The Toughest Folding Work Knife?

G

gt69

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Jan 8, 2011
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After a fair amount of comparison, I bought a Bear & Son Farmhand (large version) today. I have been happy with my Case Sodbuster, but I wanted to see if I could perhaps do even better. Anyway, what would be the toughest folding work knife? I would want something that is very well made and that exhibits little to no blade play. I also prefer to support American manufacturers, and I like traditional styling and feel. I have even thought of looking for an antique knife, but I know little about older knives. Whenever one buys a vintage item, it seems one risks paying too much or not noticing some minute but important aspect. I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Thanks.
 
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The mods here are very heavy handed with mentioning anything but slipjoints for some reason, but the two that come to mind as being very very sturdy, though not US made.

Inappropriate knife content removed. Please read the forum guidelines and you'll understand what this forum is set up for. If you still have questions, email or PM the mods. This is not the place for further pontificating on the guidelines. The link is below:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=530532

So all the other drop and clip point lockbacks posted were o.k. just not the one I posted...that was a simple drop point lockback....go figure.
 
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I can think of a bunch of knives that you can work hard and put up wet and they'll outlast you.

-- Mark
 
Investigate Great Eastern's knives. Most are hefty,strongly made and desirable.
 
Well to me, and I own slipjoints, they aren't heavy work knives so it becomes hard to recommend one to answer this question. I own a good few slippies too.
 
kingsqueak said:
Well to me, and I own slipjoints, they aren't heavy work knives so it becomes hard to recommend one to answer this question. I own a good few slippies too.
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Tell that to generations of cowboys and ranchers who did just fine with any given stockman or cattle knife.
 
Look around and you can find a Schrade USA made Uncle Henry 885UH. These are a larger stockman that are built very tough. They stopped USA production in 2004 but can still be found.

A Buck 301 is also a very sturdy 3 spring based stockman but you will need to hand pick them to ensure the fit and finish is acceptable.
 
These are pretty tough. Two Queens.....

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DSCI0034.jpg
 
great eastern pioneers will handle any task. mine went thru 2 sets of whitetail ribs & would still shave hair.
dennis
 
OK, Tough knife, keeping company with rough work....but you didn't say you wanted a multi-blade folder or a "knife" with one blade.

Your sodbuster should be filling the bill as tough, they are as tough as nails.

The other tough and proven knife many should back me up on, is the Buck 110 or 112. You only got one blade but they are USA all the way and have lifetime warranty from 'regular' problems. They may hedge on the warranty if you throw it in a car bumper shredder. Here's photo of some 112s.
shedua.jpg
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IF you are talking proven tough multi-blade folders there are a bunch, but my experience is limited to these two tough SOBs.
Buck 307 Wrangler, discontinued but you can find them easily. A good handful over 4 inches. I wish I had 25 cents for every piece of rope and feed sack these have cut. Discontinued but still have lifetime warranty. If you need something smaller the 301 is its littler brother.
307150markb.jpg


And lastly the old reliable, TL-29 which were in the pockets of our service men from WW2 to Nam. You can find them for sale if you look, buy American company, not one from an unacceptable distant source. These are usually carbon bladed and have a wire stripper/ flat point screwdriver that locks. Wood and plastic scales.
TL-29Dec10.jpg

SW204a.jpg


The others folks will chime in with the ones they know about.
300Bucks
 
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Traditional design, if not materials, is the Vic Alox line of knives, the Pioneer, the Farmer, etc. These things are bomb proof. There's not much they can't withstand. Definite workhorses, and were the Swiss Army's official military knife for years and years. Any knife good enough for a soldier is good enough for me.
 
If you feel you need a lock,Buck 110 or 112 is great,but pretty bulky and heavy.A nice slim light choice would be a Case C-lock.Pretty classy for a work knife,but not too expensive.
IMG_0209-4.jpg
 
A full sized trapper with delrin scales and carbon steel blades is a pretty tuff folder. The Case 3254 being the perfect example imho.
Jim
 
What freat suggestions--thank you.

As far as blade count goes, I would want a two-blade design--preferably, in the time-tested canoe format.

I like that Case C-lock, Seals. I have seen many good comments on a number of Great Eastern models, too. I have done some searching on the GECs, but will look up that case knife (and others), too.
 
navihawk said:
These are pretty tough. Two Queens.....

101_1368.jpg
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The Queen #9 Stockman 4" is tough

The Queen #49 Cattle King 4 1/4" is even tougher
I find this knife very solid indeed

Also the # 6375 Case Large Stockman 4 1/4 "
Availiable in CV
 
gt69 said:
The Toughest Folding Work Knife?
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There is no "est" in knives.
no tough-est.
no pretty-est.
no b-est steel.

There are any number of good hard working traditional knives. To say one is "the toughest" cannot be done anymore than you can say a single alloy is the absolute best.
 
I'd go with something in the D2 queen range with the honey bone...the bone is pretty hard and I doubt it'd break anytime soon, and D2 is insanely tough with long term edge retention.
 
There have already been a bunch of great choices listed.

You mentioned buying an antique knife. That is great, but unless you have a fair amount of knowledge about them, you can get burned.
Once in awhile you can find a good buy on a nice older slip joint here in the classifieds.

I certainly can't give you my choice for the toughest, but if you use it the way it was meant to be used, most will last you many, many years.
If someone is not use to slip joints, it may appear that they are not as durable as other styles of knives, but I think you will be surprised the longer you use one.

As 300bucks mentioned, the 300 series knives from Buck are a terrific knife, and a great value. I've owned a lot of different slip joints, but had never had a Buck slip joint, until Christmas that is... My son got me a Buck 301 Stockman with Charcoal scales. I love it. It even came with a nice leather belt/pocket sheath.

He also mentioned the 110's and 112's. While they are not a slip joint, they are an incredibly strong, and well made knife, and probably one of the best values to be found IMHO.

Here is a picture of the 301 I got for Christmas...

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