2020 GEC #62 Easy Pocket Congress and Pocket Carver Thread

I don’t know if it’s just because it’s Friday and the beginning of weekend lol but for some reason I’m getting more and more excited knowing my Micarta and Snakewood are in route :thumbsup::D
This pattern is visually really starting to grow on me. I like the blade configuration and seems to be a nice balance of blade size compared to the covers and end caps.
Can’t wait to get them in hand !!
 
I received, and checked out the notification from DLT yesterday... so disappointed that GEC has taken to marking SFOs in that manner. Looking on the bright side - no temptation to buy the knives, despite liking the pattern and covers.
 
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hhmoore said:
I received, and checked out the notification from DLT yesterday... so disappointed that GEC has taken to marking SFOs in that manner. Looking on the bright side - no temptation to buy the knives, despite looking ther pattern and covers.
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+1.
While I don’t think it would detract completely from a particularly fine specimen, I do get distracted by it.
 
It's a deal breaker for me. This knife is a perfect example - I love snakewood - a nice set of snakewood covers, on a pattern I would pocket, used to be a guaranteed purchase. My wallet was as good as open when I clicked that link... and then I saw the DLT labeling. To be clear, this isn't about DLT - it wouldn't matter who the vendor was.

Luckily, even with the ones I've sold and given away, I've got least a couple of handfuls of traditional knives. I'll survive without any more GEC SFOs.
 
hhmoore said:
It's a deal breaker for me. This knife is a perfect example - I love snakewood - a nice set of snakewood covers, on a pattern I would pocket, used to be a guaranteed purchase. My wallet was as good as open when I clicked that link... and then I saw the DLT labeling. To be clear, this isn't about DLT - it wouldn't matter who the vendor was.

Luckily, even with the ones I've sold and given away, I've got least a couple of handfuls of traditional knives. I'll survive without any more GEC SFOs.
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well if the knife is that close to perfect, Flitz takes the blade etch off, I’m told. I could personally live without the Northfield blade etch, too. Mine wears off with use though. I suppose if you have a few great GECs already it’s hard to buy something that needs a tweak.
 
hhmoore said:
It's a deal breaker for me. This knife is a perfect example - I love snakewood - a nice set of snakewood covers, on a pattern I would pocket, used to be a guaranteed purchase. My wallet was as good as open when I clicked that link... and then I saw the DLT labeling. To be clear, this isn't about DLT - it wouldn't matter who the vendor was.

Luckily, even with the ones I've sold and given away, I've got least a couple of handfuls of traditional knives. I'll survive without any more GEC SFOs.
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Not that I blame you but for some aesthetic reason the DLT etch looks ok to me. Looking at it from another perspective as a collector down the line it may be that the etch will add an interesting aspect to the knives. I collect Schrade wire jacks and the plain ones are just that, plain.
The varieties are one of the things that keep us knifenuts active.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Jiki Jiki looks slightly more narrow than your possum skinner. Definitely looks like a valuable carver’s tool when those beauties come out
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I agree, I have and do carve with my possum skinner and Dixie. However the 2½ inch blade is longer than what I prefer. Knowing the Carver's main blade will be a little shorter that the EPC's main and that the secondary blades will be even shorter has me very optimistic. Everyone speaks about finding a grail knife, well my search has always been something a little different and that is to find the perfect carving pocket knife for me. One that can match the performance of my occ tools in a beautiful pocketable package. I know flexcut makes folders but they are ugly and I have to carry my carving bag to bring my occs. I am hoping this is the "one". I have 4 on order because I don't foresee GEC ever running these again and if they do it will be years. I am a hard pass on the EPC because I am all in on the carvers.
 
joeradza said:
Not that I blame you but for some aesthetic reason the DLT etch looks ok to me. Looking at it from another perspective as a collector down the line it may be that the etch will add an interesting aspect to the knives. I collect Schrade wire jacks and the plain ones are just that, plain.
The varieties are one of the things that keep us knifenuts active.
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I don't want to belabor this issue; so this will be my last response.
I simply don't want to buy a knife with that kind of advertising. I was adamant (and outspoken) about that when (Mass)Drop started offering unique versions of knives; and I don't feel any differently now that it's a brand and dealer that I like.
(I also avoid some of the more obnoxious blade etchings, even though I know I could get rid of them. Heck, I've not bought knives I wanted because I disliked the makers mark, or it's location.)
 
hhmoore said:
I don't want to belabor this issue; so this will be my last response.
I simply don't want to buy a knife with that kind of advertising. I was adamant (and outspoken) about that when (Mass)Drop started offering unique versions of knives; and I don't feel any differently now that it's a brand and dealer that I like.
(I also avoid some of the more obnoxious blade etchings, even though I know I could get rid of them. Heck, I've not bought knives I wanted because I disliked the makers mark, or it's location.)
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It's your money spend it how you like. Not sure why the internet always tries to solve everyone's problems (guilty of it too). Hope you find something you like.:thumbsup:
 
Jiki said:
I agree, I have and do carve with my possum skinner and Dixie. However the 2½ inch blade is longer than what I prefer. Knowing the Carver's main blade will be a little shorter that the EPC's main and that the secondary blades will be even shorter has me very optimistic. Everyone speaks about finding a grail knife, well my search has always been something a little different and that is to find the perfect carving pocket knife for me. One that can match the performance of my occ tools in a beautiful pocketable package. I know flexcut makes folders but they are ugly and I have to carry my carving bag to bring my occs. I am hoping this is the "one". I have 4 on order because I don't foresee GEC ever running these again and if they do it will be years. I am a hard pass on the EPC because I am all in on the carvers.
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man, I’m rooting for you on this one. A grail knife isn’t trivial. I agree GEC probably wouldn’t make this one again. I think it’ll be a very popular in some circles, but I doubt most users are looking for 3 wharnecliffe’s. I’m excited, personally.
 
Can anyone comment about the bolsterless farm and field? Some of my knives that get the heaviest use are the ones I use for carving. The tensile strength of micarta is significantly less than brass/nickel silver. Think that’s why they make the covers so beefy on the F&F pattern? I think for most cutting needs micarta would be perfectly fine. If I had to guess, I’d bet that as long as the pin hole in the liners didn’t tear out and there wasn’t extreme twisting that the brass liners would have sufficient strength alone.

Not trying to start a “bolster vs. shadow pattern” debate here; you can leave the stories like “my buddy Ralphie says he knew a guy who said his former roommate once snapped a shadow pattern knife at the pin and cut his arm off and went on to win WW2” stories at the door.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Can anyone comment about the bolsterless farm and field? Some of my knives that get the heaviest use are the ones I use for carving. The tensile strength of micarta is significantly less than brass/nickel silver. Think that’s why they make the covers so beefy on the F&F pattern? I think for most cutting needs micarta would be perfectly fine. If I had to guess, I’d bet that as long as the pin hole in the liners didn’t tear out and there wasn’t extreme twisting that the brass liners would have sufficient strength alone.

Not trying to start a “bolster vs. shadow pattern” debate here; you can leave the stories like “my buddy Ralphie says he knew a guy who said his former roommate once snapped a shadow pattern knife at the pin and cut his arm off and went on to win WW2” stories at the door.
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Most carving knives are short tangs glued/epoxied between two slabs of wood then the handle is shaped. Some have a collar some don't. I would say that the micarta and pin would be just as strong if not stronger. Admittedly I mostly carve basswood so it is not high on the hardness factor but my experience is that the piece I am carving breaks (this when I have ended up cutting myself fairly badly) before the knife does. The area of the knife failing that concerns me the most is the tip, which I have done. A tip break however is an easy fix to learn and do once you get past the fact that you are taking a file to one of you favorite knives.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Can anyone comment about the bolsterless farm and field? Some of my knives that get the heaviest use are the ones I use for carving. The tensile strength of micarta is significantly less than brass/nickel silver. Think that’s why they make the covers so beefy on the F&F pattern? I think for most cutting needs micarta would be perfectly fine. If I had to guess, I’d bet that as long as the pin hole in the liners didn’t tear out and there wasn’t extreme twisting that the brass liners would have sufficient strength alone.

Not trying to start a “bolster vs. shadow pattern” debate here; you can leave the stories like “my buddy Ralphie says he knew a guy who said his former roommate once snapped a shadow pattern knife at the pin and cut his arm off and went on to win WW2” stories at the door.
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The main feature of the F&F knives is the cutlery rivet pivot. Much stronger than the pin in bolster. For low radius concave cuts i'm much more confident at using a F&F knife than at using any other slip joint.

Dan.
 
dantzk8 said:
The main feature of the F&F knives is the cutlery rivet pivot. Much stronger than the pin in bolster. For low radius concave cuts i'm much more confident at using a F&F knife than at using any other slip joint.

Dan.
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Thank you for sharing that, Dan. I've often wondered if one was stronger than the other. I had assumed that the rivet pivot was the weaker of the two but I really had no idea. This is good to know.
 
Great discussion!! I've ordered a couple of carver-versions of the #62, but with bolsters. I am sure they will be strong enough for the limited whittling or carving that I do, but it's interesting to hear a diversity of real-world usage experience from Jiki and Dan!!
I like the congress pattern, and have put a few miles on my 2011 version over the years!

I wish my uncle had owned a red Barchetta, Rick!!
 
I was planning on getting a Carver and after reading the posts above it’s now definitely going to be a F&F model. Thanks for the info.
 
I've to add this to my previous post: if a cutlery rivet pivot is stronger than a pin in bolster construction it doesn't mean a classic pin in bolster can't bear the mechanical stress induced by whittling tasks. A pin wouldn't endure such a stress if it was a shadow pattern knife.

Dan.
 
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