Miscellaneous topics

longbeachbum · Post by **longbeachbum** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 2:27 am

Anyone know why the Magnum Bonsai line of Boker knives is so cheap? I picked up a large sowbelly for under $20 recently. It's got nice red bone handles, and seems very solid and tight. The action isn't as smooth as you might like, but overall seems like a quality slip joint. I don't know what kind of stainless they use for the blades though. A comparable red bone slip joint from the regular Boker line would cost closer to $60 and have carbon steel blades, I believe. Anyone know why the huge price difference?

I also just picked up an "Owl Head" sowbelly with sheep horn handles for about $15 on E-bay. Never heard of this brand, but I can't go wrong for fifteen bucks. Hopefully it will at least be worth the meager price.

I keep telling myself I've got to stick to quality aquisitions since I've got way more cheap pocketknives now than I'll ever need. Hard to pass up a nice looker for twenty bucks though.

It would seem to me that just about any sambar stag Case is a good investestment, assuming you don't pay too much for it, due to the embargo. They're not making any more of these, and they're only going to get more scarce. That's the direction I've been thinking of taking, also since I love the ones I have. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:29 am

Hey LBB,

I believe that knife is made in China for Boker. Since the Chinese Army controls production and uses political prisoners for the labor, I'd guess production costs are VERY low.
I've seen many folks sing the praises of Magnum, Smith & Wesson, Steel Warrior, Rough Rider, and the WalMart Winchesters for value, as they are all low priced Chinese entries. I guess they are a good value, just not my style. But, to each his own.

The Owl Heads are German I believe. Maybe from Frost or Taylor? They also look like a price/value knife.

The key of course is steel quality and even more so, heat treatment, for edge holding and toughness, and the geometry of the blade.

If you are pleased, that's all that really matters.

Nice to see you posting.

Bill

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 11:13 am

As usual, I agree with El Lobo. It is all in what you like. I will buy a broken Tidioute knife just because and pass up a brand new boker. Price wise about the same, but I like what I like and that is what it is all about. Don't let anyone tell you different. We all collect and admire for different reasons. As the old saying goes, "please yourself first"

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 2:28 pm

Oops...

I forgot about the stag part of the question. I too, enjoy Sambar stag in particular. I have a small collection within a collection, of Sambar scaled knives and how different folks treat the stag. Examples from Schrade, Queen, Bob Cargill (of Cripple Creek fame), Bear MGC, a Case embellished by Ray Cook, and some others. I also have some German knives with Red Deer stag.... Bulldog, Parker....nice but not quite as cool as the Sambar, IMO. For the average collector (easist to trade or sell) I would think you are correct about Case being most popular.

Maybe some other folks will "Cut In" on the subject...

Bill

longbeachbum · Post by **longbeachbum** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 1:45 am

Well the fact that it's made in China takes the sheen off it a little, but that makes sense. Nothing against the Chinese of course, but in general I'm not a fan of the Wal-mart Winchesters, etc.

Thanks for the very interesting information. Just to show I'm not completely low end, I received a Case ten dot stag Hammerhead that I bought on E-bay today. You really take your chances buying old knives on E-bay, but this one paid off -- beautiful, in appearance as well as action. I wish I could post a picture.

Regards,

Jim

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 3:36 am

I should add.....

I have a United/Boker strawberry bone split-backed whittler (from around '88-'90) that is well done. The main blade is a bit lazy, but not too bad, and the knife is quite nicely done. Boker CAN make a very nice knife....just not always consistent, in my opinion.
Most of the German made knives are "Technically" very nice.....Boker, Olbertz (Bulldog, Fight'n Rooster), Bertram, Schlieper (Eye, maybe others), they are just not quite as collectable (doesn't seem to be a BIG market) as American made slipjoints, IMO.

Bill

Edited more better clarity, I hope.

longbeachbum · Post by **longbeachbum** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 8:57 pm

For everyone's information, Owl Head = piece of crap.