2023 GEC Cody Scout #721123LB

MessieurRick said:
Just received from the Little Brown Santa Claus, a new GEC 72 in Burlap Micarta. I'm not a professional GEC chaser or knife reviewer so bear with me. This is only the second GEC I was able to buy new, from a dealer. I would have provided more photos but my camera was acting up so this is from my cell phone.
Fit and finish are on par with my Arno Bernard Fin & Feather, which is to say outstanding. Ground surfaces along the spine were as flush as can be. Ditto with the escutcheon and cover-to-bolster seams. No gaps between liner or bolster and cover were visible to my naked, 67 year old eyes. I found the lack of a blade etching, along with the brushed finish on the blade, bolsters and escutcheon to be quite attractive, giving the knife an understated elegance. I was already considering a 74 in Burlap Micarta so I just covered that base.
Functionally, yes, I could shave arm hairs with it as well as carve my way effortlessly through sheets of printer paper. I don't have any cardboard boxes to open at the moment. As far as that ol' GEC bugaboo, lock-up, I found this knife to be as solid as my previous gold standard for blade lock-up, my Moki Pliant. Open the blade and it seats with a solid and satisfying snap with absolutely zero wobble in either direction. Sight along the spine of the knife from the rear and the seam where the blade meets the backlock is barely visible. It is slightly more visible looking from the front. Blade centering is spot-on.
Sizewise, its about perfect, although this is subjective. I already own a 73 in Cocobolo and a 74 in Desert Ironwood. My 83 in Bocote is shown for reference.
All in all, I think GEC has a winner here, especially if you can get one at MSRP.

GEC-72-Comparison.jpg
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very nice! thanks for the side by side comparison. the 83 has been on the back burner for some time, and this allows me to see what the size comparison to the 72. I was avoid that rat race
 
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MessieurRick said:
Just received from the Little Brown Santa Claus, a new GEC 72 in Burlap Micarta. I'm not a professional GEC chaser or knife reviewer so bear with me. This is only the second GEC I was able to buy new, from a dealer. I would have provided more photos but my camera was acting up so this is from my cell phone.
Fit and finish are on par with my Arno Bernard Fin & Feather, which is to say outstanding. Ground surfaces along the spine were as flush as can be. Ditto with the escutcheon and cover-to-bolster seams. No gaps between liner or bolster and cover were visible to my naked, 67 year old eyes. I found the lack of a blade etching, along with the brushed finish on the blade, bolsters and escutcheon to be quite attractive, giving the knife an understated elegance. I was already considering a 74 in Burlap Micarta so I just covered that base.
Functionally, yes, I could shave arm hairs with it as well as carve my way effortlessly through sheets of printer paper. I don't have any cardboard boxes to open at the moment. As far as that ol' GEC bugaboo, lock-up, I found this knife to be as solid as my previous gold standard for blade lock-up, my Moki Pliant. Open the blade and it seats with a solid and satisfying snap with absolutely zero wobble in either direction. Sight along the spine of the knife from the rear and the seam where the blade meets the backlock is barely visible. It is slightly more visible looking from the front. Blade centering is spot-on.
Sizewise, its about perfect, although this is subjective. I already own a 73 in Cocobolo and a 74 in Desert Ironwood. My 83 in Bocote is shown for reference.
All in all, I think GEC has a winner here, especially if you can get one at MSRP.

GEC-72-Comparison.jpg
Click to expand...
Thank you for the review and the comparison! Is that brushed bolsters I am seeing on the 72?
 
They should do a run of the 42's with the same cover options. Take my money.

These 72's look sweet!
 
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Now I wonder if both Tiddy 72s have brushed bolsters? Or a few "specials"?

Edit: I mean, does the micarta version has them all brushed?
 
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Jiki said:
I don't think they will be done with the run by then.
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me neither, parts knives generally dont come from the current runs, batch or two before sure. anything since last rendezvous fair game. anything they find in the safe also fair game.
 
Interesting. I just received my 72 Burlap Micarta and my smooth Sienna bone in the mail an hour ago. The Micarta is has satin bolsters, back spring, and shield. The bone has much more polished everything like a Northfield, even though it's a Titioute . I will wait to get the Northfield's to do an overall assessment. Nice knives though with very nice F&F.
 
stagmeister said:
Interesting. I just received my 72 Burlap Micarta and my smooth Sienna bone in the mail an hour ago. The Micarta is has satin bolsters, back spring, and shield. The bone has much more polished everything like a Northfield, even though it's a Titioute . I will wait to get the Northfield's to do an overall assessment. Nice knives though with very nice F&F.
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Interesting indeed, thank you! And why, Tiddy 83 was highly polished. They all usually are.
 
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I believe it is the burlap micarta that dictates the brushed finish. The 74/47 combo from a couple of years ago both had brushed finish. Don't ask me why, just an observation. It has also been my experience that the bolsters and micarta polishes up very beautifully with just pocket carry and use.

The action is silky smooth and the lock up is rock solid. I'm not one to normally seek out a lock back, with that being said even my small amount of experience with this style I can see the quality in the build of this knife. It's sweet.
 
Size comparison 83 72 42. 83 carries easy but none have been produced in stainless. Anxious to get a new 72 in hand to check out the improvements in the lock. This 42 has the best lockup of any GEC lockback I have owned.

GEClockbacks-1.jpg
 
I'm usually a Tidioute guy, but on the 72, I really like how the Northfield swedge and long-pull match the hump shape on the handle when closed. I'll be shooting for one of these upcoming Northfields.

Edit to add: I won't be turning away any 72s, Tidioute or otherwise.



 
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