Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Billy Oneale on December 16, 2011 at 23:04

Im not really sure. I just like that pattern and the way it looks.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on December 19, 2011 at 9:17

No question Billy they are the number 1 purchased production knife, year in and year out. I don't think you are alone in just liking the pattern. Maybe two blades looks good or should I say better than a single blade knife?

Billy Oneale said:

Im not really sure. I just like that pattern and the way it looks.

Permalink Reply by Mel Jones on January 8, 2012 at 9:44

I simply like the shape. It typifies a good pocket knife for me. It feels good in the hand.

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on January 8, 2012 at 18:44

Thanks Mel, I completely agree, a knife that feels right is right!

Mel Jones said:

I simply like the shape. It typifies a good pocket knife for me. It feels good in the hand.

Permalink Reply by Shlomo ben Maved on March 13, 2012 at 1:39

When I was just a a youngster on the farm back in the 1950s all my uncles, great uncles (I had 54 at that time)  ran small trap lines so of course I had to emulate them right down to the knives they carried which were either Trappers or Muskrats predominately and the odd ones carried a two blade Barlow  or a three/four blade stockman.

 

My little trap line (mostly snares and only land sets to start) kept me in luxeries like candy, gum, pocket knives and .22 Short ammo for shooting rabbits for the hide and pot and as my grandfather detested, no abhorred pigeons and starlings and he'd give me a two penny credit in the store for each carcass I brought him that I shot with either .22 CB or .22 BB ammo...Couple of days I'd make a whole dollar and end the day on a sugar high having head and stomach pains.

 

I remember that one uncle had a very unique knife in that it was a quite large, maybe 4” blades, three bladed Trapper--Spey and Clip blades opening out of the front with a smaller Clip blade opening out in the rear but was more then half the length of the handle, probably 2 ⅝” to 2¾”…It had very pale, yellowish either ivory, yellow Bakelite or smooth bone for the scales...No idea of the maker and have never seen one exactly like it--lots of third blades opening from the rear...Kind of like a Swell Centre but with a larger rear blade...I know it was bought sometime around the beginning of WW1 at a hardware store in either[possibly] England but [probably] Canada.

 

I'd love to find another like it...Anyone know what it is?

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on March 13, 2012 at 19:06

What a great story Shlomo. It is interesting how many people are drawn to knives simply because a trusted relative, Father, Uncle, Grandfather used then so you did too. That certainly is my story, although not trapping but fishing! Also sounds like you learned the value of a dollar or perhaps a penny early on. Only wish people today would learn the lesson at a young age.

I will try to keep in mind the knife you mentioned. perhaps a member would know of such a knife.

Shlomo ben Maved said:

When I was just a a youngster on the farm back in the 1950s all my uncles, great uncles (I had 54 at that time)  ran small trap lines so of course I had to emulate them right down to the knives they carried which were either Trappers or Muskrats predominately and the odd ones carried a two blade Barlow  or a three/four blade stockman.

 

My little trap line (mostly snares and only land sets to start) kept me in luxuries like candy, gum, pocket knives and .22 Short ammo for shooting rabbits for the hide and pot and as my grandfather detested, no abhorred pigeons and starlings and he'd give me a two penny credit in the store for each carcass I brought him that I shot with either .22 CB or .22 BB ammo...Couple of days I'd make a whole dollar and end the day on a sugar high having head and stomach pains.

 

I remember that one uncle had a very unique knife in that it was a quite large, maybe 4” blades, three bladed Trapper--Spey and Clip blades opening out of the front with a smaller Clip blade opening out in the rear but was more then half the length of the handle, probably 2 ⅝” to 2¾”…It had very pale, yellowish either ivory, yellow Bakelite or smooth bone for the scales...No idea of the maker and have never seen one exactly like it--lots of third blades opening from the rear...Kind of like a Swell Centre but with a larger rear blade...I know it was bought sometime around the beginning of WW1 at a hardware store in either[possibly] England but [probably] Canada.

 

I'd love to find another like it...Anyone know what it is?

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on March 13, 2012 at 21:12

Got to talking about this and wonder if the it was around WWI could it have been purchased through Hudsons Bay Trading? Their history goes way back and could have been one of only a few stores open at that time. My guess given the time would have been Ivory or at the least bone handled.

Shlomo ben Maved said:

When I was just a a youngster on the farm back in the 1950s all my uncles, great uncles (I had 54 at that time)  ran small trap lines so of course I had to emulate them right down to the knives they carried which were either Trappers or Muskrats predominately and the odd ones carried a two blade Barlow  or a three/four blade stockman.

 

My little trap line (mostly snares and only land sets to start) kept me in luxeries like candy, gum, pocket knives and .22 Short ammo for shooting rabbits for the hide and pot and as my grandfather detested, no abhorred pigeons and starlings and he'd give me a two penny credit in the store for each carcass I brought him that I shot with either .22 CB or .22 BB ammo...Couple of days I'd make a whole dollar and end the day on a sugar high having head and stomach pains.

 

I remember that one uncle had a very unique knife in that it was a quite large, maybe 4” blades, three bladed Trapper--Spey and Clip blades opening out of the front with a smaller Clip blade opening out in the rear but was more then half the length of the handle, probably 2 ⅝” to 2¾”…It had very pale, yellowish either ivory, yellow Bakelite or smooth bone for the scales...No idea of the maker and have never seen one exactly like it--lots of third blades opening from the rear...Kind of like a Swell Centre but with a larger rear blade...I know it was bought sometime around the beginning of WW1 at a hardware store in either[possibly] England but [probably] Canada.

 

I'd love to find another like it...Anyone know what it is?

Permalink Reply by Shlomo ben Maved on March 13, 2012 at 23:17

We were too far South of the trading posts but "The Bay" has {still} a huge six, seven story department store AFAIK in every major southern Canadian city who all had sporting goods sections--- guns & hunting as they called them back then so it was conceivable and quite possible…Just the fur division and the trading posts (Northern Stores) was bought out by the Nor’West Company which is payback to the HBCo who had bought them out in 1817…The stores are still operating full bore as they are the lifeblood of the community.

 

In the Central region each and every hardware store (usually affiliates of a major chain like MacLouds, Co-op etc.) carried outdoor stuff and lots of towns had Eaton's or Simpson-Sears catalogue outlets---like your Montgomery Ward or Sears companies...Closest town to us wasn't large enough to support a hardware store so the grocery store would always carry some basic ammo, a few guns, a few knives, of course a lot more during hunting season.

 

The selection in the small towns weren’t that great and you would find all the different major brands scattered about all the different stores and of course you’d have the exact same Camillus or Case etc. fixed or folder models with their own name in the smaller stores but the exact knife in the different major department stores with different propriety names like Sears -- Ted Williams, Eaton’s – Eatonia or Viking, HBCo -- Baycrest like that…You also knew which or who’s “Territory” you were in as there would be the same paper hang/standing cards and the plastic counter and display(s) of Toenails and Stockman and semi nude woman etc., etc. of folders all the way up that highway in restaurants, stores, service stations etc.

 

I can only speculate here--doubtful that he had it from home (nobody else had one) before that contingent of the family members went over (in total eighteen went, twelve returned, nine whole & hale) but I’d really put money on a European knife bought from a cutler’s shop in London, Paris or from the CEF version of the PX…All that I can remember of it was that it was bought in a store as opposed to being picked up as a souvenir but whether received as a gift or purchased for himself is another matter…I say European just because of the shape, design, the charisma of it but I haven’t seem it for probably nearly thirty years, just before his death and no one  of his immediate family know what happened to it—likely scenario, probably sold for a 10¢ in a yard/estate/garage sale.

 

FYI -- Founded, 2 May 1670 ... The Hudson's Bay Company (French: Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson), abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" ("La Baie" in French)

Permalink Reply by Dustin Robinson on May 23, 2012 at 21:59

Youre correct that Stag is #1... You just cant go wrong with it.

But after stag there is thousands of variations that makes picking a knife difficult sometimes. I am pretty much down to where all I buy is Case. From there, for knives I intend to put away in my collection I prefer a knife with stainless steel. I really like the Case knives with the silver script shields, so those definitely catch my eye. My favortie color is blue, yet another eye catcher, then after that I just really like the natural looking colors like a natural bone, bonestag, goldenrod, moss green, old red bone... the list goes on and on.

As far as a carry knife I prefer a knife with carbon steel or in the case of Case CV (chrome vanadium). I like a yellow synthetic or a natural color b0ne handle, something I can use and will hold a good cutting edge as well as lookin good all at the same time.

And I buy, collect, and carry a trapper because they are beautiful, usuable, versitile, and there are just so many good lookin ones to choose from!

Permalink Reply by Billy Oneale on May 23, 2012 at 22:21

I agree with Dustin. You can't go wrong with stag.

Permalink Reply by Steven Matthew on December 10, 2012 at 21:00

I think a trapper is one of the best all around designed folders. The fact that each blade is a good length, as a kid who bit his finger nails, it was easier to open. (I don't bit em No more, Lol)
It's big enough for any job I have, but is comfortable to carry.
Great all around Knife, hands down.

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Craig Henry on December 11, 2012 at 0:44

I buy a Trapper because I generally like them. Sometimes I'll have a standard size in my belt sheath (I always have a smaller knife in my jeans coin pocket). Why do I buy a particular Trapper? Well, like most knives, it has to talk to me. And it seems, most knives are always yammering away at me!

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page