Case Stockman vs Sowbelly

VictorLouis

VictorLouis

Joined
Mar 6, 2000
Messages
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In handling the small Stockman, I note that the sheepsfoot blade projects very much higher from the frame then the othe two, which makes it a bit less comfortable to hold with either of the other two blades out. It sits lower in the regular model. Why, I don't know(?)

Not having a Large or Sowbelly model on hand, does that blade also sit lower for more comfort?
 
Which patterns of Case Stockman in particular are you referring to? I don't own a Sowbelly myself but all of the pics I have seen of them show the sheepsfoot sitting very proud.

I've got many of the other Case stockman patterns and find that the '18 pattern is the most noticeable, while the '032 is rather less. Though in a side by side comparison they are in fact the same height, it's just the frame design that makes the '18 seem taller.

Personally, I just adjust the height of the blades a bit by filing the kick a bit, until I'm happy with it.


And the "Small Stockman" is quite small, about the same as a Peanut. The Sowbelly is a big handful of a knife. They are quite different.
 
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I have a Case Sowbelly and a Case 3347 (3 7/8") stockman. I do not have a Case small stockman. Nor do I have a Case large stockman (4 1/4").

The Sowbelly sheepsfoot protrudes more than that of the 3347. But they both protrude quite a bit.

("Sowbelly Sheepsfoot". It sounds wrong, yet is so right.)

Here's a shot of the Sowbelly to illustrate:
100_3188.jpg
 
All of these Case Stockman knives are built on a serpentine frame. You can see where the sheepsfoot blade point sits in the curve and thus is above the frame when closed. I don't have a quick pic of Case's 18 pattern but it is the small one you guys are talking about and the sheepsfoot blade sits very high on that pattern.


CV Case 6347 from the 1940 through 1964 era (CASE XX).
case6347stockman1.jpg


case6347stockman2.jpg


SS Case 3347 manufactured in 2011
case3347ssyellowdelrins.jpg


case3347ssyellowdelrins.jpg


Case CV 6347 5-dot (1985 manufacture)
casexx5dot19856347stock.jpg


Here ya go. Case 3318

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f3ak.jpg


Straighten out the frame on all of the above knives and the point of the sheepsfoot blade would sit into the well of the frame.
 
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jc57 said:
Personally, I just adjust the height of the blades a bit by filing the kick a bit, until I'm happy with it.
Click to expand...

Yep. I've filed the kick on every Case stockman I've had. It's all part of making a knife YOURS.

Not derail the thread, but I find myself attracted to the Bulldog sowbelly with the near trailing point main.
 
Filing the kick can be a solution; however, in order to get the sheepsfoot blade to sit into the well on some knives, you've got to file away most if not all of the kick and that allows the backspring to sink into the frame when closed. UUUUgly when that happens.
 
markpmc said:
Yep. I've filed the kick on every Case stockman I've had. It's all part of making a knife YOURS.

Not derail the thread, but I find myself attracted to the Bulldog sowbelly with the near trailing point main.
Click to expand...

Bulldog Sowbelly - Sheepsfoot blade sits high on this pattern too.

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Hey VL, you know me by another name on another forum (Nframe)

I've found the Sowbelly to be an excellent size and style for many chores. I actually bought a Rough Rider ~$10 just to see if I liked the design and style. It turned out to be a dang nice knife and very sharp. It's one that I carry most often.
I love my Case knives but just to save some $ you may want to give the RR a try in the Sowbelly pattern.
I have a large Case Stockman (4 1/4") and it is huge but a very sturdy knife I use for working around the property.

Chris
 
I own both a Case Large Stockman 6375 and a Case Sowbelly. Of the two, I would go with the bigger '75. I like the bigger frame for work, and you can use it like a pencil for detail stuff. (Let the frame rest on your middle finger, pinch at the front bolster and let the frame rest in the thumb joint.) The curved frame of the Sowbelly does not lend itself to this position. That and the color of mine is ugly, at least to me.
 
JC, I'm not yet hip to the models by their numericals. Sorry, LOL.

knarfeng,

Yes, thanks for that SB pic. Case only shows ONE pic of the wares on their site, with everything deployed. I like how Buck does their site much better. Based on your pic, & what you said of your medium one, it's the same profile as the little smaller stockman. IOW, protrudes more than on the medium. The Bucks don't have that issue.

C. Helm, yes! Small world eh. How about your large? Does it sit proud as in that SB pic?
 
I own a nice example of the Case sowbelly and more than a few Case stockmen. I never carry or use my sowbelly, but I carry and use my #18 pattern medium stockman every day. As others have mentioned, the sheepsfoot blade sits very high when closed and really digs into your hand when you're using the other blades. It is a pretty pattern, but very uncomfortable to use. I like all of Case's stockmen patterns, from the biggest all the way down to the smallest. I own at least one of each, with the #18 pattern being my current favorite, in carbon fiber of all things.
 
The CASE Stockman generally has this high-rider Sheepfoot, an exception being their Humpback Stockman, sunk-joints too real quality! Filing the kick down will help lower the Sheepfoot but watch you don't mess up the springs and have them raised on open....

If you find the Sheepfoot gives too much of a handfull of blades feel, check the Buck Stockman knives, three spring construction makes for a much flatter Sheepfoot. RR Stockman and Bökers generally sit lower too
 
willgoy said:
If you find the Sheepfoot gives too much of a handfull of blades feel, check the Buck Stockman knives, three spring construction makes for a much flatter Sheepfoot. RR Stockman and Bökers generally sit lower too
Click to expand...

Funny you mentioned that! I noted that on the Bucks I handled, and also, what seemed to me to be a better overall finish. I think the satinezed Bucks, with flush, tightly fitted components, make for a nicer look than the Carhart's, which would be the closest Case for me to compare with at that shop. Anyhow, I failed to note the backsprings on the Case! I'll give that a closer look next time. I just think the Case FFG blades are better looking that then HG's of Bucks.
 
This is the 4 1/4" CV Case 6375 Large Stockman. As y'all can see the point/tip of the sheepsfoot blade sits down in the well of the knife even though the frame is of the Serpentine style. The knife has two springs with the clip blade riding it's own spring while the sheepfoot and spey blades share the second spring. Yes, the crown of the sheepsfoot blade rides high but as I said the blade itself sits in the well of the frame.

gl5q.jpg


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Victor,
The Case knives are actually fully hollow ground and not FFG. If you put a straighyt edge rule on the blades it becomes obvious. I'd post a photo but I seem to have lost my last Case, a medium stockman ;-(
 
VictorLouis said:
Funny you mentioned that! I noted that on the Bucks I handled, and also, what seemed to me to be a better overall finish. I think the satinezed Bucks, with flush, tightly fitted components, make for a nicer look than the Carhart's, which would be the closest Case for me to compare with at that shop. Anyhow, I failed to note the backsprings on the Case! I'll give that a closer look next time. I just think the Case FFG blades are better looking that then HG's of Bucks.
Click to expand...

If you like the Buck design, but don't like the hollow grind, one option might be to hunt on one of the auction sites for a Buck made between '90 and '99. They show up fairly frequently. Buck finalized their 301 design in ~1990 and they changed to the hollow grind in ~99.

I believe Buck started their dating system in ~1985. To find a key to their date symbols, look here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/716179-Buck-Date-Codes
 
I have a medium stockman, sowbelly and the jumbo stockman. I find the jumbo stockman to have a considerably less proud sheepsfoot blade than the others.
 
stevomiller said:
Victor,
The Case knives are actually fully hollow ground and not FFG. If you put a straighyt edge rule on the blades it becomes obvious. I'd post a photo but I seem to have lost my last Case, a medium stockman ;-(
Click to expand...

^^This. With the notable exception that the Bose-designed Sowbelly is actually FFG (also including swedges and differential grinds). The '75 pattern stockman and most, if not all, of Case's other (current) stockman patterns are hollow grinds. Older-vintage patterns from Case, such as 1970s and earlier, were flat grinds.


David
 
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