here, but it'd help a great deal to know a bit more about your dad's Case. Primarily: What size is it, and is it carbon steel or stainless?

-- Mark

 

[neal70]

it's a little late but i actually have a queen cattleking stockman set up as a hoof/farriers knife (#49f) with a punch and hoof pick. it's 4 1/4" of goodness wrapped in birds-eye-maple. it does weigh down the pocket, but i don't think it'll ever fail me-i'm planning on getting a 3 bladed version at some point. (no pun ) there are a lot of canal street stockmen being traded now that they're gone, w/nice covers and the occasional different, but great!,steel. the new GEC camp knife is awesome,but also fits nicely in a buck 110 pouch, from what i read. it's 4 7/8 long. just for a laugh how about the cold steel ranch boss? good size, 3 nice blades in s35vn, and runs only $200-300, depending where you go. really you can't go wrong with most of these recommendations, just gotta pick the right size, color/material, and stainless or carbon. luck!
thanks, Neal
p.s. by "these" i mean the ones listed in the thread overall, not necessarily the ones i spoke of.

 

[Stevenmw]

I know I'm late to the party here, but it'd help a great deal to know a bit more about your dad's Case. Primarily: What size is it, and is it carbon steel or stainless?

-- Mark

He didnt carry it because he preffered it per say. It was a good knife but like I said it was given to him. So it doesnt speak much for what he'd like.

I want to say it's almost identical to the one linked below. The scales areall worn offand the handle it all smooth but you can see where scales were. It isnt in as nice condition either. He hasn't ever gotten to pick his ideal steal size, shape, etc. He has a Buck someone gave him recently. I want to say 303 but could be 301. He doesn't carry it but he likes it.

I'm leaning toward 1095 for the blade. His ideal size would be between 3 1/2 and 4 knowing him.


I just did a random search and this came up. His wasnt the same year and all that. Justsize, handle, and all that are the same. Blade on his says 6318H and the rest is worn away.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_store/item909-28638.html

 

[jacktrades_nbk]

The 18 pattern from Case remains my favorite stockman.

Here are one 3318, and a 6318.

 

[Railsplitter]

He didnt carry it because he preffered it per say. It was a good knife but like I said it was given to him. So it doesnt speak much for what he'd like.

He hasn't ever gotten to pick his ideal steal size, shape, etc. He has a Buck someone gave him recently. I want to say 303 but could be 301. He doesn't carry it but he likes it.

My apologies if this has already been asked. Have you considered letting him pick the knife out himself?