Another Son of Bladeforums #85 - or - HJ5!!

Hi folks -

Here is a picture of my #85 trio on my Amish cutting board -

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The ebony on Charlie's HJ is really beautiful - pictures don't do it justice.

Sweet!

best regards -

mqqn
 
Can someone please tell me how many HJ-5 variants are out there? Such as scales, blade configurations, pinched bolsters, etc.

I have noticed the HJ-5s have polished blade finish compared to the satin finish on our forum knives .. correct?

Also, are the HJ-5s the exact same size as the forum knives?

I really like my forum EOJ from GEC and would like to start a collection.

Thanks in advance!

PS: Sorry for the newbie question about GEC but what is the difference between Northfield and Tidioute Cutlery?
 
I just received my Ebony HJ #5. I'm very impressed and very pleased. Everything about this knife is exactly right and the ebony is beautiful with black and deep chocolate alternating grain. Even the blade edge is hair poppin sharp !
I have a fair collection of vintage (pre WW II) USA Jacks, (Miller Bros, SCC, NYK Co., etc) and the design and workmanship of this HJ #5 is absolutely comparable, i.e. the best of USA Traditional folders ever. Charlie has helped revive the USA cutlery business to it's former World Class position with this run of HJ's.
Thank you Charlie.
Decades after i become dust, this knife will impress and please it's future owners who will marvel "Wow, they sure knew how to make a great knife back in the early part of the 21st Century", just like we say now for knives from the early 1900's.
Don't get no better than this eh !
roland
 
seadweller said:
Can someone please tell me how many HJ-5 variants are out there? Such as scales, blade configurations, pinched bolsters, etc.
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I count 14 different versions of the #85 here (you have to go back a few pages to see them all). I think there are 5 HJ's in total.

I have noticed the HJ-5s have polished blade finish compared to the satin finish on our forum knives .. correct?
Click to expand...

Depends on the brand (more on that later), and the specs of the customer ordering the SFO. The Forum knife for instance is kind of a hybrid between a Northfield and a Tidioute in that it has a swaged blade like a Northfield, but a satin finished blade and "plain" bolsters like a Tidioute. Jigged bone could be found on either.

Also, are the HJ-5s the exact same size as the forum knives?
Click to expand...

I would think so. They are listed as the same closed length.

I really like my forum EOJ from GEC and would like to start a collection.
Click to expand...

Who wouldn't? :)


PS: Sorry for the newbie question about GEC but what is the difference between Northfield and Tidioute Cutlery?
Click to expand...

Check this out.
 
I got my ebony version and I agree with Roland that everything about this knife is exactly right. I am impressed with the punch, which seems to be perfectly executed by GEC. Big thank you to Charlie and GEC for this one.
 
I just brought mine in from the mailbox about 15 minutes ago, its almost room temperature now. Very beautiful ebony on mine as mentioned numerous times - almost a chocolate brown with black streaks. Gorgeous shield, and fit and finish is exceptional. One thing different from my cocobolo 85 I noticed right off was that the liners are silver in colour. I would guess nickel-silver as they appear a slightly different shade from the springs. Love the cutout for the punch opening, I wish more jacks had that on the secondary blade as on the old knives.
Fantastic knife.
 
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Thanks for the exuberant comments, guys! I owe it all to GEC of course. They were willing to take on the project and give it their all!
Great answers to the questions, Stu. I am planning to post all the 5 HJ (Harness Jack) SFO (Special Factory Order) variants here or in another thread to help clarify things for those who have come along recently.
Seadweller; A finer polish takes a cleaner etch, and resists rust a little better than less refined finishes. Also, it was standard fare in the "old" days to crocus polish the mark (front) side of the main blade. I asked The head knifemaker at GEC to come as close to the "oldies" as was possible.
He likes looking at old knives just like we do - so he understands!! Plain and simple!!
 
Can someone PLEASE tell me where I can get me one of those HJs in ebony? Those are beauties!!!
 
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