The Mini TrapPER DIEM -- Your Daily Mini Trapper

[loizzojv]

I have to admit, this has been a real brain teaser. For the record, the living branch was my interpretation of the attached excerpt from a page on Chinese calendar symbols. The year of the Dog is associated with an Earthly Branch symbol... however, I'm still stuck on why specifically Case knives. I could not find any specific reference to a particular date this week that had significance in Case knives history.

[Meridian_Mike]

WOW..... VERY cool.

[QTCut5]

DAY 47

Oh, I can't possibly hope to explain the inner (or outer) workings of the devious Mini Trapper Monkey mind. When the answer to the riddle is finally revealed on Friday, you'll either think, My, that was so obvious I can't believe I didn't see it...OR (and possibly more likely), you will become enraged and furious at the Mini Trapper Monkey for the twisted absurdity of his obscure connections (remember...he does have OCD, so, don't say you weren't warned!). At least you can take comfort in the fact that if you don't get the riddle, it probably means you don't suffer from OCD.

OK...now onward to today's Mini TrapPER DIEM.: A 3 1/2" Schrade with Bare Head Saw Cut (their term, not mine) Walnut WOOD handle. Based on the price I paid for this one, I have to believe it's another Pacific Rim product. But, like so many knives coming from the far east nowadays, this one is fairly well-built and actually a pretty nice little knife. The decorative work on the handle makes what might otherwise be a rather plain and dull looking knife somewhat more interesting and attractive.

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

That's a nifty neato Schrade ~Q~. I like it.

The best I can do today is not wood. All I can do is follow the Asian mini-theme with this Coleman Mini-Trapper with Blue Bone out of Seki Japan. It's actually a well built and very nice knife.

[QTCut5]

Yup...I agree, these Coleman Mini Ts are VERY nice knives.
Here's my blue twin to jerryd's (which is allowed under the MSMD Amendment, of course)

~Q~

[royal0014]

Based on the price I paid for this one, I have to believe it's another Pacific Rim product. ~Q~

I am surprised your OCD has not confirmed, beyond all shadow of doubt, that Schrade has Asian blood.
Perhaps the monkey is loosening its grip . . . .

[QTCut5]

Based on the price I paid for this one, I have to believe it's another Pacific Rim product. ~Q~

I am surprised your OCD has not confirmed, beyond all shadow of doubt, that Schrade has Asian blood.
Perhaps the monkey is loosening its grip . . . .

There's not much doubt about the Asian origin of that Schrade--after all, are there any modern Schrade-stamped knives that are not made overseas these days?

As for the OCD Monkey losing his grip...all I can tell you is that you have to be constantly vigilant and on guard whenever that devious little beastie is anywhere around. Just when you think you've got him figured out or under control, he always comes up with something totally unexpected to blindside you and make your head spin in befuddled confusion. I strongly suspect jerryd is acting as his attorney and secretly feeding him advice, because the Monkey's not smart enough to be doing all this crazy stuff on his own, Although he plays it down and tries to portray himself as just another "good ol' boy from Illinois," we've all seen just how devilishly clever jerryd really is...Forest Products Week, indeed! (Who else has ever heard about that or knew it even existed?)

~Q~

[Tsar Bomba]

There's not much doubt about the Asian origin of that Schrade--after all, are there any modern Schrade-stamped knives that are not made overseas these days?

None that I'm aware of short of the GEC-made trappers (and I believe a fixed-blade) of about a decade ago.

A warning for the thread: This one is NOT "mini" in any way.

[QTCut5]

Cool knife, Tony...always good to see something a little different to give some perspective. Thanks for posting it.

Also, in case you haven't noticed by now, we're pretty lax with the "rules" here on The Mini TrapPER DIEM thread (our resident Monkey attorney has a knack for finding legal loopholes to allow showing almost anything and for amending the current rules to accommodate just about anything that can remotely qualify).

~Q~

[QTCut5]

DAY 48

While we're on the subject of Schrade knives...

My Mini TrapPER DIEM entry for today is this Schrade 94OT measuring 3 7/8", which is right at the top of the accepted Mini Trapper range. The handle is Desert Ironwood, and as WOOD handles go, it's got a lot of character. Although it's undoubtedly of Asian origin, it's a well-made knife with smooth walk and snappy talk...I totally dig it, man.

~Q~

[bighomer]

Pretty scales wherever it's from.

[loizzojv]

I love the look of that desert ironwood. That is sharp!

[QTCut5]

DAY 49

Well, we've come to the end of yet another week (WEEK #7) here at the Mini TrapPER DIEM which means today's offering is the final one of the week's theme: WOOD handled Mini Trappers. For reasons which may or may not seem obvious, I debated long and hard whether or not to include this one in the line up at all. But, in the end, the fact that it's the only knife in my collection from Pakistan swung the vote in its favor since I wanted this thread to include examples of Mini Trappers of ALL persuasions (brands, origins, materials, etc.).

I don't know what type of steel the blades are ("surgical steel" according to the tang stamp) nor the type of wood the handle is made of. I honestly can't even say I find it particularly attractive. When you see it, you might even think that maybe I was saving the best for "laughs"; but, I assure you that is not the case. Although this Pakistan made knife isn't much to look at, it is surprisingly solid and well constructed. It's the type of knife that you could throw in your tool box and not have to worry about getting broken or damaged as it banged around with the other tools. And if you had no other option, I have no doubt that this chunky little Mini T could dress out any type of game you needed it to, both big and small.

~Q~

NEXT WEEK'S THEME: Mini Trappers with Wharncliffe Blades.


Oh, and BTW...the answer to the OCD Mini Trapper Monkey's riddle from this week is "The Number 7" (This was the seventh week of this thread, wood handled Case knives are identified by the number 7 in the pattern number, and, of course, as everybody knows, the Chinese consider 7 to be a lucky or auspicious number--see, now that wasn't so hard, was it!)

[jerryd6818]

DAY 49
Oh, and BTW...the answer to the OCD Mini Trapper Monkey's riddle from this week is "The Number 7" (This was the seventh week of this thread, wood handled Case knives are identified by the number 7 in the pattern number, and, of course, as everybody knows, the Chinese consider 7 to be a lucky or auspicious number--see, now that wasn't so hard, was it!)

Well, whoda thunk it?

[jerryd6818]

And whoda thunk ~Q~ would have sent such a generous gift for coming up with that line of malarkey about wood week. I'm not giving it back buddy but neither do I deserve it. Much appreciation for a fine addition to my Mini-Trapper pile. It's a fine, fine knife folks.

[loizzojv]

Wow , that is a sharp knife. And Q, I'm feeling a little sheepish for how far off the trail I was with that riddle. Talk about not seeing the forest through the trees!

[QTCut5]

I'm feeling a little sheepish for how far off the trail I was with that riddle. Talk about not seeing the forest through the trees!

Joe: actually, you were hot on the correct trail when you connected WOOD and (specifically) CASE knives...I'm confident that you would have figured it out if you'd just had a little more time.

jerryd: I'm still in awe of your "National Forest Products Week" answer...that was nothing short of sheer brilliance and made the "real" answer seem totally lame by comparison. I wish I had thought of that myself. Apparently, I'm going to have to dig deeper to come up with something for the next contest...although, truth be told, considering all the answers that have been proffered to the OCD Mini Trapper Monkey's silly little contests so far, I have to admit I'm way out of my league when it comes to cleverness and knife knowledge (I'm still shaking my head in awe at Tom's (bestgear) guess in the Color Wheel theme contest. In hindsight, at the very least, he probably should have received an Honorable Mention as well for that amazing display of knife knowledge.)

Anyway, next week's theme (starting tomorrow, DAY 50) on the Mini TrapPER DIEM thread is Mini Trappers with Wharncliffe Blades. I know there are a lot of members who have those, so I'm expecting to see a lot of postings as well as MSMD Amendment postings which should make it a very interesting week (although, at the same time, I expect it will also be OCD Mini Trapper Monkey's worst nightmare trying to keep track of them all.)

And, since Halloween happens to fall during the week after that, the theme for the final week of October will be Black & Orange Mini Trappers. I'm giving everyone a two-week theme heads up notice so you can plan which knives to show during which weeks, since one of the rules is NO REPEATING A KNIFE ONCE IT'S BEEN SHOWN...so, you'll have to plan accordingly.

Of course, as always, everyone should feel completely free to show ANY Mini Trapper at ANY time, regardless of whether or not it fits the particular theme of the week. All Mini Trapper postings are strongly encouraged and highly appreciated.

~Q~

[QTCut5]

DAY 50

I think I'll get Wharncliffe Week off to a running start with this fine Bone Stag Limited Edition 6.5207W with fancy lettering two-color blade etch and Job Case bolster etch...one of my all-time favorite Mini Trappers.

2015 Case 6.5207W Bone Stag Mini Trapper

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

I am not normally a huge fan of blade etches but that is a beaut.

But today's Saturday. On who's calendar does the week start on Saturday. Oh yeah!! That's right. On ~Q~'s calendar.

Since it's your thread, I'll play along.

[QTCut5]

The only reason the Mini TrapPER DIEM week starts on Saturday is because when the OCD Mini Trapper Monkey started this thread (Sept. 1) it was a Saturday and he wanted the consecutive day numbers to correspond to the date. I don't know what he's going to do at the end of this month/start of November when the daily numbers get off by one day thanks to October having 31 days. OCD is a fickle mistress.

Anyway...I like your Salmon Bone 07W, jerryd, but I was hoping you wouldn't post that one until the one I've got coming in the mail had arrived so I could invoke the MSMD Amendment and show mine at the same time. Maybe the OCD Mini Trapper Monkey will allow the Monkey See, Monkey Do Amendment to be employed retroactively (or, add "retroactive postings" as an addendum to the amendment).

~Q~

[jmh58]

How about a MT and Friends??!!

[QTCut5]

Wow, John...that little yella fella sure is popular; just look at all his cool friends! What I really like about that photo is the perspective it provides regarding the size of a Mini Trapper. When shown alone (as most of our Mini Ts are), it's not as obvious why a Mini Trapper is called just that: Mini.

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

Anyway...I like your Salmon Bone 07W, jerryd, but I was hoping you wouldn't post that one until the one I've got coming in the mail had arrived so I could invoke the MSMD Amendment and show mine at the same time. Maybe the OCD Mini Trapper Monkey will allow the Monkey See, Monkey Do Amendment to be employed retroactively (or, add "retroactive postings" as an addendum to the amendment).

~Q~

Well for pity's sake ~Q~. You gots to tell me these things. I'm not a mind reader. That's one of the reasons I had two failed marriages.
You can still do the retroactive thing. Ain't nobody going to kick up a fuss. ('Ceptin maybe that monkey on your back.)

[Tsar Bomba]

While GEC wouldn't refer to this as a "mini-trapper" the 48 frame is at the top end of the 3 7/8" limit.

And here's my favorite Case 6207W.

Happy Wharncliffe Week!

[jerryd6818]

Tony, if I could afford it, I'd buy every one of those GEC 48's. The 48 is right up there at the top of my list of favorite patterns. You just gave me leave to change it up a little tomorrow.

And that Case put the 'S' in Select. Another word for that is Super Fine. Oh! I guess that's two words. Oh well.