Longmire still a Case man.

J

jackknife

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Oct 2, 2004
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I've been a long time fan of Craig Johnson and his who-done-it novels with the old school western sheriff, Walter Longmire. I had read everything Mr. Johnson had written, so it was with joy that I found a new Longmire book published in 2019, that had escaped my attention.

"Land Of Wolves."

In typical Johnson story telling, he uses intrigue and humor in equal combinations. The literary Longmire is a funnier guy than the Netflix film character. It's not until the last few pages you find out who the real killer is. But in the book, I noted that Walt is still running true to form with his old Colt 1911, and a "stag handled Case pocket knife" as it is described. The model is not noted, but in a past novel, Johnson calls it a trapper. That was the only model I ever saw in print among all the Longmire books.

The literary Walt seems to have good taste. I guess a stag handled Case trapper would make a fine pocket knife for a 6 foot 5 inch Wyoming sheriff.

As a point of trivia, I see a good number of Case, Boker, and even Moore Maker trappers in those leather pancake style belt sheaths here in Texas Hill country, mostly just west of here. When out in Burrnett and the Llano area, its not uncommon to see a working ranch type with the pancake leather sheath with what looks like the butt end of a trapper sticking out. It must me a pattern popular with Texas ranchers for reason I can't fathom as a born easterner. I'd have thought a stockman would have been the traditional choice.
 
jackknife said:
I've been a long time fan of Craig Johnson and his who-done-it novels with the old school western sheriff, Walter Longmire. I had read everything Mr. Johnson had written, so it was with joy that I found a new Longmire book published in 2019, that had escaped my attention.

"Land Of Wolves."

In typical Johnson story telling, he uses intrigue and humor in equal combinations. The literary Longmire is a funnier guy than the Netflix film character. It's not until the last few pages you find out who the real killer is. But in the book, I noted that Walt is still running true to form with his old Colt 1911, and a "stag handled Case pocket knife" as it is described. The model is not noted, but in a past novel, Johnson calls it a trapper. That was the only model I ever saw in print among all the Longmire books.

The literary Walt seems to have good taste. I guess a stag handled Case trapper would make a fine pocket knife for a 6 foot 5 inch Wyoming sheriff.

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Crosse_Johnson.jpg
Great news! Usually it translates with a 3 years delay and comes in April, but this year I had to wait until Christmas!:(:)
 
jackknife said:
As a point of trivia, I see a good number of Case, Boker, and even Moore Maker trappers in those leather pancake style belt sheaths here in Texas Hill country, mostly just west of here. When out in Burrnett and the Llano area, its not uncommon to see a working ranch type with the pancake leather sheath with what looks like the butt end of a trapper sticking out. It must me a pattern popular with Texas ranchers for reason I can't fathom as a born easterner. I'd have thought a stockman would have been the traditional choice.
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Living and working in south Texas, I see a lot more trappers than stockmans. I prefer the trapper myself.
 
Prester John said:
Living and working in south Texas, I see a lot more trappers than stockmans. I prefer the trapper myself.
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I guess as a fairly recent immigrant to Texas from the great mass populated Washington D.C. area, its mystifying to me about how the trapper is a much more popular model than the stockman, or even a Texas Jack, for Pete's sake. Last summer when our granddaughter was doing her annual month long visit, we went riding out at a ranch in the Llano area, and just about every single ranch hand at that particular ranch had the leather pancake style high ride sheath with a trapper in it.

Theres a great BBQ place called Coopers out that way, and at lunch time during the week, its common to see working folks stop by for a meal. Once in a while I see a Leatherman or Gerber multitool on a hip, but mostly trappers. These are real local ranch folk and tradesmen, with dusty stained boots with the mud still on. No dudes in sight. But trappers are there.

Is it a Texas thing? You're down there in Corpus Christy, I'd think gulf fishermen outnumber cowboys. But I do know from being through there, that around Victoria and vicinity its ranch country in that flat area.
 
jackknife said:
I guess as a fairly recent immigrant to Texas from the great mass populated Washington D.C. area, its mystifying to me about how the trapper is a much more popular model than the stockman, or even a Texas Jack, for Pete's sake. Last summer when our granddaughter was doing her annual month long visit, we went riding out at a ranch in the Llano area, and just about every single ranch hand at that particular ranch had the leather pancake style high ride sheath with a trapper in it.

Theres a great BBQ place called Coopers out that way, and at lunch time during the week, its common to see working folks stop by for a meal. Once in a while I see a Leatherman or Gerber multitool on a hip, but mostly trappers. These are real local ranch folk and tradesmen, with dusty stained boots with the mud still on. No dudes in sight. But trappers are there.

Is it a Texas thing? You're down there in Corpus Christy, I'd think gulf fishermen outnumber cowboys. But I do know from being through there, that around Victoria and vicinity its ranch country in that flat area.
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It may be a Texas thing.

In oklahoma I don't see a ton of trappers on a belt sheath but they are here and there.
 
I thought I read on here that Longmire carried a Buck 110 ... or am I thinking of someone else?
 
jackknife said:
I guess as a fairly recent immigrant to Texas from the great mass populated Washington D.C. area, its mystifying to me about how the trapper is a much more popular model than the stockman, or even a Texas Jack, for Pete's sake. Last summer when our granddaughter was doing her annual month long visit, we went riding out at a ranch in the Llano area, and just about every single ranch hand at that particular ranch had the leather pancake style high ride sheath with a trapper in it.

Theres a great BBQ place called Coopers out that way, and at lunch time during the week, its common to see working folks stop by for a meal. Once in a while I see a Leatherman or Gerber multitool on a hip, but mostly trappers. These are real local ranch folk and tradesmen, with dusty stained boots with the mud still on. No dudes in sight. But trappers are there.

Is it a Texas thing? You're down there in Corpus Christy, I'd think gulf fishermen outnumber cowboys. But I do know from being through there, that around Victoria and vicinity its ranch country in that flat area.
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It probably is a Texas thing. Maybe we like the big blades! I live in and grew up in Corpus Christi, but I work in Kingsville, near the headquarters of the King Ranch, the largest ranch in Texas. My father practically grew up on a ranch near here (in Duval County); my boss has worked cattle much of his life, and a co-worker is a rancher. My father-in-law had a ranch. Been around cowboys, ranchers, and ranch hands most of my life. Never really discussed it with anyone, but I have noticed trappers are more popular around here. Probably the only knife I carry more is my Laguiole (about 4 3/4"), which is even bigger than the trapper.

I may have to check out Mr. Johnson's books, by the way.
 
Grew up raising cattle and carried a folding lockback something like a buck 110. Grandpa carried a old timer big timer (I have it now). Right now my main carry is a boker strike. Here in arkansas I don't notice many pancake holsters. Most people if they use one just have the normal vertical carry with a flap. I have actually been looking into getting a pancake for my grandpas knife to try one. I do remember dad having a yellow case trapper at one time but I don't know what ever came of it. He carried it in his pocket because his gun is the only thing on his belt. Now he pocket carries a sog fielder.
 
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As a side-note, I was bummed when Netflix ended Longmire! :-/ I should get to Johnson's books though. Any recommendation for a first Johnson book on Longmire? And can the be read by 13 year olds? (My daughter is a big fan of the cowboy country, and loves horses!).
 
I work with several men from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. Predominantly trapper model knives with traditional and gas station modern
I may have to try reading the Longmire series. Cheers
 
choombak said:
As a side-note, I was bummed when Netflix ended Longmire! :-/ I should get to Johnson's books though. Any recommendation for a first Johnson book on Longmire? And can the be read by 13 year olds? (My daughter is a big fan of the cowboy country, and loves horses!).
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Well, it will pay to read them in order, as certain characters are frequent visitors. As to a 13 year old? Hmmmm. The books often have some stuff that I don't know if a 13 year old will wrap their head around, all depends on the 13 year old. For instance, the character of the deputy Victoria Moretti from Philly, in the books is a foul mouthed temperamental lady that was greatly tamed down and put on mild tranquilizers for the TV role because of ratings. KaTee Sackoff did a great job, but her character was tamed down from her literate role.

The books are quite a bit different than the TV show. The story is told first hand with the character of Walt telling the story. It sometimes gets a little dark with the personal musings of a mildly depressed guy who likes to get drunk on Reinier beer.
 
willard0341 said:
I work with several men from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. Predominantly trapper model knives with traditional and gas station modern
I may have to try reading the Longmire series. Cheers
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Funny you mention that combo.

My neighbor and new friend since we moved here is Fenix. He's from Port Arthur Texas and is a welder by trade, and worked in the oil and natural gas field. He carries a very nice little stag handle Boker pen knife in his jeans watch pocket, but a gas station knife clipped in his regular pocket. When we talked about that, he said he didn't want to spend a lot of money on a knife that he was going to wear out in a year or two, if not break it on a rig doing something that he absolutely positively will bugger it up, but has to be done.

To Felix, his main knife clipped in his pocket is a disposable cutting tool that he doesn't hesitate to lean on and toss it if need be. He'll just get another one when he fills up his truck. To him its just a 99 cent screw driver.
 
Craig lives a few miles from me. A very nice guy. I was introduced by way of a signed first edition of A Cold Dish, way back in the day. I have missed the last couple of his books but I will catch up. He finally published some short stories in a paperback some years after he wrote them, well worth your time, "Wait for Signs." Every summer thousands of well... "people" descend on Buffalo, Wyoming for Longmire Days. Not me. Meanwhile, there is another somewhat well-known author that Longmire fans might enjoy, C.J. Box, also from Wyoming. His protagonist, a game warden, is featured in some of the books which I have enjoyed. There also is a series centered in the Bakken oil fields that is a little too violent for me, but well-written. I am going to ask Craig what he carries the next time I see him (and maybe have something with me in case he is 'without').
 
That's how Walt describes it in the book.
If I remember correctly he says "I continued peeling my apple with my old Case Russlock"
Funny, I remember that but l still can't remember which book he says it in .
 
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