2022 GEC Cattle Knife/Camp Knife #35 Thread

[Jiki]

If you look at the removed photo you can see thin plastic curls from the drilled holes. IMO, delrin doesn't belong on a premium knife with a list price likely near $200.

Tidioute line is not their premium line. $200 due to the current market environment. It's a $150 knife. We a saw these same grievances with the sudbuster farm and field last week. Inflation does not change the product line parameters or processes.

 

[Jer Johnson]

I hadn’t even finished my victory lap from landing the cattle knife when this popped up. I feel like a junkie.

 

[PointyThings]

Tidioute line is not their premium line. $200 due to the current market environment. It's a $150 knife. We a saw these same grievances with the sudbuster farm and field last week. Inflation does not change the product line parameters or processes.

I mean "premium" only in the sense of price and quality against other traditional knife manufacturers, not GEC's definition. I didn't have an issue with the Sudbuster, but I also like micarta. Different strokes...

 

[Kiro]

Am I the only one who misses the fork from the B&S? Probably.

 

[Jiki]

not GEC's definition.

Well, that's the one they are using.

 

[JohnDF]

I love the plastic handles they chose to use on this knife... like the Good Ol' Days... Nostalgia.

 

[Matt_WY]

Great looking knife, I was hoping for a bail, but GEC has seemed to moved away from them for obvious production reasons. Still very happy to see a camp knife on the 35 frame

 

[waynorth]

Very true Foolish are one who try to 'prove' that this or that was the case 100 + years ago because somebody said, wrote in a catalogue heard/misheard it on the grapevine etc. Cutlers are in business, if they think something will sell or get well received they'll promote any naming I recall some years back when the 2009 Forum Knife from Queen was mooted with Clip/Wharncliffe same size ,a number of fogeyish bores came out blustering that it wasn't 'traditional' on a Barlow, nobody had ever heard of it zzzzzz they soon changed their tune and swam with the tide When Tony Bose put a Wharncliffe on a Trapper instead of a Spey (good idea!) no doubt the keepers of truth started frothing, for a while. GEC has made plenty of interesting variations on themes and some bizarre naming too

Catalogues appear to suggest that Equal End Jacks were bigger knives with equal sized blades, so-called to differentiate them from smaller Pen type construction that had Master and secondary blades.

Bernie Levine is getting old and tired, like many of us, and doing less, also like many of us!!
His "Guide to Knives and Their Values, 4th ed." was a valiant effort, and went a long way toward standardizing knife terminology; but that effort is like herding Cats!!
I love his book, and refer to it almost daily! I even have a reserve copy on my bookshelf for when my primary wears out!! He will live forever in my world!!

 

[Elgatodeacero]

That lightning shield is awesome!

 

[Pàdruig]

So I have to ask, why are people really liking the all steel construction?

I have always liked brass for the patina and the luster with a polish. Is the strength difference really that much of an advantage?

For me, much like Nature Boy , it conveys a sense of the robust. All steel GECs feel more solid and I am also particularly keen on the aesthetic. It lacks the bright warmth of nickel silver but I like the uniformity of all steel liners and bolsters, without the brass breaking up the lines. I also like the dull coolness of the color as well as well - it pairs really nicely with rich reds and blacks.


Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on one's perspective), the new #35 Camp Knife does not do much for me. I was hoping for a more classic look and configuration for their first stab at a 35 Camp Knife. Depending on what else they have up their sleeve for this run, the Cattle Knife may be the sole option I try and pursue some time down the line.

 

[stagmeister]

For me, much like Nature Boy , it conveys a sense of the robust. All steel GECs feel more solid and I am also particularly keen on the aesthetic. It lacks the bright warmth of nickel silver but I like the uniformity of all steel liners and bolsters, without the brass breaking up the lines. I also like the dull coolness of the color as well as well - it pairs really nicely with rich reds and blacks.


Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on one's perspective), the new #35 Camp Knife does not do much for me. I was hoping for a more classic look and configuration for their first stab at a 35 Camp Knife. Depending on what else they have up their sleeve for this run, the Cattle Knife may be the sole option I try and pursue some time down the line.

Actually, on the carbon all steel models, the bolsters are still nickel silver and not steel.

 

[untytled]

Actually, on the carbon all steel models, the bolsters are still nickel silver and not steel.

I'm not so sure about this I've seen patina on bolsters of all steel knives? In fact I believe my 25 barlow has some evidence of that. I could be wrong tho but definitley doesn't look like nickel silver.

 

[Pàdruig]

Actually, on the carbon all steel models, the bolsters are still nickel silver and not steel.

Out of all of my all-steel GECs (and I have several), none of them have nickel silver bolsters. They rust and/or patina with the rest of the knife.

There is also a notable visual difference between the two materials - I'll see if I can capture it in a picture.

 

[jmgruber]

I love the plastic handles they chose to use on this knife... like the Good Ol' Days... Nostalgia.

I agree with you JohnDF - I thought the same thing. The name of the knife is great as Johnny on the spot to me implies there and ready for anything right when needed. Also, lightning when used as an adjective means "very quick." I'm in for this one! It also helps that my name is John.

 

[Pàdruig]

There is also a notable visual difference between the two materials - I'll see if I can capture it in a picture.

Lighting conditions are limited at this time of day but I think this illustrates the difference a wee bit.

 

[coolhand68]

Waited years for a GEC scout, and we get delrin? Any color of jigged bone, smooth bone or mammoth would have been appreciated. Delrin?

 

[stagmeister]

I'm not so sure about this I've seen patina on bolsters of all steel knives? In fact I believe my 25 barlow has some evidence of that. I could be wrong tho but definitley doesn't look like nickel silver.

Well, according to GEC, they are nickel silver. Nickel silver will patina too.

 

[Camillus]

I am just gonna quote myself here a little bit

From what I’ve seen, it seems the more folks look forward to something, the more inclined Bill is to throw that idea a bit leftfield. Sometimes with amazing results, other times not so much.

 

[OldSoul]

Well it’s ok. But I think they missed the awl and bail. Personally I love the jigged delrin, I think it works with the aesthetic of the knife.
My fingers are cross that a Northfield is in the works with natural covers, pinched bolsters, a bail and added awl.

 

[Camillus]

I would have really liked to see GEC give this pattern a serious go, and try for once, not to throw out another gimmick. The success of the sudbuster being a case in point.