The Mini TrapPER DIEM -- Your Daily Mini Trapper

[bestgear]

I could care less about pocket knives right now because Q IS BACK

[jerryd6818]

Maybe we should have a celebration. What's it going to be boys? Cherry pie and ice cream?

[Lansky1]

Love that upswept clip blade Q - glad you're back ...

[bighomer]

Welcome back Q we missed you pal, good to have you home. nice knife by the way.

[jerryd6818]

Day 102

Just got something in the mail today for Day 102. I fell into instant infatuation with this one the moment I first saw her. Neater than cougar poop.

[QTCut5]

Since you didn't respond to my email, I was surprised to see your post. It's good to have you back and what a grand re-entrance it is. That Winchester is a real beauty. I hope you are well enough to stay with us for a good while longer.

BTW, I think the day 100 knife may be a duplicate of one I already had. I don't know that for sure but I do know the price was really right.

Actually, jerryd, I did respond to your email; unfortunately, the only Internet service I had access to was heavily censored, so, apparently, my reply must have contained a forbidden word or phrase that caused it to be intercepted--but, since there was no notification that my message had not been delivered, I was unaware. I do thank you for the thought, though...it was much appreciated.

But, speaking of duplicates, I just realized that I had already posted my Winchester .22 Hornet on day 68...just before my world was turned upside down. Everything's still so topsy-turvy I can't even keep track of what day it is today, 101 or 102. I guess at this point it really doesn't matter--even the OCD Monkey has thrown up his little monkey paws in defeat and resignation. I thought the theme tactic would help to keep me from repeating and I also tried re-reading all 32 pages of this thread, but my memory's so bad I just can't keep track of which knives I've posted and which ones I haven't. So, with my sincerest apologies to the loyal Mini-Trapperists following this thread (and in particular to OCD Monkey), I'll just admit right now that I'm probably going to repeat a few before I'm done and all the smoke clears. So be it.

I'm pretty sure I haven't posted this Stag S&M before (since it just recently arrived). I have a couple others that are similar, but this one is unique in that it has no shield (and a hairline crack in the pile side scale).

~Q~

[doglegg]

Q good to have you back. I like the mental image of your little OCD monkey with his little paws up in the air. Made me chuckle. Duplicate knives are acceptable to have so I guess duplicate post should also be allowed. At least in my world it is ok. And also that is a fine name for the little fellow. Ocedee the monkey. Good to see you posting again.

[QTCut5]

DAY...???

Don't be fooled, Floyd, OCD Monyey's "cute" little paws have a vise-like kung-fu grip and when he sees a Mini Trapper he wants, he latches onto my back and screeches into my ear until he gets what he wants...there's nothing cute about it (just ask my wife if you don't believe me...)

Here's my most recent acquisition, so, once again, pretty sure it's not a duplicate. I can't honestly say exactly why I bought this one since I'm not a big fan of Damascus steel (doesn't store well without a lot of maintenance) and the stag scales are horribly matched (pile side is nice but the mark side...meh!). I guess it was just the novelty of the Stag/Damascus combination since I didn't have anything like it before.

1989 CASE 5207D Stag Damascus Mini Trapper

~Q~

Edit: Fun Fact--One sense you don't find too often in knife reviews is smell. This 5207D has a distinctive "wrought iron" smell that reminds me of a time long ago when I worked at a scrap metal reclamation facility in UT.

[QTCut5]

BLUE MONDAY

I hope today is a True Blue Monday instead of a Monday Blues type of Monday for y'all. Not sure if I've shown this Caribbean Blue Mini T previously, but even if I have, it's one of my favorite Blue Mini Ts, so I think I'll show it anyway...definitely falls in the True Blue category so it's a nice way to start off the week. Reminds me of the beautiful weather here in Hawaii--balmy blue sky and clear blue ocean. Regardless of what the weather is like where you live, look at this Mini Trapper and pretend you're right here with me on the shores of Kealakekua Bay swinging lazily in a hammock sipping a Mai Tai as you're caressed by a gentle tropical breeze without a care in the world. Oh yeah, now that's what I call a True Blue Monday.

Aloha,
~Q~

[jerryd6818]

DAY...???

Day 104
I see ~Q~'s little sabbatical has robbed him of his ability to count.

Just a sneak announcement, there's supposed to be something for me in today's mailbox. Plus, now that I've replaced the battery in the doorbell, I'll know when it gets here (unless I have a substitute carrier today).

[jerryd6818]

Day 105

My latest and the last for now arrived yesterday, too late in the day for pictures. I'm really pleased with her. I think she's a real beaut. ~Q~ is going to have to take it from here because I'm slap out of unposted Mini-Trappers and am lacking the funds to add to the pile. If I find one that lights my fire, maybe next year.

[doglegg]

Jerry, I think you are losing your ability to count as well. You said that is your last one, I think it is only the next to the last one. I even bet the next one will only be the next to the last one.

[QTCut5]

That is a fine specimen indeed, jerryd, and a good one to end on, if end you must.

I, too, am feeling the financial pinch as far as new acquisitions are concerned and surprisingly, I'm also having difficulty finding Mini Ts in my collection that I haven't already posted. OCD Monkey may have lost his power of purchase persuasion, but in order to keep me from becoming a reprehensible rule-breaking repeater, he still makes me comb through every page of this thread before posting a knife to make sure it's not a repeat.

I see ~Q~'s little sabbatical has robbed him of his ability to count.

I never was very good at math, but fortunately I can still count up to two--at least on one particular day of the week since it begins with the number two. Yup, it's that wonderful day known as "Two-For-Tuesday" in which it's perfectly legal to post doubles (i.e., matching pairs).

Now some of you may think that the knife I'm posting for today's Mini TrapPER DIEM is a repeat of the one I posted on DAY 56 (Fri. Oct 26, page 26) during the one-time Friday Fantastic Four Finale to the Wharncliffe Week theme, but you would only be half right (and, by definition, also half wrong, too, I suppose). See if you can determine why.

2002 CASE 6107W Jigged Antique Amber Bone Wharncliffe Mini Trapper

OK, I won't keep you in suspense any longer (besides which, I seriously doubt anyone actually bothered to go back and compare the knife I posted on DAY 56...even though I provided the page number for you, which is more than OCD Monkey did for me, you lazy bums!)

Here is today's Mini TrapPER DIEM with it's nearly identical twin. Together they represent what is very likely my last and final Two-For-Tuesday offering as I have no more pairs that have not been previously shown.

Ah, the awesome beauty of the antique amber bone...is it any wonder it is so ubiquitous? Seeing as how this is the last Two-For-Tuesday pair, I think they derseve one last look. Here they are in all their rich, colorful antique amber glory. If you don't experience a Pavolvian response as you gaze upon these glorious golden-hued beauties, you must have absolutely no aesthetic appreciation whatsoever (either that or maybe you just have dry mouth syndrome!)

So, I guess this is Good-Bye to Ruby Two-For-Tuesday...at least unless and until OCD Monkey regains his power of purchasing persuasion over my impoverished pocketbook (which seems fairly likely since a lack of finances has never proven to be an insurmountable obstacle to him in the past).

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

You're right about one thing ~Q~, that antique amber bone is some attractive, appealing (or what ever adjective you want to use) stuff.

[QTCut5]

DAY 106

Well, Gentlemen, it seems I'm getting close to the bottom of the proverbial mini trapper barrel...not quite scraping it yet, but the last few as yet unposted Mini Ts are few in number and I fear the end is nigh. Back in September when this thread was begun, my intent was to count and document each and every mini trapper in my collection one-by-one, hence the "one knife per day" rule. However, the intervention of unplanned "sabbaticals" and unforeseen monkeyshine (e.g., the Monkey See, Monkey Do Ammendment) led to multiple infractions of the one knife per day rule which effectively curtailed my count and interrupted the systematic cataloging of my inventory. Oh well, it's been an enjoyable experience, nevertheless. I guess I'll just have to count my Mini Trappers the old fashioned way by physically touching each one and saying the number out loud. The problem with doing that is that I tend to get distracted looking at the knives and then my OCD kicks in and I begin reorganizing them and I quickly forget what number I was on...much like when I look up a word in the dictionary and get distracted reading the definitions of other interesting words I happen upon as I search and then I forget what the original word was that I wanted to look up in the first place. You'd think OCD would cause someone to have more focus and a more sustained attention span. But, that darn OCD Monkey is a fickle little rascle and rarely seems to be around when he could actually prove useful. One thing is certain, though: while I may be running out of Mini Trappers to post, I think it's obvious to anyone who has been following this thread that I will never run out of words. (I could go on and on...but, I think I'd better post a photo of a mini trapper before I lose the few followers still remaining to sheer boredom.)

Today's Mini TrapPER DIEM may be at the bottom of my barrel, but it's not what I consider a "bottom feeder" knife; although, the names on the shield and tang stamp might cause you to suspect otherwise. As you'll see by the tang stamp on the backside of the master blade, this "Mink" Mini Trapper was actually made by Schrade. At 3 7/8" it's at the upper end of the scale but still within acceptable range for Mini Trapper status. (If you feel so inclined, check out it's cousin, "Little Bandit" which I posted on DAY 33, page 16, during "Unusual/Out of the Ordinary theme week.)

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

Once again you've sent me off to eBay to scroll through the Case Mini-Trappers and of course finding at least two to put on my "must have" wish-list. You're a good friend ~Q~ but a bad influence. I keep waiting for my mother to pop out of the grave and tell me I can't hang out with you anymore.

[Lansky1]

Love those blue Mini T's from Monday Q - always one of my fave's

[QTCut5]

Once again you've sent me off to eBay to scroll through the Case Mini-Trappers and of course finding at least two to put on my "must have" wish-list. You're a good friend ~Q~ but a bad influence.

You'd just better hope the OCD Mini-Trapper Monkey on my back doesn't have his greedy little monkey eyes focused in on the same Mini Ts that you put on your "must have" wish list; because, if so, well...let's just say, there's no such thing as the "Christmas Spirit of Giving" in OCD Monkey world. However, he is an avid believer in the "Any-Season-No-Reason-Required Spirit of Receiving" when it comes to the concept of gifts...or, as it's more commonly known in the original OCD Monkey language, "Gimmee, Gimmee, Gimmee!"

By the way, my friends' mothers generally find me quite charming. And, after they've known me for awhile, they usually end up encouraging their sons to "be more like ~Q~...he's such a nice, respectful young man with excellent taste in Mini-Trappers" (which is exactly what I would expect your dear mother to say to you were she ever to "pop up out of her grave.")

~Q~

[QTCut5]

Love those blue Mini T's from Monday Q - always one of my fave's

Thanks, John. I, too, am a big fan of all the Case blues. Although, I just realized that I incorrectly identified that one as "Caribbean Blue" when in fact it is actually "Blue Lagoon."

Case has so many different names for the color "blue" that I sometimes get them mixed up. Maybe after I've run out of Mini-TrapPER DIEMs, I might show a group photo of all my blue Case knives and have one last contest to see if anyone can correctly identify all the blue names for each knife.

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

You'd just better hope the OCD Mini-Trapper Monkey on my back doesn't have his greedy little monkey eyes focused in on the same Mini Ts that you put on your "must have" wish list; because, if so, well...let's just say, there's no such thing as the "Christmas Spirit of Giving" in OCD Monkey world. However, he is an avid believer in the "Any-Season-No-Reason-Required Spirit of Receiving" when it comes to the concept of gifts...or, as it's more commonly known in the original OCD Monkey language, "Gimmee, Gimmee, Gimmee!"

~Q~

I must be too short because all that went right over my head. "Say what?"

[QTCut5]

I must be too short because all that went right over my head. "Say what?"

You & I may be friends, jerryd, but if we end up bidding against each other for the same Mini-Trapper(s) on eBay, the OCD Mini-Trapper Monkey on my back will automatically assume command of the situation and show no mercy. Although he enjoys getting free stuff like candy on Halloween and presents on Christmas, OCD Monkey does not otherwise recognize or observe holidays nor their corresponding traditions of charitable giving, i.e., he only receives, he never gives (he's a very selfish, sociopathic simian).

~Q~

[jerryd6818]

Ahh, gottcha. Now I understand. It's a dog eat dog world out there. Your philosophy on eBay auctions is "every man for himself". I would have never expected anything less.

[QTCut5]

DAY 107

Today's lesson, boys and girls, is about the basic economics of supply and demand. It's no secret that when a government, no matter how well-intentioned, bans a popular commodity, it doesn't necessarily reduce the demand...in fact, often, prohibition only ends up causing scarcity, i.e., less supply, which drives up prices and can lead to the establishment of an underground black market. This phenemenon has been seen at various times throughout history; some of the more notable examples include alcohol, switchblades and recreational drugs--you know, the really good stuff that makes life fun, interesting and/or tolerable. (On a side note: it's curious that the government has never banned war or marshmallows--those things are disgusting and have no redeeming social or nutritional value whatsoever!)

By now, I'm sure you know what this is leading to: Ivory. For as long as I have been a knife collector, my all-time favorite handle material has always been ivory. I don't know why, but it's true. There's something about ivory that quickens my pulse and touches my soul like no other substance in the world. As far as I'm concerned, ivory is the gold standard of knife handle materials...in fact, "gold standard" is a misnomer, it should be called the "ivory standard" since ivory is not only more rare, but much more desirable than gold. I could fill a page or two praising the beauty of ivory, but I know you would rather just look at some pictures; although, to be perfectly honest, pictures only tell half the story--ivory really must be held, touched and felt to fully appreciate the depth and scope of it's incomparable essence.

Today's Mini TrapPER DIEM is a rare Case IV207 with factory ivory and scrimshaw.

And, since today is Threesday, allow me to present this trio of Case Ivory Mini Trappers all bearing the "IV" prefix in the pattern number tang stamp to denote genuine ivory.

~Q~

[doglegg]

Q that top one in the middle pic is exceptional. All are beautiful but the glow about that one just sucks you in. Great piece!

[QTCut5]

I agree, Floyd, that 25,000 yr old fossilized Mastadon Ivory is sweet. I did post this one as my Mini TrapPER DIEM on DAY 70, but, at the risk of being guilty of reckless repetition, I think it deserves another curtain call for old time's sake (although these photos don't nearly do it justice...but, like I said, ivory really requires an in-person, up close visual inspection and full tactile experience for proper appreciation).

~Q~