Which stockman to be my first?

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Sep 1, 2002
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Hi, all,

I've recently fallen in love with stockmans. I'm eyeing the Camillus Roughcut Tobacco Stockman(9.99 at SMKW) and the Schrade Walden(24.99) that I can't seem to find on SMKW's site. The handles are plain yellow and the blade is marked "trade Everlastingly Sharp mark 100 years" and the tang is stamped "Schrade Walden N.Y. U.S.A." It's 4" closed and comes with the original 1950s packaging. It is on the back of their 2003 Christmas catalogue. How are these for first stockman's? Will they hold up well? Thanks.

Are there any sites where I can get info on stockmans?
 
Have not gotten my hands on either of these, but considering the companies that made them, I would think they are of solid quality. That being the case, they should last a few decades or more depening upon how hard they are used. ;)
 
Hi, I'm a big fan of the stockman pattern too!

If you are looking for a stockman that is pretty, and a great user, check out Buck's 303T(Poly-Pearl)

They are found at Wal-Mart for a little over $20. The fit and finish is better then that of Schrade Old Timer's and they come very sharp straight out of the box. (Sharp out of the box is rare with slip-joints) I should also mention that they are not stiff at all, and the blades open smoothly. (Ok, just to entice you some more I should say that Paul Bos does the heat treating on the blades, and he is the premier heat treating expert today. )

I'm hoping you choose the Buck so much because it's my EDC. ;) I love this thing. The fake pearl handles give it an attractive appearance, and it's great quality for the money!! :)
-Kevin
P.S. - Schrade's are great too, I just think Buck makes their knives to a slightly higher degree of quality.
 
DC II,

I can recommend the schrade stockmans. My advice, though, is start small (read 'cheap').

Go get yourself an Old Timer with carbon steel blades and put it through it's paces. They are an excellent bargain and are a very rugged knife.

Then, if you want to go more expensive, okay. In most cases, I've found the OT's to be reliable and sufficient.

Just my .02

Glenn
 
Thanks for the help, guys! I've chosen to get the Buck first. I just like the looks and the heat treatment :cool:. Thanks again!
 
Diamond Cut II said:
Thanks for the help, guys! I've chosen to get the Buck first. I just like the looks and the heat treatment :cool:. Thanks again!

Let us know what you think. :)
-Kevin
 
Something I forgot to mention!!

Buck gives you an individual backspring for each blade! :cool: (Therefore all the blades are straight, instead of bent to fit around one another.)
-Kevin
 
Well my b-day is coming up in a couple of weeks :cool:. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks again for great help!

-Philip
 
Diamond Cut II, your choise was good. I think the Buck 303 has better fit and finish and probably somewhat better steel, than the Schrade or the Camillus knives you mentioned.

By the way the Camillus Rough Cut Tobacco stockman is made of leftover parts ( I have one on which the clip point blade is a refurbished one from a Cold Steel stockman knife - I can clearly read the Carbon V tang stamp, even it was ateemted to be removed). The Camillus knife has quite thin blades, came sharp, but the fit and finish is much worse than you would expect from the SMKW catalog photos. But for $9.99 this is still OK.

The Schrade stockman is probably better, but I think the Buck beats both of them.
Enjoy your new knife and Happy Birthday!
 
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