Rather than start a new thread, I thought I'd jot down a few thoughts here on the trapper knife pattern.
About a year and a half ago, I decided to get a bigger and nicer knife than I was accustomed to carry, which were generally small pen knives, small SAKs, and small lockbacks. My father carried a small pen knife, after all. Carried most of my life, but didn't think much about it. Shelled out $20 or so every few years to get a new knife. Since then, I have acquired 23 knives. May not sound like a lot, but it's probably more than I've owned in my lifetime. I had 8 when I started, and I have given away some knives, and lost a couple.
Anyway, after a few weeks of research (which kept bringing me back to BladeForums), I settled on a Case trapper and a Case medium stockman. I don't think I planned on getting more. But you know how that is. I bought the trapper first, and a few days later the stockman. Then soon after that, a Case mini trapper. Then a small Case lockback. Then other brands, like Buck. I learned about GEC, and the lambsfoot from Sheffield, and Spanish navajas, and French Laguioles, and Scandinavian knives, and Solingen steel, and, of course, Schrade, Queen, Camillus, etc.
There is still so much to learn, and I am enjoying this hobby (obsession?).
Which brings me to my observations about the trapper pattern. I have been carrying my trapper often, only occasionally posting it in the toting thread. I often carry it in a leather belt sheath, but also carry it loose in my left front pocket, which has always been reserved for knives. When it's on my belt, I often have another knife in my pocket.
I don't think I have yet held a pocket knife that is so comfortable to hold. The balance feels perfect. No hot spots, such as can develop from using a stockman (that sheepsfoot blade sticking out, you know). The clip blade is the perfect size for cutting steaks, sausage, pears, etc. The spey blade is also good for cutting fruit, and scooping out the core, for example. It can also be used for spreading things like butter or mustard. And both blades are excellent slicers, and easy to sharpen.
The mini trapper, on the other hand, is too small. If I want to carry a knife that small I'd rather carry the medium stockman, which has a similar size clip and an extra blade. And I like that the full size trapper has no half stop.
I am not planning to become a one-knife guy. There are too many wonderful patterns out there, and I enjoy the variety. For example, I am really looking forward to this year's forum knife, which is a single blade, long sheepsfoot with African blackwood covers. And I love my small but growing collection of lambsfoots. And I gotta get more navajas. And Bowies. And Douk-Douks. And Puukos. And stilettos, etc. But if I
had to choose only one knife, I think the trapper would be all I really needed.