2020 GEC #62 Easy Pocket Congress and Pocket Carver Thread

[Ernie1980]

I like my new cocobolo carver, but I do with one of the secondary blades was different. The finish and grain on my copy is amazing!

 

[EngrSorenson]

I crumpled like a leaf when I saw the red/black linen 62’s for sale... I got one. Told my wife I’m supporting small business... #justification.

*rings dinner bell*
GO GET ‘UM, FOLKS!!

 

[sf fanatic]

F&F red and black Micarta dropped today at TKC, couldn’t resist. Looks like this may be the last since GEC is shutting down for the foreseeable future.

 

[Jiki]

Well I’m definitely guilty as charged.

agreed- the 62 is perfect as is, but my point was more that the parallel spring whittlers have a blade length challenge.

I suspect it’s harder to make a tight Whittler with a divided spring. The pivots cannot be drilled straight down due to the fact the scales are out of parallel. You can imagine what kind of nightmare drilling on angles (not to mention cutting the wedge pieces) would be.

conversely, a parallel spring Whittler has a blade cramming issue- this is evident on the case seahorse with the primary actually impacting the travel path of the secondaries while closed.

what Mr. Howard did here was phenomenal. I think he is the master of tolerance and geometry. Short blades and clever cutting of primary grinds was the solution for the blade crowding tendency.

So I asked GEC'S design engineer which is harder to make and he basically said similar to what you said that the catch bit was a challenge due to spacing and grinds, and that the Cutlers at GEC are amazing and make it look easy. On the split back it would be easier if you were making just one knife however to mass produce the wedge so it fit perfectly in every knife with no gap makes it the challenge.

 

[afishhunter]

Please forgive me for asking.
Aside from the rounded bolsters, and possibly the secondary blade (coping vs what in the pictures in post 1, page 1, appears to be a pen blade.)
What is the difference between a 61 and 62?

 

[EngrSorenson]

So I asked GEC'S design engineer which is harder to make and he basically said similar to what you said that the catch bit was a challenge due to spacing and grinds, and that the Cutlers at GEC are amazing and make it look easy. On the split back it would be easier if you were making just one knife however to mass produce the wedge so it fit perfectly in every knife with no gap makes it the challenge.

Now THAT is a guy I’d love to meet. Poor guy would rue the day he humored my questions. I bet he gets assailed my attractive women and fan boys all the time. *sigh* what a guy...

 

[Jiki]

Now THAT is a guy I’d love to meet. Poor guy would rue the day he humored my questions. I bet he gets assailed my attractive women and fan boys all the time. *sigh* what a guy...

Nah, he's just a normal guy unlike other engineers.

 

[black mamba]

What is the difference between a 61 and 62?

The #61 has square bolsters and is an eighth inch shorter closed than the round bolstered #62.

 

[afishhunter]

The #61 has square bolsters and is an eighth inch shorter closed than the round bolstered #62.

Thank you, young Sir.

 

[black mamba]

 

[EngrSorenson]

The 6 basic steps to whittling:
Step 1) find stick, remove bark and let it sit on your desk for a year occasionally looking at it deciding what it'd be good for.
Step 2) begin whittling stick with knife in pocket during lunch breaks.
Step 3) buy new knife. Continue whittling stick.
Step 4) receive new knife. Sharpen knife and put in pocket.
Step 5) continue whittling stick with new acquisition.
Step 6) finish whittling while social distancing due to pandemic.

 

[hornetguy]

The 6 basic steps to whittling:
Step 1) find stick, remove bark and let it sit on your desk for a year occasionally looking at it deciding what it'd be good for.
Step 2) begin whittling stick with knife in pocket during lunch breaks.
Step 3) buy new knife. Continue whittling stick.
Step 4) receive new knife. Sharpen knife and put in pocket.
Step 5) continue whittling stick with new acquisition.
Step 6) finish whittling while social distancing due to pandemic.

very nicely done!

 

[r8shell]

The 6 basic steps to whittling:
Step 1) find stick, remove bark and let it sit on your desk for a year occasionally looking at it deciding what it'd be good for.
Step 2) begin whittling stick with knife in pocket during lunch breaks.
Step 3) buy new knife. Continue whittling stick.
Step 4) receive new knife. Sharpen knife and put in pocket.
Step 5) continue whittling stick with new acquisition.
Step 6) finish whittling while social distancing due to pandemic.

Fantastic!
The timing of these Carvers couldn't have been better. I may carry mine for the duration of our "lockdown"

 

[EngrSorenson]

Fantastic!
The timing of these Carvers couldn't have been better. I may carry mine for the duration of our "lockdown"

I’ve often thought that in the apocalypse I’ll be well entertained. Your pencil whittling was really well done.

 

[r8shell]

I’ve often thought that in the apocalypse I’ll be well entertained. Your pencil whittling was really well done.

Thank you, I've only recently started pencil whittling again; it's something I used to do when I was bored in school.

 

[BIGDORK]

Thank you, I've only recently started pencil whittling again; it's something I used to do when I was bored in school.

Not to derail, i love the 62 and that was an awesome pencil carving.
But its wild that not that long ago you could carry (and use!) a pocket knife at school. I graduated a little over 20 years ago and we were some of the last to experience that in my area.
There were guys with shotguns on the gun rack in their truck so they could hunt right after school but, this was before Columbine. Just crazy how fast times change.

 

[r8shell]

Not to derail, i love the 62 and that was an awesome pencil carving.
But its wild that not that long ago you could carry (and use!) a pocket knife at school. I graduated a little over 20 years ago and we were some of the last to experience that in my area.
There were guys with shotguns on the gun rack in their truck so they could hunt right after school but, this was before Columbine. Just crazy how fast times change.

It's true. Utility knives were even required art supplies. Of course, that was back in the '70s.
The only thing I'd get in trouble for was not paying attention to the teacher. "I'm just sharpening my pencil, Ma'am!"

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

So I asked GEC'S design engineer which is harder to make and he basically said similar to what you said that the catch bit was a challenge due to spacing and grinds, and that the Cutlers at GEC are amazing and make it look easy. On the split back it would be easier if you were making just one knife however to mass produce the wedge so it fit perfectly in every knife with no gap makes it the challenge.

don't quote me on this, but it is my understanding that every splitback whittler that leaves GEC has to first run through Bill Howard's hands. In other words, it goes through the most quality control.

splitback whittlers are notoriously very difficult to make, perhaps surpassed only by the lockback whittler, and then the lockack with flush joints. Among custom makers, they consider the splitback whittler the pattern that "separates the men from the boys"

 

[hornetguy]

One of my three wayward knives arrived today... a snakewood. I am very pleased with the grain on this one...

 

[Elgatodeacero]

One thing I have noticed about the 62 Pocket Carver is that the graceful curve of the blade spines makes it very easy to stab (almost stab) yourself when closing the blades, especially the secondaries. My finger wants to slide down toward the tip when I push them closed. Be careful out there!