2022 GEC #36 ElephantToenail/Elephant Toe/Sunfish Thread

[rpstrimple]

I've never had a 36 before, so I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I know folks love them, and I do love looking at photos of them lol. Maybe I'll try to snag one and give it a go. I do think the ebony and ivory bone are going to be very classy looking examples. I wonder if they will bring the blade stamp back?

 

[Bubber]

Boy I would love to have one or two! I have always been slow on the draw.

 

[Arathol]

This one was an SFO from 2011, 1 of 50 with Buffalo slabs, pattern #362211, commissioned by the iKnifecollector Forum.

 

[James Potter]

When is this expected? Any information?

 

[Hyesouljah]

You can't go wrong with ebony and smooth ivory bone - a couple of excellent classics right there. I do not have any experience with the 36 pattern, though I did have a 46 at one point in time. That knife was ridiculously difficult to open and this is coming from someone who has strong fingers and nails. As such, I moved it along, though I wish I hadn't - it was a beautiful knife and I might have warmed to it over time.

I am looking forward to discovering the blade configuration and shield choices on these - they make for a sizable canvas and therefore should be rather striking.

I feel the same way about the recent 85 run. Picked up a Natural Micarta and broke my nail trying to open the secondary bottle cap blade. Ended up moving it but kinda regret it. Would’ve made for a nice recover

 

[fishin1635]

I would like to try one. I had a 46 years ago but couldn’t open the secondary blade so I let it go. BTW you “fishin” are the perfect guy to start this thread (or @bbfish).

Thank you for the kind words Wharn ... I too would like to try for one. All of the sunfish/toenails that I've owned over the years tend to have very strong secondary blade,... guess that part of the tradition.

Sometimes I think the secondary on my 46 is welded shut! Fingers crossed these are single blade spears!

A single blade would be nice especially with a EO.

Although I am probably in the minority, I hope this is a 2 blade pen style like the 46, mine started difficult, but, after some oiling and work opens satisfactorily. Love me some Pen patterns

I bet they stick with traditional style, spear main, pen secondary. Ya never know with GEC though.

For reference, this was the latest “exotic India bone” produced by GEC on the 23 pattern.

Thanks for reference pic.

This is gonna be epic! Havent dropped a fatty in a minute!

It's going to be epic for sure, can't wait to see some production pics.

Been waiting on a new run of 36 since 2011.

That stamped blade on the 2011 run was epic.

That stamped blade has been under the radar for some time... another stamped blade would be epic.

The 36 is one of the patterns that started my interest in GEC but I never had one. I really, really, really hope to land one of these.

I hope you land one this time.

Glad to hear there's going to be a new run of these. Here's my #36 EO from the 2012 run:

That's a nice slab of blood wood and the EO is top notch.

Great, now I'm going to have to brave the lolly scramble. It hasn't really affected me since my only GECs in the last five years or so have been the Whaler and the forum knives, but I love a well made Elephant's Toe. I'll have to at least try.

Can't get a home run if ya don't try.

Very interesting cover options. Looking forward to seeing some pictures

Can't wait to see some pics too.

You can't go wrong with ebony and smooth ivory bone - a couple of excellent classics right there. I do not have any experience with the 36 pattern, though I did have a 46 at one point in time. That knife was ridiculously difficult to open and this is coming from someone who has strong fingers and nails. As such, I moved it along, though I wish I hadn't - it was a beautiful knife and I might have warmed to it over time.

I am looking forward to discovering the blade configuration and shield choices on these - they make for a sizable canvas and therefore should be rather striking.

Right! Ebony and smooth bone are classy.

 

[fishin1635]

This one was an SFO from 2011, 1 of 50 with Buffalo slabs, pattern #36221, commissioned by the iKnifecollector Forum.

That's a beauty, love the shield against those dark covers and that blade stamp is the icing on the cake.

 

[khopesh]

I’m going to try and get one. If I get lucky. Very cool covers. Will have to think about which I’m trying for.

 

[afishhunter]

All of the sunfish/toenails that I've owned over the years tend to have very strong secondary blade,... guess that part of the tradition.

Try a large Rough Rider sunfish/elephant toe. Both blades have a "5" pull is slightly less.
The one small RR toenail I had, the secondary was in the vicinity of "15". The main had to be open so you could grip the secondary with pliers to open it. I traded it off at a small town pawnshop next door to a no name independent truck stop in MA. or DE, I think it was.

 

[Viper84]

I’m going to try and get one. If I get lucky. Very cool covers. Will have to think about which I’m trying for.

I'm trying for all of them! Will be lucky if I get more than one.

 

[Jon0385]

I’m surprised by how much I want one of these. I’m definitely trying for an ivory bone for myself, and hopefully a jigged bone to help a friend who’s been waiting a long time for another run

 

[fishin1635]

Try a large Rough Rider sunfish/elephant toe. Both blades have a "5" pull is slightly less.
The one small RR toenail I had, the secondary was in the vicinity of "15". The main had to be open so you could grip the secondary with pliers to open it. I traded it off at a small town pawnshop next door to a no name independent truck stop in MA. or DE, I think it was.

Used to own a later model RR sunfish that had a sleeve board shape to it. The guy I bought it from did some scrimshaw work of a pin-up…. I can’t recall the blades much

 

[Alex.Y.]

Can't wait for the production pics!

Try a large Rough Rider sunfish/elephant toe. Both blades have a "5" pull is slightly less.
The one small RR toenail I had, the secondary was in the vicinity of "15". The main had to be open so you could grip the secondary with pliers to open it.

I have a RR elephant toenail and the pull is acceptable, nice inexpensive knife overall. I also have RR and recent Marbles sunfish, which are in fact the exact same model and are apparently made in same factory, and those are hideous in every way: extremely hard pull on both blades, strpies on bolsters are uneven and lazy, cracks on handles near the pins, inside dirt, small blade on Marbles is dangling loose when closed and makes clank sounds. Meh... Can't wait for GEC's to fix my bad impression of sunfish pattern.

 

[OldSoul]

I’m excited for this pattern. It’s one I have always been interested in. Not so much the larger 46, that one I think may be too large. I’m in for a jigged bone.

 

[afishhunter]

Can't wait for the production pics!


I have a RR elephant toenail and the pull is acceptable, nice inexpensive knife overall. I also have RR and recent Marbles sunfish, which are in fact the exact same model and are apparently made in same factory, and those are hideous in every way: extremely hard pull on both blades, strpies on bolsters are uneven and lazy, cracks on handles near the pins, inside dirt, small blade on Marbles is dangling loose when closed and makes clank sounds. Meh... Can't wait for GEC's to fix my bad impression of sunfish pattern.

Strange. My 3 RR sunfish 2 sleeve board at 4 inch closed, and 1 equal end at 4.25 inch closed have no issues, and a pull of "5" on all the blades.
The only one with issues was a fancy 3 inch closed toenail.

 

[Fixall]

I've always found the Sunfish/Elephant Toenail a curious/cool pattern... That I would have little use for. In my attempt at finding an excuse to own one, I found this thread by Mr. John Schedel that had some great info on the pattern. I found it interesting, so I thought some of you might too. It's a pretty old thread.

I have all kinds of carpentry projects in mind when we move in June, so I'm thinking about picking one up to carry around as a nice "pocket chisel".

 

[sitflyer]

I've always found the Sunfish/Elephant Toenail a curious/cool pattern... That I would have little use for. In my attempt at finding an excuse to own one, I found this thread by Mr. John Schedel that had some great info on the pattern. I found it interesting, so I thought some of you might too. It's a pretty old thread.

I have all kinds of carpentry projects in mind when we move in June, so I'm thinking about picking one up to carry around as a nice "pocket chisel".

That link was a nice read, thank you

 

[Jon0385]

I've always found the Sunfish/Elephant Toenail a curious/cool pattern... That I would have little use for. In my attempt at finding an excuse to own one, I found this thread by Mr. John Schedel that had some great info on the pattern. I found it interesting, so I thought some of you might too. It's a pretty old thread.

I have all kinds of carpentry projects in mind when we move in June, so I'm thinking about picking one up to carry around as a nice "pocket chisel".

Thanks for the read. I’ve looked around other places for history on the pattern and a consistent account is the popularity at one point or another among maritime communities. One of the reasons I am targeting the ivory bone is to hopefully have some scrimshaw work done on the covers

 

[fishin1635]

I was really leaning towards ebony but smooth ivory bone would be great for scrimshaw. Here’s an older Case with some scrimshaw work.

 

[fishin1635]