The History of the Stockman | Most Popular Knife Ever?

[@leonstancliff7218]

That "sheep foot" blade is for exactly what it says. Before the days of modern hoof trimmers that was the preferred blade shape for trimming excess growth from the sheep hooves. Yes, trimming sheep's feet is a thing! The spay blade and the hoof trimming blade was how the knife got the name "stockman". The clip point blade is just there to do general work.

[@lincoln2douglas]

I've got a new Rough Ryder Arctic Fox stockman in my pocket right now. While going through some of my childhood stuff around 5 years ago, I found my long deceased (and dearly missed) Grandpa's Keen Kutter K10 stockman from E.C. Simmons out of St. Louis. It re-ignited my love of a good knife. Along with the utility and artfulness, these knives revive memories of a kind man who smelled like cherry pipe tobacco and who is waiting for me in heaven.

[@SMKWcom]

Glad you found his knife and that it reminded you of your love of knives!

[@Richard-1776]

what if that spay blade were to open accidentally in your pocket...Doesn't that worry you?

[@99dsm1]

Carry a case medium stockman, retired the vintage primble my dad gave me before he died. He had carried it around 50 years

[@SMKWcom]

Love a good Primble knife

[@RT-wq8bd]

That's awesome!

[@DonnieDailey]

I'm from the Northeast and I don't recall any of my friends carrying a Trapper. I carried a Schrade (USA) Stockman 34OT for 35 years. Growing up most of my friends carried Scout knives or SAKs. My current everyday knife is a Case Medium Stockman but I also love the smaller Case gentleman's knives like the Peanut and especially the Sway Back.

[@SMKWcom]

We have always found it interesting how some patterns never seem to get popular in one part of the country or another while some are loved all over.

[@theeddorian]

My first pocket knife was a small spear point and sheep's foot, two bladed knife, that was a Christmas present in second grade. After that, I can't remember what happened to it, I have always carried a Stockman pattern. The clip point blade is used for the same things you mention, cutting up sausage in the field, as well as opening mail. The sheep's foot is use as a marking knife in wood working, shaping small pieces of wood where the clip point is two big to see around, etc. The spay blade comes in handy for many tasks where you might resort to a utility knife, cutting paper in an office for instance, while making labels for maps (largely superseded by computers these days). The make I usually carry these days is a Buck with three springs. I've carried both Case and Schrade as well, and Bökers are nice but have more flexible blades than I am comfortable with.

[@bryancouch6130]

From a technical/engineering standpoint, I feel like Buck makes one of the best stockmans of all time because their design incorporates one back spring for each blade (3 total instead of the 2 that you typically see). They also have the sheepsfoot on the side opposite the clip point and centered between two backsprings, adding rigidity. They did this because of how popular the sheepsfoot blades are and how much they're typically used in comparison to the other two blades on a stockman. Thoughtful, efficient engineering if you ask me.

[@SMKWcom]

Buck has been making great knives since 1902!

[@petesheppard1709]

For me, this is a real deep dive, thanks. Until watching videos like this, I have never heard many of the descriptive terms. To me, they were just 'pocket knives'. The only real distinction I made was the Barlows, with the tear-drop shaped handle. The little Old Timer knife you point out as a stockman was to me a 'pen knife', since its small size made me think of the small blades once used to cut and sharpen quill pens. I've carried mine for decades and think of it as my 'formal knife'.

[@matthewjeffres4640]

For daily use I have carried a Uncle Henry Senior Rancher 885 for years. The most useful blade being the sheepsfoot. Opening boxes, letters and other daily task. When I hit the woods I still carrier it but add a Buck 110, a Mora Heavy Duty Companion and a Estwing camp axe to the mix. Stockman knives just make good sense.

[@SMKWcom]

Your daily and woods carry are awesome!

[@ElGranRojo903]

Everyone here in east Texas loves the trapper especially the cowboys but I love my stockman bc my father since he was a little boy in Mexico carried one and like usual we wanna be like our fathers

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Red!

[@DeanMD77]

Why do the cowboys prefer the Trapper? And why over, lets say, locking or one handed folding knives?

[@ElGranRojo903]

@@DeanMD77 Spey blade is use to neuter the steer easier without piercing too much, also having the 2 blades u can use the clip point for general purposes and the Spey sharper for more precise cuts

[@ElGranRojo903]

I use the a lockback for hunting like my Buck 110 but everyday I carry the 301 or the 303

[@rialobran]

I have a George Wolstenholme (Sheffield, England) Stockman made for the US market circa late 1890's with 'Texas Stock Knife' etched into the main drop point blade. Interestingly the spay blade is also on the same side as the drop point. Wood handles with brass liners and springs like new.

[@SMKWcom]

That is an awesome knife to have in a collection!

[@claytonslavens2074]

My EDC for so many years. I love this knife.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@galenmullenax4039]

Very good information! I prefer the Trapper pattern because I use them for skinning game. The Stockman is my next favorite and what my dad carried. Great showing TC SMKW ❤

[@chrisreuther4546]

I’ve been wanting someone to do one of these on different patterns for so long!! Thanks TC! I think the stockman pattern is one of the best! I find the blade arrangement super useful.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Chris!

[@kjgas6945]

These are some of my favorite knives! I love the Stockman’s. And I also love the traps for different uses. but Stockman’s are my first love. I am now using them, and roughing out figures, and Wood carving, with the sheep foot blade. Changing the geometry, my large Stockman to less than 15° works perfectly, with the 1095 steel! Been using it daily. It will close on your hand, if you are not paying attention! That case Stockman with 1095 steel, is a beautiful knife I have it! That would be my favorite, out of the ones you just showed. Thank you TC. And thank you Smoky mountain knife works!👍🏻👍🏻🤠🤠

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching KJ!

[@Tracy81258]

A great job on the history lesson. I’m a big fan of this pattern. One of my favorite knives is an old Colt stockman with a punch/awl in addition to the traditional 3 blades.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Tracy

[@dasx2gra]

hey T. C., love the informative video! would love to see a new pattern each month! gotta say a stockman has always been my favorite, but in the sow belly version!! it's what my grandfather carried. i have about 35 sowbelly's and my collection is still growing! i love the Rough Ryders, they are beautifully made and very affordable! thanks for the info, please keep teaching

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching and for the suggestion!

[@alanparks7919]

A Case Stag small stockman is in my pocket every day. I own a number of trappers and like them; but my favorite will always be a Stockman.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Alan

[@DonnieDailey]

One of my favorite pocketknives is a Remington Small Stockman in Green and Yellow sawcut delran. It was made in the USA by Camillus (1980s). I've often thought about buying a small Case Stockman but with the prices as they are, I always end up choosing something larger.

[@danielruthven2739]

I love the stockman, one of my favorite traditional patterns. I also love the canoe as well, Never was a big fan of the trapper. I just picked up a large stockman today at an antique store. It's an old cutler with Dwight D Eisenhower etched on the blade. Old cutler was a sub brand of Colonial knife Co, made in the usa.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Daniel!

[@davidbaize4825]

Like a lot of guys have pointed out, the stockman is geared toward working people. The trapper seems geared more to people that like hunting. What does Greg say!😁👍

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching David!

[@geico1975]

Got my eye on the BUCK 301 CLASSIC STOCKMAN FOLDING KNIFE ROSEWOOD DYMONDWOOD I have several BUCK's traditional model knives.

[@SMKWcom]

No school like the old school

[@ronaldmoore7698]

Like the Medium Stockman for EDC but like the Trapper for cleaning small game for the longer blades

[@SMKWcom]

Good reasons to have both

[@stevelewis1721]

I don't know about market poppularity but I know I have four stockmans and four trappers. Tie!

[@SMKWcom]

Balanced as all things should be

[@desertratedc9596]

The stockman is by far my favorite! I personally own over 30 of them and use them all but I do favor 3 of them above the others. My case #75 CV amber bone, Schrade USA Old timer carbon steel 8OT and Remington (Camillus) 9501 with green sawcut delrin. I also have a Western 742 D that sees some frequent and my out with the boys knife is my RRR pattern #008 stockman because of its bottle opener. Only other note worthy stockman I can think of is my case burnt jigged bone #18 PU medium punch stockman from 1992 shortly after Zippo tool over case.

[@SMKWcom]

That is an awesome collection!

[@colincavender9477]

Good series keep going tc.

[@williamdavis8161]

Grew up on the farm. My 1st good knife was a John Primble 3 blade stockman given to me by my stepdad. It sets on the shelf today (don't want to lose it). But, i still carry a newer stockman.

[@richardhatt6541]

I had to pull out my Kabar Stockman when I was watching this. An oldie but a goodie.

[@SMKWcom]

No school like the old school

[@Robbie7441]

Very informative, thanks TC👍🏻👍🏻

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@RT-wq8bd]

I love my Schrade stockman my wife gave me in 84. The main blade is very thin, meant for breasting game birds. It was our first Christmas and we had $20 ea to buy presents. Also, great informative video.

[@rickharper5835]

Stockman is my favorite pattern. Never saw any sense in a slender or California clip blade. Thanks to your post, I can see why.

[@GromMolotok]

Thanks for the history lesson. I have no idea about popularity, but I do know I prefer a trapper. Mini size is even better as a pocket dropper.

[@SMKWcom]

Great patterns and we love being able to choose a size as well 👍

[@DonnieDailey]

While I'm not a fan of the full-size Trapper, I really love the single-blade Case Mini Trappers when they become available. Very slim and sexy little knives.

[@mikehigbee2320]

To me, the stockman is the most iconic traditional pocketknife. I think Case makes at least 8 different patterns. I plan to collect them all. My favorite is the 47 pattern, which is the largest of the 3 "medium" patterns and the only one to use 3 springs instead of two. I like my modern folders with their flippers and clips, etc. But there's something satisfying about digging the stockman out of my pocked and pulling it open. I use the sheepsfoot blade most often.

[@SMKWcom]

Something classic and classy about having a slip joint in pocket

[@SurgingApocalypse]

Stockman is my favourite pattern, it just looks the best.

[@SMKWcom]

Gotta love a good stockman pattern

[@jimmyking8206]

I Love the Stockman. That's what i carry. I like the options. The sheepsfoot blade i use the most.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Jimmy!

[@robertbudnik3318]

Great historical rundown TC!

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks Robert!

[@fishingunboxingsandreveiws7226]

Just recieved a RR2424 and I love it. Well made knife

[@SMKWcom]

🙌🙌🙌

[@joelramirez1556]

I prefer the stockman over any other pattern. Thanks for the info.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@Dreweldeenknives]

I’m ordering one for sure

[@Dreweldeenknives]

It shows up today and I put afresh edge on all blades ! Large green and black stockman absolutely blown away

[@elvinamillaneam]

Greetings TC, This's a tough one... I usually carry both in my EDC. Wow I think I have to go with the Stockman for the three blades.

[@SMKWcom]

We love a good stockman!

[@stevewalker4638]

Good information

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@brianc9374]

The stockman is better than the standard trapper for everyday use. However, there are some great trapper variants. I used to carry an electrician knife, a trapper with a screwdriver instead of a 2nd knife blade. Working in a warehouse, I used the knife for cutting open boxes and you always need a screwdriver for something.

[@SMKWcom]

Love that there are so many options for us to choose from in the knife world!

[@thevelointhevale1132]

"There is a bit of mis-information regarding the origin of the Stockman. Considering that a Stockman began turning up in Australia around the 1790's during the period of British settlement you can be sure that these knives were being brought over from Sheffield, England." Ie The Barlow Knives ... Exactly what the Australian Stockman needed when dealing with livestock on an export ship.The Blade types are Clip Point - Spey and Sheepsfoot .... the knife is named after Australian Stockmen ( Analagous to American Cowboys ) - these blades were the Aussie Bushcraft Blade for over 150yrs among my ancestors and were suited for all jobs required on the land. The Spey blade is for Neutering livestock safely without a sharp point to potentially cut an artery or other vital organs thus causing unwanted death to the animal. The Sheepsfoot had a similar purpose and is essentially a Safety Blade - excellent for carving or cutting materials and objects where care is needed when not wanting to pierce an item you are working on. The British Army Clasp Knife of WW2 were issued with the Sheepsfoot blade for this very reason and are superb carving blades. The Clip Point would cover all other activities where piercing the target ... ie skinning ... was acceptable.

[@Feanor821]

I have vintage Old Timer and Winchester stockmans and yep, a Rough Ryder Sowbelly stockman. For someone who doesn’t do a lot of skinnin’ n spayin’ I think the perfect pocket knife is a trapper with a clip point and a Wharncliffe or sheepsfoot. Case and GEC make them, but it’s hard to find vintage knives with that pattern.

[@dhawk6896]

Ranchers and farmers carried The stockman clip point, hay bal rope. Sheep foot for leather Spay for cattle, squirrels, rabbits

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Hawk

[@ruffinogold5440]

My Case CV Large Stockman and a sharp finger ... Im good to go . My two favorite folding and fixed patterns

[@SMKWcom]

Great EDC carry!

[@JacobBrantley90]

Great info, keep it coming

[@SMKWcom]

Thank you!

[@stevehuffman7453]

Stockman or Trapper? My personal choice for daily carry and use (since 1963, age 8) is the stockman. The added (generally a) Sheepsfoot (tho I do have one with California/Turkish clip main, Wharncliffe and a Drop Point secondaries) adds a lot more versatility than the Trapper's standard Clip Point/Spey/Skinning/Budding/Grafting blade combination. I prefer a Large (3.875 to 4 inch closed); XL (4.250 inch closed) or XXL (4.625 inch closed) Stockman. (I DO want to give one of SMKW's XXX 4.750 inch closed Rough Ryder stockmans a try. QUESTION: Are there plans to offer the XXXL Rough Ryder stockman with T10 carbon steel blades? I like patina.) I read somewhere online in the last year or so (so it MUST be true ...🙄 🤣🤣) that COLLECTORS prefer the Trapper over the Stockman. I currently have around 15 stockman's, ranging from a SFO 2 blade Buck 301, to a no RR number 6 blade with a lever action rifle shield, and brown checkered bone covers. All but two are 3 blades. (The only 3 blade/3 spring stockmans I have are a standard production Buck 301, and 3 or 4 Buck 371's, with different covers.)

[@georgestrachan3242]

I use a large stockman for deer hunting. Gutting.

[@markweber5296]

Every rancher I worked for has a stockman for ear marking in particular. They want a clean strait cut and the Case delivers..

[@chrisowen5497]

I’m curious as to what year that Old Timer stockman is with the serrated edge. I have a few from the mid 80’s with the regular sheep’s foot blade. I’m glad I found your channel.

[@rickharper5835]

I don't know the years produced. I remember them marketed as electricians knives.

[@viking7560]

Stockman has always been my favorite probably because a lot of men in the rural area where I grew up carried them.

[@SMKWcom]

All of our heros carried a pocket knife!

[@hettro-cv6082]

Good video!

[@randymartin5521]

I've never cared for the trapper, I've got three or four stockmans but my favorite pattern is a simple main clip and secondary pen jack knife like Case's 22087.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnallen4460]

Both?

[@SMKWcom]

💯

[@frankmorris4790]

The spey looks like a scalpel, because that's what it is, treat it as such. The trapper has almost perfect geometry , for closing up on you!

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@JT-hd3kl]

My daily carry is an Uncle Henry stockman that I received in 2001 and is engraved “Happy 10th Birthday! Love Mom & Dad”. I am ready to retire and put it away as a keepsake, but it has been so good to me and uncle Henry’s are no longer made in the USA!

[@RT-wq8bd]

My wife gave me my Schrade Uncle Henry Stockman in 83! I've carried it ever since.

[@frankjolly1680]

I like the stockman pattern👍 Sowbelly💪

[@SMKWcom]

We love a good Sowbelly!

[@aaronwilkinson8963]

I just got a middleman but it's identical to the stockman

[@DonnieDailey]

The Schrade Middleman (34OT) is a perfect pocket carry.

[@aaronwilkinson8963]

@@DonnieDailey mine says 34 OTW but the Brand is old timer there's no schrade Brand on it. What would have been the spade blade in more like a pen knife but I won't be castrating any bulls any way. It's a really nice knife. I really like it. It's perfect for my needs. I see little point in buying a knife so expensive that you scared to use it

[@pebourhero]

My Case Medium Stockman has squared bolsters.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Jason!

[@DonnieDailey]

Overall, I prefer the squared bolster version because I prefer the clip point main blade and the pen blade instead of the Spey blade. It's not made in as many options as the rounded bolster models, unfortunately.

[@joeltowle2737]

Barlow is #1!!! Lol

[@gilbrandao6929]

The clip blade was used too to degase' the cows stomachs, a perforation was made in the lateral cow belly to let the gas escapes. In emergencies cases, and last resource, it could save the cow from death when severely inflated...

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching and for the information

[@propblast82nd]

I’d have to go with the Stockman by about a frogs hair 🐸 but I like Trapper also . Got a RR Stoneworx Stockman in my pocket today

[@Thefrenchmen24]

do more of these on the other classic traditional patterns

[@SMKWcom]

We have plans in place to cover more in the future! Thanks for watching

[@JRudy17]

My favorite is the single blade Barlow. George Washington always had one in his pocket. The Barlow was more popular in the colonies that it was in England.

[@chrisreuther4546]

Ok... So, I Buck 310 is a tiny little 3 blade whittling knife... I am curious about a Buck 301... they call it a stockman... but it does not meet the back spring configuration you described.

[@terrillschneider3778]

Nice

[@mikecurtis2585]

Love a great stockman pattern! I have a KZbin now!!

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Mike!

[@petrosspetrosgali]

Lol @“lagoolie”.😂😂😂😂😂

[@SMKWcom]

thanks for watching

[@troublewells8777]

I have carried a trapper for around 46 years, never owned a stockman. My grandpa gave me my first one!

[@SMKWcom]

That is an awesome knife tale in and of its self!

[@jesusfernandogutierrezterr3011]

Preciosas navajas dignas de un verdadero vaquero

[@SMKWcom]

Se puede aprender mucho sobre alguien a partir de sus cuchillos y cómo los tratan.

[@scottbaxley6752]

We've sold Case knives for at least 40 years. The trapper and mini trappers always outsold any other patterns for us. I think it may just be dependent upon geography.

[@SMKWcom]

Place that have farms and animals will always need spey blades more than folks in a city that is for sure

[@hichamtata4774]

Hello mon ami 🇺🇸🫡 très jolies séries de couteaux

[@SMKWcom]

Merci beaucoup!

[@jonnyarmstrong4281]

Trapper is honestly way more popular then any other design I think the larger size is the big difference

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@rsv-code7004]

The stockman has become one of my favorite patterns. I don't quite understand the trapper so much.

[@SMKWcom]

We love a good Stockman as well

[@nitrorc4life1]

Hmm, I have to say the stockman is more popular, though I prefer a trapper more I like a stockman too. In fact I usually carry a trapper in a belt sheath I made and a medium stockman in my pocket. I will swap a trapper for a large stockman on the belt occasionally.

[@cintage]

Don’t only look at the US. The most popular pattern by far is the Swiss Army Knife.

[@heathen-greaser]

I don’t know which is more popular but for me personally i like the stockman more

[@johnclarke6647]

Either, as long as it says Case on the side of it.

[@matthewhall8790]

I think the Stockman is more popular. My first knife was a Stockman that was handed down from my grandpa. It's a Kutmaster out of Utica NY, and it's likely over 60 years old.

[@adamclark1611]

Which size was more commonly carried by 1800’s frontiersmen, the medium or the large?

[@markchoate9021]

Like them both but I carry a Stockman.

[@SMKWcom]

Hard to beat a good stockman pattern

[@brucemcmicking9614]

I was hoping to find out who first produced the Stockman. Do you know?

[@woodsontr]

I have both but I have more stockmans.

[@SMKWcom]

Stockmans are a classic!

[@rickbuchanan5762]

The Trapper may sell more but the Stockman is better/more versatile. In my opinion the BUCK 307 was the best large Stockman ever made. CASE makes the best medium Stockman with their SS blades.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@RichardTuckman]

What is the point to having 3 blades

[@SMKWcom]

Different blade shapes to help with different jobs

[@carlbakerjr1088]

You didn't mention the Sowbelly which is another stockman

[@Ersk88]

I’d say stockman is the most popular..my favorite slipjoint pattern

[@SMKWcom]

We love a good Stockman!

[@radar468]

I myself like the Stockman a bit more than the trapper.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching!

[@RandysWSG]

100% the stockman

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Randy

[@TylerJones-c6z]

In my option I like both stockmen and trappers

[@4570george]

All Aussie farmers carry a stockman and have done for many generations.

[@williammcintyre1396]

Stockman

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching

[@skcamerican]

I like a sowbelly stockman, especially a drunken stockman, with two clips and a sheep’s foot, all opening at wonky angles. Standard trappers, meh.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Su!

[@rwe1]

Stockman for me. (And I like the Congress.) But I can't stand Case's. Because they do shove three blades in two slots and they rub. Most other brands give each blade it's own slot (spring). So they don't touch. (Buck 301&303, Bokers) Case should build their stockman like their Seahorse Whittler the way they offset the blades. Or give each blade it's own slot.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching, and many knife makers look to online boards for ideas and suggestions

[@piperkennard1039]

👍💯

[@SMKWcom]

🙌🙌🙌

[@propblast82nd]

I believe it’s a coin toss between the Trappers and Stockmans.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching Prop!

[@danlooper2196]

Stockman by far

[@terrillschneider3778]

I’m carrying a trapper today but I like Stockman knives a whole lot better

[@Irishsaxon]

I got stockman's, i got trappers. 9 days out 0f 10 its the stockman I carry. I think the stockman is more popular.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching

[@stevehuffman7453]

02:28 Y U have the two secondary blades on the same spring each 1/2 open when there no half stop? That is an "EXCELLENT" way to break the spring. U should open 1 secondary fully (not stressing the spring, and the second blade on that spring half way. Would you open all four blades of a Scout/Camp/Utility/Engineer's/"DEMO" knife .5 to .75 way at the same time? Of course not! That is BEGGING for a broken backspring!!! Who besides Hades, Zeus, and their kin, knows how many millions of Scout/Camp/Utility/Engineer's/Demo knives have suffered a broken spring for that reason sice c1900?

[@olaf_industries]

trapper is no 1

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching

[@jonathancupp3686]

I always thought the trapper was the most popular, but I have always been more in favor of the stockman.

[@SMKWcom]

Thanks for watching