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- Sep 28, 2015
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- 567
This is the first in a series of posts that I thought I would write. One of my favorite things to do is read a post about a knife design here that rekindles my interest in that kind of knife. Years ago, a similar article got me interested in Swiss Army Knives and now my extensive collection is proof positive of how much I love these knives. I hope you enjoy and look forward to hearing your own stories!
The Case for the Trapper -
Roughly a century ago (ok, I am not sure exactly when) the Trapper came to be. No one is sure exactly when, who made the first or any significant details, but this particular knife became as much a knife pattern representing America as the Stockman or Bowie knife.
The Trapper is, of course, a design with two equally sized blades consisting (usually) of a main clip point blade and a long spey blade. Trappers were the intended benefactors of the eponymous knife that would be well suited for the first line of the fur industry by providing a knife with a general utility blade (the clip point) AND a spey blade that would be well suited to removing a critter's hide without the danger of a keen point that would be more likely to puncture the valuable skin. Whether that is the usual use of this knife or not, the design had a specific purpose but was found to be a handy design for a multitude of tasks.
I grew up with a father who ran actual trap lines. Despite this fact, his preferred knife was the Stockman. However, I have always had an affinity for the Trapper. I know there are a lot of knife fans that feel two blades of equal length do not serve a purpose for them, but for me, a long slicey blade has always been appreciated. I personally like any knife that can serve as well in the kitchen as it can in the woods. In fact, it is often a major part of my evaluation of a knife's usefulness to me.
Needless to say, the Trapper fills this role with aplomb. I love having a clip point blade for all the everyday tasks that I might need to perform, but I find the spey blade is a wonderful tool in the kitchen, processing meat, cutting fruit, peeling vegetables, slicing, dicing and any chores that a dull “pot steel” kitchen knife fails to do well.
For processing game, the clip point and spey blades are an amazing combination. The advantage of a long spey blade, versus the stockman spey, is readily apparent when processing deer sized game where the extra length in the blade helps increase one's reach. Cutting a large roast sized chunk of venison ham is the work of a longer blade. Yes, a good fixed blade is handy for that purpose, but as survival logic often tells us...the best knife in the world is the one you have on you when you need it the most.
I have a few Trappers of various brands. One of the most popular (at least if volume has any say in it) is Case Knives. It appears the Trapper is the flag ship of Case and the handle varieties they offer is staggering. There are so many Case handle options, one can get a knife that speaks to them personally if they so desire.
In my collection I also have a Camillus 717 Yello-Jacket Trapper that I revere. This knife was given to me by someone who found it (I feel sad for the original owner who lost this knife) and I quickly found that I really love the clip point geometry and have found the blade steel reminds me of the steel used in the Buck 110 quite a bit. It feels good in the hand without being too large for daily carry.
Probably my favorite Trapper though, is my AG Russell Dogleg Trapper in VG10. There are so many things I love about this knife that I could write a lone article on its usefulness and utility. The edge angles are amazing and the edge it takes is nothing short of scary sharp. It isn't a cheap Trapper variety, but I have never regretted spending the extra dollars on it.
I could go on and on about the Trapper, ways it has served me, my daily tasks with this knife and all the brands one could potentially collect, but I wanted to open up to other Trapper fans and owners to get their thoughts and feelings on this knife variety. Keep em sharp and keep cutting!
Here is a few of my Trappers:
(Clockwise from the left) - AG Russell Dogleg Trapper, Case Red Jigged Bone Trapper, Rough Rider Locking Mini Trapper Custom Purple Dyed Smooth Bone, Camillus Yello-Jacket in Yellow Delrin, Rough Rider Fat Boy Trapper in Yellow Delrin.
The Case for the Trapper -
Roughly a century ago (ok, I am not sure exactly when) the Trapper came to be. No one is sure exactly when, who made the first or any significant details, but this particular knife became as much a knife pattern representing America as the Stockman or Bowie knife.
The Trapper is, of course, a design with two equally sized blades consisting (usually) of a main clip point blade and a long spey blade. Trappers were the intended benefactors of the eponymous knife that would be well suited for the first line of the fur industry by providing a knife with a general utility blade (the clip point) AND a spey blade that would be well suited to removing a critter's hide without the danger of a keen point that would be more likely to puncture the valuable skin. Whether that is the usual use of this knife or not, the design had a specific purpose but was found to be a handy design for a multitude of tasks.
I grew up with a father who ran actual trap lines. Despite this fact, his preferred knife was the Stockman. However, I have always had an affinity for the Trapper. I know there are a lot of knife fans that feel two blades of equal length do not serve a purpose for them, but for me, a long slicey blade has always been appreciated. I personally like any knife that can serve as well in the kitchen as it can in the woods. In fact, it is often a major part of my evaluation of a knife's usefulness to me.
Needless to say, the Trapper fills this role with aplomb. I love having a clip point blade for all the everyday tasks that I might need to perform, but I find the spey blade is a wonderful tool in the kitchen, processing meat, cutting fruit, peeling vegetables, slicing, dicing and any chores that a dull “pot steel” kitchen knife fails to do well.
For processing game, the clip point and spey blades are an amazing combination. The advantage of a long spey blade, versus the stockman spey, is readily apparent when processing deer sized game where the extra length in the blade helps increase one's reach. Cutting a large roast sized chunk of venison ham is the work of a longer blade. Yes, a good fixed blade is handy for that purpose, but as survival logic often tells us...the best knife in the world is the one you have on you when you need it the most.
I have a few Trappers of various brands. One of the most popular (at least if volume has any say in it) is Case Knives. It appears the Trapper is the flag ship of Case and the handle varieties they offer is staggering. There are so many Case handle options, one can get a knife that speaks to them personally if they so desire.
In my collection I also have a Camillus 717 Yello-Jacket Trapper that I revere. This knife was given to me by someone who found it (I feel sad for the original owner who lost this knife) and I quickly found that I really love the clip point geometry and have found the blade steel reminds me of the steel used in the Buck 110 quite a bit. It feels good in the hand without being too large for daily carry.
Probably my favorite Trapper though, is my AG Russell Dogleg Trapper in VG10. There are so many things I love about this knife that I could write a lone article on its usefulness and utility. The edge angles are amazing and the edge it takes is nothing short of scary sharp. It isn't a cheap Trapper variety, but I have never regretted spending the extra dollars on it.
I could go on and on about the Trapper, ways it has served me, my daily tasks with this knife and all the brands one could potentially collect, but I wanted to open up to other Trapper fans and owners to get their thoughts and feelings on this knife variety. Keep em sharp and keep cutting!
Here is a few of my Trappers:
(Clockwise from the left) - AG Russell Dogleg Trapper, Case Red Jigged Bone Trapper, Rough Rider Locking Mini Trapper Custom Purple Dyed Smooth Bone, Camillus Yello-Jacket in Yellow Delrin, Rough Rider Fat Boy Trapper in Yellow Delrin.
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