Trapper knives... and their history?

iubigred007

iubigred007

Joined
Jul 23, 2004
Messages
203
hey all,

been doing some searching on Google, but I can't seem to come up with any answers to what I looking for... so I turn to my brother and sisters on the bladeforums.com for help.

I love trapper pattern knives, my favorite pattern of any slip joint knives. but, I don't know about an history on them. why were they first created, what are the 2 types of blades used for, etc....

I have also noticed at some knife shows that people are members of trapper knife clubs, but I can't find any info on the clubs either.

if anyone on the forums here can help me out, then it is much appreciated.

thanks all!
 
According to LG4, the standard trapper was introduced in the mid-20s. The long spey blade is handy for skinning (or spaying), while the clip blade has a multitude of uses.
 
lambertiana said:
According to LG4, the standard trapper was introduced in the mid-20s. The long spey blade is handy for skinning (or spaying), while the clip blade has a multitude of uses.
Click to expand...


Was this an American innovation? The Trapper pattern, was it created here?
 
ElCuchillo said:
Was this an American innovation? The Trapper pattern, was it created here?
Click to expand...

My previous statement was incorrect as I was thinking of the Muskrat pattern and its notable history made famous by folks like Hawbaker and others, and not the Trapper pattern. My apologies for my confusion on this.. Its no fun getting old and memory fails you.. :(

However, on a little brighter note I did find the following very interesting article about the Trapper pattern:

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/articles/case_pre_dot_trapper.php

Blessings,
Anthony
 
The Trapper pattern was invented by Henry Thaddeaus Trapper for preparing hsi favorite snack: an apple, cut in half with the core removed, and spread with peanut butter.

Trapper discovered that a narrow clip point was ideal for splitting and coring the apple, while the long spey blade was excellent for spreading peanut butter.

The popularity of this snack has much to do with the popularity of the knife named after Mr. Trapper.
:D ;)
 
Makes sense, as the heyday of peanut butter didn't kick in until the invention of of the peanutbutter and jelly sandwich in 1922. This places it almost the same the year as Trapper's patent for the apple/peanut butter knife. Is the peanut pattern really used to shuck the shells? Has anyone seen a peanut knife used to skin its namesake? This solved, what exactly does the Leatherman multitool have to do with leather working? The enigmas of collecting. The truth is out there, somewhere....
 
Grampa,
I found your little history of H.T. Trapper very informative.

However, you could have included a little more family information.
For example, his illegitimate cousin Vladimir Aloysius Muskrat.

The two of them carried on a long-running legal feud about backspring patents
with Zephaniah Jonas Whittler and his wife Hortensia (fomerly Congress).
 
Sorry - I was trying not to side-track the thread!

Thanks for filling in the wider picture - we must read the same history books!
:D :D
 
don't forget his bastard son who took his mothers name, zeke stockman. or the one named after the pet name he gave his wife "my little sowbelly"
 
Well Ol' Trapper was onto something there. That spay blade also works real good for spreading sour cream, guacamole, and pica de gallo on your quesadilla when they waitress forgets to give you silverware!

A darn good design for a snacking knife. Great with bagels and cream cheese and/or celery and CC or peanut butter, just about anywhere you need a good blade for cutting and another for spreading.

Going out to eat? Make sure your trapper is riding along.

Z. Stockman. I think ran into him at a cattle auction once. Must a been a kid or grandkid as I remember he was Z. Stockman Jr.

Wasn't there another knife named after the guy who designed and used it? He was a Harness maker name Jack IIRC.
 
That was his nickname, Amos.
His full name was Horseapples "Jack" Harness. Spent some time inside, for punching Tack :eek: ! :D
 
The problem with Jack is that his origins are not entirely clear.
He preferred to be known as "English Jack" but may have been in reality "Hungarian Jack" or possibly "Algerian Jack". We may never know.
 
Halp! I'm trapped in a punny place with a bunch of cutups! I tried to put pen to paper, but the paper just fell away in shreds. Guess I'll just have to hit the SAK. :p :D :rolleyes:
 
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