All About Pocket Knives

I don't have a "collection", more like a small accumulation of various brands/patterns,etc. But, I have always favored the 4" stockman. Seems to me to be the best size, shape and usefullness, and they look and feel just right. Here's a few I've picked up along the way...(I know it looks pretty meager, but hey, gotta start somewhere!)

(L-R: Schrade Walden 880; Schrade NY 881; Schrade NY 8OT; Imperial Frontier 4431; Ditto; Old Cutler/RAP Cutler Stag)

I would have to agree with you. The stockman does have a lot going for it with its choice of blades to perform different tasks. I too have several Frontier stockman.

Interesting that there are 3 folks in a row that agree on anything!
Stockman pattern has become my favorite over the years for my EDC, years ago it was a trapper, the sheepfoot blade won me over.
Don't mention this to my trapper or my folding hunter that do get a little pocket time.
Treefarmer

In my mind, the dogleg jack was my favorite pattern. But looking at my collection, it seems I have accumulated more of the canoe pattern.

I'll make it four out of five for the stockman pattern.
My sweet spot is 4", give or take a quarter inch.

Case 6392!! Stockman all the way!!

Up that to 6 out of 7 calling a roughly 4 inch stockman the most all around useful knife. My 7th grade wood shop teacher required all boys and girls bring a pocket knife to class. On the first day he recommended a stockman to students who had to buy a knife or wanted to upgrade from our elementary school camp/scout/utility knives. Soon after I spent earnings from my paper route upgrading to a Buck 301 which I still have. One hand opening pocket clip wonder knives will never be as useful as old fashioned stockmans.

I should have posted pics of my favorites.
From top
Brantford bone, custom Buck 301 snakewood, Cattaraugus celluloid, custom Remington ebony. And Frontiers in small, medium, and large.

My favorite pattern is a 3 1/4" to 3 1/2" two blade jack. I carried a Case 6235 1/2 for quite a few years. The last couple of years I have mostly been carrying a single blade jack with a lamb foot blade.

Can I confess to liking them all? I really do.

But ... to follow the title, I do get kind of giddy over these doglegs.

Stockmans top my list as well, but I prefer the Sowbelly, especially a cuttin horse.
As far as good looking knife, I would have to rate the Eureka Jack as one of my favorites, right behind that would be an easy open jack.
My most carried knife was made by Kershaw called a “Double Cross”. Two blades, one on each end with thumb studs and liner locks on both. I prefer the version with a clip main blade and Wharncliffe secondary. One hand opening and closing. The most practical knife I think that was ever made.
Just a few pictures from the archives. Couldn’t find a picture of a cutting horse in my archives.

If I had to chose a favorite pattern, I think I'd go with a stockman also (although the ratcliffe muskrat is a close second) ... I like a bit smaller frame though. The 3.5 inch 32 pattern with a pen blade in lieu of a spey clicks all the boxes for me --->

Probably the cattle pattern.

Camillus 72 , mechanics whittler

My current favorite is the Scout/Camp knife pattern. Particularly this Camillus but I like them all. I use the punch blade at least once a day on days that I work. I like the Victorinox Tinker and Super Tinker for basically the same reason but the jigged Delrin on the Camillus always wins me over.

6235 1/2 for quite a while

I always felt the stockman was the handiest around the farm, and every where else for that matter. But darned if I can choose a favorite, just for lookin at?

Always a hard question. I like Trappers, Sowbellys, Tribal Locks, Large Stockmans and maybe a couple of others. Easier to say what I don’t like - anything “medium,” “mini,” “tiny” or “small.”

Favorite to collect carry and use is trapper.

Though when I head out into the world expecting to actually have to use my knife for more than basic package opening, I carry a Schrade 34OT stockman and a Leatherman, right now it's a Leatherman Sidekick.

So I view the stockman as maybe the best or most useful pattern, but just not as cool

The most common knife in my collection, however, is a small lockback. Because if I had answered this question last year I would have said small lockback and not trapper.

Wonder what hole I'll fall into next

tvic wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 12:32 am Always a hard question. I like Trappers, Sowbellys, Tribal Locks, Large Stockmans and maybe a couple of others. Easier to say what I don’t like - anything “medium,” “mini,” “tiny” or “small.”

I agree. No tiny, small, or mini this or that for me either. I carry a knife to cut stuff. If I need to clean my fingernails the bigger knife will do that too!

You can put me into the stockman category also. Case 47 or 047 pattern with three blades (or three plus a punch) is the perfect EDC for me. As for collecting though, I have a lot of favorites - I’m weak!

Ken

woodwalker wrote: ↑Fri Feb 06, 2026 4:56 pm Case 6392!! Stockman all the way!!

Great minds, Kev! My first really good knife was my 6392. Then comes the 6231 and 6235. Oh, and the Barlow.. OK now I'm getting crazy..

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Sun Feb 15, 2026 2:35 am

woodwalker wrote: ↑Fri Feb 06, 2026 4:56 pm Case 6392!! Stockman all the way!!

Great minds, Kev! My first really good knife was my 6392. Then comes the 6231 and 6235. Oh, and the Barlow.. OK now I'm getting crazy..

Case 6392 1978.JPG

Beautiful 92 Kerry!! O, and I like them all too!!

woodwalker wrote: ↑Sun Feb 15, 2026 3:06 am

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Sun Feb 15, 2026 2:35 am

woodwalker wrote: ↑Fri Feb 06, 2026 4:56 pm Case 6392!! Stockman all the way!!

Great minds, Kev! My first really good knife was my 6392. Then comes the 6231 and 6235. Oh, and the Barlow.. OK now I'm getting crazy..

Case 6392 1978.JPG

Beautiful 92 Kerry!! O, and I like them all too!!

Thanks brother!

tvic wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 12:32 am I don’t like - anything “medium,” “mini,”

Ouch!

Fortunately, Queen called the 1991 Schatt & Morgan Keystone Series 1 model 042151 a “Trapper” not “medium” or “mini trapper” despite being only 3.5” long (the same size as a Case Mini Trapper)

Beautiful 92