All About Pocket Knives

Chris, I'm a nosey old bugger. Send me a PM with your guesses (I'll keep them in confidence) and welcome to the brotherhood of Mini-Trapper ownership. As you can probably guess, ~Q~ is the Grand Poobah of the Order.

Congratulations on acquiring not one but two of this fine pattern. They grow on you.

Hey Chris.. Welcome to the Mini-Trapper Clan.. I am just a field filler here.. Toss in a pic or2 now and then.. John

If by "Grand Poobah" you mean the irresponsible, irredeemable, unrepentant, degenerate addict willfully careening uncontrollably towards imminent self-destruction in a raging Mini Trapper torrent of my own making into the depths of a fiery inferno of no return...well, then...yeah...that would be accurate.

The truly tragic aspect of all this is that I continue trying to seduce others into joining me in this one-way hand-basket free-fall into Hades like some pathetic, strung-out, two-bit Mini Trapper pusher lurking in the shadows behind the bleachers at a school yard playground:
"C'mon, kid...what'sa matter, you chicken? How you gonna know if you like it unless you try it? Just one Mini Trapper won't hurt. I won't squeal on ya, I swear. And, besides, you can always quit anytime you want to."


~Q~

jmh58 wrote:Hey Chris.. Welcome to the Mini-Trapper Clan.. I am just a field filler here.. Toss in a pic or2 now and then.. John

...and so it begins!

~Q~

BTW--I forgot to mention this on DAY 1...but if any of the Mini Trappers I post in this thread really call out to you...please let me know. I'm always interested in selling or swapping (and sometimes, if I'm feeling particularly generous, just flat out giving away) any of the knives in my collection at any time. No need to be shy...worst case scenario I'll say, No thanks (but those of you who have dealt with me know how rarely I ever actually say that).

Just something to keep in mind.

~Q~

Dang, ~Q~. Your opinion of yourself is nowhere near as high as my opinion of you. I see you as a leader. The Drum Major of the band at some prestigious University.

jerryd6818 wrote:Dang, ~Q~. Your opinion of yourself is nowhere near as high as my opinion of you. I see you as a leader. The Drum Major of the band at some prestigious University.

Ah-ha...another loyal, albeit innocently blinded, disciple who has drunk the Kool-Aid.

Here, allow me to refill your cup.

~Q~

Mmmm, Kool-Aid, (in my best Homer Simpson impersonation)

DAY 16

I'm always hesitant to order a stag handled knife from a seller based on a stock photo because, unlike other handle materials, stag scales aren't all the same. Each antler is naturally unique, no two are exactly alike. The individual characteristics inherent in stag make each knife one-of-a-kind. It's risky enough to purchase a knife based on photos of the actual knife and a written description without being able to hold it and personally examine it first. So, every time I order a stag handled knife based solely on a stock photo and a boilerplate description, I feel an even greater sense of trepidation since I am essentially purchasing it "sight unseen."

Sometimes that's a risk I'm willing to take. And when I do, I just cross my fingers and hope I'm not disappointed when I open the box and see it for the first time. That is exactly what happened with today's Mini TrapPER DIEM which I purchased from Shepherd Hills. I feel it was totally worth the risk as this is one very attractive knife, if I do say so myself. Although it doesn't look anything at all like the stock photo on their website, I'm very pleased with it.
~Q~

Like many other knife hoarders, Stag is my favorite handle material. Since I don't have an 07 with real Stag handles, y'all will just have to settle for faux stag (6.5 bone stag).

OK, this is driving me crazy. I'm pretty sure I understand Case's tang stamp date code, but this one (shown on Shepherd Hills Cutlery website) doesn't seem to make sense. I don't see this particular date configuration on any of the tang stamp charts from 2000-2019 (which I copied from Case Collector Club Case College). Can someone please explain it to me? What am I missing?
~Q~

QTCut5 wrote:OK, this is driving me crazy. I'm pretty sure I understand Case's tang stamp date code, but this one (shown on Shepherd Hills Cutlery website) doesn't seem to make sense. I don't see this particular date configuration on any of the tang stamp charts from 2000-2019 (which I copied from Case Collector Club Case College). Can someone please explain it to me? What am I missing?

Case 5207 Midnight Stag.jpg2000TangStamps.jpg2010-2019 Tang Stamps.jpg

~Q~

~Q~ I wouldn't bet my last dollar on it but I think it's quite possible that whoever laid out the chart, got it wrong OR the stamp for 2017 was made incorrectly and they decided it wasn't that important, "Let's just leave it." Kind of "Good enough for government work" kind of attitude. Costs too much to make new stamps? Purely guess work on my part.

This is the kind of thing that puts my OCD into OVRDrive.



~Q~

Q,
I have a possible answer for this issue, maybe.
Could the photo of the knife have been enhanced in some way? A couple of years ago, Shepherd Hills showed a picture of a 6265 Folding Hunter. It showed the handles with complete gun stock style checkering. The jigging went from bolster to bolster but when the knife arrived the areas near the bolsters had been hafted smooth to blend in with the bolster. No real problem but the picture in the ad was not the same as the knife I received. (Jerryd, I think you bought one at the same time.) I don't know the proper terms, photo-shopping/enhanced, but it would seem making the knife photo presentable for the advertisement maybe someone changed the X's. They for sure changed the jigging on the 6265 unless of course there were some with full handle checkering.
I looked at several charts online and the 2017 has 1 X on top and 2 X's on the bottom, just like the one you posted.
Treefarmer

I suppose I'm just going to have to accept that it's either an inexplicable error or an intentional alteration made to the photo for some unknown advertising/marketing purpose. Doesn't do anything to calm my OCD, though...very unsatisfying.

It would be very interesting to know if anyone actually has a knife with the same date stamp as the one shown on the SH website---as well as if anyone ever received a 6265 Folding Hunter with bolster-to-bolster checkered handle scales like the one that was shown on the website.

~Q~

~Q~, stop driving yourself crazy and call Case (or send a message). Explain the situation and ask them "whas up?"

DAY 17



It goes without saying that, like most things--with the possible exception of "all men" (according to the U.S. Constitution, anyway)--all Mini Trappers are definitely NOT created equal. Plainly stated, some are simply better than others for a multitude of reasons. This is neither surprising nor debatable...it's just plain fact. What I sometimes do find surprising, however, as well as somewhat distressing, is the low level of quality some otherwise great and noble American company brand names are willing to allow their hard-won, well-earned reputations to be attached to and associated with for whatever reason.

When I was a boy I almost always used Remington bullets in my .22 rifle for target practice and shooting jack rabbits because that was the least expensive and most readily available brand of ammunition at the local KMart in the small town where I grew up. I liked Remington...it was a brand I grew up using and, over time, trusting to the point that years later, after moving away from that small town, I continued to buy and use Remington bullets even when I had a much wider selection of ammunition to choose from. I guess I had developed a certain degree of brand loyalty without ever being consciously aware of it.

To be perfectly honest, if the Mini Trapper I'm showing today is at all representative of the quality of their modern knives, I can only hope Remington makes better quality ammunition and puts more effort into their firearms (for customer safety and company liability issues, if nothing else). I realize there are obvious economic reasons for why a company may lower their quality standards or even choose to move production overseas; nevertheless, it's always a shame to see such an iconic American brand like Remington allow its once-respected name and trusted reputation to be degraded by association with lower quality products regardless of where they are made. I can only suppose that it must boil down to a matter of basic company survival at the expense of producing higher quality, more expensive products. Still, it surely must be painful for any company to be forced into having to make such difficult compromises in order to survive. I can't help but wonder if brand loyalty and pride in the quality of the products being produced are ever given any serious consideration when the executive board members are making these difficult decisions, or does maximizing shareholder profits outweigh all other concerns?

At least they didn't compromise on the color of the knife. As long as I can remember, Remington cartridge boxes have always come in a particular shade of green which is the color of my Mini TrapPER DIEM for today. Fortunately, some things, albeit admittedly very few, seem to be able to remain immune to the power of the almighty dollar.

I should mention that, although it's not the highest quality Mini Trapper in my collection, this Remington R-43 is still functionally "adequate" as a pocket knife and far from the lowest quality Mini Trapper I own.

~Q~

Not all Remington's are created equal. Some are made by Camillus. Some are made by Bear & Son. And some are made in a Pacific Rim country. I've been contemplating the purchase of a Remington Mini-Trapper but after reading your story above, I think I'll just pass on that brand. Thanks for the heads up.

Abandoning "Monkey see, Monkey do" for today, I've chosen this Pacific Rim Mini-Trapper for Day 17. The 'walk' on the main blade is kind of gravelly, even after a bit of Quick Release. The 'talk' on the main is loud and positive. The spey blade is just the opposite. The 'walk' is smooth and easy but the 'talk' is a little on the anemic side. Looks are in the eye of the beer holder and I'm quite satisfied with the looks of this one. The handles are 'etched' (?) stainless steel.

Q it is sad that quality of something once known for its quality has degraded. Their .22 rimfires have faired no better. Might be alright for plinking where a thud instead of a bang is ok. I shoot bulls eye and when the rapid fire comes along where it is 5 shots in 10 seconds, you can't afford a dud. With Remington there are lots of duds. Sadly no one who shoots with our group will use them anymore.

jerryd: if I had to guess who made my Remington, Bear & Son would definitely be my first guess...the "feel" and quality are practically identical to the B&S knives I have had the misfortune and poor judgement to purchase in the past.

As for your Rough Rider, I gotta admit, that's a darn fine looking knife. But the W&T issues you mentioned are among some of the reasons I've personally had a hard time warming up to this brand. By many accounts, RR does seem to be improving since I purchased my first ones years ago when I first saw them in the SMKW catalog. But, alas...brand loyalty can cut both ways (no pun intended): if my first experience with a new brand is negative, I'm reluctant to give it a second chance (once bitten, twice shy), despite the alluring array of unique pattern variations and unbelievably low cost. In fact, the only reason I own any Rough Rider knives at all is entirely due to your favorable reviews of some of the RRs you've shown over in the Ode To The 07 thread.

Floyd: I am saddened but not too surprised to hear of your experience regarding the decline in quality of Remington products. Although it's been many years since I've owned or even fired a gun, the last time I did I was sorely disappointed in and frustrated with the inconsistency and unreliability of Remington bullets and consequently stopped buying them altogether. As the saying goes, "The bitter taste of poor quality lasts long after the sweetness of a bargain price has been long forgotten." GEC is a perfect example of the concept that people are willing and eager to pay top dollar for quality made knives...even to the point of absurdly, outrageously, unjustifiably and ridiculously high prices on the secondary market. One would think that other American knife manufacturers (what few still remain) would be wise and do well to take note and, as much as possible, attempt to emulate GEC's business model.

~Q~

My take on the chart.. The chart was made up and printed LONG before the tangs were stamped and who ever set up the stamping paid no attention to the way it was done on the chart... John

John: Interesting theory but the date stamp on the 2017 Midnight Stag Mini Trapper I have matches the chart. So, that proves that the chart is consistent with actual tang stamps. I would really like to see an actual knife that has a date stamp like the one in the Shepherd Hills photo, because that one is the anomaly.

~Q~

DAY 18

YAY...it's Tuesday...my favorite day of the week because of the universally accepted "Two-For-Tuesday" rule which allows for the posting of TWO Mini Trappers instead of just only one. Although there is no rule that says they have to be identical "carbon copies" of each other, there is an unspoken, but generally accepted, rule that requires the two Mini Ts to have at least something in common; some common characteristic(s) that in some way connects them and, hopefully, also connects them in some way to the weekly theme (this may require a bit of imagination depending on what Mini Trappers you have to choose from). Also, keep in mind that repeating a Mini Trapper that has previously been shown is strictly forbidden--as per decree of the Supreme Ruler/Grand Poobah of the Mini TrapPER DIEM thread.
(Don't make me execute my executive powers of enforcement )

So far this week, I've been presenting Mini Trappers that relate to a "hunting" theme by showing stag handled knives and knives bearing the brand names of gun manufacturers. Today's Two Mini TrapPER DIEMs are related to the weekly theme in that they are made by one of the most ubiquitous and universally recognized brands of outdoor sporting equipment in the world: Coleman.

Has any one of us ever ventured into the great outdoors without some piece of Coleman equipment? I don't think I ever have. From propane stoves to lanterns to just about anything you could possibly need to establish base camp and bivouac alike, Coleman makes all the basic necessities (and, indeed even some camping "luxuries" like a solar heated portable shower). And, unlike so much of the cheap camping gear available in today's disposable market economy, Coleman products continue to maintain a high standard of quality and enduring performance.

It gives me great pleasure to present this pair of Coleman Mini Trappers. Their quality is impeccable in every respect. They were made in Seki, Japan, so naturally I would expect nothing less. Walk & Talk, Fit & Finish, AUS-8 Blade Steel, etc., etc.,...there's literally nothing about these knives that I do not like. Although, put a gun to my head (preferably one loaded with Remington bullets!) and I would have to confess that I really wish I could find one in Coleman Green!
~Q~

Cool trappers Q. I think the stag is my pick, and the tang stamps are perfect.

'preferably loaded with Remington bullets' I may have to relinquish my last name on that one.

Great looking knives, I likey. It would be cool if they made one in Coleman greenbone.