Ode To The 07

[QTCut5]

And a 1972 had eight dots. Finally I can participate. Once.

A 1972 07........ Thank you 313 Mike

jerryd, your Job-like patience is commendable and I'm glad that at last you're "on the (timeline) board". Your 1972 6207 from 313 Mike is a fine specimen indeed. Based on it's appearance and condition, I'd wager it has a fascinating history; if only it could tell us where it's been and what it has seen and done. Unfortunately, it can't...but you certainly can share a bit of you own history, jerryd. So, tell us, if you please, where were you and what were you up to in '72 when your Mini-T was being made?

[TPK]

Hi Q. I don't know if it was these two knives or two other knives that you posted somewhere else but I noticed a difference in the profile of the master clip blades just like you have here by these. I was going to mention it to you at the time when I saw it but I just figured you knew it & I didn't want to be asking stupid questions. If I remember correctly it was in the thread about knife pairs a few (3-5) weeks ago.
Just thought I'd mention it that you have posted a pair with different master blades before but I didn't mention it when I saw it. Next time I will.

Tom, you may be thinking of these two 6207s from 1980 that I posted a few pages back in this same thread.
P9240021.JPGP9240026.JPG

At the time I noticed the difference, I wasn't sure if one of the blades had been modified or if Case actually used two different clip blade sizes/profiles on 07s made in the same year. I had pretty much come to agree with Modern Slip Joints' conclusion that one of the blades had been modified because that was the only example of different master clip blades I had ever seen on a 07...until recently, that is, with the discovery of the different clip blades on my two USA era 6207s. So, now I'm just as befuddled as I was before. Guess the only way to know for certain would be to get the answer straight from the horse's mouth, i.e., contact the Case historian.

It could have been these knives. I can't remember Q.

But I can remember what I thought. I'll tell you what I thought at the time. I thought..., "Hmm those two blades look different. Should I say something to him about it? Maybe one is shaped wrong or something? / (Then I paniced!) NO! NO! NO! Don't say anything Tom!!! Whatever you do SHUT UP!!! Remember when you asked him about his smiley shield being upside down and he suggested that maybe all your shields are upside down? Remember how that messed with your mind Tom? Don't say anything about it! He'll screw up your mind! All your knives will have "miss shaped" blades & you'll want to get rid of all your knives."

That's about what I thought. LOL! Please don't tell me all my blades are "miss shaped" Q.

[jerryd6818]

And a 1972 had eight dots. Finally I can participate. Once.

A 1972 07........ Thank you 313 Mike

jerryd, your Job-like patience is commendable and I'm glad that at last you're "on the (timeline) board". Your 1972 6207 from 313 Mike is a fine specimen indeed. Based on it's appearance and condition, I'd wager it has a fascinating history; if only it could tell us where it's been and what it has seen and done. Unfortunately, it can't...but you certainly can share a bit of you own history, jerryd. So, tell us, if you please, where were you and what were you up to in '72 when your Mini-T was being made?

Ahh, 1972. I was still working for NCR (National Cash Register for all you young pups). We had sold our house in '71, bought 5 acres up near the state line and moved into an apartment. In '72 I traded off my beloved 1970 Olds 442 and bought a '72 Chevy Monte Carlo 350 because the price of gas had gone up & mileage on the 442 was baaad (actually it wasn't a ton better on the Chevy). That's also the year I bought my first motorcycle, a '71 Honda CL350 and yes, it's a web picture but that is the color it was.

[samb1955]

Jerry, my older brother had on just like it that I rode quite a few times.

[jerryd6818]

That little buzz bomb took us all over the place until I traded it for a new '75 Moto Guzzi 850T. Loved that bike.

[cody6268]

I'd love to see a version like this.

Clip plain-edge main, serrated Wharncliffe. CV steel, G-10 handles. But I'm sure Case won't ever make such a knife.

[QTCut5]

I'd love to see a version like this.

Clip plain-edge main, serrated Wharncliffe. CV steel, G-10 handles. But I'm sure Case won't ever make such a knife.

I think you're probably right, cody, I don't believe Case has put a serrated Wharncliffe on a 6207 since the "1st Issue" 207WHSS that was released in the early 1990s.

But, if you were willing to compromise on the CV and G-10 and accept two out of your four wishes, this model doesn't come around for sale very often. (and you could always rehandle it with G-10 if you really wanted to).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CASE-XX-USA-19 ... 1438.l2649

[QTCut5]

Cool motorcycle, jerryd.

MTTP: Dot Era - 1972

When I was a kid I was absolutely obsessed with two things: pocket knives and motorcycles; but, in 1972 I was still a child and not allowed to have either. 1972 was also the year of a major relocation for me, as well, after my father quit his job at Stanford University in Mountain View, CA and took a new job at the University of Wyoming. This move was a dream come true for me because even though it would still be another five years before I was allowed to get my first motorcycle (a Yamaha YZ 125), the wide open prairieland around Laramie was perfectly suited to nurturing the dreams of an adventurous lad like myself and provided plenty of off-road areas for me to practice my (non-motorized) dirt bike skills. Additionally, the still somewhat "old west" culture of Wyoming was especially tolerant...encouraging even, when it came to pocket knife ownership; everybody wore cowboy boots and carried a knife and wouldn't consider leaving the house without one any more than the other.

I don't remember how much I paid for my first pocket knife, all I remember is that it seemed to take an entire summer for me to save up the .25 cents per week I got for mowing the lawn plus whatever change I could hustle from our neighbors for doing other odd jobs around the neighborhood to afford it. Nearly every afternoon I would ride my bike a couple miles to the drugstore in town to stare at the different knives in the Case display on the counter and dream about owning every one of them. I'll never forget the feeling I had the day I walked out of the store with a brand new pocket knife in my jeans...at the ripe old age of ten I had become a man!

I no longer have that first knife (wish I did), but I remember it well; it was a Case 6207 Mini Trapper very much like this one from 1972:

[cody6268]

I'd love to see a version like this.

Clip plain-edge main, serrated Wharncliffe. CV steel, G-10 handles. But I'm sure Case won't ever make such a knife.

I think you're probably right, cody, I don't believe Case has put a serrated Wharncliffe on a 6207 since the "1st Issue" 207WHSS that was released in the early 1990s.

But, if you were willing to compromise on the CV and G-10 and accept two out of your four wishes, this model doesn't come around for sale very often. (and you could always rehandle it with G-10 if you really wanted to).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CASE-XX-USA-19 ... 1438.l2649

That's good enough by my math. I like the bone on it as well. Gonna have to look into that one pretty soon.

[QTCut5]

That's good enough by my math. I like the bone on it as well. Gonna have to look into that one pretty soon.

I see that it's been sold and I can't say as I'm too surprised; those 1st Issue 207s tend to be a hot item for collectors. I must admit that I was sorely tempted to get it myself because I really like that honey bone, but since I already have one, I forced the Monkey to resist the urge. If you bought it, I hope you'll post some pics of it here after you receive it.

[jerryd6818]

Folks will want to know what you're talking about.
Looks like a rat has been gnawing on that Wharncliffe blade.

[QTCut5]

MTTP: Dot Era - 1973

Compared to the previous years leading up to it, 1973 might seem rather dull and unremarkable. Depending on your perspective, events from 1973 could be seen as good, bad or controversial. But one thing is certain: 1973 was far from dull.

Citing progress in peace negotiations, President Richard Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam and the last United States troops leave South Vietnam on March 29, ending America's direct military involvement in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War (1959-1973) resulted in the death of 58,167 Americans, 1.2 million North Vietnamese and Southern resistance fighters (Viet Cong), and 2 million civilians.

January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court overturns state bans on abortion in it's landmark ruling Roe v. Wade.

In 1973 the average annual family income was on the rise and up to $12,900, average cost for a new house was $32,500, federal minimum wage was $1.60/hr. On January 3, 1973, George Steinbrenner III (with a syndicate of eleven other men) purchased the New York Yankees from CBS for $8.8 million. Jan 11, owners of American League baseball teams voted to adopt the designated-hitter rule on a trial basis.

Apr 3, In NYC Martin Cooper, a general manager for Motorola, called rival AT&T making the first cell phone call (using a cell phone the size of a brick). Recombinant DNA is invented which is the foundational technology for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in food products.

OPEC oil embargo leads to gas shortages, rationing and long lines at gas stations. Price for a gallon of gas quadruples from .25 cents to $1.00.


At first glance, the brown bone on my 1973 6207 may seem somewhat dull and unremarkable compared to the red bone handles on Mini Trappers from earlier years. But when viewed under different light it reveals a hidden character all its own which is not dull at all.

[Hesmikeb]

I only have one...I think but after this thread I will be searching for more. I do love to carry this pattern

[QTCut5]

I only have one...I think but after this thread I will be searching for more. I do love to carry this pattern

Right On, Hesmikeb, welcome to the Mini-T club! Your 6207 looks like a 1990s vintage and the jigged chestnut bone is beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing more of your 07s (when you get some).

[QTCut5]

MTTP: Dot Era - 1974

1974 was a year with a whole lotta shake ups. Muhammad Ali regains the heavyweight boxing title in the "Rumble in the Jungle" (Oct. 30), President Nixon is impeached and resigns from office, national 55 MPH speed limit is imposed, Patty Hearst gets kidnapped, the Universal Product Code is scanned for the first time at a retail store, Derek Jeter is born, Hank Aaron dethrones Babe Ruth as MLB's home run leader, Evel Knievel fails to cross the Snake River Canyon (Idaho) in his rocket-propelled 'Skycycle', daylight saving time commences nearly four months early in the United States In response to the 1973 energy crisis, OPEC ends oil embargo. Oh, and the Rubik's Cube is invented--effectively separating the world into two groups: the "genius-geeks" and us "stupid idiots" who can't solve it in under one minute (or at all in my case ).


If this 6207 is any indication, it would seem that something was "shaking" at the Case factory in 1974 as well. Although not horribly unattractive, the handle scales on this knife are so bizarrely mismatched it almost has the appearance of what is called a "Magician's" knife with two completely different color covers on either side. The tang stamp is a double-strike which, according to some individuals, makes it more rare and therefore more 'collectible', but to me it just looks like a factory error and does not enhance the value of the knife at all--in fact, IMO, a knife with a double-struck tang stamp should be culled out and either never sold, or marked accordingly and sold as a factory second. Finally, the pen blade sits so proud in the blade well that the tip catches on or pokes the two things it comes into contact with most: fingers and pockets, and essentially renders this knife a potential hazard to carry. Perhaps this 07 was given the "rope-a-dope" treatment by Muhammad Ali.

[treefarmer]

Quite an interesting post, Q! History and knife making rolled into one.
Since as you say, the knife should have been sold as a second or culled, what will you do with it? Keep it as an example of 1974 and all that went wrong?
I suppose if you dropped the pen blade to allow the point to be below the frame, you would also have to make the cut out a bit bigger to catch the nail nick then you could call it an EDC and enjoy it. As for the color of the handles, I remember reading that back in the day, handle color didn't always match perfectly. I think "back in the day" was earlier than 1974.
Thanks for giving us something to wonder about.
Treefarmer

[QTCut5]

Quite an interesting post, Q! History and knife making rolled into one.
Since as you say, the knife should have been sold as a second or culled, what will you do with it?

Thank you, Philip.

Although I would've preferred my 1974 6207 to have no flaws, it's strictly a safe queen, not a user; so, with the exception of the proud pen blade (which really annoys me), I consider the other issues to be merely cosmetic curiosities that make this knife somewhat unique in my Mini-T collection. I'll keep it but I won't be carrying or using it.

[QTCut5]

MTTP: Dot Era - 1978

Brown Bone

[doglegg]

Love the brown bone.

[Grump01]

All these 07's w/ pen instead of spey lately has me itch'n to find one myself. Wow!!!

Well, what's stopping you from scratch'n that itch, Grump?

Personally, I don't know how any knife lover could resist something as beautiful as this:
1965-69 Case 6207.jpg

QTCut......Well I done it and quit scratchin'. Did a buy now on the bay at Knifeaholic's store, (couldn't find a store by him here on AAPK) it's on the way.
Bid on a 2nd one also, but didn't have my top bid high enough and fell asleep at the wheel and missed out at the end last night. So, I ended up and just bought 3 more buy it now's off of Knifeaholic's store, 1 each of 3 different patterns I don't have. I'm not a haggler when it comes to "Make an Offer", so just jump when the itch is bad enough, it's only money.

[QTCut5]

QTCut......Well I done it and quit scratchin'. Did a buy now on the bay at Knifeaholic's store, (couldn't find a store by him here on AAPK) it's on the way.
Bid on a 2nd one also, but didn't have my top bid high enough and fell asleep at the wheel and missed out at the end last night. So, I ended up and just bought 3 more buy it now's off of Knifeaholic's store, 1 each of 3 different patterns I don't have. I'm not a haggler when it comes to "Make an Offer", so just jump when the itch is bad enough, it's only money.

Aha! So it must've been you who beat me to the punch on knifeaholic's 1977 6207. Funny story...I was literally in the process of making an offer on that knife when I received a notice that it had just been sold. Well played, Grump! I hope you will post some pics here after you receive it.

Love the brown bone.

Thank you, Floyd. Between my limited photography skills and my cheap little Olympus digital camera, I had a dickens of a time trying to get some decent photos of that knife. Much like MOP and Ivory, the true depth and character of Brown Bone can sometimes be difficult to capture in photos. I had to take a ton of pictures in different light both indoors and outside before I got some pics I was satisfied with. A picture may be worth 1000 words, but, as I'm sure you know, it can never replace the in-person, in-hand, IRL visual experience.

[QTCut5]

MTTP: Dot Era - 1979

The Dot era began in 1970 and in the final year of the decade Case made significant changes that altered the look of the Mini Trapper henceforth. The basic design of the 07 pattern had remained unchanged since it was first released nearly 60 years earlier; but, in 1979 the 07 got a radical makeover with a new blade style and configuration that became standard on Case Mini Trappers from then on. Not only was the profile of the master Clip blade changed to a Turkish Clip (which I believe is sometimes also called a "California Clip" or "Muskrat Clip"), but the secondary Pen blade was replaced with a Spay blade (and, for the record, "spay" and "spey" are both accepted as correct spellings, although "spay" is generally considered "more correct" and "spey" a variant). The addition of the Spay blade is likely the reason the 07 became known as a "Mini Trapper" as it is commonly called today.

At first, the "1879 Bradford Centennial 1979" blade etch on my 1979 Mini Trapper confused me because I assumed it commemorated Case's 100 year anniversary in Bradford, PA. However, that couldn't possibly be true since Case wasn't even incorporated as a company until 1889 and wasn't establish in Bradford until 1905.

A brief review of Case history:
W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery traces its roots back to 1889, when the Case brothers began making knives and selling them along a wagon trail in upstate New York. William Russell (W.R.), Jean, John and Andrew Case, formerly of the Cattaraugus Cutlery Company – began selling cutlery from the back of a wagon in various small western New York villages. In January 1900, the brothers incorporated to form Case Brothers Cutlery Company and in 1902 they built their own factory in Little Valley, New York. In 1905 the company relocated to its current home in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

This photo shows the modern Case factory in Bradford, PA.

This 1979 5207 Stag Mini Trapper sports the reconfigured blade design and set up; the blade etch commemorates the 100 year anniversary of Bradford's city charter in 1879.

Fun tidbit of personal trivia: In 1979 I was living in Rochester, NY, which is a mere 125 miles north of Bradford, PA. Although at that time I was very much into knives, I was not yet interested in knife collecting or knife history and was not aware of the significance of Bradford to the history of Case knives. (It's a shame I was not interested in knife history since Rochester itself is rich with Robeson Cutlery Company history.)


My (still-incomplete) set of 1970s decade Case 07 Mini Trappers

[Ivoryman]

Gorgeous group. You're a knife museum. Man those red bones. Mmmmmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnnnnn. Love the group shot.

[Lansky1]

Here's the only 2 - 6207's I have from the 70's ... if anybody likes hard snap - this is a good place to start. These are a couple of my fave's, Case got it right with these 70's 07's ---->

[Hideaway Knives]

Great pieces thanks for the pics!