All About Pocket Knives

I guess the only thing that makes this (Chinese) Puma Mini-T unusual is that I had never seen a Puma Mini-T before. Live and learn.

DAY 32

...as long as the subject of previously unseen Chinese-made Mini Trappers has been introduced...And since it's "Two-For-Tuesday"...

For my Mini TrapPER DIEM entries today I present two Chinese-made Mini Trappers that are both unusual and out of the ordinary in several aspects. Curiously, it's the very abnormalities that they have in common that allow them to be presented together as a pair despite the fact that at first glance they appear to be much too different to qualify under the "Two-For-Tuesday" rule.

The most obvious, non-standard, unusual, out of the ordinary and totally unique feature on both of these Rough Rider Mini Trappers is clearly the lock-back on the master blade. Why there's no corresponding lock on the spey blade is anyone's guess and certainly cause for wonder--surely it can't be to reduce the production cost since these RR's basically already sell for what amounts to little more than pocket change as it is. But, a blade lock on a Mini Trapper is most definitely out of the ordinary.

On a more personal collection level, these two are the only Rough Rider knives I own; so, I consider that out of the ordinary...at least as far as my collection is concerned, anyway.

One final detail that makes these two unusual to me and my collection: the shields. Truth be told, the only reason I even bought the white jigged bone Mini Trapper in the first place is because I liked the Battle Axe shield (the Chevron bolster grooves are unique, too; I don't think I've ever seen that on any other knife before). As for the larger Mini Trapper, I liked the Acorn shield, but I was also drawn to the Smooth Tobacco Bone handle...both of which are unique features in my Mini Trapper collection.
~Q~

Interesting. I had forgotten all about this one. It's one of the first Rough Riders I bought. Acquired it because I thought the lock was unusual and it was inexpensive (under $10 back then). Got it in hand and discovered a lockback is just not my cup of tea. So it has set in the roll for probably the last five years or so. Your time to be acknowledged old girl.

jerryd6818 wrote:Acquired it because I thought the lock was unusual and discovered a lockback is just not my cup of tea.

I have to agree with you on that, jerryd; I don't care much for the lock back on my Rough Riders, either. However, the spring tension on mine is a bit on the softer side (don't get me wrong here, they both have OK snap--not super strong, just OK--but the pull is disconcertingly light), so if I were ever to use them, I might be glad to have the lock.

IMO--Rough Rider Knives are made specifically for the collector market, i.e., their main purpose is to be displayed and looked at more than carried and used...but, as always, YMMV.

~Q~

For quite some time I've been thinking about getting one of those with the war axe shields. I've held off, just because it's a lock back. I may break down and do it but I have some more thinkin' to do. Do I do or do I don't?

As shields go, it definitely is one of the more interesting & unique shields, no doubt about it. In fact, it's one of those rare cases in which it's worth buying the knife just for the shield, IMHO.

~Q~

DAY 33

The unusual/out of the ordinary features that were the main focus of yesterday's Mini TrapPER DIEM entries seemed to be lock backs and shields. As I was trying to come up with another "unusual" Mini Trapper that I could post today, I went digging around in some of the abandoned mine shafts deep within Mini Trapper Mountain and I happened upon this long-forgotten knife which fits the theme so perfectly it's almost as if it were specifically made just for this purpose; I quickly realized that I would be hard-pressed to come up with a better example that fits this week's theme.

Like the Rough Riders, this knife also has a locking mechanism; however, instead of a Lock Back, this one has a Liner Lock...which I can unequivocally state without any hesitation or reserve whatsoever is the only Mini Trapper I have ever seen with this type of blade lock. So, that factor alone makes this knife highly unusual and far from ordinary.

But, wait...(as usual)...there's more...

Consider the shield: "Parker-Frost"--two well-known (if not always well-regarded or highly respected) names in the cutlery industry. But, the real kicker is the third name, "Schrade" stamped on the backside of the tang. How many knives have you ever seen that bear the names of three such prolific, legendary giants of the cutlery industry on a single knife? Very few, I'd wager.

Added to all that, there's also the fact that this knife has only a single clip point blade which, of course, begs the question why it's called a "Trapper" at all since there's no spey blade. After all, isn't the spey blade what essentially transforms a basic Dogleg Jack into a "Trapper"? (We've covered this question previously in this thread, so I won't belabor it any further at this time.)

And then there's the interesting and seemingly innocent (if not innocuous) blade etch: "Little Bandit" with the image of a Raccoon--isn't that just adorable! It doesn't take a zoologist or a Fish & Game wildlife expert (nor an English major trained in literary deconstruction and symbolism, for that matter), to recognize the subtle nuances and potential significance that such an image conveys. No, all it requires is anyone who's ever had an experience with Raccoons in the wild to know just how devious, clever and destructive those little critters can be. I bet you won't think they're so cute next time you're camping and you crawl out of your tent in the morning only to discover trash scattered everywhere and all the bacon & eggs that you were going to have for breakfast gone and nothing left save the tell-tale trail of fresh Raccoon paw prints heading off into the underbrush. I'll bet "adorable" isn't exactly the first word that comes to your mind...or to exit your mouth!

Nevertheless, I do like this knife, and I'm glad I re-discovered it hidden away in my pile...it brought back some good memories to ponder and a renewed appreciation for a knife I had completely forgotten about. So, in all it's unusual, off-beat glory, I present this 1978 Parker-Frost by Schrade, Jigged Green Bone "Little Bandit" Liner Lock Mini Trapper as my Mini TrapPER DIEM for today:
~Q~

Crown him king.

What is unusual about my choice for today is the blades are coated with Rose Titanium (doesn't show up well in the picture) and the bolsters & liners are copper. The handles are plastic, jigged to look like horn (meh).

Rose Titanium coated blades and Copper Bolsters? That is most unusual, indeed...can't say as I've ever heard of, much less seen, such an intriguing combination of elements on a knife before (and they're on a Rough Rider to boot...will wonders never cease?). I also can't help but wonder, Why? Is it simply for the beauty of the colors or could there be a more complex scientific reason behind it? Perhaps the idea was that, over time, the copper bolsters would eventually acquire a green patina (as copper will if left alone and not frequently polished) which would then compliment the rose titanium?

What I find truly unusual about your otherwise very interesting knife, jerryd, is that after going through all the trouble to coat the blades with rose titanium and make copper bolsters, the designers at Rough Rider totally cheapened out on the handle. I mean, seriously, come on...Plastic jigged to look like horn--they couldn't even have used real horn...they chose to use plastic? Are you kidding me? That is so bizarre it boggles my brain. I can't even imagine what the thinking was behind that decision...unbelievable! That's like smothering a fine French Creme Brulee with ketchup...it makes no sense and just seems wrong.

But, that Rough Rider certainly is right for this week's theme of Unusual, Out Of The Ordinary; so give it a Blue Ribbon.

~Q~

It looked very intriguing in the stock photos but fell short of expectations in hand. The plastic handles sunk the Bismarck. At least the price was what might be called "reasonable", and then again..............

jerryd6818 wrote:It looked very intriguing in the stock photos but fell short of expectations in hand. The plastic handles sunk the Bismarck. At least the price was what might be called "reasonable", and then again..............

Jerry did you put that high priced lighted loupe on it, they claim it genuine buffalo horn.

bighomer wrote:

jerryd6818 wrote:It looked very intriguing in the stock photos but fell short of expectations in hand. The plastic handles sunk the Bismarck. At least the price was what might be called "reasonable", and then again..............

Jerry did you put that high priced lighted loupe on it, they claim it genuine buffalo horn.

I did and it is genuine plastic. There's no mistaking it once you get an eye for it. So they're full of beans and taters.

DAY 34

Only two more days remaining in the Unusual, Out Of The Ordinary Mini TrapPER DIEM theme week and I still have so many to choose from. Fortunately, today's selection was made a bit easier due to it being "Threesday" (which is quickly overtaking Two-For-Tuesday as my favorite day of the week). Only this time, instead of showing three separate knives, I'm showing a single knife with three blades.

As much as I know y'all enjoy reading my lengthy, long-winded, rambling commentaries and philosophical musings, I'll keep it brief today because I believe the unusual nature of my Mini TrapPER DIEM selection for today is self-evident and needs no explanation or "embellishment". I will say this, though...being more partial to single-blade knives in general, the more common 2-blade Mini Trappers already push the boundaries of my preference (probably due mainly to the sheer force of the volume I've accumulated), and I've learned not only to tolerate them, I have even grown to like them, particularly the ones with a Wharncliffe secondary blade.

This 3-blade Mini Trapper, however, is definitely out of the ordinary, and also out of my comfort zone; but, since it incorporates the three main Mini Trapper blade styles (Clip, Spey & Wharncliffe) into one tidy package, I felt it would be a worthy addition to have in my collection, nevertheless. Fortunately, it was made with a handle I actually like, not something synthetic or, Heaven forbid, neon pink!
~Q~

QTCut5 wrote:DAY 34

As much as I know y'all enjoy reading my lengthy, long-winded, rambling commentaries and philosophical musings, I'll keep it brief today because I believe the unusual nature of my Mini TrapPER DIEM selection for today is self-evident and needs no explanation or "embellishment".

~Q~

You've met your match at ---► https://www.chuckhawks.com/case_mini_trapper.html

I've been tempted by the three blade varieties but to date have been able to pass on them. Hard to say how long that will last.


What I thought was different and unusual about this Buck Mini-Trapper is it's made in China and it has wood handles.

jerryd6818 wrote:You've met your match at ---► https://www.chuckhawks.com/case_mini_trapper.html

Put Mr. Gary Zinn and me together in a room with a single Mini Trapper, close & lock the door and the rest of y'all could remove your earplugs, relax and finally enjoy some normal, civilized social conversation, i.e., get a word in edgewise every once-in-awhile!

~Q~

PS--Let's be fair...even I'm not quite that interminably verbose, am I?

QTCut5 wrote:

jerryd6818 wrote:You've met your match at ---► https://www.chuckhawks.com/case_mini_trapper.html

PS--Let's be fair...even I'm not quite that interminably verbose, am I?

No, of course not. I posted that so you would look normal.

QTCut5 wrote:DAY 34

This 3-blade Mini Trapper, however, is definitely out of the ordinary, and also out of my comfort zone; but, since it incorporates the three main Mini Trapper blade styles (Clip, Spey & Wharncliffe) into one tidy package, I felt it would be a worthy addition to have in my collection, nevertheless. Fortunately, it was made with a handle I actually like, not something synthetic or, Heaven forbid, neon pink!



~Q~

It appears that may have been an SFO for SMKW. They called those handles "Campfire Bone".

Here's the ID sticker on the original box it came in...looks like Case called it "Burnt Oat"
~Q~

That just shows to go ya, anyone can call it anything they want to. That Tractor Supply SFO is called "Burnt Oatmeal". Case abbreviated those names to accommodate the limited space on the labels.

DAY 35

Since I started this week of Unusual, Out Of The Ordinary Mini Trappers with a Gnarly Stag Case knife, I think it's only appropriate to end the week with another Stag knife out of respect for my OCD--a condition which is not particularly known for its ability to deal well with things being irregular, unbalanced or out of order.

Nevertheless, in keeping with this week's theme, and just like the other knives that have been shown this week, the Mini TrapPER DIEM I'm presenting today is somewhat unusual: in this case, it's a Single-Blade, Barehead Red Stag knife from a Foreign Country (that's not China!).

As you may recall, one of the main reasons for starting this thread in the first place was to show Mini Trappers of ALL brands and from ALL countries, not just Case 07s (although they're certainly welcome, too). Although the majority of the knives shown thus far were made either in USA or China, I believe my Mini TrapPER DIEM for today hails from a different country entirely. Honestly, I'm not even 100% certain in what country it was made, but for some reason I think it's from South America, most likely Argentina. Anyone familiar with the markings who can shed more accurate insight is encouraged to share their knowledge. The tang stamp shows "C+X" over "Lockwood Brothers" (the "L" has been rubbed off).

And, just in case there was any doubt as to the authenticity of what this is, the blade etch conveniently clarifies and validates it in no uncertain terms...no phony or fake knife here! And just what is that creature? an Ostrich, perhaps? So, is this actually a "Real Ostrich Knife"
Notice how the scales have been nicely dovetailed to the bolsters...very classy .
But, OOPS! The most unusual feature about this knife is the bizarre corner on the mark side scale that protrudes like a sore thumb. Apparently whoever hafted the scales missed a spot!
~Q~

Here's a nice Case mini-trapper ... it's the mintiest Case knive I've ever had - box is dated 8/2018 - fresh off the assembly line ! First thing I noticed is how BOTH blades center perfectly in the bed (that's a very rare find). After working it in for a while last night and oiling it, it snaps as nice as any Case knife I own - really crisp half stops too. It's already in my EDC rotation (in my pocket today). LIke the black shield too ... thanks Q !!

Q Looks like a Turkey to me.

bighomer wrote:Q Looks like a Turkey to me.

That was my second guess...but, for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to believe that someone would put "Real Turkey Knife" on a blade...although, I don't suppose that's any worse than Real Ostrich Knife!

Lansky1 wrote:Here's a nice Case mini-trapper...Like the black shield too ... thanks Q !!

You're very welcome, John. It was the least I could do after you did this stunning Moore Maker Mini Trapper Mod for me (I'm going to take advantage of showing it in every thread possible because it's soooo cool and I love it so much!)
And...I'll also take advantage of the Monkey See, Monkey Do Amendment and show off my matching Case 6207 with black shield...this one makes me think of James Bond wearing a formal white dinner jacket with a black silk bow tie. (I could only find a picture of Sean Connery wearing a black jacket, but I think you get the picture.)
~Q~

Those Cases are knice but that Moore maker is the stuff, I really like lanskys mods, super cool.

The White Sparxx handles with the black shield is on my watch list for November so I'll have to wait until then to join the club. I have the White Sparxx handle edition with the red shield so it seems appropriate to add it's sister to the pile.

The unusual thing about this China made Coleman Mini-Trapper (I don't think I've already posted it in this thread) is the handles are laminate but a couple of the layers in the laminate are very thin sheets of copper.