Wide, Narrow or In-Between?

[Thalestin]

I voted middle as I find this size both nice in the pocket and hands

 

[Rsmith_77]

i voted narrow because, as i understand it, you were asking about the handle
if we were talking blade, i prefer the medium size

guess thats weird, i want a narrow handle and a medium blade
hrm

 

[dannyp]

My vote goes to in-between. I actually prefer the wider handle of the Case, but the high riding sheepfoot blade is what takes it down a notch. Now if it had the lower profile blades in the closed position like the Stockman, that would be a real winner!

 

[Modoc ED]

Even at 4 1/4" closed this Case 6375 with pinched bolsters is an easy pocket carry and easy on the hand.

 

[wagglebee]

I went with in-between, but as others have mentioned it really depends on what it would be used for.

 

[qncygnnr]

What exactly constitutes a "pinched" bolster? The combination of the "flat ends and the beveled sides"? Or just the "bevels"?

 

[Modoc ED]

Some talk about the nail nicks being on the same side as on the other blades but that has never bothered me. It's jut so simple to turn a knife from side to side to open the various blades when needed. Further, the way the sheepfoot blade rides (whether high or low) has never bothered me. I think that's probably because when using a knife, I'm concentrating on the job at hand and not the feel of the knife in hand.

No matter the length, width, nick position, blade height, etc., it's hard to beat a stockman.

 

[black mamba]

Of all the larger stockmen (over 4") none has a lower profile with the sheepfoot than the GEC Cuban.
They nearly have sunken joints as well.

 

[Modoc ED]

Of all the larger stockmen (over 4") none has a lower profile with the sheepfoot than the GEC Cuban. They nearly have sunken joints as well.

That's true Jeff. An odd thing (to me anyway) until I started fiddling around with them is that the sheepfoot blade rides lower in the GEC Cuban Stockman knives with the #8 Muskrat blade than the sheepfoot blade in the GEC Cattle knives with the #2 regular Clip blade.

Stockman knife top - Cattle knife below

BUT then I saw/realized that the sheepfoot blade of the stockman knife is much narrower than that of the cattle knife.

Stockman knife top - Cattle knife below

Both knives are the same length (4 1/8") and width, and both are two spring knives.

I would call both knives pictured Cattle knives but GEC calls the top one a Stockman and the bottom one a Cattle knife.

This is a good thread Jeff. Thanks for running it.

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[black mamba]

It's always fun to compare and contrast. Not only is the muskrat clip blade narrower, but with the longer clipped portion, the sheepfoot nick can be in front of and only slightly higher than the already low clip blade. A double narrowing, as it were.

And Ed, the color on your cattle knife is just outstanding!

 

[Will Power]

In this instance I unhesitatingly opted for narrow, that last RR Stockman may be of lowly pedigree but it has very correct proportions. Sleek, semi sunk joints and likely very good in the hand, I'm also of the School of Dislike for Humpbacked Sheepfoots. All that sticking out & riding high does nothing for the feel of the knife in the hand. This is one reason I tend to prefer a Whittler to a Stockman, does depend though..

No fan of the Sowbelly except in single blade, that looks very ergonomic. So, broad for a single blade, narrow for this context.
If it were hips we were contemplating, my answer would of course be entirely different YMMV

 

[2Dead]

I voted for the narrow pattern. I'm not a fan of the high riding sheepsfoot. My favorite Stockman is actually a Queen #26 Small/Medium Stockman at 3 3/8". Larger then that and the sheepsfoot sticks out, except for the #53 Cuban of course. Although my CSC Stockman is closer to the medium and I like it a lot too.

 

[Modoc ED]

It's always fun to compare and contrast. Not only is the muskrat clip blade narrower, but with the longer clipped portion, the sheepfoot nick can be in front of and only slightly higher than the already low clip blade. A double narrowing, as it were.

And Ed, the color on your cattle knife is just outstanding!

Thanks Jeff. It's one of my favorites.

...............................that last RR Stockman may be of lowly pedigree prefer a Whittler to a Stockman, does depend though..............................

Will - I have to say that the RR is up and coming not only in this forum but others too. There are even a few prominent members of this forum that have started collecting (at least buying them). They put out some really nice stockman knives - a lockback stockman being among them. I gave a couple to one of my nephews this Christmas and was surprised at how well they were made - good fit and finish, sharp out of the box, etc..

 

[knarfeng]

Jeff, your poll left out "All of the above."

 

[rockgolfer]

I voted narrow. I would never carry the top one, I just dont like the high riding sheepsfoot. Although I picked narrow because its what I prefer, I would not chose that knife (RR stockman) to carry. The main blade looks way to small in my eyes. Putting them in hand might change that and I could live with the middle one. But that sheepsfoot could still be lowered to ride at the same height as the clip. I guess for me its a fine line between lower blades and too small of stock for the main. GEC's #53 with the Cali clip is perfect in my eyes and hand.

 

[black mamba]

Jeff, your poll left out "All of the above."

Frank, you're preachin' to the choir!
I have all the above, plus a bone handled one each of the two sowbellies, and 5 or 6 more of the medium stockmen.

Of course, "All of the above" is the right answer, but it wouldn't make for a very good poll!

 

[thawk]

You gotta love the slendereeno pattern, right Cal?

I like them narrow.

 

[thawk]

Doug - That RR slim stockman is a nice size california clip, it just looks little up against the other two.

 

[black mamba]

Beautiful Schrades. I don't think I've seen a red stag one before, but they're all super.

 

[eisman]

Narrow. Case made some of those too.