Case Mini Trapper Wharncliffe

[purple95]

After several longing glances at this little fellow at my favorite purveyor of Case knives, I finally brought him home with me earlier this week. I had never owned a true Wharncliffe blade but since I use the sheepsfoot blade on my stockman frequently, I though I would give this a try.

The fit and finish on this 2009 knife is near perfect. I cannot find one fault worth mentioning. Both blades were extremely sharp out of the box and easily push cut typing paper.

The blades are stainless and that's fine with me. I have knives with both carbon and stainless blades and I like both for the advantages and disadvantages each offers.

This knife has half-stops and like the carbon vs. stainless debate, I have knives of both designs and can appreciate the pros and cons of each.

Some may scoff at the lavender color as too much of a departure form "traditional", and perhaps that is a valid point. However, the color is growing on me and I think it's a nice change from my usual stag or dark bone.

At 3 1/2 inches, the knife fits my medium sized hands quite well. I was concerned about the smooth bone being slippery, but there is just enough tacky feeling to the scales to provide a nice, solid grip.

I don't do safe queens and the Mini Trapper is sharing pocket time with my favorite Hen & Rooster stockman and all indications are that this will continue.

I'm extremely pleased with the knife and the only question at this point is how long I will be able to resist the light green bone handled one still at the store.

dan

 

[mnblade]

Maaaaan, do I wish that sucker came in chestnut bone. :-(

 

[purple95]

Maaaaan, do I wish that sucker came in chestnut bone. :-(

Same here, mnblade.

Case offers the Mini in chestnut with CV but is has the spey blade, rather a show-stopper for me.

dan

 

[TLARbb]

+2 on the chestnut bone. I've been looking at one of those purple minis to go with my purple full size that Jani sent me.

Actually, the mini has better looking Wharncliffe blade and the main blade is shaped to accommodate it better. The only downside is the nail nick on the mini's main blade is very close to the bolster and doesn't ahve a lot of leverage for opening. Maybe I'll pull the trigger shortly.

Ed

 

[Modoc ED]

After several longing glances at this little fellow at my favorite purveyor of Case knives, I finally brought him home with me earlier this week. I had never owned a true Wharncliffe blade but since I use the sheepsfoot blade on my stockman frequently, I though I would give this a try.

Some may scoff at the lavender color as too much of a departure form "traditional", and perhaps that is a valid point.

dan


First thing -- I want to say is that that is one sweet looking knife. Regardless of the wishes of others for different colored scales, the lavender scales look great!!

To my way of thinking a trapper is much more traditonal with a clip blade and a spey blade.

That newer (to my mind) wharncliffe blade (on a trapper) goes well with the newer (to my mind again) lavender color. They compliment each other perfectly. Great Choice!!! Now -- go get the green one!!

 

[TLARbb]

Don't forget there's a red one too. - Ed

 

[338375]

For some reason I like the purple. The wife has a full size Trapper with the same scales. I gave her a bad time about buying it, but when it arrived, I thought it was kinda cool.
I know its not considered masculine, but I have always liked all different shades of purple

 

[2Dead]

That is a nice shade of purple. I'd get it for one of my sisters but I'm lucky she carries the Vic Classic.

I know its not considered masculine, but I have always liked all different shades of purple

Well, you gotta have some blue in there to make purple. And red is a warrior's color right? I think you'd be ok.

 

[Knife Crazied]

I've been really digging the same knife but with orange bone. I never pulled the trigger though due to thinking the smooth bone would be slippie in hands of a wet gal playing outside. Wonder who that girl would be?

 

[knarfeng]

I have a Case Tiny Wharncliffe trapper. Been thinking about finding a mini version because I found the tiny was so handy.

To my way of thinking the Clip and Wharncliffe are the best combination of blades you can get. I wish that combination were more commonly offered.

Congrats on the knife. She looks like a winner to me, whether purple or no.

 

[Knife Crazied]

I prefer the mini trapper over the tiny or large ones hands down. It is like the perfect size. When I got my first and only tiny single wharncliff blade tiny trapper I couldn't believe how small it was.

 

[knarfeng]

I prefer the mini trapper over the tiny or large ones hands down. It is like the perfect size. When I got my first and only tiny single wharncliff blade tiny trapper I couldn't believe how small it was.

Gots to agree with you that the "tiny" is well named. I only carry it in order to comply with regulations on knife carry at work. But I do like that combination of blade styles.

 

[purple95]

Update:
I used the Mini Trapper for real today:
Trimmed some cacti in the wife's garden. The thin, stainless clip blade sliced through the cactus leaves as if they were butter. It was warm enough this afternoon that my hands got a little sweaty but that, along with some cactus juice, did not cause problems in gripping the knife.

Cleanup was easy with some Windex. Oiled the joints with Tuff Glide and we were ready to go. Very pleased.

I had to cut open a carton of chocolate mint chip ice cream after tearing off the easy open tab. The thick cardboard was no problem for the clip blade. Very pleased.

As I recall, Case introduced this series in several unusual colors including purple, green, orange, and red in all three sizes. All were pretty bright colors in the smooth bone.

Thanks for all the nice comments. This little guy is proving his mettle nicely in the few days I've had him and is definitely a keeper.

dan

 

[Zuchus]

I really love mine - this one in orange smooth bone. I don't know why Case has generally only made this pattern in the "weird" colors. This orange I like much better than the "persimmon" orange I've seen.

 

[pipedreams308]

Don't forget there's a red one too. - Ed

You were saying?

 

[crbauhs]

I love that knife, purple bone and all. I just wish it was in CV, that would be the perfect jack knife!

 

[Will Power]

I've got three of this pattern, they are all without exception very well finished indeed.

I'm not a fan of the Spey blade,traditional or not,but the Wharncliffe(actually likely older than the Spey!) attracts me a lot.

Ed, as for the nail nick being near the bolster, on these springs and with a half stop it does not impede opening-it's a nice deep nick too.

I really like the diamond shield on the Emerald green one I have and the bowtie ones on the jigged bone (rather lurid apple green and red but really fine jigging) This would be immensely popular in Amber Bone, Chestnut,Antique,White Smooth, Yellow or Black G-10 I'm convinced. We will have to wait for them but in the meantime, this is a fine pattern about the house and garden, get one it won't disappoint.

 

[Ekalb2000]

Did someone say yellow mini trapper?

This, the peanut, and the sway back jack are the best little knives. They do it all.

 

[jacknife]

I've got one with blue scales but it hasn't grown on me the same as some of the other mini trappers I have. I'd prefer it in chestnut, still a nice knife though.

 

[TLARbb]

Well, my ultraviolet mini trapper came in yesterday and now the large trapper that Jani sent me has a little sister.

They look pretty good together and as luck would have it, the mini trapper bone looks very similar to the larger one. They are pretty nice little pocket friends. Mini in a front pocket and the larger on in the back pocket would cover pretty much anything.

Ed