...And a large Coke. GEC 97 Thread!

Pàdruig said:
Always room for 97s.

lJlqrCP.jpg
Click to expand...
Wow, Dylan -- such a fantastic collection of 97's!!! Great pattern -- great assortment of 97 goodness! 👍👍👍
 
This is the only 97 I own, for now.
20240527_072630.jpg

I hope GEC revists the 97 soon, maybe introduce a liner lock, or a sheepsfoot version, camel bone or tomato/hummingbird acrylic, maybe even a dual blade.

For now I'm looking to aquire another 97 but they sure are expensive on the used market. Got my sights on the stag or ebony first.
 
XXL said:
Wow! I didn't know there were so many different 97's.
I'm guessing this pic represents the entire 97 collection, do you still have them all?
Click to expand...

I do! I am only missing one club knife from the general production run and there are a number of limited SFAs that I don't have either. I go over my experiences, enthusiasm, and findings on this pattern in this thread here: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...patterns-the-history-the-experiences.1745552/

Somewhere in there I do document the GEC production totals of the entire run.

If you are a fan of the pattern, I would also encourage you to not sleep on vintage examples or even some of the past Case and S&M offerings. GEC made the decision to scale down the size of their version so it does make it a more everyday friendly knife but I've had the good fortune to add some excellent vintage ones to my collection and though they are larger, they are still pretty excellent.
 
Pàdruig said:
I do! I am only missing one club knife from the general production run and there are a number of limited SFAs that I don't have either. I go over my experiences, enthusiasm, and findings on this pattern in this thread here: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...patterns-the-history-the-experiences.1745552/

Somewhere in there I do document the GEC production totals of the entire run.

If you are a fan of the pattern, I would also encourage you to not sleep on vintage examples or even some of the past Case and S&M offerings. GEC made the decision to scale down the size of their version so it does make it a more everyday friendly knife but I've had the good fortune to add some excellent vintage ones to my collection and though they are larger, they are still pretty excellent.
Click to expand...
Nice. That's pretty cool that you still have them all after a few years. Hopefully you can complete the set someday.

Thanks for the link, I'll dive in soon.

I've looked around for other knives in this style, Winchester BB, Queen, Case, S&M, so many out there. I'd like to get one from all of them eventually.


oldmanwilly said:
While this thread is still popular, here's my only 97.

E29oLSC.jpeg
Click to expand...

Ah the Yellow Rose, that is a great looking knife. I really like the lined bolster with the swedge blade. Do you use both pulls?
 
Last edited:
Pàdruig said:
I do! I am only missing one club knife from the general production run and there are a number of limited SFAs that I don't have either. I go over my experiences, enthusiasm, and findings on this pattern in this thread here: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...patterns-the-history-the-experiences.1745552/

Somewhere in there I do document the GEC production totals of the entire run.

If you are a fan of the pattern, I would also encourage you to not sleep on vintage examples or even some of the past Case and S&M offerings. GEC made the decision to scale down the size of their version so it does make it a more everyday friendly knife but I've had the good fortune to add some excellent vintage ones to my collection and though they are larger, they are still pretty excellent.
Click to expand...
I think you and I are probably the closest to having the full run. I'll need to get an updated shot of mine when I can! Always nice to see a #97 thread come back up.
 
oldmanwilly said:
XXL XXL I usually use the forward nail-nick because it's better positioned to leverage the large blade out.
Click to expand...
Ah ok, I sometimes pinch the top of the blade to the half stop. I'd like to try the nail nick instead!

Quiet said:
I think you and I are probably the closest to having the full run. I'll need to get an updated shot of mine when I can! Always nice to see a #97 thread come back up.
Click to expand...
I'd certainly like to see that updated 97 collection!

ZHoovie said:
Thanks for bumping this thread back up XXL XXL 👍

Like oldmanwilly oldmanwilly this is my only #97, I don't know why. It's definitely one of my favorite patterns. I think they nailed it when they did this run 😉

view
Click to expand...
Thats great pic 👍

Might be time to get another 97, maybe the 971119 Beaver with a flat grind!



JW225 said:
And, here's a comparison shot of a 97 and a full-size S&M...

tCsq7U3.jpg
Click to expand...

Awesome!! I gotta get a stag coke bottle, that S&M is killer. Is it only a little heavier than the 97?
 
XXL said:
Awesome!! I gotta get a stag coke bottle, that S&M is killer. Is it only a little heavier than the 97?
Click to expand...
I don't have the specs -- but, although the S&M is slightly larger in size, they feel comparable in weight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: XXL
JW225 said:
I don't have the specs -- but, although the S&M is slightly larger in size, they feel comparable in weight.
Click to expand...
Ah good to know. I really like that S&M you have, I gotta find one. I don't own many stags for some reason, need to remedy that.
 
I remembered that I have another coke bottle slipjoint and decided to take a comparison shot with my 97. The 97 looks a little puny now, eh?

1tnl3jj.jpeg


I'm told it belonged to my Great Opa who got it sometime between 1910 and 1940. I tried to narrow it down some more, but everyone who would have known the provenance is now dead. So it goes.

The only markings are "GILBERT SAVILLE WORKS, LTD." Great Opa was born and lived in Central Texas, but had a stint in Boston as an Ordinance supply officer in 1917-1919. He also went to St. Louis once, so he could have picked it up anywhere in between.

avAqbmD.jpeg


I find it interesting that my older one also has both a nail nick and a long pull. Despite its age and obvious use it still has a strong spring, half stop, great walk and talk, and almost no wiggle when opened. I forgot how much I liked coke bottles until I stumbled into this thread.

Also, take note: used pizza boxes make a great backdrop for knife photos.
 
oldmanwilly said:
I remembered that I have another coke bottle slipjoint and decided to take a comparison shot with my 97. The 97 looks a little puny now, eh?

1tnl3jj.jpeg


I'm told it belonged to my Great Opa who got it sometime between 1910 and 1940. I tried to narrow it down some more, but everyone who would have known the provenance is now dead. So it goes.

The only markings are "GILBERT SAVILLE WORKS, LTD." Great Opa was born and lived in Central Texas, but had a stint in Boston as an Ordinance supply officer in 1917-1919. He also went to St. Louis once, so he could have picked it up anywhere in between.

avAqbmD.jpeg


I find it interesting that my older one also has both a nail nick and a long pull. Despite its age and obvious use it still has a strong spring, half stop, great walk and talk, and almost no wiggle when opened. I forgot how much I liked coke bottles until I stumbled into this thread.

Also, take note: used pizza boxes make a great backdrop for knife photos.
Click to expand...

According to Goins, Gilbert Saville Works Ltd is 1895-1939.
 
I'm catching up to some of you.. hah!

20240607_154502.jpg

Wow!... is what I said when I got this Northfield 97 in my hand. I do like the nailnick option and all the extras that the Northfields bring to the table.
It also felt a bit heavier than the Beav, so
I had to weigh them..
971119 / 4.35 oz
976119 / 4.65 oz
.30 ounces isn't much but I guess its enough to feel a difference.

It's feeling good to have both versions of the GEC 97 Allegheny.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top