Of course your choice would be clearer if you had family or other strong influence. We are a great deal of what we grew up with. The environment, and the people who were the adults in our lives had an enormous impact on who we become.
My dad giving me a scout knife for my 12th birthday was a huge influence. That knife became my Excalliber. Especially after our time with Mr Van, watching him with his old Remington scout knife. Then going in the army and they were handing out demo knives at the supply room like lollypops at the bank. My first overseas duty station was Germany, and there everyone was carrying SAK's. By the time Buck came out with the 110, I was used to a four blade knife that was a small pocket size package. I looked at the Buck, and thought who the hell designed a knife that weighted as much as a small boat anchor with only one skinny blade? Nuts! I never bit on the Buck knife because I was so used to the scout pattern. But when they had a Buck display at the PX, and I saw the three blade stockman, I thought of Granddad's old there blade German made Hen and Rooster, and how much milage granddad got out of those three blades. So I bought a stockman. Would I ever have bought a stockman if I had nobody in my family that I had admired use one? Heck no. I would have stayed with my scout pattern SAK/demo knife.
Only being a knife knut was the wild card for me. I'd see some knife, buy it, try it out, and if it worked okay, if not, I'd get rid of it. Tried sodbusters, jacks, and even a Balisong. None of them lasted. I always ended going back to the scout and stockman. Had a few lock blades, just never cared for having one blade in a heavy package. Of course, nobody in my family carried a lock blade. I never would have tried a peanut if it were not for my dad. Only after he was gone, and his ld knife was sitting on top of my dresser, that I dropped it in my pocket one morning, I'm still not real sure why.
Since nobody in my family carried a trapper, congress, or other knife, those patterns were kind of like an alien species to me. I never had any experience with them, so I never had an interest to try one. I admit to being a creature totally of my environment growing up. Except for my choice of firearms though.
But the mini-trapper is about the same size as a standard SAK, which is a strength, IMO. If I were going into the outdoors, I would choose the large stockman. Not sure whether I'd choose a Case or Buck 301 for that, as I'm sure they're both equally tough and able. If I thought I might get it messy, then probably the Buck. But for EDC, a large stockman is a bit much for my pocket.
