Traditionals on a Budget

[marlowe221]

Hey folks!

I don't have a lot of experience with traditional pocket knives - I had a small Old Timer stockman when I was a kid (my first pocket knife of any kind and long gone these days) and I have a Sod Buster Jr from 1980 that my dad gave me (along with a new, modern one by Case and another by Imperial).

I would like to experiment with some different patterns but I don't want to break the bank doing it. I'm interested in stockmans, barlows, jack knives/peanuts, and maybe a few others too. I just want to kind of try them out and see which ones I will actually find useful, etc.

Of the more budget brands making traditional knives these days, which ones are worth the money and which are just plain junk? I know there's Old Timer, Imperial, Rough Rider, Rite Edge, Buck.... what else? I know all of those are imported these days but that's fine by me. Even if I'm only spending $20 on a knife, I would like to know that I'm getting as good a knife as I can reasonably expect for my $20, if that makes sense.

Any brands I should look out for? Any to avoid?

[SteveC]

Rough Ryders seem to get good reviews, I can't comment on the other brands as I don't have experience with the newer stuff. There are bargains still to be had on eBay on the older American made brands.

[PitCarver]

I'm a fan of some of the Rough Ryder line.

Their knives are really good for the price and are what I actually recommend folks to try out before going to a more expensive line.
 

rr stockman.jpg (Filesize: 201.88 KB)

I have a couple Imperial Sodbusters that I really like.
 

soddie.jpg (Filesize: 144.82 KB)

Marbles seems to be about equal to Rough Ryders in quality.
 

marbles jack.jpg (Filesize: 162.02 KB)

I've had some Frost branded traditionals that  were better than others.  My EDC for a long while was a Bever Creek Stockman in yellow comp, that I actually loved, until it got missing.
 

beaver creek stockman.jpg (Filesize: 265.94 KB)

Both the Rough Ryder and the Beaver Creek knives are almost the same as an Old Timer  Lumberjack stockman.
The imperial is basically the exact same as a CASE Sodbuster Jr.

[Barry Rowland]

I'll agree 💯 with everyone on the Rough Rider line.  Mrs. R usually gifts our son's Rough Riders for Christmas and I've not come across a bad one.

[PitCarver]

Barry, the Boss Lady gives me and our daughters the RR Christmas Trappers every year.  We all love them

[Barry Rowland]

They're great gifts!  I'm going to talk her into including me! 

[Adam5]

I only have experience with three of RR's patterns, but I have been quite pleased with the knives overall.

[marlowe221]

Thanks y’all!

Sounds like the Rough Riders are the leaders of the budget category. I’ll focus my shopping in that direction.

PitCarver, I have that exact Imperial Sod Buster Jr. - I’m very impressed with it, especially considering I only paid $10 for it!

[pfrsantos]

Don't know what kind of design you're looking for. If you can find some place that sells portuguese brands, Sico and Icel are great knives and quite affordable.

 

[PitCarver]

PitCarver, I have that exact Imperial Sod Buster Jr. - I’m very impressed with it, especially considering I only paid $10 for it!

 I love the imperial soddies because they keep the CASE Sodbuster style with the birdseye pivot.   I also prefer the grind on the imperial.  For some reason, CASE has gone away with it on different materials.
For me , it's not a Sodbuster within the birdseye.   To me a Sodbuster Jr is almost the perfect pocket knife.

You may have guessed that MY preferred traditional is a large stockman.
RR makes a Large Stockman that's built nearly identical to the CASE 75 pattern.
I say nearly because the blades on the RR are noticably thinner on the ones that I had.   The newest one that I've gotten is one with micarta scales and the blades all have nice swedges which makes them appear less thin. I have one that I frequently use for leather work, instead of a utility knife.
The RR stockman that I posted, yesterday, is the retired rr323, which like I said was patterned off of a Schrade Lumberjack which is 1/4 inch longer than the CASE 75.
It's has been said, that on many of the older patterns, that you could take blades from them and do a direct replacement  onto a similar pattern CASE knife. 

I carried  a RR whittler in stag for a long time that I could sit next to a CASE whittler and the only noticeable difference would be the shield and tang stamps.
 

NewRoughRiderStagWhittler.jpg (Filesize: 69.84 KB)

[PitCarver]

Oh,  also I have used my RR knives to carve my peach pits.   Here's their French Tickler Toothpick that I modded into a wharnies, specifically for carving.  If they can stand up to peach pits, I'd guess that the steel is good.
 

RR204m (1).jpg (Filesize: 94.38 KB)

[PitCarver]

Thanks y’all!

Sounds like the Rough Riders are the leaders of the budget category. I’ll focus my shopping in that direction.

Great choice.
You can find RR knives on the eBay at really good prices. 

Good luck and let us know what you think.
 

[IMR4198]

The guys are steering you right, Marlowe.  I have owned Marbles and Rough Rider and found their quality to be excellent.  They come sharp and resharpen up well and the blades stay nice and tight.  You can look at a buzillion of them on the SMKW website.  Best wishes.  Gary

[marlowe221]

 I love the imperial soddies because they keep the CASE Sodbuster style with the birdseye pivot.   I also prefer the grind on the imperial.  For some reason, CASE has gone away with it on different materials.
For me , it's not a Sodbuster within the birdseye.   To me a Sodbuster Jr is almost the perfect pocket knife.

You may have guessed that MY preferred traditional is a large stockman.
RR makes a Large Stockman that's built nearly identical to the CASE 75 pattern.
I say nearly because the blades on the RR are noticably thinner on the ones that I had.   The newest one that I've gotten is one with micarta scales and the blades all have nice swedges which makes them appear less thin. I have one that I frequently use for leather work, instead of a utility knife.
The RR stockman that I posted, yesterday, is the retired rr323, which like I said was patterned off of a Schrade Lumberjack which is 1/4 inch longer than the CASE 75.
It's has been said, that on many of the older patterns, that you could take blades from them and do a direct replacement  onto a similar pattern CASE knife. 

I carried  a RR whittler in stag for a long time that I could sit next to a CASE whittler and the only noticeable difference would be the shield and tang stamps.
  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]

I agree about the Sod Buster Jr. as a pattern - it's simple, but great!

Also, I just ordered a medium-ish (3.25" closed) Rough Rider stockman in red jigged bone from eBay. Kind of a replacement for the Old Timer stockman I had as a kid and lost somewhere along the way.

Personally, I like something in the neighborhood of 3.5" or smaller for EDC, which is roughly the length of a 91mm SAK of course. Anything bigger/longer than that for me would be reserved for specific purposes/jobs.

[IMR4198]

Bravvio Marlowe.  Just jump right in there.  Got to post a photo when it comes.  Best wishes.  G
 

[PitCarver]

I agree about the Sod Buster Jr. as a pattern - it's simple, but great!

Also, I just ordered a medium-ish (3.25" closed) Rough Rider stockman in red jigged bone from eBay. Kind of a replacement for the Old Timer stockman I had as a kid and lost somewhere along the way.

Personally, I like something in the neighborhood of 3.5" or smaller for EDC, which is roughly the length of a 91mm SAK of course. Anything bigger/longer than that for me would be reserved for specific purposes/jobs.

Great.  I believe that, for the price, you're gonna be pleased.

I probably don't NEED a 4.5 inch but I'm a big guy and it feels good in hand.

[Echotech]

+1 for Rough Rider, really like mine 

[nate j]

Personally, I like something in the neighborhood of 3.5" or smaller for EDC, which is roughly the length of a 91mm SAK of course. Anything bigger/longer than that for me would be reserved for specific purposes/jobs.

In general, I think a really logical way to approach trads as users is to consider what approximate closed length you want, then how many blades, and narrow the field from there.

YMMV, but I do find that certain trads seem to “carry smaller” than 91 mm SAKs in spite of being slightly longer, probably due being narrower and thinner…

[Farmer X]

Rough Ryders are pretty good for the price. I have a couple of Buck toothpicks that are pretty good, too. Otherwise, don't overlook the many trads that are on the used market. There are still some good deals to be found if you're patient and persistent.

[SteveC]

 


I just scored a old Queen #10 for  $25 on eBay

[NutSAK]

   Top snag!

[marlowe221]

Ebay feels like a minefield for me for traditional knives at this point.

I wouldn't have the first clue of what to look for, which brands are worth looking at, especially the defunct ones that aren't around anymore, etc.

[Barry Rowland]

 

  Top snag!

[SteveC]

Ebay feels like a minefield for me for traditional knives at this point.

I wouldn't have the first clue of what to look for, which brands are worth looking at, especially the defunct ones that aren't around anymore, etc.

You've come to the right place, we can enable  help you 

[Farmer X]

Great score, Steve!

Camillus and Schrade are two good jumpng-off points for eBay traditional knife searches. Every so often a Case will fly under the radar, but they tend to be pricey, and there are sadly more than a few counterfeits out there.

[marlowe221]

My Rough Ryder stockman was supposed to arrive today but…   

[Gareth]

Did it ever turn up?