Which stockman?

BJE

BJE

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Apr 12, 2006
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I just recently recieved a Boker stockman with bone handles and carbon blades, it had pretty bad F+F, the main blade hit the liner upon closing, The jigged bone has little broken pieces (not nomal cracks), the pivot pin was sticking out of the bolster a little, there was quite a bit blade paly, and finaly the handle scales were loose, I could grip the knife and feel them shift:(:mad::grumpy:. I contacted the seller and I am trying to get a replacement, but I want a backup in case it is the same way. So my question is what is your preference from these companies (I am interested in what they make now, not 10 years ago, I know quality was better then).

1. Eye Brand Stockman (3.5)
2. Moore Maker Stockman (it looks like there blade are hollow ground which I don't care for?)
3. Another Boker from a different supplier
4.Another german knife, like hen+rooster, ect.
I want to keep it right at $50 or under, it will be a user but I still want the best F+F I can get for that money, I also don't like thick blades. Any suggestions? My favorite stockman is the 8OT, but I would like to try something different for a change.
 
Of those choices a Moore Maker in Yellow bone would be my pick. If you have a place where you can handle them you're better off. F&F these days is a moving target and unless you can handle the knife before you buy you're rolling the dice. My experience in the exchange forum here has been good. Most folks are stand up and offer good quality items since they know most folks around here know their knives. If you have to buy online and are willing to be flexible on maker you might find a deal in the exchange.
 
Wow, My last 2 Bokers were perfect! A GC Whittler and a Sawcut Copperhead. Both just beautiful. I would buy one again no worries. I hope yours get replaced properly. Sorry to hear that.

I wouldn't change suppliers just yet, I am sure he just pulled a box off the shelf and sent it. Especially if he replaces it for you.
 
My dozen or so Boker slipjoints all have excellent fit and finish.
I'd definitely recommend a Boker, just be sure it's got the Solingen, Germany tangstamp on it.

Hen & Rooster, Henckels, and pretty much all the other German slipjoints are now made by Boker AFAIK, other than German Eye/Schlieper.

The German Eye Large Stockman (425) is a real nice knife.
However I don't really like the 350.
I think the Bokers have a better F&F, are sharper out of the box, and sharpen up better.
Also, I like the Boker copperhead better than the German Eye Copperhead.

That said, I love the yellow smooth bone Moore Maker Stockman. I have a 5302 and 5304, they are 2 of my favorites.
The 5304 is an amazing knife. 4 1/2 inches closed.

I'd recommend, in order, the Moore Maker 5304, the Queen Cattle King, and the Boker 7474 (their regular Stockman). The Cattle King is really a tough, well made working knife with D2 blades, made in the USA with scales of Birds Eye Maple.

Anyway, happy shopping.
 
Get the Queen-made Moore Maker stockman. I have the 5301. It has thin flat ground blades. I think the hollow ground Moore Makers you are seeing are the ones made by Bear, and they have a B in the model number. My 5301 has outstanding fit and finish, with just the right amount of snap.

I also like Eye Brand, they do a good job on the blade grinds. The standard Queen D2 models are also good, but sometimes require an edge reprofile.
 
I think you should try another Boker. Just last week I got a new Boker trapper and the fit and finish are top notch. It is my first Boker and I am very happy with it. Sorry to hear that you got a lemon, it happens sometimes.
 
I think the German cutlery industry is tragicly on the way down. Too much of it is being jobbed out to other countries so they are becoming like Puma; a pale shadow of what the once were. The Puma knives of the early 60's were great knives second to none, but look at them now. Even Boker is just started to get a little hit or miss. Mostly hits, but they are missing the mark now and then, and this was unheard of 20 years ago. The couple of Eye-Brands I've seen recently have still looked good.

I think Boker still makes a good knife, and I'd send this one back to be replaced with another one. Look at it this way; at least Boker is still being made by Boker. Some of the other German stuff is being made outside Germany.

As far as Hen and Rooster, looking at one now and comparing it to an old Bertram made Hen, I just want to take out my bandana and cry. I've even heard rumor that some were made in a far east place.
 
Sorry to hear about the Boker. I just bought a China made Boker Magnum Bonsai and everything is great. Maybe you just had a run of bad luck. Try them again.
 
Personally, I would suggest a Remington branded stockman made by Camillus. Excellent knives at reasonable prices are still available at the *bay.
I have bought a few Schrade knives but have a lot more Camillus made knives in my growing collection.
 
I know what you mean about quality issues. I picked up a number of stockman knives over the last few weeks and many of them had quality problems. - - I've had good luck with my Boker knives, but they are older models & I don't know how they are now. - - You also might want to take a look at current production Case knives. I particularly like their CV knives in carbon steel. I have several 'sets' of medium and large stockmans that I often EDC. Some of my Case knives have had superior fit & finish to other traditional style production American slip joints at a price that was one half to one third of what I paid for the more expensive knives made by small "premium" manufacturers. (Of course, you have to check each individual knife over carefully.) I thought I was paying more for higher quality, but haven't found that to be so. I think I'll need to eventually go the custom route to get a 'near perfect' slippie. (Well, that's not quite so - I have quite a few Victorinox Swiss Army knives and all of them have been absolutely outstanding in F&F - no blade rub, great snap, everything right - but, not a traditional style slippie though.) Regards, - -
P.S. - I just noticed your requirement that it be under $ 50. If you like carbon steel and large stockmans the Case 6375 CV is definitely worth looking at. Its a little longer than your 8OT, but if youre looking for something different, that could be a plus.
 
I am looking to keep it at or a little under 4in. closed. The medium 3.5in stockman seems a little small and I have a Queen Cattle King that is 4.25in. and it seems huge, way to big to edc. I will give Boker another try, as a matter of fact I have a Boker whittler on the way. I will look into the Moore Makers, I thought they had hollow ground blades which I don't really like. I just thought the Eye Brand sounded like a good company with there higher prices and hammer forged blades, but it seems they don't make one in my size, only 3.5 and 4.25.
 
Not saying my experience should be taken as the norm, but I've had problems with about half the bokers I've owned, one stockman that was terrible, loose blades grind marks on the bolsters handles falling off etc. Also had a lock back with buffalo horn handles with issues, as well as a couple sodbusters. And out of 5 henckels ( which I latter learned were mostly made by boker) 2 were unacceptable as well. Puma and hen and rooster have been the same for me, disappointments for the most part. Not trying to steer anyone away from them, but I have no intention of buying any more of these brands ymmv.
 
I've really only personally had really bad luck with Bulldog brand knives I'd purchased from the late Jim Parker.

The scales were always fine but I found the steel to be seriously wanting. In some cases the blade wouldn't even take an edge let alone hold it.

Obviously there were some heat treat issues somewhere along the line.
 
Has anyone bought an Eye Brand knife recently? How does their 4.25 stockman compare size wise to the large Queen stockman? What do you think about the hammer forged blades, worth the extra money or just hype?
 
I've quite a few Boker(USA) knives and on the whole they are quite good knives, but given a choice I'd buy a Case over a Boker any day for fit and finish, and for taking an edge in stainless or carbon.

Case 6347
47b8dc06b3127cceb5fbcc07eea300000036100Abs3Ldw5bt2Lg
 
Case is a proven favorite with me.
Moore Maker is proving itself and I recommend highly.
Moore Maker: you gotta have a traditional toy when you get a knife from them.
Marbles, yo-yo's, spinning tops...
 
BJE said:
I am looking to keep it at or a little under 4in. closed. The medium 3.5in stockman seems a little small and I have a Queen Cattle King that is 4.25in. and it seems huge, way to big to edc. I will give Boker another try, as a matter of fact I have a Boker whittler on the way. I will look into the Moore Makers, I thought they had hollow ground blades which I don't really like. I just thought the Eye Brand sounded like a good company with there higher prices and hammer forged blades, but it seems they don't make one in my size, only 3.5 and 4.25.
Click to expand...

You may do this already, but I've found it very comfortable to carry my large stockman knives in my back pocket vertically along side my wallet. Its even more comfortable than much smaller sized knives in my front pockets. - - The Case large stockman is long, but flat, - so it carries in the back pocket very nicely (at least for me). I don't know if a 'fatter' knife would work as well. Regards, - -
 
BJE said:
Has anyone bought an Eye Brand knife recently? How does their 4.25 stockman compare size wise to the large Queen stockman? What do you think about the hammer forged blades, worth the extra money or just hype?
Click to expand...

The last Eye Brand 4.25 stockman I bought was a couple of years ago.
Stag scales.

Very impressive knife, especially the very thick stag.
Well made.

However, the blades being "hammered forged" appeared to be a non-event in terms of performance.
(The main blade on the Eye Brand says "hammered forged" - not "hammer forged" as one might expect.)

I eventually sold it because it was just too big and heavy to carry around.

___________

The Queen stockman is a bit shorter; 3 7/8".
A slimmer carry than the Eye Brand, especially with the currently available Birds Eye Maple scales.

Just as well made in my view as the Eye Brand.

And I think the Queen D2 steel performs better than the Eye Brand steel.


(BTW, a great source for the Queen is www.cumberlandknifeworks.com)
 
I already ordered an Eye brand today. I like Queen, but don't want D2, only carbon steel at this time.
 
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