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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!

8 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on April 3, 2015 at 20:44

That's a Great bulldog brand Stockman, Rome!

Permalink Reply by Rome D. Rushing on April 4, 2015 at 17:33

I have to admit, I have a disease, it does not matter if it has bone, or plastic, or stag, or exotic wood, or

gems, or no handles at all. I love them all. A knife is not just a tool it is a testament to mans engineering

skill, his artistic mind, and I just cannot keep from buying any knife I can afford. I have even bought 1 or 2

that at the time I really could not afford, but that is beside the point. I do not believe that I have ever seen

and ugly knife. And no matter how many I buy someone out there always has one that I don't and I wish

I did.

It constantly amazes me just how many different knives show up here and I know that they will continue.

So bring on some more, they are all interesting.

Rome

Permalink Reply by Rome D. Rushing on April 5, 2015 at 11:33

Here are a few Kissing Crane, most are German made, at least 1 is Chinese.

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on April 5, 2015 at 13:16

I was given this knife by a fellow iKC brother. While I am an infantry Vet I'm not a Vet of the Vietnam War (or any other Shooting War for that matter!) I was just a Cold War Grunt protecting the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic I may be passing this one along to a friend of mine who did serve.

It's a Rough Rider Brotherhood Stockman. It's a big one at 4 1/4 inches closed. The main clip is 3 1/2 inches

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on April 5, 2015 at 17:55

Nice knife Tobias. While you may not have served in a shooting war, you were there serving, willing to do your part if one started. And I thank you for your service.

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on April 7, 2015 at 15:05

I picked this one up as a companion to a whittler.

Appaloosa bone isn't as nice as the whittler, but still looks good.

American Blade - Parker Cutlery

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on April 7, 2015 at 18:15

Another of my Rough Rider Sowebellies. This one is in the “Once in a Blue Moon Series” Rough Rider does a lot of series however I don’t tend to collect by “series” but by pattern. Thus I only have two knives in the Blue Moon Series.

Rough Rider Once in Blue Moon smooth blue bone Sowbelly (RR1196)

Reverse frosted blade etch on the main clip blade. It features a small boy whittling while sits in a crescent moon!

There are people who are hacked because a blue moon is actually a Full Moon not a crescent moon as depicted in the the knife shield and blade etch. To me, that's no big deal.

For those who don't know a Full moon can either be the second full moon in the same calendar month or the third full moon of a season when the season contains four full moon. (the calendar month version was misinterpretation of the original third full moon of a season!)

In the case of the the folks who go with 2 full moons in the same month, they occur every three or four years. n either case, they occur about every three or four years. The chance of having two blues moons in the same year will happen about once every 19 years if you go by calendar months, and when it happens the months will always be January and March.

Permalink Reply by Brian Martin on April 7, 2015 at 20:16

Stockmans

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on April 21, 2015 at 16:02

I don't think I've shown this one by Rough Rider. It's my Sawcut Bone Sowbelly

I've always though this the Sawcut Bone Rough Riders are some of the nicest looking knives on the market. The bone is exceptional and the slanted shell bolsters just make everything pop! Affordable enough to use and abuse yet elegant enough to collect or carry on special occasions.

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on April 28, 2015 at 21:11

RR 759 (Stockman)

My usual choice when it comes the Stockman pattern is good ole Sowbelly. I like the wider blades found on the pattern.

However my collection medium Stockmans continue to grwo. This little slim line serpentine stockman makes a great little pocket carry for everyday use. It is the smallest knife in Rough Rider's Coal Miner Series (to date) and is well made in every aspect imaginable. Like most of the Jigged bone Coal Miners the bone appears black but is actually a very deep and very dark brown.

Also in the pictures is a 5 cent piece of Coal Scrip. There was a time when coal miners were paid in "scrip" This money could only be used to buy goods from the Company Store. The company controlled the price of goods in their stores and the miners were forced to buy only from the stores making them bascially slaves to the owner the of the mine. This scrip is for Crummies Creek Coal Mine in Cawood, Kentucky. Cawood, Kentucky is the coal mining camp of family's heritage on my mother's side.

Oh and that little black cup is actually a shot glass made out of coal! I bought it at the Mountaire Motel, located in Harlan, Kentucky. My father managed the original Mount-Aire Motel soon after retiring from the Air Force back in 1970. At that time it was located on top of mountain. Soon after we moved ot Chicago, the original burned down and it was rebuilt closer to the city of Harlan.

Description:

Pattern: Medium Stockman
Pattern Numbers: 759
Length Closed : 3 3/8 inches
Main Blade: Clip, 2 3/4 inches
Secondary: Sheepfoot, 1 3/4 inches
Secondary: Spay, 1 3/4 inches
Blade Etch: PAD Coal Miner
Tang: Rough Rider and pattern number
Handle: Black Jigged Bone
Bolsters: Ringed Nickel Silver
Lining: Brass.
Pins: Brass
Shield : Rough Rider Propeller
Bail: N/A

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on April 28, 2015 at 21:29

I like that Tobias.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Doug Webber on July 26, 2015 at 3:13

I have been collecting Schrades for a few years and the 3-9/16" serpentine stockman with the Turkish clip is one of my all time favorites. They made a couple models that were 4" with the Turkish clip but they don't catch my eye the way the smaller ones do.