Case Improved Muskrat

J

jmarston

Joined
Dec 6, 2010
Messages
454
Well... I have considered this pattern as a perfect candidate for modification for a long time. I love the shape of the clip but I really can't say I need two. I love the trapper pattern, but the nail nick on the spey is too far forward to keep it. The muskrat allows me to keep the factory nick while taking the blade to where I want it. If only that dye job was actual chestnut bone instead of a rusty ish orange coloured. I guess I will fix that next.

It is also very thin for a knife 3 7/8" long. As this as my Case Canoe! It makes for a very pocketable,very capable knife.

Still trying to decide if I should round that hump on the spine or not but for now,I kinda like it. Gives nice symmetry when closed. The downward angle of the edge on the sheepsfoot makes it great for draw cuts! Anyways enough talking. Thar she blows!

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I like it!

I agree with you about the redundancy of two identical blades on the same knife. I think it’s one of the few patterns that may have outlived its usefulness, at least in terms of its original purpose. That modification brings it up to date. Good work!
 
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Strange, yesterday I was browsing knives in the net and thought about the same mod. That looks great and very usefull.
 
Astronaut FX said:
I like it!

I agree with you about the redundancy of two identical blades on the same knife. I think it’s one of the few patterns that may have outlived its usefulness, at least in terms of its original purpose.
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You may be right for the majority of knife users. The two identical blades really is mostly handy for skinning applications. I have skinned 100's of muskrats. I however like this Case just as it is.
 
Take a look at the two blade GEC #48 Improved Trapper. Very similar with a clip and wharncliffe. It is a knife that I really like.
 
Thanks all. It will be my every day pocket knife for a while methinks.

22-rimfire 22-rimfire I am sure it benefits when one skins many muskrat all at once. I don't trap muskrat but do trap other species and,if this bLde shape is your preference,it basically doubles the time you spend pelting before a resharpen. Plus the added blade gives a little extra thickness for less hand fatigue in extended use. Win win. The improved trapper is interesting but I really prefer a shorter secondary for trimming nails,splinters,whittling and other detail work. For pelting I have a parking knife I cut down to about 1 1/2" blade with almost the exact same profile as the secondary. Used it on lynx a while back. The sheepsfoot (lambsfoot?) Hump rides nicely on the flesh while doing initial cuts on the legs but leaves a fine enough point for detail work around the lips.
 
22-rimfire said:
The two identical blades really is mostly handy for skinning applications. I have skinned 100's of muskrats. I however like this Case just as it is.
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Sorry to kind of veer off the topic of the nice knife mod (way to go jmarston) but why are two identical blades handy for skinning? Is it so that if and when one goes dull you have a sharp one to move onto ?
City slicker here.
I was going to add that I some times carry two identical blades but one is toothy and one is polished edge.
 
Wowbagger said:
Sorry to kind of veer off the topic of the nice knife mod (way to go jmarston) but why are two identical blades handy for skinning? Is it so that if and when one goes dull you have a sharp one to move onto ?
City slicker here.
I was going to add that I some times carry two identical blades but one is toothy and one is polished edge.
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You need a really sharp knife to skin these animals quickly and without damage to the pelt. You use the knife and switch blades as one dulls, then you quickly sharpen up both blades when the second one dulls... and round and round you go. This is something I did when I was in my teens mostly, trapping. I skinned both my stuff and my uncle's who might have 50-75 rats for me to skin at a time.
 
22-rimfire said:
You need a really sharp knife to skin these animals quickly and without damage to the pelt. You use the knife and switch blades as one dulls, then you quickly sharpen up both blades when the second one dulls... and round and round you go. This is something I did when I was in my teens mostly, trapping. I skinned both my stuff and my uncle's who might have 50-75 rats for me to skin at a time.
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Interesting. Thanks!
 
Those were the times, simple times.... all I had to worry about was a sharp knife. I used to do them in about 3 minutes each. You make mistakes with dull knives and mistakes cost money. Holes in pelts is a no no. I can't say that I miss doing this, but the mention certainly brings back memories.
 
Stanley Hawbaker.... distributor of trapping supplies from the 50's > 70's (guessing on dates). I would imagine for many here the name doesn't mean anything to them.
 
22-rimfire said:
Stanley Hawbaker.... distributor of trapping supplies from the 50's > 70's (guessing on dates). I would imagine for many here the name doesn't mean anything to them.
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I know it from the confines of the origin of the Hawbaker muskrat. I've seen books and other stuff on eBay when searching for the knives. But that's it, really.

J jmarston Nice mod. Case did make Hawbaker Specials in the late '70s and early '80s. A mint/unused one will cost a few pretty pennies though.
 
Well done mod, but I would round off that peak in the spine. To me, what makes a Wharncliffe so lovely, is the nice round flow to the top line of the blade. And almost without saying, it's much more useful than original. :thumbsup:
 
Nice mod!
Case came out with the Bose Collaboration Muskrat in 2004. It's a modified or improved muskrat, like the Hawbaker. I think there was a problem using the Hawbaker name somewhere along the line. Just my memory and could very well be incorrect.
Here's mine.
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Nice work. I love the blade combination, which is why the Rough Rider Improved Muskrat is a favorite carry. It is getting a little hard to find these days, too. Last week, I wanted one for my son’s upcoming birthday, and had to go through six vendors before finding one who had it in stock. Still only $6.99.
;-{>

Also note that the 2018 Forum knife has a similar combination of blades. I had not heard of the Hawbaker until a year or so ago, but I can see why it is sought after.
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I think this knife with something like CPM 154 would be one heck of a skinner and the re-sharpening would be minimized over the 1095 from days past.
 
I agree 22-rimfire 22-rimfire . Hence the new Buck forum knife should be awesome! I wish I could afford one...
It is interesting talking to different trappers. I,like you,prefer a knife to be razor sharp. However,the guy that I learned from at the beginning prefers a slightly dulled blade. He feels with the way he skins, he nicks the fur less. Different strokes I guess.

I will also point out that the fit and finish of this Case knife are on par easily with the GECs. I have handled. Smooth transitions, well spun pins,no gaps. The only difference is a slightly raised spring when open. But both springs are a great 6 pull and have good snap.
 
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