The Mini TrapPER DIEM -- Your Daily Mini Trapper

[QTCut5]

The unusual thing about this China made Coleman Mini-Trapper (I don't think I've already posted it in this thread) is the handles are laminate but a couple of the layers in the laminate are very thin sheets of copper.

What is it with you and copper, jerryd? The last two Mini Ts you've posted had more copper in them than I've ever seen in any knives before. I don't own a single knife with any copper in it (that I'm aware of, anyway). Is copper a common metal used in knives and I've somehow just not been seeing it? Doesn't it turn green if you don't polish it frequently? I'm intrigued.

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

Well, there's nothing with me and copper. It's just happenstance that I have two Mini-Trappers with copper in their makeup. If I'm not sadly mistaken, none of my other knives incorporated copper into their build. From my observations, copper is not a common material in pocket knives.

[QTCut5]

Well, if that's the case (and I have no reason to believe otherwise), you've certainly chosen the right week to post them in this thread. Well played!

BTW--Starting tomorrow, next week's them for anyone who wishes to play along, is Strictly Stag. I have been holding off on posting my Stag Mini Ts and it's getting too hard to hold 'em back...They're getting restless and they need to be shown--probably has something to do with the rut, I suspect

So, hide your does, drag out your Stag and let's lock horns...it's ruttin' time!

~Q~

DISCLAIMER: As always, adherence to the Mini TrapPER DIEM Theme Of The Week is not mandatory in order to post a Mini Trapper--ANY and ALL types, styles, makes and models of Mini Trappers are welcome at ANY TIME in this thread. The suggested theme of the week is simply a way for me (and my OCD) to maintain some sense of order and keep track of the knives I've posted. So, even if you don't happen to have any Stag Mini Ts, please do not hesitate to post any Mini T you feel like posting; not only is it strongly encouraged, I assure you, it will be highly appreciated.
Thank You, The Management

[QTCut5]

DAY 36

This week's theme: STRICTLY STAG.

I don't know about you guys, but this week I'm going ALL IN with STAG, OH YEAH! Definitely one of my top three favorite knife handle materials (the other two being any kind of Ivory and, with the exception of man-made synthetics, whatever I'm holding in my hand at the moment!); STAG has always fascinated me.

Truth be told, I can never have enough STAG. Although, as we shall see this week, not all STAG is created equal...which, when you think about it, is actually a significant aspect of the allure of STAG: it can be as individual and unique as a fingerprint, or as plain and uninteresting as a sheet of plywood. This week, however, I think I'll be selecting the "fingerprint" style STAG to show from my Mini Trapper collection.

So, here I sit, perusing a pile of STAG handled Mini Trappers trying to decide which ones to display and which ones to save for later since the Mini TrapPER DIEM rules are explicitly clear on the showing of only one knife per day. Which ones will make the cut and why? To my eyes, they're all beautiful and deserve to be shown. If I were Gary Zinn, I'm sure I could write a three-page article extolling the individual attributes, advantages and aesthetic value of each and every one of them (and maybe someday I will, Tom ). But, when it comes to STAG, it's much like any other piece of fine art: each piece of STAG has its own voice and speaks for itself, you either "get it", i.e., hear it speaking to you, or you don't...it's really that simple.

I will, however, offer some (limited) commentary on the knives I have chosen to show simply because, right or wrong, I suspect there just may be other knife collectors out there reading this who may find my reasons of some (limited) interest. Either that or they find my comments mildly amusing and quite possibly even outright ridiculous...but that's a risk I'm willing to take.

So, here it is then, my first STAG Mini TrapPER DIEM offering of the STRICTLY STAG Theme Of The Week:

The reason I chose this particular knife should be obvious to any AAPK members who have received and read the book Knives Of The Hudson Valley, written by AAPK member Richard Langston and generously gifted to AAPK Gold Level supporting members by site owner and man of mystery: the imitable, inscrutable and infinitely ingenious BRYAN. So, for that reason, it seemed coincidentally apropos.

~Q~

[bestgear]

Someday could be today Q - as I've said before, you know your way around nouns and verbs better than most - dig just a little deeper and I'll bet a Clive Cussler lives within. I'll volunteer to be on your proof reading team

[jerryd6818]

Well frogs. I was going to give you a hard time about your consistent breaking of your rule about only posting one knife per day but Internet Explorer locked up every time I clicked on "View more smilies" . Oh well, it was probably only funny to me.

This week is simple for me. I don't have any stag Mini-Trappers. So for me it's going to be " Ho-Hum, Plain Jane, everybody has one week" and I'm okay with that.

This one is labeled in the picture with everything I know about it. Bought it because it's an 07 and the price was very reasonable. Pretty hum drum but it adds bulk to the pile.

[QTCut5]

Someday could be today Q - I'll volunteer to be on your proof reading team

I appreciate that, Tom, but I don't think you realize what you'd be taking on. I'm afraid the "proof reading team" would need a steady supply of very potent anti-psychotic drugs and would probably still end up being committed to a padded cell in a psychiatric facility anyway after trying to make sense of all my gibberish!

I was going to give you a hard time about your consistent breaking of your rule about only posting one knife per day

Just to set the record straight...I have never broken my One-Knife-Per-Day rule...at least not without legal justification according to the Monkey See, Monkey Do Amendment, which, if I'm not mistaken, was adopted due to frequent and multiple precedents set by none other than yourself, jerryd. The Defense rests, your Honor.

This one is...Pretty hum drum but it adds bulk to the pile.

"Pretty hum drum," you think? Are you kidding me? The bone on that knife is absolutely stunning. Would that all the Mini Trappers in my collection were half as 'hum drum' as that one...it's gorgeous (and it must be a Doe because it's got all my STAGS worked up into a frenzied lather!)

As much as I wish I could, unfortunately, I am unable to invoke aforementioned MSMD Amendment with your 07 entry for today.

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

Someday could be today Q - I'll volunteer to be on your proof reading team

I appreciate that, Tom, but I don't think you realize what you'd be taking on. I'm afraid the "proof reading team" would need a steady supply of very potent anti-psychotic drugs and would probably still end up being committed to a padded cell in a psychiatric facility anyway after trying to make sense of all my gibberish!

I was going to give you a hard time about your consistent breaking of your rule about only posting one knife per day

Just to set the record straight...I have never broken my One-Knife-Per-Day rule...at least not without legal justification according to the Monkey See, Monkey Do Amendment, which, if I'm not mistaken, was adopted due to frequent and multiple precedents set by none other than yourself, jerryd. The Defense rests, your Honor.

This one is...Pretty hum drum but it adds bulk to the pile.

"Pretty hum drum," you think? Are you kidding me? The bone on that knife is absolutely stunning. Would that all the Mini Trappers in my collection were half as 'hum drum' as that one...it's gorgeous (and it must be a Doe because it's got all my STAGS worked up into a frenzied lather!)

As much as I wish I could, unfortunately, I am unable to invoke aforementioned MSMD Amendment with your 07 entry for today.

~Q~

Keeping you quite busy this morning, my friend.

[QTCut5]

DAY 37

My Mini-TrapPER DIEM entry for today looks like it could have been the product of a "conjugal visit" between one of my STAG knives and jerryd's so-called "hum-drum" entry from yesterday with the gorgeous red-orange jigged bone handle. (Don't say I didn't warn you to hide your Does! ) But, as so often happens in situations like this, the offspring ends being much more attractive than either of its parents, and this Case Red Stag appears to be no different in that respect.

Now, normally my taste in knives (as well as in most other things) is decidedly minimalist and tends to lean somewhat towards the conservative side when it comes to embellishments and fancy bells & whistles. However, for some reason on this Case, not only do I not mind the scrollwork on the bolsters, it actually seems to enhance the beauty of the knife without looking gaudy, excessive, unnecessary or overdone as so many others often do (like the Groom at a Gypsy wedding!) But, taste is a personal thing, so y'all will have to judge it for yourselves.

1998 Case R5207 Red Stag Mini Trapper

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

I like the scroll work very much.

I bought this John Deere without a shield. Case was kind enough to send a replacement shield which I epoxied in. I really like the knife.

[jmh58]

[jerryd6818]

John, for some time, I've been looking at that edition. I like the simple XX on the blade. Is that deep engraved or etched?
There's another I want with XX on the bolster.

[QTCut5]

I bought this John Deere without a shield. Case was kind enough to send a replacement shield which I epoxied in. I really like the knife.

Yup...the small details that often go unnoticed when viewing something as a whole can actually make all the difference in the world. Although, I rather suspect in the case of your shield, it would be quite obvious if it were not there. The color contrast between the yellow bone handle and the green shield is what makes this knife interesting...or, at least more interesting than it would be without the shield, IMHO.

Good Choice to take the time and make the effort to get and install the shield....Now it's complete and whole again, and a very Nice Knife.

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

~Q~ I think that's some of the nicest yellow bone I've ever seen. There's something about that simple contrasting shield that just sets it all off.

[jmh58]

Deep engraved jerry... John

[QTCut5]

Make that TWO super happy people, because now I get to invoke the MSMD Amendment...and y'all know how much I love getting away with (legally) breaking the One-Knife-Per-Day rule.

Notice that the bomb shield is facing/pointing "backwards" compared to how it is on most every other Case knife!

~Q~

[jmh58]

Twins Q !! KOOL!!! John

[jerryd6818]

You guys are killin' me.

[QTCut5]

You guys are killin' me.

Seriously, jerryd? Come on, man, try to keep up, 'cause you ain't seen nuthin' yet.

Better strap in and hold on tight...the best is yet to come.



~Q~

BTW--I'm fairly sure that no one but me noticed, but today (October 7) is "James Bond Day" for every (questionably delusional) person (like me) who has ever considered himself at one time or another one "double-oh-seven" type super spy. Nevermind...

[jerryd6818]

You guys are killin' me.

Seriously, jerryd? Come on, man, try to keep up,

I'm not much on trying to keep up with the Jones. Or the ~Q~s. That alone is a losing battle.

[QTCut5]

Well, there are no losers here, my friend. Whether you collect, buy, sell or swap; if you have a Mini-Trapper...you're already a winner!

~Q~

[QTCut5]

DAY 38

Even though today is a federal holiday and many people don't have to go into work today (thanks for some reason, to Christopher Columbus), there are plenty of people who still have to work today due to the nature of their respective jobs. I mean, let's face it, what would happen if absolutely everyone, including all the public servants such as policemen, firemen, doctors, etc., all took today off? That's certainly not something we'd want to contemplate, is it? So, it's for all those dedicated (albeit potentially contractually obligated) workers that I dedicate today's Mini-TrapPER DIEM. Because while the rest of us are sitting around enjoying a three-day weekend, they continue to do the work that keeps our world running smoothly--or at least trying their best to maintain the appearance of a functioning civilized society (and I'm even willing to include plumbers who make emergency calls on holidays...even if they do charge outrageous fees...but, obviously, that's a story for another time and place).

So, to all the dedicated workers who get themselves up on a holiday, pick up the tools of their respective trades and go to work to fight the good fight for the good of all of us...I dedicate this Battle Axe Brand STAG Mini-TrapPER DIEM to you. Cheers!

As for Christopher Columbus...well, all I will say is, "Thanks for the holiday!"

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

That's some pretty decent stag on that Battle Axe. You're lucky to have it.

A far distant cousin (Probably 44th or 45th cousin. Oh wait! It can't be that far removed because there's only 6 degrees of separation.) from across the sea is this Rough Rider Mini Trapper with the Battle Axe shield.

[QTCut5]

DAY 39

Well, it's Tuesday again and you know what that means: Double Trouble...Two for the price of one...Twice the Mini-Trapper viewing pleasure!

Here's a nice pair of STAG Queens (not to be confused with drag queens...which is something else entirely and has no business even being mentioned here)...More specifically, Schatt & Morgan STAG Mini Trappers. They're so similar that at first glance, you might have thought you were seeing double (a little "residual effect" left over from the three-day weekend after too much partying, perhaps?). However, upon closer examination, it's pretty clear they are in fact two separate and distinct knives, each with its own unique STAG "fingerprint" (or would that be "hoofprint"? And, are hoofprints as unique as fingerprints?....Hmmm, I don't think so. Maybe to a bloodhound they are...or, maybe to a bloodhound hoofprints just have their own unique scent)...but, I digress...

The real question here is: Why would anyone want two (or more) of the same knife regardless of whether or not they're exactly identical in every detail? Isn't one enough? (That question sounds disturbingly familiar...like something my wife asks me about a million times a day).

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind...and if you don't feel the wind when it blows, well, then I'm afraid I just can't explain how it feels any more than I can explain why sometimes I want (or rather, absolutely must have) more than one of any particular Mini-Trapper...sometimes I just do. When I look at these two little beauties, the thought I have is this: I have two (fairly identical) arms, two legs, two eyes, two ears and even two elbows (which, I can assure you, are nothing you'd ever want to see), so, why wouldn't I want two (or more) of the exact same knife, especially if they're anything like these two? Seems perfectly obvious to me.

Two down...only 48 left to go!!!

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

~Q~ those are like potato chips. No one could have just one. That's a huge double WOW!!

Since I don't have any Stag 07s, I'm picking one at random for today. Burnt Amber Bone will have to suffice.