Help me out

5.56

5.56

Joined
Sep 27, 2008
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Can you guys post up some pics or ideas to help me choose my next traditional knife?

I'm looking at the Trapper or Muskrat patterns, but I require a wharncliffe for one of the blades.

Any 2 bladed slipjoint with one wharncliffe is fine really. Need ideas. I'm looking to spend up to $200, so customs would be out of reach. Thanks

:)
 
You could probably get three of them for your 200 bucks but I suggest the Case mini Copperhead. I absolutely love this little knife.
copperhead1.jpg

That said, I have been drooling over the Swayback Jack and Norfolk too. The Norfolk has been in my dreams lately.
Wait, what's that? Oh yeah, the voices in my head are saying something about Seahorses.
 
Mack, does the Copperhead come in that configuration in a full sized model?
 
5.56 said:
Mack, does the Copperhead come in that configuration in a full sized model?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure. I have seen older ones but other than that I don't know. I'm sure the experts will be along shortly to help us out. If they do, I need one.
 
Case made Wharncliffe Trappers in the tiny 2 3/8", mini 3 1/2", and regular 4 1/8" sizes. You should still be able to find some. You could also consider GEC with their Cuban Furtaker and Muskrat patterns.

There are a couple of makers that made Hawbaker or improved muskrats with a wharncliffe instead of 2nd clip.
 
You can get wharncliffe trappers in a variety of handles, but you may have to watch closely to find the one you like. These are "ultra violet". These are the standard and mini trapper versons:

DecKnives001.jpg


There are also some of this configuration of copperhead out there with the wharncliffe main and a pen secondary:

copperheadfamily-1.jpg


Ed J
 
Are those ultra violet's corelon?

I had a corelon Case stockman that I was not impressed with.

That red bone at the bottom looks nice though
 
Pretty sure its bone. All the WTs I've seen from Case are bright colors like that. You may consider a '99 Case Bose Slimline Trapper if you can find one in the Exchange or on an auction site but it'll probably go a little higher than your limit.
IMG_1065.jpg


Here is one of my GEC Furtakers
IMG_1182.jpg
 
5.56 said:
Can you guys post up some pics or ideas to help me choose my next traditional knife?

I'm looking at the Trapper or Muskrat patterns, but I require a wharncliffe for one of the blades.

Any 2 bladed slipjoint with one wharncliffe is fine really. Need ideas. I'm looking to spend up to $200, so customs would be out of reach. Thanks

:)
Click to expand...

Do you have a size preference? Steel quality minimum? Carbon steel or stainless?

Case makes/made wharncliffe trappers, but they're hard to find without the bright neon colors. Plus Case's Tru-Sharp isn't exactly CPMS90V. It's serviceable, and easy to sharpen, but edge holding is minimal.

There really aren't many other wharncliffe trappers out there that are worth looking at (Bear & Sons makes some, but aren't high quality).

The better wharncliffe trappers are the GEC Furtakers (also available as the muskrat Furtaker - same knife, just blades on opposite end), but these are quite large and heavy. Calling either an actual trapper or muskrat is stretching the definition IMO, as traditionally these knives have thinish, slender blades made for skinning, and the GECs are anything but thin and slender.

There's a decent amount of Hawbaker muskrats out there. Typically they're 3.875-4.0".

Canal Streets Hawbakers in various handle materials can be had for $70-100. They come in 14-4 CrMo, which is excellent.

Schatt and Morgan (made by Queen) Hawbakers are out there for around $70. 420HC steel at 56-57Rc. Queen also made Hawbakers for themselves, and also for other companies like Robeson and Colonel Coon (all 420HC)

Northwoods made some in D2, but I haven't come across one in quite a while, and the one that I remember seeing months ago was $150.

Keep in mind that muskrats traditionally have fairly thin blades, which'll flex a bit. The clip blades are usually fairly flexible, and the wharncliffe is a bit stiffer simply because of the thicker spine.

Easily the best Hawbaker muskrat is the Case / Tony Bose 2004 muskrat. A couple months ago eBay was inundated with these, but I haven't seen one in a little while. Bone ones were going for around $200, stag for $230-250. If $200 is your limit, it might be worth it to search for a bone one. I have one, and it's my favorite slipjoint.

Here's a pic, with my Canal Street.

CaseBose.jpg
 
Planters, that is exactly what I am looking for. :thumbup:

I like that Copperhead model that Mack posted too.

Oh man, this is going to be tough.

If I find one of those 2004 Muskrats though, I may have to stretch the budget. ;)
 
I'll give a +1 to the Case/Bose Muskrat. A very, very well made knife. You won't be disappointed.
 
If you don't mind a smaller knife, then the SBJ is a terrific choice.
dscf0257.jpg


Another option that I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned yet is the Dan Burke Barlow made by Queen. It has a master spear blade and a secondary wharncliffe. It comes in well under your price limit with D2 steel. Pics are in this thread.
 
The Norfolk may push the budget but well worth it.
IMG_20110429_160721.jpg

I love the ergos of the seahorse too.
IMG_20101110_230929.jpg

And you can't go wrong with the Swayback, it's a big little knife.
IMG_20101007_181737.jpg
 
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