Who Makes A Good Quality Traditional Pocket Knife?

Lenny

Lenny

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Please bear with me on this. I'm very frustrated.
I've been looking for exactly what the subject states in a 2 blade trapper pattern. Started with a CV steel Case Amber Bone (CA-163). Nice looking knife, but its quality, fit and finish leaves quite a bit to be desired. Then I ordered a Queen Cutlery 19B which was billed as having ATS-34 blades. It was only $40. That should've tipped me off. I received it and was extatic. It was beautiful, mirror polished blades, great fit and finish, etc. I called up Queen Cutlery this morning to tell them how pleased I was to have such a nice knife, with great steel, for a great price. Well, turns out I have a 2001 knife which has 440A steel in it. The older Queens had the ATS-34 steel. I asked if I could exchange mine for an older one with the better steel. They would look and call back later. I called back and they had indeed found one. Only probem is that only the clip blade is ATS-34; the spey blade is still 440A. AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHHHH! So I'll send this one back to Queen for a refund.
I ask you, what sense is it to make a knife with one blade made of superior steel, and one made of a much lower quality? Do they think I'll only use one and show the other one. Why not get 2 separate knives then?
Can someone help me, please. I want a traditional 2 blade trapper, with either bone or stag or something else nice, with good quality (read non-SS) blades. I plan to use it. I'd be willing to spend up to $100 for it. The price gap between the run of the mill Case's at less than $50 and the Tony Bose customs at over 6 times that price is ridiculous! There's gotta be something in the middle somewhere.
Brands like Hen and Rooster, and Eye Brand look nice, but I have no idea what type of steel they use.
HELP PLEASE!
Thanks for letting me rant.
Lenny

BTW, does anyone know how I can get in touch with Mr Bose?

[This message has been edited by Lenny (edited 04-06-2001).]
 
Lenny, I would check out A.G. Russell's website: www.agrussell.com
They have a very nice selection of traditional folders. As far as putting out the same knife in 2 different steels, I look at it this way. It gives the average Joe, who may not have the money to afford premium steels, the chance to purchase an economical version of the same knife.
 
When it comes to traditional knives, unless you want to pay near custom prices, you can't expect premium cutlery steels. These knives have many more moving parts and are much trickier to manufacture. They are also produced on a much larger scale than most one handers. ATS 34, SV90, VG-10, or some other exotic steel would makes these knives entirely too expensive for the mass market.
 
I find the Schrade Old Timer knives to be one of the best buys out there. The steel is non-ss carbon (1059 I think) and gets a terrific edge. They are not elite/high dollar knives but they are great quality and will not cost you an arm or leg. I think the saw-cut delrin scales look good and they are comfortable too.
 
Lenny,

I feel your pain. I've been following your posts on the Case Forum and wasn't surprised to see your knife turn up for sale here. You might want to have a look at the latest Schatt & Morgan File and Wire Tested Sway Belly Trapper made by Queen. A word of caution however, although A.G. Russell says in the ad. that both blades are ATS34, I have been told that the Schatt & Morgan brochure for the Series X (2000) knives indicates that only the master blades are ATS34. Worth checking up on. I'm expecting a Series IX Teardrop Jack any day now and will be interested to see if both blades are the same steel. It won't worry me too much if the pen blade does turn out to be 440A as it's only going to get light use anyway.

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Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow....in Australia it's tomorrow already.



[This message has been edited by Clay Kesting (edited 04-06-2001).]
 
Old timer makes nice stuff and uses 1095. Camillus also has a series of high carbon, traditional pocketknifes. I would check those out! i talked to Will Fennel about them and will probably buy one when I get some money from my orders
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Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for all the excellent comments. I used to own a small Old Timer Stockman that I really liked. It took a wicked sharp edge. Ultimately, I gave it to my cousin as his first knife. I just might end up with another OT, but I really was looking for something a little nicer looking. Still need to check out the Camillus offerings. The Mooremakers look very nice. I guess I could get used to that bright color. Certainly are distinctive. Does anyone out there own one? Comments?
I also considered the S & M Sway Belly Trapper. When I first looked at it, I thought it was too expensive. However, considering what I recently got for what I paid, I don't think so any more. Oh well, maybe I'll just live with the Case if it doesn't sell (probably wont sell considering all the negative comments I've been giving it). Gonna take my time and really research this time. I also want to drive down to Country Knives in Intercourse PA. I'm starting to see the logic of handling before I buy. Even if I pay a few dollars more.
Thanks again guys.
Any more comments, keep em coming.
Lenny
 
I have really been with a Henckels stockman that I recently got. Natural bone handles, carbon steel blades. Really nice for the money.

Eye brand and Hen and Rooster also seem very nice.

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Dennis Bible

....Almost here, The Leading Edge....
http://www.theleadingedgeonline.com
 
I have been very pleased with my Eye Brand knives. Good forged carbon steel blades, flat grind with a fine edge. If you look around you can find them for around $40-50. Try Blowoutknives.com or call Knives Plus (they don't have a website but have good prices). My Henckels is well-made with a well-executed blade, but doesn't hold an edge as well.

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Die Entropie der Welt strebt einem Maximum zu - R.J.E. Clausius
 
What about Boker. I have the Stockman with 440C blades and stag handle.

bokeropen.jpg


Here is a sheath I made for it.

bokersheathfront.jpg


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[This message has been edited by KevinMillerCan (edited 04-07-2001).]
 
I have both an Old Timer and a Camillus Trapper in high-carbon steels. the Camillus is probably a little better in the fit an finish department, an was the more expensive of the two. But in my opinion, the Old Timer takes and holds a better edge. I am not implying that this will be everyone's experience with Camillus and Old Timer...just mine with these two knives. Cold Steel is now making a line of traditional pocketknives in Carbon V that should be good users. you might want to try those.
 
I just recently started getting back into traditionals. Kevin's Boker should fill the bill if they make it in a Trapper, they have me covered. Dang that's NICE! On the low end I like Old Timer, Ka-bar, and Camillus. The Winchester knives are made by Queen Cutlery, they are formally Shatt & Morgan Cutlery. I've got a couple of John Primble knives due in. I believe the particular models I ordered are carbon steel. I'm dieing to try the new Cold Steel traditionals with Carbon V. RKBA!
 
OK, I've narrowed it down to the following makes of Trappers: Hen & Rooster, German Eye, Henckels, and MooreMaker. They all come in non-SS versions and either a stag or jigged bone handle. Can anyone who owns 2 or more of these makes comment on the overall quality and edge holding of the steel? I can't believe how difficult a process it is to find a decent quality traditional folder these days! Maybe I should just order 1 of each and send back the ones I don't like.
Lenny
 
First of all 440 A and C are very good steels for traditional folders. ATS 34 and it's U.S. look alike 154CM are also good steels. Any superiority that they have over the 440s is not in areas that are applicable in a traditional folder. The highly touted success stories surrounding the use of ATS 34 are primarily marketing ploys and nothing more. Hell, Randall still uses 440A in their knives.

ATS 34 is used by so many makers because it has received a lot of marketing hype and it is inexpensive, in a relative sense, to purchase at the maker's level.

Second, in the world of traditional production folders, knife for knife, there are no better made than the handmade Schatt & Morgan series by Queen. That's why many production folder brands (including Case, Blue Grass' Winchester, etc.) have their higher grade knives made for them by Queen Cutlery.

The rapid degradation over the last dozen or so years of Hen & Rooster, Henckels, Puma, Case etc. to mass marketing pressures, is only further testimony to the unique quality in today's market of the Queen Cutlery high grades in the Schatt & Morgan line and even in their rebirthed Robersons. Most of Queen's regular line with a little less handwork stands head & shoulders over their competitors efforts.

We need to quit falling victim to the hype of manufacturers to find something exotic, which is completely useless in the target application, just to produce something new and get us to spend more money. New, or in this case just different, is not always better.

In a traditional folder application you are going to be hard pressed to find a practical use for a steel that is somehow percieved to be "better" than the 440s.If you are going to use a traditional folder in areas where steels stronger than 440A are required, go to a fixed blade because you are over extending the design limitations of the tool.

Click on the link in my signature if you want to seem some great high grade Queen Cutlery Schatt & Morgans.

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A Patriot's Work Is Never Done--greetings from The Occupied South
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[This message has been edited by truedge (edited 04-08-2001).]
 
I have several Eye Brand and one Henckels. From my limited sampling, I think the Henckels will have a slight edge in the fit & finish, but the Eye Brand will definitely hold an edge better. The Eye Brand is available in stag or brown bone (sometimes you can find one in what they call strawberry bone, but it's really more of a hot pink than anything else). Henckels offers theirs in red bone, and the one I have has beautiful deep red bone.

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Die Entropie der Welt strebt einem Maximum zu - R.J.E. Clausius
 
Oooooohhhh!
Those Whitewing knives look great!
Any idea what kind of steel they use?
Unfortunately, they are out of my price range.
Thanks,
Lenny
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Lenny:
Oooooohhhh!
Those Whitewing knives look great!
Any idea what kind of steel they use?
Unfortunately, they are out of my price range.
Thanks,
Lenny</font>
Click to expand...

Whitewing knives use CPM 3V.

Price range is only a state of mind (i.e., if you don't mind skipping meals and being broke
wink.gif
). I just purchased a Whitewing Warlock. Beautiful knife -- well worth the price, if you have the $$.

Dave
 
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