It's with a bit of a sad heart that I post in this thread today, as my knife collecting has undergone such a major transformation this year. I used to collect knives with such great enthusiasm. Mostly classic scout knives, but I also looked forward to each and every new GEC release.
I started off the year with an attempt to carry the same knife every day for all of 2019. That WW2 Camillus engineers knife lasted for over five months in my pocket. Unfortunately, that knife was not purchased this year, so it does not qualify. Then for the remaining part of the year, I carried an old Victorinox SwissChamp every day, that was also not purchased this year. So it does not qualify. Yep. That's right. Two knives combined for my daily carry for 2019, and neither of them qualify for this thread. How's that for a letdown, in perhaps my favorite recurring Bladeforums thread!!!!
But that is not to say to that I didn't purchase any knives this year. I did buy a few knives. Not nearly as many as usual, but making a concerted attempt to carry as few knives as possible will do that to you. It drains the life out of a hobby centered around collecting.
Yet I did purchase the occasional GEC this year, a year that was particularly impressive. Charlie's jigged bone lambsfoot immediately comes to mind, as does Barry's bloodwood 86 SFO. Both of my 92 Eureka Jack's are glorious, as is the 2019 BladeForums knife. GEC really had a killer year. So many sensational knives.
But if I'm honest with myself, I can only get so excited about carbon steel these days. My collection has grown to the point that having to care for all of the carbon steel knives is becoming a burden. Stainless steel is just so much easier to live with.
Fortunately, I did pick up some stainless in 2019 that particularly impressed me. They may have only ridden shotgun to my two main carries, but I am very thankful to have them. I can think of two that stand out in particular, that are easily worthy of accolades. Two knives that a non-collector could purchase, and have no need for another knife. Two knives that a collector could purchase, and be utterly dazzled by.
The Case bone stag Tribal Lock wins honorable mention. I sort of bought it on a whim. I was half sure that it would be too bulky in my pocket, and not up to my quality standards. But oh how wrong I was!!! This knife is nothing sort of functional perfection. The blade grind is wonderfully thin for a knife of this size, which carries smaller than you'd expect. The grip is exceptional. Opening is smooth as silk, and the back lock disengages without trouble. Fit and finish is immaculate, and that bone stag is drop dead gorgeous. This is a highly underrated knife here on Bladeforums.
My 2019 KOTY is the Case Mini-Trapper. It is similar to the Tribal Lock mentioned above, in that the covers are bone stag and the blades are Tru-Sharp stainless. The grinds are also thin enough to cut more efficiently than most modern traditionals. But this Mini-Trapper takes the top spot this year because it is so small and unassuming, and because the blade combination is so unerringly useful. The clip and wharncliffe can handle just about any ordinary EDC task with aplomb. This knife is also a joy to hold in the hand. The bone stag is thick enough that you can really get a grip on it. Fit and finish are also top rate.
Today, if I was to put my SwissChamp aside, this is the knife I would carry. I easily place it in the top ten best knives of my entire traditional collection. If you've been thinking that GEC is the only good brand on the market, you owe is to yourself to try a Case bone stag Mini-Trapper. It's crazy good, and somehow affordable at the same time.