All About Pocket Knives

Mostly, though, they are not particularly expensive...in fact, that's one of the things I like about collecting Mini Trappers: there's always a huge selection to choose from and they're relatively inexpensive...even for the brand new ones you can buy straight from the dealer. With a few rare exceptions (ivory), I've never paid over $100 and usually pay between $30 - $50 max for a Mini Trapper. YMMV

~Q~

Yah, up here, new ones usually run in the 70 -100 dollar range, even with our intentionally deflated dollar. The only problem, I find, is that traditionals (especially Case, and GEC is totally unheard of) is a PITA to find in Eastern Ontario.

Lansky1 wrote:I might be usurping the rules, but the only other orange knives that I have that are somewhat appropriate to this weeks orange theme would be these (non-trappers)

John, if there's one thing we're good at here in the MT PER DIEM thread, it's the unapologetic usurping of rules whenever possible (much to the chagrin of OCD Monkey). I think the orange handles on your stockman and what appears to be another one of your signature Ratcliffe mods is more than justified for inclusion this week. Always nice to see some variety. Really nice shade of orange bone on those two...much more Halloweeny than the Tangerine orange.

Colin, I'm glad to see that of the two Mini Trappers you have, one is a wharnie...that clearly shows you have good taste. And I believe the amber bone is probably the most popular handle...at least it's the most ubiquitous, so there must be a reason.

Thanks to both of you for posting them.

~Q~

DAY 59

Finally, another OTC to add to this thread. I think of all the Parker branded knives (Parker, Parker Eagle, Parker-Frost, etc.), I like the Parker-Edwards knives the best. They may not be as popular as Case or Queen, and some of the designs are...how shall I put it?...kind of "clunky" looking. But, as far as mechanics, I've found the Parker-Edwards knives to be surprisingly well built with smooth walk and decent snap (talk). They are very solid knives.

The guy who sold me this knife called the handle "Winterbottom Bone" but it doesn't look anything like the Winterbottom Queen is known for that I am familiar with, so I don't know. Exactly what is Winterbottom, anyway?
It's gotten to the point where it feels almost wrong somehow if I don't break any rules...so, if I can manage to distract OCD Monkey for a minute, I think I'll go ahead and show the single blade "little brother" of today's Mini TrapPER DIEM entry as well.
~Q~

QTCut5 wrote:The guy who sold me this knife called the handle "Winterbottom Bone" but it doesn't look anything like the Winterbottom Queen is known for that I am familiar with, so I don't know. Exactly what is Winterbottom

Well, the Queen Cutlery site is gone and for some reason I can't find BRL's excellent treatise on Rogers and Winterbottom even though I know I saved it to my favorites, so I hope this link of a saved copy of Queen's Winterbottom story works for you:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9s-jg ... p=drivesdk

Tsar Bomba wrote:

QTCut5 wrote:The guy who sold me this knife called the handle "Winterbottom Bone" but it doesn't look anything like the Winterbottom Queen is known for that I am familiar with, so I don't know. Exactly what is Winterbottom

Well, the Queen Cutlery site is gone and for some reason I can't find BRL's excellent treatise on Rogers and Winterbottom even though I know I saved it to my favorites, so I hope this link of a saved copy of Queen's Winterbottom story works for you:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9s-jg ... p=drivesdk

Is this what you're talking about? ---► http://www.knife-expert.com/bonehand.txt

Personally I think Queen's Winterbottom is pretty easy to recognize.

jerryd6818 wrote:Is this what you're talking about? ---► http://www.knife-expert.com/bonehand.txt

Personally I think Queen's Winterbottom is pretty easy to recognize.

It is, and I agree. GEC seems to be paying homage to Winterbottom with its Cougar Clawed Bone releases most recently, bit I think Queen's offerings crushed it. IMNSHO of course.

Edit: Android's autocorrect has terrible grammar.

DAY 60

Thanks for the interesting and informative links Tony & jerryd. So, both Rogers and Winterbottom bone got their names from the people who invented their distinctive jigging...I always knew the names had to do with the jigging style, but I did not realize they were eponymous to their respective creators. Nevertheless, even knowing that, I'm still dubious as to the classification of the Parker-Edwards knives I posted yesterday as Winterbottom Bone; but I suppose it could be according to the loosest application of the very perfunctory superficial definition of Winterbottom as having "long continuous grooves." Although, the grooves on my P-E do not seem particularly long and they're certainly not continuous (if "continuous" means extending from bolster to bolster or one end of the handle to the other end without interruption); so, the jury is still out as far as I'm concerned.

Anyhoo..I don't think there's any doubt about the appropriateness of the name given to my Two-For-Tuesday Mini TrapPER DIEM submissions for today. Not only does "Autumn Bone" perfectly capture their mottled black & orange color, it is a color that nicely reflects the spirit of the season and seems perfectly suited for Halloween Eve.
~Q~

And they have the Script shield which is nifty neato.

My color blindness tells me this Case 1997 Mini-Trapper 6207 SS Smooth Chestnut Bone has enough of an orange cast to qualify for this week's madness.

I agree. In fact, as I was selecting my line up for this week's theme, my Smooth Chestnut Bone Mini Trapper was definitely considered. Unfortunately, there were just too many others with stronger qualifications, so it got cut. Fortunately, however, it will still get put in the game under the MSMD Amendment as a relief pitcher thanks to jerryd posting his.
~Q~

PS--it's almost Halloween and we haven't seen a single Black Mini Trapper posted yet...I know there are some out there, so where are they?

Aren't those some pretty handles? Very pleasing to the eye.

Q - I really dig your two for Tuesday handles.

AndJerry, both of you could have shown these during our wood week, right? That smooth chestnut bone wore has a pretty wood tone to it.

Thanks, Joe...I'll admit I was never a big fan of orange handles until jerryd and Lansky1 changed my perspective. Now, I can't seem to get enough. In fact, I just picked up another Sunset Bone Mini T--my third! So, apparently the OCD Mini Trapper Monkey ended up winning that hotly contested round against my poor, long-suffering wife (see DAY 52, page 25). I'm just thankful she's also very forgiving, because OCD Monkey definitely is not especially when it comes to completing a trifecta.

~Q~

SPECIAL HOLIDAY RULE SUSPENSION NOTICE: Because tomorrow (DAY 61) is Halloween, the "No Repeat" rule will be temporarily suspended as long as you post a BLACK handled Mini Trapper. So, come on jerryd, jmh58 and all you others with your Case Black Composite and G-10 Carhartt Mini Ts, even if you've already posted them in this thread, I, as Supreme Ruler and rule maker, hereby order and command you to post them again--not only because it's appropriate for Halloween, but to appease the OCD Mini Trapper Monkey who, as we all know, likes to have nice, tidy, well-organized groups of similar knives shown all together in one place at the same time Please understand that it will be me, the "Supreme Ruler and rule maker," who will suffer the wrath of OCD Monkey if my commands are ignored and OCD Monkey is not appeased. So, please, for my sake, just post a Black Mini Trapper...color a white handled one with a black Magic Marker if you have to.

DAY 61

This Hammer Brand Ebony Wood Dogleg Jack/Mini Trapper is at least 87 yrs old, possibly even older (see pgs 10-11, Knives of the Hudson Valley). But, the main thing is...it's BLACK!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Ivory/Bone skull carvings courtesy of Ivoryman


~Q~

QTCut5 wrote: I, as Supreme Ruler and rule maker, hereby order and command you to post them again--

Don't forget Chief BS'er.

Being the rebellious soul that I am, scoffer at authority and all around rebellious sort, here are several I've posted before. Now to turn off the lights and pretend no one is home which is my annual Halloween practice.

jerryd6818 wrote:Don't forget Chief BS'er.

Is that the same thing as Grand Poo-Bah?

~Q~

If it pleases your sensibilities.

What pleases my sensibilities is that very nice black & orange Mini Trapper line up you posted...no tricks, just a sweet Halloween treat, for sure. The OCD Mini Trapper Monkey has been appeased...now he's considering removing me from the Mini Trapper throne and crowning you Mini Trapper King. (Personally, I'm all for it if it will get him off my back once and for all; OCD Monkeys can be a heavy burden to bear; relentless and demanding.)

~Q~

Ain't no monkey on my back, Bubba.

DAY 62

Today's Mini TrapPER DIEM isn't completely one color but has both black & orange in the handle.
~Q~

It's not black. But the base color is very dark sooo I'm stretching it. I hope next week is rainbow week, anything and everything welcome.

Works for me...and OCD Monkey.
Monkey See, Monkey Do:
~Q~

DAY 63

So, another week has been completed here at the Mini TrapPER DIEM...hard to believe this has been going for over two months now. We've seen a lot of very cool knives and, hopefully, we'll be seeing a lot more in the weeks/months ahead.

For today's entry, which wraps up Black & Orange week, I'm showing one of my very few black Mini Trappers. Although I don't mind black tacticals (which I no longer collect), I'm not really that much of a fan of black traditional knives. But, there are a few that I've managed to find that I like, such as this one with Buffalo Horn handle. But, to be honest, what I like even more about this one than the horn is the pattern number tang stamp. I've always been intrigued by the Case tang stamps because they're like a secret code that contains information about the knife. Once you learn how to decipher the code, it makes you feel like an "insider" in the Case Brotherhood. Admittedly, sometimes Case screws up and puts the wrong date stamp or leaves off a pattern stamp altogether--which drives OCD Monkey absolutely nuts--but, most of the time they get it right.

The pattern stamps I especially like are those that have special variations, such as this one that has the "BH" prefix to designate "Buffalo Horn" as the handle material.
~Q~


So far, I've had a theme for each week to help me (well...the OCD Mini Trapper Monkey on my back) keep track of the knives I've posted. But, now I think it's time to loosen up a bit and set the theme concept aside in order to allow some knives that haven't fit into any particular theme to be shown. So, next week (starting tomorrow), the theme is: show whatever Mini Trappers you have that you haven't shown yet. If we have to call it something (because OCD Monkey insists on having some kind of logic), we'll call it "Mini Trapper Mulligan Stew"--hopefully that will appease his irrational need for order and organization.

DAY 64

Mini Trapper Mulligan Stew Week - The "No Theme" Theme (in which ANY Mini Trapper qualifies).

Back when I was young & healthy enough to survive without certain creature comforts and necessities, rarely a weekend went by that I wasn't engaged in some kind of outdoor adventure or another. One of my favorite things to do was to throw some basic gear in a backpack and head out into the wilderness to hike all day in unfamiliar territory and try to survive a couple of days with only the bare essentials. Often I would go out alone, but most of the time I could convince a buddy or two to come along...it usually depended on where I was planning to go, the type of terrain and, of course, the current weather conditions. Due to the hubris and confidence inherent in the young and naive, I welcomed the challenges of facing harsh conditions (Go ahead, Nature, throw your worst at me, l will survive!). It was on those trips when Mother Nature took me up on my challenge and gave me a taste of just how difficult it can be when the fish aren't biting, night falls earlier than expected, the temperature suddenly plummets, heavy precipitation in the form of a torrential downpour or a driving blizzard of stinging snow and ice comes up out of nowhere with no time to set up a proper camp, collect firewood or get a fire started before all the available firewood has been thoroughly soaked, that we would resort to a supper of Mulligan Stew which we were sometimes forced by circumstances to eat cold if no one had a brought along a propane stove because we were expecting to be cooking our meals over a campfire...after all, have you ever heard of a real "Mountain Man" or "Seasoned Explorer" who carried a Coleman stove and a bottle of propane in his pack?

For any who may not be acquainted with this camping cuisine, Mulligan Stew is basically a stew made with anything remotely edible you can mix up together into a pot and call a meal. There is no set recipe because it changes according to what you have on hand or can hunt, trap, catch or forage (even grubs & insects are fair game). I've experienced some pretty bizarre combinations of Mulligan Stew over the years, some surprisingly good and others that made you wish you had just chosen to go to bed hungry when you wake up the next morning with the harsh taste of the ingredients still churning, half-digested in your gut, fighting each other to get to the nearest "exit"...either the orifice through which they entered your body or the one at the other end...sometimes both! It's then that you begin to wonder if those mushrooms you collected to put in with the wild onions, juniper berries, dandelion greens, sardines and soggy Ramen noodles really were of the non-toxic variety. Yup, that's Mulligan Stew for ya! Ahhh...what memories!

Well, although today's Mini TrapPER DIEM entry may look like to some like a version of Mulligan Stew (or possibly its aftereffects!), personally, I find this 6.5 Bone Stag to be a most pleasing combination of colors...and, of course, the Wharncliffe blade is just icing on the Mulligan Cake.
~Q~

My Saturday contribution. The first one went to live with ~Q~ so this is it's replacement.