Working Man's Knife?

[1oldthro]

This is my first post here, so let me introduce myself.
I'm a 28 year old husband, a proud father of 3, we grow a nice garden, have chickens, can our own food, are an active part of our parish church, and I work as a self-employed carpenter in rural South Carolina.
A few weeks ago, a laborer picked up my Case '18 to "just skin that wire real quick"... I heard a pop, came around the corner, and found a very surprised 17 year old holding a knife with a nice new hole in the sheepfoot. "Sorry" came out of his mouth FAST!
I've been a dumb 17 year old on a jobsite, so no hard feelings. I tried filing out the scorch, but it took off more metal than I intended (seems to have made the metal softer than it should be), so I threw it in a cigar box. Maybe it'll go to one of my boys in a few more years.
I dug out a 1977 Case 6292 I used to carry, and carried for a week. Then I remembered why it went into the box in the first place. That pen-blade is sprung like a bear trap! If you've got wet fingernails, they'll break right off; if your hands are cold and fumbling, you may just cut your thumb down to the bone; heaven hero you if you lend it to your wife to trim some twine! Back in the box it goes.

I'm back in the market for a knife, and if y'all have some suggestions, I'm all ears. I only carry one at a time (sparing my Sunday-go-to-meeting knives), wear it out, lose it, or give it away before going to the next one. I've had a dickens of a time finding something that actually fits my needs/wants! Fairly affordable, carbon steel, at least 2 blades, 3.5-4" handle, and sprung neither too tight not too loose. I've had some trouble with Case in the past few years, GEC is WAY above my paygrade, and it seems that a lot of the brands I used to see are falling away.

Here’s another vote for Rough Rider, unlike the high class cousins the GEC the blades on Rough Riders are a good quality stainless steel a must for a working man.
Love my GEC but those blades rust so easily, I made a left handed sheath for my Sting Ray and wanted to wet form the leather, carefully wrapped the entire blade in plastic wrap, and then taped over top of that but my morning, somehow a little bit of moisture got in and stain the blade.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I've consistently been impressed with what I consider to be PERFECT closing pull on the many Case '75 pattern large stockman knives I have. Not too stiff, and still with just the right walk & talk and very reassuring closing snap. My most useful '75 has been this 6375 CV in amber bone. The 'modified 1095' CV steel, as Case describes it, sharpens up easily and beautifully on most any decent stone - my favorite being a Fine Norton India for this steel. And the thin, high hollow grinds of the blades make for great cutting performance as well.

 

[Ironbut]

In case you haven't decided yet......you said you wanted a working knife, so how about this.
It's not multi blade. It's not carbon steel, but......
Buck 110LT. Made in the USA, and guaranteed for life.
It can be found new for $40 or under. It'll handle just about any cutting need. It's just over 3 oz, and if it gets dirty, just hose it off.
That's a work knife.

 

[Railsplitter]

I've consistently been impressed with what I consider to be PERFECT closing pull on the many Case '75 pattern large stockman knives I have. Not too stiff, and still with just the right walk & talk and very reassuring closing snap. My most useful '75 has been this 6375 CV in amber bone. The 'modified 1095' CV steel, as Case describes it, sharpens up easily and beautifully on most any decent stone - my favorite being a Fine Norton India for this steel. And the thin, high hollow grinds of the blades make for great cutting performance as well.

I only have one 75 pattern but I got it out last night and have been fiddling around with it again today. I have been thinking the same thing about the pull and the snap. The process of opening and closing the blades is easy on the hands and very pleasant.

 

[Steven65]

There are still a lot of these U.S. made Old Timers by Schrade floating around for sale. Easy opening, excellent work knives in a multitude of sizes.

 

[thatarrowheadguy]

I believe I've narrowed it down to a full-sized stockman, a Sodbuster, or a trapper. The trapper shocked me, as I've never carried one, neither did anyone in my family, but I handled a friend's Case Trapper and it was ergonomically stellar.
Most of the pawn shops and antique stores around here are terrible for knives, but I'll keep an eye out. There's a little hardware store in the mountains that carries Case, and I'm working up there next week.
I've thumped through some of the threads here, and saw some people posting updates on how they use a knife over time. Maybe I'll do a little update-thread with whatever I pick, show the use, abuse, and antics of the knife.

 

[thatarrowheadguy]

In case you haven't decided yet......you said you wanted a working knife, so how about this.
It's not multi blade. It's not carbon steel, but......
Buck 110LT. Made in the USA, and guaranteed for life.
It can be found new for $40 or under. It'll handle just about any cutting need. It's just over 3 oz, and if it gets dirty, just hose it off.
That's a work knife.
View attachment 3227076

I've actually got a buddy who carries one of those. I always thought it would be a good knife for when I'm canoeing.

 

[afishhunter]

I feel silly carrying two knives!

Have you tried carrying more? That might get rid of the "silly" feeling.
My current carry:

Only the Case is in my pocket.
The 110 (C&C SFO with a 5160 blade) is on my belt, of course. The Vic Huntsman is on a belt loop, while the David Mary fixed blade is worn as a neck knife (outside the shirt).

I have carried a minimum of two since 1962, and a minimum of 3 since 1968, when I added a Buck 110. (that 110 is long gone. No idea what happened to it.)
On days when I knew I woukd need a specialty knife, a Marlin Spike, when working with triple twist or braided line, or a hawkbill in the garden (or laying carpet or linoleum, or scoring drywall), I added it/them to my carry for however many days I needed it.
I cannot imagine carrying just one.

 

[rhino]

I just can't do it, man...
I've handled a few RRs, and they're a fine knife, but they just don't give me any pride to use.

That's a fair position and I respect it.

I figure that Smoky Mountain Knife Works is getting most of the profits from the sales, whether from their store, site, or Amazon, but they are definitely Chinesium. It would be an easier decision if they were crap, but they're not.

Like someone else said, if you can get to a Case dealer and handle the specific knife you might buy, I think that's your best bet for getting what you want that is both American made as well as reasonably priced.

You could also just buy one of the remaining 2024 Blade Forums GEC Stockman knives for $250 delivered. You're not going to find a better quality traditional slip joint for that price, they are available, and they are among the biggest stockman patterns I've seen (over four inches closed). They are very nice, but you could get a lot of work done with one as well.

 

[rhino]

Until I get back to a knife I'm happy to carry every day, I'm carrying a Wenger SI from 1988 and a Case Peanut from 1977. Good combo, scratches the itch for carbon steel and a decently robust knife, but I feel silly carrying two knives!

Blasphemy! Two knives is below the bare minimum! I have more than that right now and I'm in my lounging around the house/work from home/sleeping clothes.

 

[rhino]

Have you tried carrying more? That might get rid of the "silly" feeling.
My current carry:
View attachment 3227357
Only the Case is in my pocket.
The 110 (C&C SFO with a 5160 blade) is on my belt, of course. The Vic Huntsman is on a belt loop, while the David Mary fixed blade is worn as a neck knife (outside the shirt).

I have carried a minimum of two since 1962, and a minimum of 3 since 1968, when I added a Buck 110. (that 110 is long gone. No idea what happened to it.)
On days when I knew I woukd need a specialty knife, a Marlin Spike, when working with triple twist or braided line, or a hawkbill in the garden (or laying carpet or linoleum, or scoring drywall), I added it/them to my carry for however many days I needed it.
I cannot imagine carrying just one.

1. Clearly someone has his head screwed on straight!
2. That's a super nice carry set.
3. You could probably carry a few more.
4. David Mary is cool.
5. That sweet Case stockman looks like your grandpa and your dad carried it before you, but they were among the rare birds who knew how to sharpen properly back then.
6. My EDC SAK is the Ranger because I like having the file. The extra small screwdriver and tiny chisel on the back side are bonuses. I may try to carving the bowl of a spoon with the chisel some day. It will be like a chipmunk eating a 300 pound peanut.
7. Is your Huntsman pre-package hook?

 

[chevyrulez1]

For carbon steel and two or more blades as a working knife, I would recommend a Case or a Bear and Sons CS Barlow.
I haven't had any bad experiences with Case personally, and I would personally recommend them over the Bear and Sons, but both would make a great working knife. Find a stocking Case distributor and you can look it over before buying it.

 

[thatarrowheadguy]

For carbon steel and two or more blades as a working knife, I would recommend a Case or a Bear and Sons CS Barlow.
I haven't had any bad experiences with Case personally, and I would personally recommend them over the Bear and Sons, but both would make a great working knife. Find a stocking Case distributor and you can look it over before buying it.

If the hardware store has a Barlow, I'd be interested.
The finest knife I've carried was a Boker sheepfoot Barlow (494, I think). Gave $5 for it at a flea market. I made the mistake of carrying it on my wedding day, so now it's a special occasion carry. Pity I've never seen one since.

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

Get a SAK farmer and call it quits.

 

[Ironbut]

Get a SAK farmer and call it quits.

Pioneer.

 

[thatarrowheadguy]

Get a SAK farmer and call it quits.

I carried a pioneer for 7 years, and an SI for 3. I still carry the SI from time to time, and they're fine. They just don't age well.
My pioneer from 2015 looks about the same as it did when I bought it. Less blade, to be sure, and a reground awl, but it doesn't really have that quality of a well-used tool.

My framing hammer is a good analogy. I bought it at the same time. She's a Vaughn 28oz straight claw, straight handled beauty. I've put two handles in that head, the blue paint is all gone, the claws are shorter than they should be, and the waffle face is long gone.

Everytime I pick it up, I remember the thousands of nails it's driven, the hours of sweat and blood it took to buy a house on a single-income carpenter's dime, the projects finished, the lessons learned, the time I picked it up to chase away a crack-head at my front door while my new bride was asleep...

A knife is the same way. It carries memories, recalls better times spent with better men in whose company you felt privileged to sit. The alox scales of a Pioneer work well, but they do not carry a heart.

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

I carried a pioneer for 7 years, and an SI for 3. I still carry the SI from time to time, and they're fine. They just don't age well.
My pioneer from 2015 looks about the same as it did when I bought it. Less blade, to be sure, and a reground awl, but it doesn't really have that quality of a well-used tool.

My framing hammer is a good analogy. I bought it at the same time. She's a Vaughn 28oz straight claw, straight handled beauty. I've put two handles in that head, the blue paint is all gone, the claws are shorter than they should be, and the waffle face is long gone.

Everytime I pick it up, I remember the thousands of nails it's driven, the hours of sweat and blood it took to buy a house on a single-income carpenter's dime, the projects finished, the lessons learned, the time I picked it up to chase away a crack-head at my front door while my new bride was asleep...

A knife is the same way. It carries memories, recalls better times spent with better men in whose company you felt privileged to sit. The alox scales of a Pioneer work well, but they do not carry a heart.

You get a pass.

 

[thatarrowheadguy]

You get a pass.

Don't worry, I've always got a Rambler on my keys.

 

[afishhunter]

1. Clearly someone has his head screwed on straight!
2. That's a super nice carry set.
3. You could probably carry a few more.
4. David Mary is cool.
5. That sweet Case stockman looks like your grandpa and your dad carried it before you, but they were among the rare birds who knew how to sharpen properly back then.
6. My EDC SAK is the Ranger because I like having the file. The extra small screwdriver and tiny chisel on the back side are bonuses. I may try to carving the bowl of a spoon with the chisel some day. It will be like a chipmunk eating a 300 pound peanut.
7. Is your Huntsman pre-package hook?

Post "Package Hook". The "Package Hook" combined with the split ring increases the number of potential saws.

Any standard "T" shank jigsaw blade can be secured, when (not "if") the standard wood/bone saw is the wrong tool (cutting copper or black iron pipe, angle iron, sheets of stee/brass/copper ...) or is too short. (The long wood cutting blade shown was used to cut a wood handrail end to 45° for a corner.) I keep the jigsaw blades "with-in reach" in my rollator's tote/shopping bag ... with a few other tools, like 1.4 and 1/8 inch bit sets, a couple 6" cresent wrenches, a ratchet and a couple sockets, a "pocket wife" (AKA: "Sewing Kit"), large firstaid kit, 5.5" bladed fixed blade ...

Both my Huntsman have the multi purpose "package hook".

 

[Murphy Slaw]

I've consistently been impressed with what I consider to be PERFECT closing pull on the many Case '75 pattern large stockman knives I have. Not too stiff, and still with just the right walk & talk and very reassuring closing snap. My most useful '75 has been this 6375 CV in amber bone. The 'modified 1095' CV steel, as Case describes it, sharpens up easily and beautifully on most any decent stone - my favorite being a Fine Norton India for this steel. And the thin, high hollow grinds of the blades make for great cutting performance as well.

I have to think a 75 is a knife that a working man could use as his only knife for an entire lifetime.

What a beauty.