California clip blade

[winst]

When considering the blade variations on the Case 54 model trapper is there a difference in a California clip blade and the so called muskrat blade and when did Case begin using the California clip blade on the 54 Case model? Were these blade use on some of the XX 1940--64 year models?

[Mumbleypeg]

Good question for Steve Pfeiffer.

Ken

[knifeaholic]

This gets a bit confusing.

With the exception of a few modern (1990's to current) releases, the Case 54 pattern trapper was ALWAYS made with a "California clip" main blade.

The original so-called "Muskrat" blade is a name give by collectors to a rare variation of this California clip blade that was used only during the USA era 1965-1969. This blade in general looks identical to the regular California clip blade, but has a few differences. It is slightly narrower and sits lower in the frame. This was not an intentional or cataloged variation, but was the result of a slightly different stamping die being used.

In the modern era, Case, in their quest to to offer unlimited varaitions, brought out a "new" version of the California clip blade for the 54 trapper, that they called the "Muskrat" blade. Slightly different design but still a California clip blade.

The only exception to the 54 trapper having a California clip main blade is that in the 90's for the "Case Select" line, Case tooled up a regular clip blade with long pull for the 54 trapper, and this tooling has been used on a few other limited runs.

[winst]

Thanks Steve for your expert and well detailed info.

[Modern Slip Joints]

Count me among the confused but with an opinion none the less.

The research section here contradicts itself. It has drawings of the blades used by Case that include a cip point that looks like the common 54 Trapper master labeled California clip. However. in its description of pattern numbers it writes collectors call the '64 -'69 era 54 Trapper muskrat blade a California clip point to distinguish it from the common 54 master blade.

Five blade 54s made in the first decade of this century contain three long clip blades, the common 54 master, the long pull regular clip blade from the select series and a California clip blade that is much less broad and has a much finer point than the common 54 master blade. That "narrow" blade is undisputably a California clip. I have only seen it in five blade 54s.

[knifeaholic]

Count me among the confused but with an opinion none the less.

The research section here contradicts itself. It has drawings of the blades used by Case that include a cip point that looks like the common 54 Trapper master labeled clip point. However. in its description of pattern numbers it writes collectors call the '64 -'69 era muskrat blade a clip point to distinguish it from the common 54 master blade.

Five blade 54s made in the first decade of this century contain three long clip blades, the common 54 master, the long pull regular clip blade from the select series and a California clip blade that is much less broad and has a much finer point than the common 54 master blade. That "narrow" blade is undisputably a California clip. I have only seen it in five blade 54s.

The the "common 54 master" has always been a California Clip. Period, case closed. At least that is what Case called it in every catalog from the Tested years to the present. Yes, Case has recently made other versions that can still be called "California Clip".

Case catalog exceprt from Catalog #70 - 1970 era.

[bestgear]

I have no dog in this hunt but find the whole conversation fascinating. Superb questions and replies, this is the bedrock of all things AAPK BRAVO!

[winst]

In viewing the illustration posted by Steve there is obviously a difference in the blade shape of the muskrat and the 54 trapper yet both are called California clip blades which leads me to believe that the term "California clip" is a style rather than a unique blade production.

[Mumbleypeg]

Correct. A “clip” blade is one having the end “clipped” off to form a point. There is no standardized template of dimensions for any blade. A good example is the Case 83 “whittler” pattern, which has two clip blades. One long master clip blade and one short secondary clip blade. The “California Clip” (some cutleries called it a “Turkish Clip”) is simply a slender clip blade. It’s a style of blade

And when manufacturers make tooling updates/changes, typically minor (or sometimes major) improvements are made. It does not surprise me at all that there are slight variations over time in the dimensions of a given manufacturer’s “California Clip” blade. Nor that a “California Clip” style blade would differ from one pattern to another, even within a given cutlery.

Ken

[knifeaholic]

In viewing the illustration posted by Steve there is obviously a difference in the blade shape of the muskrat and the 54 trapper yet both are called California clip blades which leads me to believe that the term "California clip" is a style rather than a unique blade production.

Yes that is correct. Same with most any blade style.

[Potechop]

I posted this on the Case knife forum in November of 2023. Pictures show the different characteristics that it met to have a Muskrat blade. Steve Pfeiffer confirmed it to have the Muskrat blade. I still have the knife just haven’t found the right person to give it to.

[Jacknifeben]

Think all of these Cattaraugus have California clips