Classic "Trapper" recommendations

mfm22

mfm22

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Joined
Nov 9, 2010
Messages
538
Not so familiar with the different Manufactures of these . Open to suggestions
looking for Good quality - maybe GEC level .
Not looking for a custom just a solid - quality build that will hold up for a lifetime .
Thanks
 
I'm more of a single blade kind of guy: so I'm quite fond of things like a Case or Queen slimline trapper. GEC has a number of appealing models - check out the 48, 72, 73, 74, etc
 
Many Great Eastern dealers have the more traditional style #48 pattern trapper available....also look at Boker their new release this year features Bog Oak
 
mfm22 said:
Not so familiar with the different Manufactures of these . Open to suggestions
looking for Good quality - maybe GEC level .
Not looking for a custom just a solid - quality build that will hold up for a lifetime .
Thanks
Click to expand...
Well I can certainly get excited about this topic.
The full size Trapper is one of my fav EDCs bar none !
I stick mostly with Case they are just great fit and finish wise. Decent steel . . . never a gripe really.

I have a Boker or two . . . though Fit and Finish are not there some of the scales like the dark, dark green feather like jigging with black over that just blows me away it is so cool ! ! ! !

Of all the Trappers, in hand, the one I like the best is the Case Genuine Stag (not the bone stag). I like it because it is really fat and a great handle. See photos. In person it doesn't look quite so orange or yellow, more toward browns and tans and black. You can see how fat it is compared to the more modern knives in my photo.
IMG_3279.jpg
IMG_4806.jpg
As far as just economy and practicality the Case in White Sparxx is the way to go. A bit thinner in the handle but you can find that white handle if you drop it in the dark, I think it looks really great with the red Case shield . . . a great knife.
IMG_4671.jpg

As far as what looks the best to me in all the Case Trappers that would be the jigged mahogany bone (shown below) or practically the same knife with the gun stock texture which I don't have . . . yet.
IMG_4300.jpg

Be warned these are pretty big to carry in a pocket; I have to use a belt pouch, my fav is the SAK black with the flap tucked out of the way (flap won't reach over the end of the knife. The Case Trapper pouch is ok to.
IMG_3281.jpg
 
Really like the look & feel of a stag handle / scales

Nice group of knives you have there
 
mfm22 said:
Really like the look & feel of a stag handle / scales

Nice group of knives you have there
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:
Thanks; these work really well for me.
I keep wanting a GEC, I mean they are great and all, but the timing hasn't been right yet. I kind of prefer Case's blade shapes. One day.

You've inspired me to post some old photos of the Boker in feather texture green and black scales. If I knew how to take a decent photo it would help. :rolleyes:
IMG_4024.jpg
IMG_4009.JPG

Boker's pouch is cool as heck too but I need something I can clip on an off so I did this weirdness to it (just a belt loop on it from the factory).
IMG_4051.jpg
 
That's some nice leather work. What knife is in it - looks pretty hefty
 
Hard to beat a yellow delrin Case Trapper for economy. I have come to love the GEC made stuff. The GEC #48 is one of my favorite knives. Slim and fits nicely in the pocket. GEC is coming out with a #43 model (4.25" closed) if you have a hankering for something a bit larger.
 
I like Case and on the secondary market Canal Street and Camillus come to mind.
 
I agree with these guys... It's hard to beat a Case Trapper - especially in CV... GEC. Queen. They're all good.

I'd pick a steel and handle material that you like and see what's currently on the market. Find something you dig and go with it!
 
Check out the Case trapper in rosewood. I think Mike at CK has some. Case is a little inconsistent matching their scales but it's hard to wrong with wood....besides wood is my favorite material. Anyway, the one I got has by far the best fit and finish I have on a traditional. Even better than the GEC's I have. That might not be the case with every one of them, but they are definitely worth checking out. And they're one of the cheaper Case trappers available....
 
Wowbagger said:
Well I can certainly get excited about this topic.
The full size Trapper is one of my fav EDCs bar none !
I stick mostly with Case they are just great fit and finish wise. Decent steel . . . never a gripe really.

I have a Boker or two . . . though Fit and Finish are not there some of the scales like the dark, dark green feather like jigging with black over that just blows me away it is so cool ! ! ! !

Of all the Trappers, in hand, the one I like the best is the Case Genuine Stag (not the bone stag). I like it because it is really fat and a great handle. See photos. In person it doesn't look quite so orange or yellow, more toward browns and tans and black. You can see how fat it is compared to the more modern knives in my photo.
View attachment 849314
View attachment 849315
As far as just economy and practicality the Case in White Sparxx is the way to go. A bit thinner in the handle but you can find that white handle if you drop it in the dark, I think it looks really great with the red Case shield . . . a great knife.
View attachment 849316

As far as what looks the best to me in all the Case Trappers that would be the jigged mahogany bone (shown below) or practically the same knife with the gun stock texture which I don't have . . . yet.
View attachment 849327

Be warned these are pretty big to carry in a pocket; I have to use a belt pouch, my fav is the SAK black with the flap tucked out of the way (flap won't reach over the end of the knife. The Case Trapper pouch is ok to.
View attachment 849328
Click to expand...
In your grip thickness picture, what is the knife that is second from the right? The one next to the 110.
 
Trapper pattern is or was my favorite pattern of slippie. I would start with a regular sized one with the typical clip and spey blades and go from there. A trapper is a jack knife and I have moved to just preferring two bladed jack knives versus a trapper exclusively. The Case trapper embodies what a trapper is to me in terms of the pattern.
 
There are case trappers with antique jigged bone and 154cm stainless blades.. also, Schatt and Morgan offered gunstock pattern knives with trapper blade combo in ats34. The clip/long spey combo I started loving in trappers is just as good when it's in another frame.

I would ignore the GEC call unless you're okay with spending 2x the money on about 1.25x the quality of a case knife IMO. I finally broke down and got one recently (81 bull moose. there's that blade combo again, see?) and failed to see where the extra 50 dollar bill went when compared to a case with similar build traits. Add that to the difficulty in getting them sometimes and the gouging habits of the GEC collector community on the secondary market and its nothing I care for spending more money on unless I encounter something very special from them.
 
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