What is THE quintessential Case knife?

[moonman]

Yellow Trapper,CV blades was my first choice.

 

[Prester John]

Next to the large Trapper, the large Stockman would be my second choice - this one in Yellow Delrin.

I, too, prefer the larger stockman. At least 3 7/8".

 

[mbkr]

First thought was "Barlow"

 

[guy g]

I got a Case mini trapper for Xmas years ago. But my most collected pattern is the Stockman, dating back to my first pocket knife.

 

[K33ncutter]

Take your pick:
(Sadly, this Stockman Pattern is discontinued)

 

[A.S.]

Mini Trapper

 

[Will Power]

I'd LIKE to think it's an old Red Bone Penknife, but sadly I don't own one

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

These parts its the trapper for sure:

Dave which trapper. is that? Is that the blue Panama?

Love the CASE large trappers....

 

[BladeCommander]

CASE Yellow Trapper
(no pic, don't have one)

My current favorite CASE is the Sowbelly Stockman Chestnut CV. I do want one of the new Barlow's though.

 

[black mamba]

The #54 pattern Trapper has been their biggest seller, and the yellow CV is probably the icon of the group. But to me, the amber bone #32 pattern Texas Jack and the Peanut are quintessentially Case.

 

[RDaneel]

I think that the Trapper is the most iconic. The medium stockman '18 pattern is right up there, also.

For me, the Sodbuster, Jr. was my first Case and I still think of that plow as iconic.

 

[Hjalmar69]

What is the '18 pattern?

I think that the Trapper is the most iconic. The medium stockman '18 pattern is right up there, also.

For me, the Sodbuster, Jr. was my first Case and I still think of that plow as iconic.

 

[Prester John]

What is the '18 pattern?

Medium stockman. Serpentine, round bolsters.

Mark side.

Pile side.

 

[Hjalmar69]

Lovely, I had one but lost it somehow. Perfect size.

 

[Prester John]

Lovely, I had one but lost it somehow. Perfect size.

I think it, and the trapper (54 pattern), are Case's biggest sellers.

 

[Mitt]

Medium stockman. Serpentine, round bolsters.

Mark side.

Pile side.

I wish mine had that kind of color.

 

[Mitt]

When I think Case, the medium stockman comes to mind, for Buck its the 703 and Camillus its the 51.

I was never a fan of the two blade trapper of any brand, I'm still not.

 

[RDaneel]

What is the '18 pattern?

The '18 stockman is a medium stockman; there are more of these made than any other Case stockman. One made with bone covers would have a pattern number of 6318. Here is an example:

 

[PointyThings]

Definitely the 54 trapper, tho my favorite is the 47 stockman.

 

[Prester John]

In my 2019 Case catalogue, there are 46 medium stockmans listed, and 94 trappers. I think they are easily the two best selling patterns. When I decided to get a Case knife a couple of years ago, I couldn't decide between them, so I got both, in stainless steel. (I didn't realize I would accumulate many more knives since then!) Both are amber bone. In recent catalogues, amber bone and yellow Delrin are most common. In local hardware and farm & ranch stores, the amber bone is probably more popular here in south Texas. I think a yellow trapper with CV steel is the "quintessential" Case knife, though. But I wish the vintage red bone were still available. The current "red bone" is not the same.

Between the two patterns, I think the stockman might be prettier, but the trapper is more useful, with a much larger clip blade, and more comfortable in the hand. And I love the big spey blade too. Glad I don't have to limit myself to one knife.

Edit: not all the medium stockmans are the 18 pattern. I counted 32 18's out of 46 listed. There is some variation in what Case calls a medium stockman. The 18 has serpentine body; round bolsters; clip, sheepfoot, and spey blades; and is 3 5/8" long. Some medium stockmans are a little shorter, have square bolsters, pen instead of spey, etc. All the trappers are the 54 pattern, and are 4 1/8" closed.