Case WR XX Pocket Knife Indian Sambar Stag Small Stockman Item #178 - (5333 SS) - Length Closed: 2 5/8 Inches

The Case Yellow Synthetic Stockman w/Punch Medium is the best knife I've found which manages to bridge two very different worlds with two very different, often conflicting sets of considerations; namely, the everyday professional workplace and the wilderness camp setting. Its size and impressively versatile blade set make it a reliable and capable companion in both settings. With the exception of the airport, I will probably never go anywhere without this knife in my pocket.The brilliance of this knife becomes increasingly clearer the longer you own and use it. Understand that I've owned a lot of knives... a LOT of knives. Right now, sitting on my desk are a few of my favorites: a Cold Steel American Lawman, a Swiss Army Small Tinker, a Swiss Army Camper II, a customized Kabar/Becker BK7, a Mora Companion Heavy Duty, a Mora Classic No. 2, a Ken Onion/Kershaw Leek... the list goes on. However, with the exception of the BK7 and the Mora Companion HD (which I use solely for bushcraft/camping), I have carried each of these knives for months or years at a time, but none has proven ideal for my unusually wide spectrum of everyday knife tasks. That's because my "every day" activities run an unusually broad spectrum, from an administrative leadership role in a very weapons-sensitive environment (a university campus) to hiking/backpacking/camping/bushcraft outings in the wilderness.For wilderness outings, my primary blade is usually the Mora Companion HD or BK7; however, even with those capable knives in hand, I always carry a smaller, backup blade for miscellaneous camp chores (food preparation, carving/whittling, etc.). I have numerous smaller blades that excel in that role, but as soon as I transition back to a professional or social environment, they begin to pose various drawbacks. For example, the American Lawman is an outstandingly capable blade for most utility and self defense needs; however, it is too large, black, and intimidating to use in the midst of my colleagues at the university. In fact, though I have carried it there many times, I find myself reluctant to pull it out of my pocket when the need arises. Academia is a very politically sensitive environment, so even though the American Lawman is no more dangerous than any of the hundred other pocket knives I grew up using as a kid, it would have raised eyebrows and possibly even elicited a few anonymous reports to Public Safety about "concerning behavior." You get the idea.Of all the previous blades I've tried for EDC at work, the Small Tinker came closest to ideal, but its wonderful pocketability required a tradeoff of limited functionality with its small blade. Swiss Army steel is surprisingly good for whittling, but when it came to other camp chores like food prep, it felt a little strained in that role. Plus, I wasn't really using the other tools except for the toothpick and tweezers, so I would have preferred, for the same weight, to have an additional blade or else a thicker main blade.Then I found the Case Yellow Synthetic Stockman with Punch (Medium), which fits all my needs absolutely perfectly--indeed, much better than I expected. At last, I have a knife that I can drop in my pocket EVERY day, no matter where I'm going or what I'm doing, with no concern about the irrational reactions of others, nor any feeling that I am underequipped for the kinds of cutting tasks that arise throughout my day. I'm truly elated.Here is the secret to this knife's winning recipe:SUPERB POCKETABILITY-TO-USEFULNESS RATIOSome small knives carry great, but are so small or thin they compromise your grip and feel awkward to use. Others fit wonderfully in your hand, but feel bulky or weigh down your pocket, especially while wearing dress pants. At 3-5/8" long and a scant 64 grams (2.3 ounces), the Medium Stockman has a form factor that is about as good as it gets for all around utility. It virtually disappears into my pocket so that I forget it's there; yet when I need it, it is EXACTLY the right length to facilitate a full, confident grip for my medium sized hands, affording plenty of comfort and leverage, especially when whittling. Since it is relatively narrrow, it doesn't quite fill the hand the way a larger fixed blade knife handle typically would, but for a pocket knife, it allows an unusually secure grasp nonetheless--and thanks to the handle design, it allows a reverse grip for controlled, high force cutting by leveraging your arms against your chest in a "pulling apart" motion (a common bushcraft/carving technique for deep cuts in dense wood to remove material quickly, but hard to explain in writing).SUPERBLY VERSATILE BLADE SETThe three blades on this model complement each other remarkably well. Usually, the Stockman pattern has a third blade (typically, a spey or pen style) instead of the awl/punch. In my experience, however, the inclusion of the punch makes this knife much more useful/versatile. While the edge of the awl is not sharpened, per se, it is ground with a chisel-like edge (rather like one blade of a scissors), so it excels as a makeshift scraper (such as when you wish to scrape a tenacious parking sticker off your windshield, for instance). With its very sharp point, it easily pierces heavy materials (e.g., to add a hole to tighten your belt, or to make a lanyard hole in a whittled tent peg). It's also great for cleaning dirt out from under your nails, and with great care, it makes an effective toothpick (but don't try this where someone could bump into you--the tip of this punch is SHARP!). Lastly, it can serve passably well as a makeshift marlinspike (splicing fid) for rope splicing and loosening knots, though in that role you have to use care since it does have a moderately hard edge unlike a true, rounded profile splicing fid, and thus, could damage the cordage if not used gently.The other two blades are typical to the Stockman pattern, and they are excellent as well. The clip point is a very good slicer and has a sufficiently aggressive tip for moderate piercing tasks, such as coring an apple or piercing a half-frozen piece of meat so you can skewer it on a stick to roast over an open fire. The sheepsfoot blade is great for whittling. Its smooth rounded spine makes a comfortable place to park your thumb to apply pressure and the rounded tip minimizes the risk of stabbing yourself if you slip with the blade. For the same reason, the sheepsfoot is also great for cutting open boxes and clamshell packaging. As a further benefit, its broader, rounded tip makes it passably good at spreading tasks also (butter, jam, etc.).All together, you have a wonderfully versatile tool set! I can't think of a better combination of blades for an EDC pocket knife.EXCELLENT MATERIALS AND FIT/FINISHThe clip and sheepsfoot blades are made from Case's wonderful chrome vanadium (equivalent to 1095 high carbon), which sharpens easily to a true razor edge and holds that edge very well. The awl/punch, meanwhile, is made from Case's TruSharp surgical stainless (equivalent to 440A stainless). Some folks may not like the fact that only two of the blades will patina, but the punch will not (it will stay shiny and new looking). I'm not bothered by that. Since the punch doesn't need to hold an edge, it may as well enjoy the anti-corrosion benefits of stainless. For the other two blades, however, I would only accept chrome vanadium, as it is vastly superior to the TruSharp when it comes to ease of sharpening and retaining a sharp edge. With an occasional, light coat of food-grade mineral oil, the chrome vanadium will resist corrosion very well.The rest of the knife is constructed with nickel bolsters, brass liners, and Case's classic-looking yellow synthetic (delrin) handles/scales. The fit and finish is superb, with not even a hairline gap between the handles, liners, or backsprings. There are undoubtedly variances from one knife to the next since these are hand crafted, but mine sure wasn't made on a Monday morning or a Friday afternoon. It looks great. While the delrin handles are not as fancy or striking as some of the sexier bone handle options from Case, they were my top choice for a knife that's going to live in my pocket and be carried into the woods as well as the office. With delrin, you never have to worry about the handles loosening. The synthetic will never expand/contract, and based on older Case knives I've seen, it ages well also. It just works--and frankly, it looks nice, especially in person. (The pictures don't do it justice.) I like it a lot.As usual with most Case knives, the backspring tension on every blade is PERFECT. Each blade has sufficient tension to pull it snugly against the frame when the blades are closed (they will NOT open by accident in your pocket), yet light enough that your fingernail does not deflect or get mangled when you use the nail nicks to open each blade. The action is smooth, not gritty or stiff, and you only feel the pressure of the backspring resisting, not the clumsier feel of binding joints or poorly machined liners. Moreover, the spring tension is virtually nonexistent for about 90 degrees of each blade's travel (from the moment it sweeps more than 45 degrees from its open or closed position). This wide "dead zone" of spring non-tension in the sweep of the blade is an important safety feature that minimizes the risk of the blade snapping shut on your fingers if it starts to close; however, unlike some other Case knives, mine does not have a dedicated 90-degree detent. (I haven't found that to be a problem.) As each blade comes within 45 degrees or less of its closed or open position, the spring tension kicks in again to snap the blade confidently and securely into place. I should also note that, when the blades are open, the tension holding them open is strong enough that it takes noticeable pressure to start closing the blade, again minimizing the chances that the blade will close on your fingers (unless you misuse it, of course). Awesome.VERY ATTRACTIVE, VERY NON-THREATENING APPEARANCE/DESIGNAlthough I don't usually worry over the appearance of my knives, it was an important consideration when I chose this knife because I work in such a sensitive professional environment. Thankfully, everything about this knife's size, shape, color, and style screams "non-threatening" (it also screams things like: "tradition", "character", "utility", "gentlemanly style", and "neat-O"). When people see it, they routinely ask about it with fascination/admiration. They do not flinch or knit their brows, nor think any of the fearful thoughts that more "tactical" blades tend to conjure up almost reflexively among academics. Best of all, I don't feel as if I had to make an undesirable concession to the politically correct environment in which I work. In fact, I LOVE the way this knife looks, and even when I'm out of the office, I appreciate the sense of tradition and days-gone-by that this knife evokes. It's awesome, and even if I didn't work in such a sensitive environment, I would still choose and enjoy carrying this knife. In fact, I like it so well, I fear I'm on the brink of becoming a collector of these little slipjoints. Hide your wallets folks--it can become an addiction!I should mention that a slipjoint design and blade configuration like this is also a very good choice when it comes to sketchy knife laws at the state and local levels. I live on the border with another state that considers any "gravity knife" to be a concealed weapon that requires a weapons permit. A gravity knife is defined as any knife with which the blade can be deployed simply by the force of gravity (i.e., flicking your wrist hard)--which most good quality modern folding knives will do! They also consider any blade over 2.5" to be a concealed weapon that requires a weapons permit. My state has much saner laws and I also happen to have a CCW permit for my state, but my state does not have reciprocity with the neighboring state, so my permit does not cover me once I cross the state line. For that reason, I'm pleased that this knife (1) is most definitely not a "gravity" knife that can have its blades deployed by flicking it hard, and (2) its longest blade--the clip point--is just a tad shorter than 2.5". Don't get me wrong: I think those laws are stupid, arbitrary, and unlikely to contribute significantly to public safety, but I'm the law-abiding sort and I like not having to think/worry about what knife I might be carrying when I cross an invisible state line.QUIBBLESI love this knife, but here are a few small quibbles that others may care about:- The sheepsfoot blade and the punch rub on each other. It's slight on mine, but may be more pronounced on others, and in relatively short time, it means a small arc-shaped scratch will be inscribed on the side of one or both blades. I don't care. I can keep the handles/bolsters looking nice, and I want the blades to do work, not to look pretty. The issue has no effect on the knife's performance, but perfectionists and collectors may care.- There is no lock on this knife. That should be obvious, since it is a slipjoint, but some inexperienced knife buyers may not realize that. There is no question that slipjoint knives can be considerably more dangerous than locking and fixed blade knives in the hands of inexperienced users. You have to ensure the blade doesn't close on your fingers. The likeliest scenario in which that happens is during piercing tasks, when pressure applied parallel to the length of the blade can shift off center and suddenly snap the blade shut. The other likely scenario is while whittling near the end of a stick. As you carve away from yourself (always away), but bring the knife back to take another swipe, sometimes people get in a hurry and accidentally bump the spine against the end of the stick as they draw the knife back, causing it to close on their fingers. Watch out and respect the tool! If you do, it will be plenty safe and a trusted companion.- The "shield" (Case logo) is glued, not pinned. Collectors prefer properly pinned shields, since technically a glued shield can eventually loosen and pop off. Again, I don't care. Mine seems well-adhered and I doubt it will come loose, but if it does, it still will not affect the performance of the knife, which is my primary concern. You may feel differently, so now you know.- This particular model is not the typical Stockman pattern. I mentioned it above, but just to repeat: This model has an awl/punch INSTEAD of a third (spey or pen) blade like most Stockman patterns. I think this is a great tradeoff, but just wanted to call it to your attention again in case you hadn't noticed. It's exactly what I wanted, but make sure this is what you're looking for.CONCLUSIONI could ramble on and on about this knife. I like it that much. But the point is this: If you, too, are looking for a knife that excels in a wide range of roles--especially those that include sensitive environments where knives evoke strong (and irrational) negative connotations--this Case Medium Stockman with Punch is a phenomenal choice for a pocket knife. Not only can you use it without fear around the office, but it might even elicit questions from admiring coworkers and executives. And yet, the utility, versatility, and traditional character are so good that it will be equally at home cutting open ammo boxes at the gun range, whittling sticks at the park, preparing food at camp, or performing light bushcraft tasks in the woods.A quick note about a handy addition I made: This knife is so nice, I decided to make a little slip case for it by folding a small microfiber cloth in half and sewing up two sides. It keeps the knife from getting scratched by my car keys (or potentially scratching my phone if I happen to swap it to my other pocket) and can also be used to wipe down the knife to keep it clean and stave off corrosion. What I hadn't realized--but now rejoice at--is that this case can also be used to clean my glasses or wipe fingerprints off the screen of my phone and tablet PC. It's like adding a whole new layer of usefulness to this already great knife, and it's ALWAYS in my pocket, where it scarcely takes up any additional space!Seriously, why are you still reading this? Get one! I bet you'll love it! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Just what my husband wanted. Sharp! He had one that was 40 years old and one of the knives broke

I ordered this for a friend and have not heard anything bad about it from him. I showed him a picture of it before I received it and he said it was exactly what he wanted.

Bought for my husband. Great quality

This is a beautiful classic pocket knife what will last you a lifetime and can be passed down to the next generation. It was purchased as a gift and was well received.

The title says it all. This Stockman is tight, perfectly fit and finished, and beautiful. Love it.The edges, however, leave a lot to be desired. Very rough, as if sharpened on a coarse stone/sanding belt, with easily visible groves from the grit and a very rough feel.. It took me over 30 minutes per edge on different water stones to get through most of those marks, and I chose not to completely smooth them out now on two blades because I didn't want to go that far with taking off the steel. Given the feel of the steel, I expect the edges to hold well with normal use, though. It is a keeper. I just wish Case finished their edges with more care and attention.

Okay, I bought this as a "daily use" knife, so I'm not coming from the standpoint of a collector or perfectionist.IMHO, Case makes great "user-grade" knives in a variety of handle materials and patterns to fit pretty much any need, but they're not going to be custom level perfect, so I'm not gonna knock 'em for that.If ya want custom level fit and finish, you're gonna pay a custom level price.On the knife I received, there's a smidge of blade rub on each blade, and one of the spacers has a TINY gap between it and the back spring.That matters 0% to me.I bought this knife to use in my day to day life, and it's perfect for that.The multiple blade shapes are good for a variety of uses, it has a good heft without being overly heavy, it's not blocky despite having the three blades in it, it's comfortable to use every blade, has great "walk and talk," and it's in a bright enough color that even my colorblind self can't lose it easily!Now, a word about Case's CV blades... they will take a wicked sharp edge if you know what you're doing, and tend to hold it pretty well.However, it IS carbon steel, so if you don't take care of it, it'll rust.That being said, dark splotches are the beginnings of a natural patina(stable rust, essentially) that actually helps to protect the blades.Red = Bad Rust(Fe²O³)Black = Good Rust(Fe³O⁴)Pretty much every veteran carbon steel user knows this, I'm just letting you stainless guys know so you don't get this one by accident if you want your blades to stay shiny, or if you're new to carbon steel blades.Minimal maintenance is really all that's needed when you get used to it and the patina is established. (The picture is of the new CV Stockman, a CV Copperhead with a light patina, and a CV Peanut with a heavier patina due to how much I've used it through the years)To sum it up, it's a great users knife that will last for lifetimes if it's properly taken care of!

I have a farm and need a good knife for all kinds of things. My old Case had a couple of broken blades but it is impossible to find a replacement. The new one is exactly like the old one and it came super fast and wasn't expensive.