Traditional knife recommendations

[Bazoo]

Schrade USA is hard to beat for cheap and quality. eBay will net you a suitable one for less than a $20 bill. Old timer 34OT is the three blades medium stockman. 33ot is the same but 2 blade jack. The 8ot is the large stockman and fetches more.

GEC is nice stuff but also, hard to acquire. I have a 62 farm and field pocket carver. Gifted to me by a friend from the knife forum mentioned already, bladeforums. They are extremely well made as for fit and finish. But I’m not sure I would pay $200+ for one when i can have half a dozen cheaper knives for that cost.


If you’re familiar with case, a 75 pattern jumbo stockman in carbon steel will be hard to beat. I carry one in stainless daily.

Don’t forget the medium 18 or 032 stockmans. Those are hard to beat too, again in carbon.... also hard to beat.

 

[SteadyD]

Schrade USA is hard to beat for cheap and quality. eBay will net you a suitable one for less than a $20 bill. Old timer 34OT is the three blades medium stockman. 33ot is the same but 2 blade jack. The 8ot is the large stockman and fetches more.

GEC is nice stuff but also, hard to acquire. I have a 62 farm and field pocket carver. Gifted to me by a friend from the knife forum mentioned already, bladeforums. They are extremely well made as for fit and finish. But I’m not sure I would pay $200+ for one when i can have half a dozen cheaper knives for that cost.


If you’re familiar with case, a 75 pattern jumbo stockman in carbon steel will be hard to beat. I carry one in stainless daily.

Don’t forget the medium 18 or 032 stockmans. Those are hard to beat too, again in carbon.... also hard to beat.

I’m eyeing a large Case stockman in CV currently.

 

[bratch]

There are a ton of traditionals out there using better steels. Buck of the month this month was a 2 blade slip folder in S30V. SMKW has a traditional section where you can filter on blade steel. I like this Lionsteel in M390.

https://www.smkw.com/lionsteel-jack-1-green-canvas

 

[Boattale]

Case, Zippo, GEC and Bear & Sons are about all that is left of the great US slip joint manufacturers. Ontario and Dexter-Russell still make some classic fixed blade patterns, and Lamson may still make kitchen knives.

As for carving tools, our classics are Osborne, Flexcut, U J Ramelson and Warren tool companies.

What about Buck?

 

[Boattale]

I’m eyeing a large Case stockman in CV currently.

Be sure to get amber bone. Then your taste will be recognized by all as impeccable.

 

[rust collector]

What about Buck?

Buck really didn't go into large scale production until after WWII, and the 110 showed up in the early 60s. They went offshore with production in 2000, and although they claim they maxed at 40% and are now around 13%, they weren't very forthright in identifying the origin of what they were selling. They can make a good knife, but when their trademark was a knife cutting through a bolt and they later had to warn customers not to do this, it was enlightening.

 

[hso]

What about Buck?

https://www.buckknives.com/product/301-stockman-knife/0301FAM01/

Good 3 blade Stockman. 420 HC does a fine job. Not as fine as tha "super" steels, but sufficient for most users.

 

[SteadyD]

With regard to steels, I’m having fun messing around with the carbon steels that are on the low end of edge retention but strop and sharpen like a dream.

 

[SteadyD]

Be sure to get amber bone. Then your taste will be recognized by all as impeccable.

View attachment 1110920

I believe that’s the one I have on a wishlist. How long is the clip point blade? I can’t seem to find that info

 

[Boattale]

I believe that’s the one I have on a wishlist. How long is the clip point blade? I can’t seem to find that info

3.3 inches.

 

[bratch]

I had to stand at a poster and present for 4 hours yesterday, instead of my normal Benchmade or Buck 112 printing in my front pocket I carried a Case Red Bone Mini Trapper for the day. I always enjoy carrying one of my slip joints.

 

[md7]

I carry an Amber Bone Case Trapper with CV blades daily. It’s about 15 or 16 years old now, and I’d loathe to be without it.

It’s used to skin deer, rabbit, open mail, or whatever. If I lost it, a new one just like it would be en route immediately and I gift this type of knife almost yearly. Haven’t seen a bad one yet.