The Mini TrapPER DIEM -- Your Daily Mini Trapper

[Meridian_Mike]

Hey Q... you got any mini trappers?
What about you Jerry?

Seriously.... you and Jerry BOTH have a BEAUTIFUL collection of Mini's. I can't wait to check this thread every morning!
Mike

[bighomer]

What Mike said.

[QTCut5]

Hey Q... you got any mini trappers?
What about you Jerry?

Seriously.... you and Jerry BOTH have a BEAUTIFUL collection of Mini's. I can't wait to check this thread every morning!
Mike

Thank you, MerMike & BigH...glad you're enjoying the show. I was kind of thinking there were only two people interested in this thread: me and jerryd!

And, BTW...In the interest of full disclosure and just to set the record straight...the only reason jerryd doesn't have any STAG Mini Ts to show this week is because he just sent his only one to me as a gift, thus exemplifying the true spirit of the brotherhood of the blade, sharing the joy of knife collecting and generally making the world a better place.

This is the STAG AUS-8 Coleman (Seki, Japan) he gave me...I'm still riding high on the tsunami wave of dopamine his generosity released in me.

How can you ever express adequate appreciation for such selfless kindness? And he's not the only one who has showered me with Mini Trapper bombs, either. There have been others (they know who they are). When you bomb someone or get bombed by someone with a cool knife, it creates a special kind of bond between both the giver and the receiver that is unlike any other...even among otherwise complete and total strangers. It's truly an incredible phenomenon.

~Q~

[QTCut5]

DAY 40

So much STAG...so little time to show it all. This One-Knife-Per-Day rule is really proving to be quite restrictive. I may consider extending the (arbitrarily imposed) one week time limit for each theme. Although, I suppose it does have the benefit of forcing the best examples to be selected and keeping the thread somewhat more interesting....hard to argue with that logic.

My Mini TrapPER DIEM selection for today is one of those knives that may not seem all that impressive at first, but it becomes more appealing the more closely it's studied. The colors in the STAG are at once both subtle yet striking. The ultra-fine lettering on the blade etch and shield is pure, simple and understated yet also commanding. In short, it's obvious just by looking at it that this Robeson Shur Edge Mini Trapper is one beautiful and well-made knife; both graceful and elegant. I think it pretty much speaks for itself. Personally, I've spent at least several hours just holding this knife, observing it, feeling it and "listening" to it. It truly is a fascinating piece of fine cutlery. As jerryd would probably say, "[I'm] lucky to have it." And I would wholeheartedly concur.

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

Wow! That Robeson is stunning!

My offering for today was a Christmas gift from Linnea in 2015.

[bighomer]

I can't participate with photos because I showed my meager pile early on, but I've not missed a day looking, wish some others would show up and post some. My trappers run to the bigger sized knives.

[QTCut5]

wish some others would show up and post some

You and me both, bighomer. We got a few more participants earlier in the thread, but surely jerryd and I aren't the only ones who have more than one or two Mini Trappers to show. Nevertheless, I plan to keep showing off my Mini T collection until I run out of knives to show...or until I die, whichever comes first. At the current rate, I think I can probably make it through the end of the year...but that's only if I don't buy any more Mini Trappers between now and then, of course!

~Q~

[QTCut5]

DAY 41

More STAG to start your day. My Mini-TrapPER DIEM for today is a 2002 Schatt & Morgan 032 151 (the famous model #51) which, once again, is living proof that once-upon-a-time Queen made some very fine, high quality knives...better than nearly any modern Case knife (which I use as a comparison only because both brands sold at nearly the same price point). It's such a shame that Queen quit production and closed down the manufacturing plant because I've always loved their knives. I wonder if the factory closing will increase the collector value of Queen & Schatt & Morgan, and all the other brands that were made under contract to Queen? I'm still in shock; Queen Cutlery was such a big part of my life for so many years. I'm just glad I got the Queen knives I have when I did...but, I still constantly search for Queen made Mini-Trappers.

How often do you see a long swedge on a spey blade? I think this is the only one I have ever seen...and it's the only one like it in my entire collection.

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

I'm going with an Amber Jigged Bone Rough Rider today.

[QTCut5]

Love that color on your Rough Rider, jerryd. It looks to be somewhat similar to the color of the S&M #51 that you won in the "Theme of the Week" contest...how closely do they compare?

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

The S&M is lighter than that. More of a butterscotch. That RR is actually a good bit darker than the picture.

[QTCut5]

I guess I'll just have to take your word for it...but I still wouldn't mind seeing a side-by-side photo.

Anyway...I have much more pressing matters to contend with than comparing the color of two different knives. Although, I can't help but wonder if there could be any two knives more different than a Vintage Schatt & Morgan Keystone Series One Model #51 and a Rough Rider RR098 Amber Jigged Bone Mini Trapper. To a seasoned collector, they must certainly seem like two extremes on a knife spectrum. But, who knows? I suppose it's entirely possible they're more similar than different, except, perhaps, in a few specific areas...like price (obviously), collector value and maybe (but not necessarily) quality. Seems like with all the advancements in technology nowadays, almost anything is possible.

Consider this: that one specific knife you're lacking to complete a life-long collection could probably be "created" on a 3-D printer in a matter of minutes. Even though it may be virtually indistinguishable in every detail from the genuine article, would it be "the same" as if you had found the genuine article through painstakingly dedicated research, chasing down multiple potential leads, or asking everyone you knew in the knife collecting community? Somehow, I think not.

As for those "pressing matters" I alluded to earlier that I have to contend with...I have been wrestling with my conscience and the Mini TrapPER DIEM Rules Committee (and, yes, there actually is one--comprised primarily of piggy-back-riding Mini-Trapper Monkeys--who approved amending the One-Knife-Per-Day rule). It has already been amended once to incorporate the Monkey See Monkey Do Amendment (MSMDA), first introduced by jerryd, which allows showing more than one knife as long as it is one that is exactly like a knife shown in a subsequent post by another member.

The new amendment would also allow for the showing of more than one knife, except it would allow for the showing of multiple knives as long as they are all related in some way, AND the posting thereof is for the express purpose of research and documentation purposes only, i.e., no gratuitous displays of just any random Mini Trapper(s), i.e., there MUST be a connection or clearly discernible relationship to the Mini TrapPER DIEM Theme Of The Week in order to qualify under the new "Research And Documentation (RAD) Amendment.

Now, I realize that most of you are probably bored by all of this rambling gibberish and have most likely stopped reading it long ago. Nevertheless, I feel it is important for every dedicated follower of this (admittedly sometimes absurd) thread to be kept fully informed of all the rules (after all, is the US Constitution any less relevant?)

So, tomorrow (or a bit later this morning for some of you in a different time zone), after I post my final Mini TrapPER DIEM for STAG week, I will be posting photos a bunch of other STAG Mini Trappers from my collection that fall under the "RAD" Amendment. So, Please, don't say you haven't been fairly forewarned. And, I do hope you enjoy the photos. As usual, your comments, both positive or otherwise, are always encouraged, if not altogether appreciated!

~Q~

[QTCut5]

Day 42


Here it is...my Mini-TrapPER DIEM submission for today, the final day of Strictly Stag theme week:

Oh, yes, after all the Queens I've been showing, did you really think I would let the week end without putting up at least one more
Case? This just happens to be one of those in which the mark side looks way better than the pile side...wouldn't you agree?

2014 Case 5207 Stag Mini Trapper

Next week's theme (starting tomorrow, DAY 43) is WOOD WEEK. With winter fast approaching (well, at least for you poor folks on the Mainland), it might not be such a bad idea to start getting a stack of firewood prepared and ready to stave off that first freeze. (I'm so glad I live in Hawaii )

~Q~

[QTCut5]

OK..as promised, and purely for the sake of Research and Documentation, here are a few more STAG Mini-Trappers from my collection.

As you can plainly see, some have one side that is way more 'interesting' than the other.



~Q~

[QTCut5]

...and a few more..

On this last one (Parker-Edwards) I just had to show how FAT it is, as well...

And that pretty much wraps up Stag week.

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

I guess I'll just have to take your word for it...but I still wouldn't mind seeing a side-by-side photo.

~Q~

After the sun comes up, just for you.


The mark side of that Day 42 post vindicates Case for all the bad things I've had to say and thought about them hafting all the bark off their stag handles. That's just ‎scrumdelicious.

And the rest of them? I almost went into shock from stag overload. WOW!!

[bestgear]

Where did 42 days go? My morning routine now includes reading this thread and my outbursts of laughter often wake those sleeping in my house. The suspense of the theme-based picture show is powerful and the playful banter is entertaining but then again I look for clouds profiled to look like Richard Nixon so I'm easily amused. Play on gentlemen!

[jmh58]

[jerryd6818]

John. What's that varmint pokin' it's head out of the bush by your knife. Is that a squirrel?

[jmh58]

jerry.. That is part of the stump.. Had me doing a double take!! Kinda looks like a squirrel though or chipmunk... John

[jerryd6818]

Here ya go ~Q~. First the comparison you asked for.

And then the post of the day. A sister to John's knife without the critter.

[jerryd6818]

jerry.. That is part of the stump.. Had me doing a double take!! Kinda looks like a squirrel though or chipmunk... John

I see what you're saying John but even zooming in for a very close look, my brain is still screaming "varmint" at me. You better save that picture Bud.

[QTCut5]

DAY 43


Mini Trappers With WOOD Handles is this week's theme and, believe it or not, it's not as random a choice as you may be inclined to think.

Several weeks ago, I was looking over my Mini Trapper collection trying to identify more themes and, wouldn't you just know it, my OCD suddenly kicked in and immediately identified a perfectly logical reason for making this specific week's theme Mini Trappers with WOOD Handles. So, here's a riddle for you to try and figure out: Why is "WOOD HANDLED KNIVES" the perfect theme for this particular week? Why not last week? Why not next week? Why is this specific week the perfect week to show WOOD Handled Mini Trappers? As you're trying to figure it out, just remember, OCD sees patterns and relationships where others often don't. Furthermore, I believe almost any Chinese person would also agree that this week is especially auspicious to showing WOOD Handled knives, particularly Case knives (that's a clue!). Even I was somewhat impressed at the perfect timing for the WOOD Handled theme; it makes perfect sense once you understand the logic behind it...trivial though it may be. What's strange is that I really don't have all that many wood handled knives in my collection; but, I do have enough at least to complete the week while staying true to the theme.

Here's my WOOD Handled Mini TrapPER DIEM for today (as well as a clue to solving the "WOOD WEEK" riddle):

2015 Case 7207 Sycamore Wood Mini Trapper

~Q~

[jmh58]

[QTCut5]

Nice one, John. Is that the "Bog Oak" handle, by any chance? I don't have that one in my collection...yet. It's a good looking knife.

~Q~