All About Pocket Knives

Reading about knife pattern history recently, I saw that the Copperhead bolster is shaped like the snake head to protect the pocket from the tang edge.
Is the Copperhead the only knife pattern designed to protect the pocket, and why was the copperhead a popular pattern of soldiers in Vietnam?
The Canoe bolsters are similarly shaped but no mention was made about the purpose of covering the tangs. Are the Canoe bolsters shaped for that same reason?
Why is the sowbelly stockman handle different from the normal stockman? Is pocket comfort also the reason for the sowbelly shape?
I need a pocket friendly pattern knife because my pockets are being frayed by exposed tangs and square bolsters, but I may have to buy another knife so I want to be sure about the pocket protection. Knife pouches are too bulky in the pocket and too "visible" on the belt.
My beautiful German Eye large Stockman in stag is too hard on my pockets.
There seems to be more info on blade patterns than on handle patterns and the reasons behind them.
Thanks.
PS please don't recommend a Victorinox Bantam or a Kershaw Leek. I'm an ole timer.

The most common method used by knife makers to protect the inside of pockets from wear due to the sharp tang is what are called "sunk" joints. In this design the tangs are actually BELOW the liners therefore there is no danger of them damaging the pocket. This method is used on various patterns. Robeson Cutlery actually had a line of pocket knives called "Pocketeze" which incorporated this design into many patterns.

The Copperhead pattern is a pretty good choice for pocket-protection. I've also had great luck with my 6318PU, which dispenses with the spey for a punch and, while not sporting fully-sunken joints, has a Turkish clip blade and a reduced stockman profile that meets next to no resistance going into or coming out of the watch pocket. I also have a "pocket-worn" 6318 with the spey that doesn't fray my fibers in the slightest. There is a little room to file down the kick on the sheepsfoot without issues, as well.
Are the joints on the GEC #25 sunken? That would make another excellent candidate.

Edgewise, I like the Case Copperlock as a comfortable and useful EDC knife. It is a single blade knife that comes with a clip blade or a wharncliff blade. There is a mini version (3 5/8) and a regular version (4 1/4). It has a very slim profile and a copperhead bolster that covers the tang edge. It is available in a large variety of handle materials.

Canal Street made a knife called a Cannitler that might also interest you. It has 3 blades (spear, spey, sheepfoot) in a canoe-like frame. These are a little difficult to locate since Canal Street shut down. I enjoy carrying this knife.

In the pictures below you will see the tang on the copperlock is completely covered by the bolster. On the cannitler the tang peeks above the bolster ever so slightly. If you fidget with stuff in your pockets you will notice this, but I doubt it would be a serious wear & tear issue for you pants pockets.

You may also have luck with 70s-era Case 62191 canoes, which are single-spring and have both tangs covered up by the bolsters. They are plentiful on the secondary market, vanish in the pocket and fit in most watch pockets easily. I didn't really have a good angle on my 4-dot brown bone canoe while closed, so I'm including a photo of a 90s-era (twin-spring) 62191 closed to show its profile.

I don't have answers to most of your questions but what you are looking for is knives with sunken joints. I'm not sure what a Google search would turn up as sunken joints are rarely, if ever, part of a knife's description on dealer pages. You might try a Google search though.

Since you like the your Stockman, I'll post a couple of Case Stockmans with sunken joints.

Humpback Stockman. Nice size and shape with a Spear main blade instead of the more common Clip blade.
6090 pattern.
If you have the funds, The Case/Bose Norfolk is a really sweet knife with sunken joints.
Those are just a few suggestions but there are several patterns out there.

Sorry, I didn't see that sunken joints had already been mentioned.

Railsplitter wrote:Sorry, I didn't see that sunken joints had already been mentioned.

No problem. You've posted some excellent examples.

Thanks, Phil!

Many thanks to all.
I have a lot to consider now and some great pictures to help.
The canoe bolsters look like twin copperheads and that cannitler set me drooling.
I have a better idea of what to look for now, and I think the Case Humpback is my best bet for a pocket friendly stockman.
I don't know how I missed that one. I wonder if they built them that way for pockets.
Thanks for all the pictures.

I thought it was called a copperhead because the bolster is "Hershey kiss" shaped like the pattern of the copperhead as viewed from the side. Anyway, I love my mini copperlock. Here is mine next to a full size trapper for comparison. And a copperhead!

A word on sunk joints: they are not common and they are not as strong as a regular joint. Hence sunk joints are primarily seen on vintage Pen knives intended for the 'dressy' Gent rather than on bigger 'work' Jacks.
kj

Thanks for the snake picture Metalhead. Now I know exactly how the knife got its name. Actually, "Hershey kiss" is probably a more universal name though not as suitable for a knife.
I'm still checking out pocket friendly knives, believe it or not, but knife pictures on the internet don't often show the knife closed.
I'm also looking at the saddlehorn and sowbelly now but I'm not sure if they have the sunken joints.
I have a Steel Warrior saddlehorn with a copperhead bolster and it's a beautiful knife but I'm hoping for something similar with better steel. Change the steel to D2, put a lanyard hole and it would be an awesome knife. Looks like I need a Copperhead to complete the selection.

i think the 49 is a great work knife, i pack a 70s model always

Tsar Bomba wrote:The Copperhead pattern is a pretty good choice for pocket-protection. I've also had great luck with my 6318PU, which dispenses with the spey for a punch and, while not sporting fully-sunken joints, has a Turkish clip blade and a reduced stockman profile that meets next to no resistance going into or coming out of the watch pocket. I also have a "pocket-worn" 6318 with the spey that doesn't fray my fibers in the slightest. There is a little room to file down the kick on the sheepsfoot without issues, as well.

26556809203_2cf4d5fbb2_k.jpg
Are the joints on the GEC #25 sunken? That would make another excellent candidate.

I have found that most modern cases are pretty easy on the pocket. The reason being that they tumble the blades for their mirror finish and it makes the tang well rounded and smooth, the downside is that it also does the same to the tip The as ground knives have much sharper edges (not the cutting edge) and tips.

Good to know. I have a couple Cases with polished blades where the blades seem to have been rounded off and it annoys me to no end. The blades on my as-ground knives are quite well-defined, though, as are my "new grind" Cases from the mid-80s for some reason.

Beautiful knives all. I have never had Case's version of the copperhead, but I sure like the looks of them.

My favorite Copperhead pattern is the Carl Schlieper, both the eye brand marked ones and the Jim Bowie marked ones. Here's a Jim Bowie with a Kentucky shield. 3 3/4 inches long and real sharp carbon steel.

I love that this thread came full-circle back to the title subject after I helped derail it.

These are the two knives that converted me to the ways of the copperhead. The grooved bone (bone stag?) Boker was my first, and I liked it so much I bought the beer barrel Boker sight-unseen. Haven't regretted it in the slightest. I carried the new one for a week straight and made the skinner blade my own. This pattern is rapidly becoming one of my favorites.

We don't see many Boker, Germany knives posted here, so little Boker discussion. My experience with both vintage & recent Boker knives is 100% positive. They have high standards, very good quality control and quite reasonable prices for new ones.
Boker seems to have been able to survive the onslaught of Far East knives without compromising quality.
kj

I posted in another thread about what I believe is a "survival mechanism" geared towards that very thing, Roland. I expressed some displeasure with the marketing of Boker's "Germany" knives which are (supposedly) German-forged blades and parts shipped to, assembled, and packaged in the Far East. These are the knives that run about half of what the Solingen-manufactured knives do yet come in these ostentatious felt-lined presentation boxes instead of the cardboard 2-piece packaging the Solingen knives do. I have one, a tortoise-shell acrylic trapper. It is a nice knife, though butter-knife dull from the box, and it is a perfectly fine $20-25 knife, but I don't think it's in the same realm as the Solingen stuff. My secret wish is that Boker would drop the "Germany" subterfuge, chop $5 or so off the price, and use one of the "known" China brands like Plus or Magnum to simplify the marketing -- and maybe swap the packaging strategy so that the more "worthy" knives get the fancy lids.

I have a few of the Solingen knives now, and all of them are exceedingly good knives, capable of standing with the best I've seen from the "non-premium" American cutlers (basically: anybody but GEC, CSC, or customs). I am effusive with praise over that beer barrel copperhead (and the matching Congress, as I discovered) and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another new-stock Boker. Which is good, because apparently they have a LOT of copperheads (including some from the aforementioned "Germany-but-not-really" line).

I think the Case 49 Copperhead is probably my second favorite Case pattern, particularly the ones that include a wharncliffe blade.
(Yes, Tony...I am a very sick man, indeed. Apparently, my affliction is incurable and my obsession insatiable. )
This Queen #41L Abalone Copperhead w/ liner lock is perhaps the best made Queen knife I have ever owned.
~Q~

I have this economy line Queen Copperhead. The blade selection is different from the Case obviously.

QTCut5 wrote:I think the Case 49 Copperhead is probably my second favorite Case pattern, particularly the ones that include a wharncliffe blade.
(Yes, Tony...I am a very sick man, indeed. Apparently, my affliction is incurable and my obsession insatiable. )

It seems to be contagious, too. My jaw dropped at that stag Wharnie copperhead (with pen?) with the long pull. I've never seen that combination of blades and the long pull just makes that knife amazing.

I think I might actually concentrate on the Bokers for a bit, I narrowly missed out on an etched stag version and I am eyeing one or two bone Solingen new-stock copperheads which might have to grab some bench for a bit as I navigate the upcoming GEC production schedule.

If they release a run of copperheads I'm screwed.

steve99f wrote:I have this economy line Queen Copperhead. The blade selection is different from the Case obviously.

Bokers have the same clip/skinner blade combo by default. I have yet to see a variation on that. The yeller Queen is awfully nice too but I mustn't let myself be so tempted.

Tsar: You bring up a good point, has GEC ever made a copperhead? I don't recall seeing that pattern in their line. Would be a must have in their Northfield line. Clip or wharnecliffe and pen blade or clip and skinner, either way as long as they are swedged. Bone, stag and wood for handles. Well, you can dream.

That would be a "drop everything" knife, I think, Steve. I like where your head's at.