Some Stockmans

dks · **on:** January 31, 2014, 06:05:54 PM

I decided to post some pictures of some stockman style (and similar) slipjoint knives and talk a bit about them. There is
These are all cheap (less than $50), easily available knives.

Hen and Rooster, not bad, weak springs, a bit of play, questionable heritage nowadays.

Buck's 301 and 303. The older the better, still value for money, classics and solid, no play.

New Schrade, nice handles, cheap in the bad sense, do not buy one.

Older Colt, not bad but not as good as the new ones. I would not buy it again.

Rough Rider, smooth, the scales were a bit loose, really nice to use and handle, cheap in the good sense.

Camillus USA, used but solid, definitely worth buying, smooth and well made.

Schrade (made) USA, used but solid, definitely worth buying, smooth and well made.

Rough Rider, not really a stockman but still basically the same, smooth, looks expensive, too pretty to use.

Victorinox (ok it has 3 blades....) feels like a serious tool; solid and smooth.

Rough rider whittler (3 blades...) Nice and shiny.

Rough rider congress; I though it was a Stockman until I fanned out the blades...

All together, according to size (approximately)

Main blades

From the top

According to the number of backsprings they have

shiny

not shiny

small

The only one I carry regularly is the RR stockman as it has a very sexy snap, good quality and is nice to feel and use.

I have also carried the Bucks and they are nice too. I like the bigger one but their blades are a bit thick, because of the hollow grind and thicker stock. The RR has a nice thin flat grind that slices better.

The small USA ones are really good to carry too and feel very solid for their age.

The Hen and Rooster looks too nice. I really do not want to scratch the nice golden covers

The worst are the older Colt (still OK) and the new Schrade .

The 2 spring ones are not noticeably thinner than the 3 spring ones, as they tend to have thicker liners. The 3 spring ones will have thinner springs too and are better for fanning out the blades as they each have their own spring (less stress)

Here are some older similar threads I started a while ago:

Stag

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=35943.msg578950#msg578950

Sodbusters

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=42421.msg679710;topicseen#msg679710

etc....

jerseydevil · **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2014, 07:26:36 PM

Very nice.

Out of the ones you posted, I only have a Buck 301. I do have a number of other stockmen though. Time to get the camera charged.....

dks · **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2014, 07:41:04 PM

Yes, considering most of my knives have 1-2 blades I have more stockmans than I realise/need

waiting for your pictures

ducttapetech · **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2014, 09:40:32 PM

Very nice!

that's us mobile

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2014, 09:45:22 PM

I like that. What does one look for in a "Good quality" Stockman? Scales? Finish? Snap? Steel type?

dks · **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2014, 10:13:41 PM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on January 31, 2014, 09:45:22 PM

I like that. What does one look for in a "Good quality" Stockman? Scales? Finish? Snap? Steel type?

Get a Buck 301 or a Case xx Stockman.

It depends on what you want it for.

They will all have the same blade selection and most half decent steels should be OK.
Size, grind, blade thickness, colour/material of the handles are important.
I like the thin, flat ground blade of the RR.
They are working knives so wooden or synthetic handles should be better than bone/stag (grip, robustness)
Of all the stockmans I showed only the new Schrade had bad walk and talk.

The best walk and talk was from the buck 303 and the small RR. Also check the spring strength. Case xx seem to have stronger backsprings than Bucks.
Or just get a GEC/Queen

Nhoj · **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2014, 10:22:05 PM

I have two Camillus stockmans from my grandfather and I really like them. Nice group of knives you have!

jerseydevil · **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2014, 03:58:16 AM

Took a bunch of pictures, but smurfing photobucket won't let me log in!

jerseydevil · **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2014, 01:45:40 AM

Up and running!

Here are the stockman pattern knives I dug up.....

From the top:

A German-made Indian Brand, carbon steel with real stag handles. Lovely old knife.

Next is a carbon steel, US made Remington that came back to the proper side of the Atlantic thanks to 50ft-trad. I would love to know how old this knife is. The cartridge used as a shield is an old Remington automatic round, probably the .30 Remington, which has been totally obsolete since WWII.......

Spot the differences! A pair of Bucks - a US made 301 and a Chines-made 371. Both are actually very nice knives. The 371 is a very well-built knife! These are the only three-spring stockmen I own, and as such are wider than the others shown. The 301 is one of my favorite carry slipjoints.

And finally, two Case pattern #18 medium stockmen - one stainless, limited edition orange G10, and the other CV in yellow Derlin. The #18 makes for a great EDC knife, three useful blades without being as large as the other knives I posted.

And there you have it! My favorites out of these? The Buck 301 and that Remington. That is just an absolutely beautiful vintage knife.

jerseydevil · **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2014, 01:50:05 AM

Mr. Whippy, I agree with what dks had to say about choosing a stockman. The Buck 301 or either of those Cases are excellent knives. The springs on the Buck are a bit softer than the Case, but not a big deal. That's not to say that the Case pair are nail breakers. The 371 was a surprise to me when I first got it. That one was made in 2008 according to the blade stamp, and is a VERY nice working knife. The blades take and keep a good edge, and the f&f, w&t are excellent.

dks · **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2014, 05:19:05 AM

Nice selection! That orange G10 is sexy

taaaaaaapaaaaaaas

jerseydevil · **Reply #11 on:** February 03, 2014, 04:49:32 AM

Yep that's a beauty for sure.

Its blade is engraved "first production run", which hasn't saved it from the perils of the paint store.....

David · **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2014, 07:46:04 AM

Nice Stockmans dks and jd.

comis · **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2014, 09:33:43 PM

Dks and JD,

Thank you for the comparison data and picture, I am slowly warming up to the more traditional folding knives, and am sure these info will be very valuable should I decide to collect more of them in the future!

jerseydevil · **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2014, 12:58:07 AM

How did I forget these two?

First up is a Schatt&Morgan cattle knife. It replaces the sheepsfoot with a punch/scraper. The bone on this knife is beautiful in person, my lousy photograpy skills don't do it justice.

And the next is another Case, but a bit unusual. This is a Case Humpback Stockman, pattern #046. It's a reissue of a knife that Case stopped production of around 1915. Very pretty knife, very solid.

kirk13 · **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2014, 01:05:57 AM

You know you guys made me buy a RR Stockman ?

detron · **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2014, 01:12:40 AM

Quote from: kirk13 on February 09, 2014, 01:05:57 AM

You know you guys made me buy a RR Stockman ?

I think MT.O is leading the world economic stimulation. I know I buy stuff that other members MADE me buy

jerseydevil · **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2014, 01:34:07 AM

Quote from: kirk13 on February 09, 2014, 01:05:57 AM

You know you guys made me buy a RR Stockman ?

Only one?

I'd better get posting some more pics of different patterns. Don't want that RR to feel lonely, do you?

dks · **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2014, 08:55:42 AM

I like the handle on that humpback case; looks very ergonomic.

I have a stockman on order too, so do not feel guilty.

dks · **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2014, 03:55:30 PM

New old arrival

GEC, 2007 53 Stockman. Blue oyster handles.

Sexy...

ducttapetech · **Reply #20 on:** February 21, 2014, 06:55:57 PM

Looks nice! You going to use it or put it up?

that's us mobile

dks · **Reply #21 on:** February 21, 2014, 08:57:28 PM

100% safe Queen! I would hate scratching the scales...

Corwyn · **Reply #22 on:** March 29, 2017, 12:27:02 PM

dks · **Reply #23 on:** March 29, 2017, 12:46:35 PM

now go and use ALL the blades

styx · **Reply #24 on:** March 29, 2017, 07:50:49 PM

how are they holding up today?

Poncho65 · **Reply #25 on:** March 30, 2017, 02:30:59 AM

Great thread

Love all the trad pics

Poncho65 · **Reply #26 on:** March 30, 2017, 02:31:50 AM

My sowbelly H&R stockman

20170329_171922 by Poncho 65, on Flickr

20170328_135200 by Poncho 65, on Flickr

Joe58 · **Reply #27 on:** March 30, 2017, 03:18:54 AM

I'm really partial to the Buck 703 and 701 models. A great model I wish they'd bring back. Can be found in very good shape on the evil eBay for quite reasonable prices.

Little chunkier/squared off feeling in the hand, which I appreciate actually. Well made.