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Stockman Show Case!

The stockman pattern was a folding knife pattern developed specifically for the American cattle industry by Sheffield Cutlers. These earl Cattle Knives were made on large cigar (equal-end) frames and had between two and four blades. The primary blade on early stockmans was a spear blade. The number two blade was most often a sheepfoot. These blades were considered essential for the cattle industry.

They were normally mounted at the top pivot of the knife. Often one or two other blades were mounted on the opposite end. These most common blades were the spay, the leather punch, or a simple pen blade. Overtime the spear master fell out of favor and was replaced with a clip blade and the three blade configuration of Clip master and Sheepfooit at the top and either Spay, Punch or Pen on the bottom (with the spay being most common) became the standard. What fell out of favor, however was the large cigar shaped frame. Indeed, today Stockmans are found in a number of sizes and a variety of frame shapes. What makes a Stockman a Stockman is truly the blades and the way they are arranged.

Above: W. R.Case & Son 4 1/4 inch 75 Pattern Stockman with 113 production year shield.

The Stockman is an extremely diverse family of knives and remain probably the most widely used of any traditional pattern knife and probably the second most collected pattern .

As mentioned, the Stockman normally has a clip (or Spear) master blade, a Sheepfoot, and third Spay blade on the opposite end. The Main blade rest in front of the two secondary blades and works on its one spring. The two secondary blades are nestled behind the front blade, sharing a spring. The sheepfoot is normally closest to the main blade when folded and the spay dropes between the handle and sheepfoot.

Occasionally you’ll run across a two blade Stockman. These are normally called Cattle knives. They will normally be on cigar frame and have a clip or spear blade in front and sheepfoot or large pen in back.

Another popular pattern of Stockman has a leather punch in place of the spay blade. I’ve seen this type of Stockman referred to as the Cattleman Knife, a Cow Punch, and a Saddle Knife. It often also just called a Stockman with Punch!

Another popular variation replaces the spay blade with a pen blade. These are often called a Middleman, Journeyman, Wrangler, and Drover.

I’m sure many of these alternative names were given to Stockamn variations developed by Knife makers. For instance the Middleman was a name given to a 3.5 inch Stockman with a pend blade that was made by Schrade.

Among Stockmans, the Sowbelly is probably one of the most popular models. It is basically a very thick serpentine handled Stockman ranging from 3.5 to 4.25 inches in the closed position. It will typically have a clip, sheepfoot, and spay blade. Some stockman collectors only collect Sowbellys!

Regardless of the style, size, size, or shape –let’s see some Stockmans!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on August 27, 2015 at 2:47

Beauties. What a resource he is, hopefully he will pass his knowledge, techniques and tools along so future generations can get their Schrades refurbished. I wish he had spare blades for SC-made Bucks, I'd love to get the bobbed master on my other SC 303 replaced, but I'd probably have to find a parts knife to get that done.

Doug Webber said:

It was probably the same video that I watched. Swindon eventually became vice president of Schrade. The only person, that I know of, that works on Schrades with the swindon system is Herman Williams, Schrade's in house customizer for 24 years. He has re-handled and customized many of my Schrades. At 78 he hasn't lost a step. Here are some Schrade stockman knives he recently did for me.

Syd Carr said:

That's right, you obviously know your cutlery history. I saw close up photos and a description of that system on either BF or AAPK, probably the thread on BF I posted above on 300 series history. The one I have is pocket worn, but works fine, and the blades seem tight, though the spear blade does kinda feel gritty when opened, despite being oiled. I suspect it might be wanting to fail eventually. The CC version of the 303 I have is very sturdy, works perfectly, and is on my EDC rotation, but I think I'll retire this SC version to the knife stump where I display my knives to keep it from wearing out. Like I said, I like to carry and use my CC-made Bucks, but I just wanted this SC knife just to have one, and wanted to be able to point out the differences between the versions.

Great info Doug, thank you.

Doug Webber said:

Schrade used the Swindon system, exclusive to Schrade, for assembling a large percentage of their knives...a type of keyhole assembly... When a knife blade became "loose"...side to side wobble...the only remedy was to take it apart, drill, and re-assemble with a pin through the bolsters. That is what makes refurbishing a Schrade very difficult.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on August 27, 2015 at 3:28

Herman has the original machine for peachseed jigging that was built in Schrade's machine shop.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on August 27, 2015 at 16:34

Now that is a great machine to have!

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on August 27, 2015 at 16:44

Herman is probably the only person that does jigged bone that way. Since it's a Schrade jigger he won't put that style of jigging on anything but a Schrade knife.

Jan Carter said:

Now that is a great machine to have!

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on August 31, 2015 at 20:21

Well Doug, you inspired me to take a look at some of the other Stockmans I have, which includes two Schrades.

First is a Craftsman 9470. Swap meet find, synthetic handles, not sure who made it, (the match strike nail nick makes me think Boker, though the master blade is Camillus-like). Decent knife, nuttin' special, just a good workhorse kind of pocket knife.

Next is a Schrade SS 825, (might be 325; hard to read even w/ eye loupe). Not sure of it's date, but it has a small nick in the sheepfoot, otherwise in reasonable condition. Now I know why I couldn't squeeze the bolsters in my vise to reduce blade wiggle, it uses the Swindon System like described above by Doug. I'd have to send it to Herman to remedy that; not sure the knife is worth that or not. Not sure either if the handles are synth or bone.

Next is an Old Timer 340T I've had for years, obviously it has seen better days.

Next is an Imperial all-metal Stockman, including the jigged handles. Cool lined bolsters, and being all-metal just an interesting carbon-bladed knife. No idea of it's age.

On the bottom is a little Camillus 77, carbon blades, and what I think is jigged bone handles. Of this group this is my favorite, it is just a tight, well made little knife the size of pen knife. I carry this one in a watch pocket frequently.

I also have a couple of PRC-made Stockmans, and of course my various above-pictured Bucks, but I'll limit this post to these "older" US-made Stockmans.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on August 31, 2015 at 22:08

Butch,

Those are some nice knives. Schrade made the SS825 from 1970-71. They stopped using bone in the early 60's so I imagine it is delrin. New york was making it expensive to get rid of the chemicals they used for dying the bone. They contracted an out of state company to do the bone for them. The company didn't think they could supply as much bone as Schrade wanted so Schrade sent them one of their gas fired boiling vats. Just before Schrade was to pick up the first order of bone, the vat caught the factory on fire and burned it to the ground. Schrade used what bone they had in stock, but that was the end of it. Only special factory order got bone after that, with most of it coming from Germany. Prior to 1973 their knives were stamped Schrade Walden. Unless it's a SFO, if it's stamped Schrade, it most likely has delrin handles...regardless of how someone advertises it on Ebay. By the way, the SS stands for Stainless Steel. On their later knives they put a + after Schrade on the tang stamp to indicate stainless steel. Just about all the Old Timers are high carbon steel and the Uncle Henry's are stainless. There are a few Uncle Henry's with a Schrade Walden tang stamp, and those are usually high carbon, and more collectible.

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on August 31, 2015 at 22:38

The SS825 was had at the local swap meet, and has a lightly imprinted razor blade image with "USA" printed next to it, and "Razor Blade Stainless" printed on the master blade. I think I found all of that group of knives at the local swap meet, except the 340T which I bought new, sometimes there are some very nice old knives to be found there. The Imperial is an odd duck, being an all-metal knife. You have to look closely, but the handles are indeed stamped, jigged metal.

Doug Webber said:

Butch,

Those are some nice knives. Schrade made the SS825 from 1970-71. They stopped using bone in the early 60's so I imagine it is delrin. New york was making it expensive to get rid of the chemicals they used for dying the bone. They contracted an out of state company to do the bone for them. The company didn't think they could supply as much bone as Schrade wanted so Schrade sent them one of their gas fired boiling vats. Just before Schrade was to pick up the first order of bone, the vat caught the factory on fire and burned it to the ground. Schrade used what bone they had in stock, but that was the end of it. Only special factory order got bone after that, with most of it coming from Germany. Prior to 1973 their knives were stamped Schrade Walden. Unless it's a SFO, if it's stamped Schrade, it most likely has delrin handles...regardless of how someone advertises it on Ebay. By the way, the SS stands for Stainless Steel. On their later knives they put a + after Schrade on the tang stamp to indicate stainless steel. Just about all the Old Timers are high carbon steel and the Uncle Henry's are stainless. There are a few Uncle Henry's with a Schrade Walden tang stamp, and those are usually high carbon, and more collectible.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on September 1, 2015 at 1:34

I collect the Schrade 825 pattern. They used the same frame and blades in the 895, 825, SS825, 825RB, 823, 896K, 98OT, and the 897UH. The 899 substituted a leather punch blade for the spey blade. Not all the models are represented in this display. I do have the 897UH in four different tang stamp configurations representing the stamp name change from Schrade Walden to Schrade and the blade change from high carbon to stainless...also the 893 which was a 2 blade model SFO for Walmart only. The first three knives in the top diagonal are a 895, 897 and a 893 ...customized by Herman Williams. The bottom left knife is the SS825...the same as yours.

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on September 1, 2015 at 2:05

The one on the bottom left is the version I have, though it's not in as good condition as yours is. I like that you have been able to preserve these knives, and the history they entail in such pristine condition; well done.

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on September 14, 2015 at 22:44

Hey Doug, referring to our above exchange about Schrade, Herman Williams and the Swindon System: question: I have three Buck 303's which were made by Schrade from '67-'72; would Herman possibly work on those? I know they used the Swindon System to mount the blades like other Schrades, (the reason the contract eventually went to Camillus). I have one with a shortened master blade but pristine handles, and another with good blades and a chipped handle. I was wondering if the master blades could be swapped on those? If so, it would result in one good knife, (all tang stamps are the same), and one parts knife instead of two broken knives. Send me a PM with contact info for him if he will.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on September 15, 2015 at 5:28

Syd,

The best I can do, is get ahold of Herman and ask. I sent you a friend request so I can PM you.

Doug

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on September 15, 2015 at 13:28

Thanks Doug.

Doug Webber said: