The stockman is a result of evolution, from the old Roman clasp knives with no springs to the modern "tacticals", there are milestones, designs that are so good that they have taken over older ones and survived past later ones, I could mention the Opinel friction folders, the SAKs, and of course the stockman.
The single blade locking one hand openers are now defining themselves, not clear yet which lock systems will survive, which opening styles will stay, stud or hole, liner lock or lockback, modern knives are still finding themselves, some are becoming classics, others will dissapear.
The stockman evolved from cattle knives, which themselves were improvements over older jack knives, many great features were taken from this knives, the materials, steel, bone, nickel silver, the putting together of springs, scales, bolsters and blades in just the right way to get a knife that Walks and Talks, and Works.
The stockman gets together a fine combination of blades, the utilitarian sheepfoot, strong and easy to sharpen, the long slender clip for slicing, the spey, thin and tempered hard to hold an edge for its intended use, even in modern urban life the spey complements the other two blades well, the belly does a few good things that the long clip and the straight sheep foot can´t, the belly does push cuts at varied angles, the belly Rocks and Rolls.
The stockman gets its soul from the hand of its maker, filing the tangs, setting the crinch, aligning the springs, pinning the scales, polishing, sharpening, putting it all together requires a talented and loving caftsman, someone who leaves part of himself in his work.
The stockman has been going strong for over a hundred years and will be here for many more.
Edited in an attemp to correct some spelling and grammar.
