Ancient TC Barlow wavy bevel?

[Primble]

All of my Ancients had the wavy edge. I never thought too much about it nor did I mention it. I thought it was done on purpose, like the scale left on the bolsters.

Many old knives have less than perfect edges and I think GEC might have done it intentionally.

 

[Biggie_Robs]

Judging by this picture, that's poor form on GEC's end, if you ask me. No one asks for perfection, but that edge is not ok in my book.

 

[brownshoe]

Judging by this picture, that's poor form on GEC's end, if you ask me. No one asks for perfection, but that edge is not ok in my book.

If it cuts, if it sharpens, it's OK in my world. I don't know why it happens, but I have a similar non-problem with a 20 year old Boker leverlock made in Germany.

What it comes down to is how you "define quality". If you define quality as absolute symmetry and visual perfection, then hand made production knives may not be of high enough quality.

Just like "uneven grind lines", ever think that may be a sign that a person who is left handed vs. right handed sharpened the knife? It's probably hard to find ambidextrous cutlers

Maybe that slightly less than perfect grind is the "new boy" learning the ropes. Once you are through the "learning curve", back to perfection for GEC

 

[Biggie_Robs]

If it cuts, if it sharpens, it's OK in my world. I don't know why it happens, but I have a similar non-problem with a 20 year old Boker leverlock made in Germany.

What it comes down to is how you "define quality". If you define quality as absolute symmetry and visual perfection, then hand made production knives may not be of high enough quality.



Just like "uneven grind lines", ever think that may be a sign that a person who is left handed vs. right handed sharpened the knife? It's probably hard to find ambidextrous cutlers

Maybe that slightly less than perfect grind is the "new boy" learning the ropes. Once you are through the "learning curve", back to perfection for GEC

I don't disagree with you (and I don't require "absolute symmmetry") but we all get to have our own standards and that particular knife is on the wrong side of the line I'd draw with regard to satisfaction. I wouldn't send it back, but I'd be annoyed as I fixed it.

 

[mazman]

That edge would bother me, and I'd fix it myself. I can't even tell you how many Seki City Spydercos I have that looked like this or worse when new. And folks rave about those like they rave about GECs. Quite frankly, I don't get the hype about either. You could send it back, or fix it yourself. For me, it's the latter.

 

[stezann]

Take a FLAT piece of steel, or other material, and rub a black crayon all over it, and even it out with your fingers. Then rub that on the flat of the blade. It'll show you high and low spots in the flat grind, for what it's worth. I have some blades like this, doesn't bother me.

That's the correct answer!!
You need to check the primary grind to see if it is flat or not. If the blade is warped no matter what the waves will not go away

 

[brownshoe]

That's the correct answer!!
You need to check the primary grind to see if it is flat or not. If the blade is warped no matter what the waves will not go away

Thanks both of you for that insight. I've put a new/better edge on my Boker awhile ago and its still a little wavy. It's a flat ground spear point blade with a polished finish.