Favorite slipjoint patterns......why?

Well, the 17 year space gives us all time for measured and matured (in some cases over-ripe) consideration:D But, we all ask ourselves about favourites it's inevitable. The interesting thing is do they change, yeah, no, but...?:confused:

I dislike the concept of restricting to one pattern or blade of knife; or those types who want to carry just one knife for the next 8 decades just to show....why are they bothering with a knife forum then?;):D Let's be honest, flirting and promiscuity can be fun even on the knife plane;) I admire the Stockman pattern but actually only really like one, the Black Box Winchester as it has a low riding Sheepfoot and is generally sleek and great to handle. I messed about with Whittlers for a long time but in the end put them aside..3 blades are not really for me, Congresses not at all-bulky,blade duplication, clumsy in the hand but a remarkable pattern with strong heritage.:thumbsup:

Single-blades? Yes indeed! But which one you say? All except the Spey, it looks ugly and I don't geld animals:eek: But.....well size may be a factor for many, don't like heavy knives or too long as it starts that belt carry nonsense and a pocket knife is for the pocket, and mine are not cavernous.

It's still a Penknife type ultimately, you get the lack of bulk and a decent sized master blade plus an additional blade to pick about with- all one one spring. Unlike a Jack you CAN use it with both blades open at the same time:D which I did at the week-end whilst stripping bark off an apple branch to make a stick, the Pen blade to gouge at knotty bits.

Here's what I was using for the job thanks to Ron @Half/Stop who very kindly gave it to me as a present:cool:

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Another single-spring Penknife type that was a present from a kind friend and Forumite, Žan @ISKRA really sparked my interest.

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Present to myself, a constant companion and very much liked knife: Black Box Swell-Centre Pen

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Using the ante a bit...CASE/Bose Norfolk. Noteworthy the blade assortment, instead of opting for the safe bet...a Pen blade as found on most 'original' Norfolks, TB opted for a small Clip minor with the Wharncliffe, more than clever. Plus sunk-joints all round! I'd love to see other pairings on a Penknife, say Drop-Point / small Sheepfoot, Spear/Sheepfoot or even Lambfoot/small Clip. Of course, certain mechanical constraints might limit making these knives, but something might be worked out;)

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Prester John said:
The original poster asked "What is your favorite pattern, and what attracts you to it?" Although there are several patterns I love (stockman, lambsfoot, Barlow, navaja, laguiole, stiletto, Bowie, canoe, etc.), and I'm glad I don't have to be limited to one knife, I would choose the trapper today (my answer may differ in a year) as my favorite. It's the one I carry most, even if I carry other knives with it.

What attracts me to it:
(1) Size and shape of handle. Not too big, not too small. Fits my hand perfectly. And I like the width and heft. A slimline trapper would be too thin.
(2) Number of blades. Like a martini, one is not enough, and three are too many. Why settle for one or two small blades when you can have two large ones? I also love that they are on the same end, which seems to make holding the knife more comfortable.
(3) Size and shape of blades. The spey blade is great for cutting up and coring fruit, and the clip is great for cutting meat. The clip is my favorite blade shape. Great for piercing, and can cut anything you don't need an axe or saw for. I've seen so-called "improved trappers," but I think that's a misnomer. I would not want to replace a spey with a wharncliffe. Doesn't look right, and the clip can pierce just as well. And the spey can spread stuff a lot better than a wharncliffe can.
(4) Appearance. It just looks right to me. Especially with jigged bone handles. Stag and wood are great, too. Smooth Delrin is okay, but I would grab the bone-handled ones first any time.
(5) Carrying options. I can carry it loose in my left front pocket, or on a belt sheath, and there are many excellent sheaths made for the trapper. I am equally comfortable with either.

As Bubba Blue said in Forrest Gump: "That's about it."

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[Edited to add photo.]
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Another vote for the Trapper here :thumbsup:
You lay out a solid argument, Sir.
I love the full-sized Case Trapper. There's something about it. The size and feel in hand. The simplicity... And there's a history. I think one of my AG Russell catalogs said the Trapper was once the most carried knife in America.

The Buck 110 dethroned it.

Thanks for introducing me to this pattern :)

IMG_20190309_50488 by D P, on Flickr
 
Pinemoon said:
Another vote for the Trapper here :thumbsup:
You lay out a solid argument, Sir.
I love the full-sized Case Trapper. There's something about it. The size and feel in hand. The simplicity... And there's a history. I think one of my AG Russell catalogs said the Trapper was once the most carried knife in America.

The Buck 110 dethroned it.

Thanks for introducing me to this pattern :)

IMG_20190309_50488 by D P, on Flickr
Click to expand...
You're quite welcome. Love those walnut scales.
The 110 is great too--gotta get me one.
 
Prester John said:
The original poster asked "What is your favorite pattern, and what attracts you to it?" Although there are several patterns I love (stockman, lambsfoot, Barlow, navaja, laguiole, stiletto, Bowie, canoe, etc.), and I'm glad I don't have to be limited to one knife, I would choose the trapper today (my answer may differ in a year) as my favorite. It's the one I carry most, even if I carry other knives with it.

What attracts me to it:
(1) Size and shape of handle. Not too big, not too small. Fits my hand perfectly. And I like the width and heft. A slimline trapper would be too thin.
(2) Number of blades. Like a martini, one is not enough, and three are too many. Why settle for one or two small blades when you can have two large ones? I also love that they are on the same end, which seems to make holding the knife more comfortable.
(3) Size and shape of blades. The spey blade is great for cutting up and coring fruit, and the clip is great for cutting meat. The clip is my favorite blade shape. Great for piercing, and can cut anything you don't need an axe or saw for. I've seen so-called "improved trappers," but I think that's a misnomer. I would not want to replace a spey with a wharncliffe. Doesn't look right, and the clip can pierce just as well. And the spey can spread stuff a lot better than a wharncliffe can.
(4) Appearance. It just looks right to me. Especially with jigged bone handles. Stag and wood are great, too. Smooth Delrin is okay, but I would grab the bone-handled ones first any time.
(5) Carrying options. I can carry it loose in my left front pocket, or on a belt sheath, and there are many excellent sheaths made for the trapper. I am equally comfortable with either.

As Bubba Blue said in Forrest Gump: "That's about it."

4u5lNm9.jpg

[Edited to add photo.]
Click to expand...
I agree with all of the above. The full size trapper pattern in my opinion just gets so many things right. Makes a great edc from the kitchen to cleaning deer and fish. Has great blade geometry and can handle heavy duty cutting yet is a great slicer.
 
kamagong said:
Cut right to the heart of the matter. :thumbsup:
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Nice pun!

I certainly don't want to be restricted. I love all kinds of knives, and plan to carry and acquire new and different knives myself. But I bet most people could pick a favourite, or at least a couple of favourites. These things are subjective, and opinions are subject to change, of course.
 
The first pocket knife to get my attention was a stockman, I have always appreciated the general utility and having three sharp blades. My dad was a rancher and farmer and had a Schrade Walden stockman dark bone handles and grandpa had a Case stockman with yeller handles. I was fascinated by the different blade shapes and how they tucked down into the handle well. At first I didn’t know why the different type blades but soon I had it figured out and was learning how to use and sharpen the blades. I don’t remember not having a stockman since age 9 with my first being a 34OT middleman and even carrying it to school and if I ever left it at home I always seemed to need it and sure did miss it in my pocket. I think my next favorite is the trapper and always thought of them as a hunting type knife more than general utility.
 
Buzzbait said:
I like all patterns, but really only have one favorite. The scout is my pattern of choice. So darned handy, and offers so many possibly variations. I particularly enjoy scouts from the 1920's through the 1940's, before synthetic overs became the norm.

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Great pattern, Buzz. My first knife about 50 years ago. Of course, mine had synthetic covers. Good to see that Camillus again.
 
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