2020 GEC #62 Easy Pocket Congress and Pocket Carver Thread

[Kiteman72]

I was planning on passing on the pocket Carver since they all had the same blade but once I saw those FF variants come through I had to reserve one. Had a tough time deciding if I should try for the black and red micarta or the natural linen, both look amazing but made a quick game time decision and went with the natural linen. Now with my 29 and the pocket Carver I really need to learn to whittle.

I basically just bought the first book on whittling I found and tore right in to it. Having the proper wood is key.

Lots of folks on here better than me tho. But I did send some whittled gifts to some kids this Christmas and they went over great!

 

[EngrSorenson]

Now with my 29 and the pocket Carver I really need to learn to whittle.

between those two knives there’s not a lot you won’t be able to whittle. Before you attempt whittling I just suggest you put good edges on the blades. The factory grind is fine for some things, but my experience says you’ll have a better experience if you lean out the angles a touch and bring the bevel to a mirror sheen. Also, hobby stores tend to carry basswood, which is the beginner’s best friend, and the wood of choice for 16th-18th century German professional carvers.

Looking forward to your experience with your whittlers.

 

[EngrSorenson]

Are you talking about a catch-bit or a stop-pin? The catch bit helps with the spacing of blades with different stock thickness sharing a spring; it wouldn't have anything to do with blade rap.

they call that a catch bit? I’ve always known that to be a spacer. My 35 churchill and the 62 pocket congress both feature a brass spacer to make up the difference between primary and secondary blade thicknesses. I was thinking a catch bit was the stop pin.

Edit: I did a little digging and realized I was wrong in my terminology. Thanks r8shell . https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/what-is-a-catch-bit.699278/

 

[ddavis]

Well I planned on sitting out of this 62 run. But when the pocket carver early reserve popped up on my phone I was reserving campsites for our summer trips, and I had a vision...
Sitting around a campfire, smoking a cigar, kids running around playing with sticks and rocks, me just whittling away a little bear figurine or wooden dog or something, wife just smiling sipping on her wine.
And boom, before I could snap out of my daydream the knife was reserved and I was back in my cubicle.
Somehow I don’t think I will regret this.

 

[Jiki]

I get my basswood off ebay for very reasonable prices. Kiln dried from WV.

 

[Kiteman72]

I get my basswood off ebay for very reasonable prices. Kiln dried from WV.

I just do branch carving for the most part, but I would like to start ruining some basswood!

 

[bax229]

I might be missing something...what is the purpose of the repetitive blades on the Pocket Carver?

I’m used to seeing wharncliffe, coping, and pen blades on whittlers

 

[Jiki]

I might be missing something...what is the purpose of the repetitive blade on the Pocket Carver?

The large blade for roughing out, small blades for detail. Two for carving on the go without a strop handy. Or you could put different grind angles on them.

 

[ddavis]

I might be missing something...what is the purpose of the repetitive blade on the Pocket Carver?

I’m used to seeing wharncliffe, coping, and pen blades on whittlers

I’m assuming so you can go longer between sharpening. Makes sense to me as I’m the type who whittles while primarily taking breaks doing something else (like resting while hiking, waiting for the kids practice to end, etc) and I won’t have sharpening stones or strops with me in those circumstances

 

[r8shell]

they call that a catch bit? I’ve always known that to be a spacer. My 35 churchill and the 62 pocket congress both feature a brass spacer to make up the difference between primary and secondary blade thicknesses. I was thinking a catch bit was the stop pin.

Edit: I did a little digging and realized I was wrong in my terminology. Thanks r8shell . https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/what-is-a-catch-bit.699278/

Yeah, There's enough arcane terminology, it's easy to get mixed up.

So, I just sorted through my whittlers to see how they are put together. The older Cases and the GEC #57 have a tapered spacer between the springs. But I have a Boker USA (1970s?) that has a catch bit instead.
Main blade riding on both springs with no center spacer. (notice that the springs are actually tapered, which is pretty cool)

Catch bit between the secondary blades:

I think this is what the quote from GEC that @Norcaldude posted meant. Or else I'm completely confused.

 

[Jiki]

Yeah, There's enough arcane terminology, it's easy to get mixed up.

So, I just sorted through my whittlers to see how they are put together. The older Cases and the GEC #57 have a tapered spacer between the springs. But I have a Boker USA (1970s?) that has a catch bit instead.
Main blade riding on both springs with no center spacer:

Catch bit between the secondary blades:

I think this is what the quote from GEC that @Norcaldude posted meant. Or else I'm completely confused.

That's very interesting, cool knife. Thanks for sharing.

 

[ddavis]

Thank you r8shell for the pics. That helps clear things up tremendously. I read the google book article and the links to the other threads with no pics and still couldn’t figure how it all fit together until I saw those pictures.
Even if the gec is built slightly differently it is great to see how different patterns are constructed.

 

[r8shell]

That's very interesting, cool knife. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you r8shell for the pics. That helps clear things up tremendously. I read the google book article and the links to the other threads with no pics and still couldn’t figure how it all fit together until I saw those pictures.
Even if the gec is built slightly differently it is great to see how different patterns are constructed.

Happy to help. Digging out some more Boker (Solingen) whittlers, I have one made in the 1980s and one of the Beer Barrel series made in the 2010s, and they are both made the same way with the catch bit rather than a tapered center spacer. Maybe it's a German style?

 

[MUFC4Benfica1]

On the topic of whittlers, I have:

• Boker - Beer Barrel
• Hen & Rooster - Stag
• Kissing Cranes - Horn
• Rough Rider - Bone
• Carl Schlieper - Yellow Acrylic
• Zwilling JA Henckels - Gun Stock Walnut

All Solingen with the exception of the Rough Rider

I reckon the Boker, Hen & Rooster and Zwilling JA Henckels are all made by Boker, all the same serpentine pattern with the tapering springs described above.

The Kissing Cranes and Carl Schlieper are both different, neither are split back, neither have a discernible taper to the springs. There are spacers between the secondary blades.

The Rough Rider is a definite split back, a hefty steel wedge between the springs.

I use the saw on a Victorinox Huntsman to cut a small piece of wood (of course with permission and without damaging the tree), a Hiro IC Cut for roughing (to be replaced as it's locking and now illegal in the UK) and then a whittler.

I like green wood. Sycamore is easy, nice smooth surfaces and good with food. Also olive and apple.

Now having got all the gear, I've got no idea and am pretty rubbish! However, I enjoy it. My other half uses Opinels, is very creative and gets far better results than me, much to my chagrin.

I've come around to the GEC Carver and would love to lay my hands on a GEC. Hopefully, it would make me a better whittler!

 

[JohnDF]

Well I planned on sitting out of this 62 run. But when the pocket carver early reserve popped up on my phone I was reserving campsites for our summer trips, and I had a vision...
Sitting around a campfire, smoking a cigar, kids running around playing with sticks and rocks, me just whittling away a little bear figurine or wooden dog or something, wife just smiling sipping on her wine.

I think we had a "shared vision".

So, I just sorted through my whittlers to see how they are put together. The older Cases and the GEC #57 have a tapered spacer between the springs. But I have a Boker USA (1970s?) that has a catch bit instead.
Main blade riding on both springs with no center spacer. (notice that the springs are actually tapered, which is pretty cool)

That's exactly what I was picturing when I heard it was going to be a split back with "different construction".

 

[Onearmbladenut]

I wasn't really interested in the Pocket Carver, but I'm a sucker for Farm & Field knives, and I really like the Muslin Micarta GEC uses. I may have to have one of these.

(I'm curious to see how the Red & Black Micarta comes out, too. As far as I remember, GEC hasn't done a multi-colored/layered Micarta before.)

GEC did use Black/red micarta on a 2019 Northwoods run. I have been debating on this one. These red/black micartas will be the hottest seller of the F&F #62 knives. I got to slow down and save for the #23 trappers. I got to have one of each on those.

 

[Stropping Young Lad]

I’m excited about this run! I’ve got a unicorn ivory coming, a cocobolo carver, and I might have to get one of these F&F models too.

im a big fan of splitbacks, but I’m not disappointed with a catch bit. I have a 1 of 2 62 courthouse split-whit, so it’s cool to add another spring configuration.

 

[rockgolfer]

I have a 1 of 2 62 courthouse split-whit, .

Show and tell? I wanna see lol

 

[Robot Mania Fu]

I was planning on sitting out of this run, but I know I'll regret not grabbing one of those pocket carvers. I'm a sucker for wharncliffes. The idea of putting different angles on those two little carver blades is too appealing.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

So is it correct that on the 62 Carver use of a catchbit on the main blade would allow for two secondary blades to ride on a split single spring without the V-shaped spacer so the knife is equal ended and same thickness from end to end?

and the Carvers’ spring will be a little thicker than the 62 Congress spring?