#57 Spring Green Whittler - Great Eastern Cutlery

richstag

richstag

Joined
Feb 22, 2007
Messages
9,008
Helo guys,

Last night I got back my spring green whittler I had been waiting for. Initially the dealer that I purchased it from sent it in to GEC for repair of blade play before shipping it to me. When I first recieved the whittler it seems good, but after flushing the joints, the main blade had slight wobble. The dealer was overly willing to take care of it, but I opted to save him the trouble and send it direct to GEC myself.

Well, I got it back and it is perfect.

I shot some cell phone pics of it and uploaded direct to photobucket.

Here it is

SU1HLTIwMTIwMjA4LTAwNzc2LmpwZw.jpg


This knife is absolutely gorgeous IMO. Very classy and the bone slabs are a mix of rich greens and black. Perfect for me.

With the main blade open the secondary blades ride low and do not make use uncomfortable

SU1HLTIwMTIwMjA4LTAwNzc4LmpwZw-1.jpg


With either of the secondary blades open the main blade is so nicely contoured and finished that it actually makes a very comofortable addition to the frame/handle

SU1HLTIwMTIwMjA4LTAwNzc5LmpwZw.jpg


SU1HLTIwMTIwMjA4LTAwNzgwLmpwZw.jpg


A small detail that I have noticed with my GEC's is the finishing of the bolsters. Has anyone else notice how GEC files/contours the bolsters to match the jigging of the bone?

SU1HLTIwMTIwMjA4LTAwNzgxLmpwZw.jpg


So now onto the split spring construction. This to me is most impressive.

SU1HLTIwMTIwMjA4LTAwNzc3LmpwZw.jpg


Now, after waiting for a couple months I figured the blade play showed up again due to grit being in the pivot when it was tightened down the first time. When I flushed the joints with mineral oil it gave a little room for play. With that said, I am amazed that this knife even works as well as it does. I am not an artist or engineer so please bear with me :)

In the following sketch I am dramatizing the design of the split spring tapered construction.

SU1HLTIwMTIwMjA4LTAwNzc1LmpwZw.jpg


To me, its amazing they can make this design work without blade play or binding.

Thanks for looking,
 
Great looking knife man!! I really like the #56 frame, hoping to get my hands on one of some flavor one day. I also really dig the green handle. Lastly glad to hear GEC took such good care of you, I had no doubt they would because they took good care of me also when I had to send my knife in. Great company.
 
It's photos like this that led to my purchase of a buffalo horn version. It's a beautiful knife, sits comfortably in my pocket, and I've found I'm a sucker for a Wharncliffe.
 
Thank you guys. Zippofan, its in my watch pocket of my jeans and I haven't noticed it all day. I had an Ohta that I carried for a while and it was a single blade Wharncliffe. I ended up not liking just a Wharncliffe, but this one has some options :)
 
I've been admiring those Kevin. Seems like a nice size and a great blade selection to me. I'm glad the issues with yours are all straightened out.
 
Peregrin said:
I've been admiring those Kevin. Seems like a nice size and a great blade selection to me. I'm glad the issues with yours are all straightened out.
Click to expand...

I really like mine Gary :)

When I sent back the knife I was being really picky. But both the dealer and Chris at GEC insisted it be fixed. They really don't seem to want unsatisfied customers (and I was overly nice to them). Nice folks and really nice knives.

Its really a slim size and well worth the wait.
 
I really like the idea/looks of the split spring design. This one and CS's Cannitler are both calling my name.

So, the main blade sits BETWEEN the two other blades? Pretty nifty.:D I've never seen one in person.

Great photos, BTW!
 
Thats right David, they really sit TIGHT between them too :)

Its now "blizzard" conditions and I am still working with my cell phone but here are a couple shots.

Shows the tapered spring from the inside

SU1HLTIwMTIwMjA4LTAwNzg1LmpwZw.jpg


Closed up you can see there is little room for error
SU1HLTIwMTIwMjA4LTAwNzg2LmpwZw.jpg


Don't mind the gunk in there, I am still going through the flush it out and wipe it out with a pipe cleaner stage. Takes a few days sometimes.

I would not want to ever attempt making one of these if I tried a do it yourself slipjoint build.

Seems challenging even for a pro.
 
That shot really shows how tight and hence, extremely well-constructed this knife must be. A Masterclass.

How is that bone in reality? Is it as dark as that or brighter green?

thanks, Will
 
Hey Will, its as dark as that. In person it looks all black for the most part. Certain angles and lighting brings out the green, which is also very dark.

Its awesome IMO. But, aside from near the bolsters, no light will bring out green, its just black.

Edit to add, I am guessing as time goes on some black will wear off and let more green through. Time will tell and I will update :)
 
Great knife Kevin. And I'm glad that GEC took care of it.
The main blade between the secondary blades looks awesome. Also, I'm generally not a fan of crinked blades...and this one is really neat and looks pretty thin too.
How are the springs on this model? I've read somewhere that they were not hard at all.
Hopefully (to me) the knife will stay dark, and just show a bit more of green reflexes with some use...but that's just me :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
Thanks Fausto. The secondary blades are feather light. The main blade has about twice the pull.

I could easily take a thin wooden toothpick and open the secondaries by the nail nick without it breaking.

I hope the bone stays as is also. Its part of the reason I waited so long to get this one right.
 
Awesome knife Kevin, looks like GEC did good by you. :thumbup:
I love the bone scales on this one, really a pretty knife.

As far as fit, bone to bolster, I have never had a real problem with it. I have some case knives that are really bad, but GEC seems to do okay with this area.
I have seen this before though, I guess it's just not uncommon.
 
Beautiful knife and great photos, Richstag.

I love my #57s. GEC's workmanship on this complex pattern is right up there with many of the top antique split-backspring whittlers in my experience. The blade selection is perfect for me, too. I hope they incorporate a small secondary clip into more of their whittlers in the future. It's a useful lit'l sucker.
 
do they do a brighter green bone?
A green bone GEC is on my hitlist.
somewhat brighter or more green but not bright green.
maybe it'll have to be acrylic hmmmm.
 
Thanks Johnny. I wonder if we are looking at something different with the bone to bolster finishing. I have no issues with this one. In fact, I am impressed with the little touches. Another low quality, but workable image...

IMG_0836.jpg


Can you see on the bolster where it meets the bone they have matched the deep contouring of the jigging?

I think this is pretty cool. I have noticed it on some of my bone knives and I was just wondering if others find it to be the norm.

Thank you Rick! What others makers, or knives in specific would you recommend looking into? Im clueless, but very interested to collect others :)

Thanks

meako, I think the river green and some other greens are lighter.
 
thanks for that.
i checked out GEC web page for 2012 production and the spring green 72 is very much greener than your whittler.
Thay is to say its a solid green without the darkness.
Considering they're both spring green there is a lot of difference.
Guess i'm gonna have to rack up some overtime when i get back to work.
there is also river green & tractor green which is very appealing.
 
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