Say it ain’t so, Case!

They have offered pocket clips on their Trapperlock for years, which is the same size frame. Easy enough to just add the same clip to the Trapper.
 
Nothing wrong with it in my book. However, it violates the rules of the Traditional sub-forum because it is a modern feature. So other than it not being suitable for discussion in that forum, seems like a good enough idea. I like the Case Trapper pattern but it's big enough to warrant a belt sheath. The clip seems like a good alternative for those who like the knife but prefer not to have it down in their pocket or wear a belt sheath.
 
A clip w/o a thumb stud begs the question, why a clip? Spyderco popularized clips for one reason...one hand opening. W/o one hand opening, the clip seems useless.
 
brownshoe said:
A clip w/o a thumb stud begs the question, why a clip? Spyderco popularized clips for one reason...one hand opening. W/o one hand opening, the clip seems useless.
Click to expand...
Orderly and easy access to the knife. Admittedly, digging around in your pocket is not as hard as digging a drainage ditch but pocket clips are very convenient, regardless of one-handed opening. This has all the virtues of a traditional knife with the added orderly convenience of a clip.
 
They've had models like this for a bit but while interesting I don't need a pocket clip traditional knife. I use them as secondary knives in my coin pocket a clip on trad knife just doesn't have a place in my system. Still may pick one up some day
 
brownshoe said:
A clip w/o a thumb stud begs the question, why a clip? Spyderco popularized clips for one reason...one hand opening. W/o one hand opening, the clip seems useless.
Click to expand...
It redistributes the weight better so it's not an anchor at the bottom of your pocket.
It keeps it from getting scratched up by key's change, etc. at the bottom of your pocket.
It keeps it from slipping out of your pocket when sitting down.
It makes it easier to retrieve from your pocket.
You can carry it with pants/shorts that don't have a pocket by clipping it to the waistband.
Do I need to go on?
 
Pocket clips and thumb studs aren't really new inventions. A lot of "new" things aren't really that new. A lot of "modern" knives are derivatives of folding hunters. A lot of "new" locking mechanisms are derivatives of older locking mechanism. See examples below of some old pocket clips and thumb studs.

A pocket clip is not something that I want in a traditional trapper pattern but I see a market for it. It seems that more and more of the folks who step into the traditional forum are looking for traditional knives that are similar to their modern knives.

Hope it works out for them. Their parent company, Zippo, is treading water since not many people smoke these days. Most of Zippo sales are outside the USA. And lighters is no longer the majority of their sales. I hope Case keeps their doors open. We've already lost Queen, Canal Street, Schrade, Camillus, etc. Not many traditional knife manufacturers left in the USA. Maybe this will open them up to new markets.

melon tester with a shirt pocket clip:
T17g8bN.jpg


pen knife with "ears" patented in 1892 by Walter William Pellet
TbiqvyF.jpg

MufNCzP.jpg
 
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supratentorial said:
Pocket clips and thumb studs aren't really new inventions. A lot of "new" things aren't really that new. A lot of "modern" knives are derivatives of folding hunters. A lot of "new" locking mechanisms are derivatives of older locking mechanism. See examples below of some old pocket clips and thumb studs.

A pocket clip is not something that I want in a traditional trapper pattern but I see a market for it. It seems that more and more of the folks who step into the traditional forum are looking for traditional knives that are similar to their modern knives.

Hope it works out for them. Their parent company, Zippo, is treading water since not many people smoke these days. Most of Zippo sales are outside the USA. And lighters is no longer the majority of their sales. I hope Case keeps their doors open. We've already lost Queen, Canal Street, Schrade, Camillus, etc. Not many traditional knife manufacturers left in the USA. Maybe this will open them up to new markets.

melon tester with a shirt pocket clip:
T17g8bN.jpg


pen knife with "ears" patented in 1892 by Walter William Pellet
TbiqvyF.jpg

MufNCzP.jpg
Click to expand...
That melon tester is awesome.
I love how the tip of that clip looks like a melon baller.
 
supratentorial said:
A pocket clip is not something that I want in a traditional trapper pattern but I see a market for it. It seems that more and more of the folks who step into the traditional forum are looking for traditional knives that are similar to their modern knives.
Click to expand...
Case is like any other company trying to stay in business. They need to keep selling more knives, year in, year out. They can either do that by selling more knives to existing customers, or broaden their customer base to more people. Minor innovations like this have a potential to do both, at not much extra cost to them, since they already have the parts and process in place from the same-sized Trapperlock product. So far it is only being offered on 4 models. If it doesn't sell well, they can discontinue it with little impact. I think it's a good idea, even if it doesn't appeal to everyone.
 
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