Any GEC #36 (Sunfish in general) fans or users ?

[B.F.U]

That RR Smooth Tobacco Bone is pretty classy stuff! But it's your knife.

Yeah, I'm definitely open to being converted to it. I just dyed another rough rider black and it turned out really well.

 

[pertinux]

Ever since I first saw one, I have had ambiguous feelings towards the sunfish pattern. On one hand it seems gaudy and ridiculous...

That was me, too.

..., while on the other I get the usefulness and strength.

Remember: "It's a axe."

(For me it still tips over the line of ridiculous, but I like it that way, this slab o' steel.)

Well, this thread and a price below $12 shipped pushed me over the edge on the purchase of a rough rider large sunfish in tobacco bone. I'm super excited to see if I like the pattern! I also am looking forward to trying a different dying method on it and classing it up to black bone.

Sounds promising, though the RR's proportions look a little off to me. It's a start! I look forward to your impressions.

That RR Smooth Tobacco Bone is pretty classy stuff! But it's your knife.

It can look classy. Or, it can bear an unfortunate resemblance to snot. I dyed mine:

(It looks better now, shined up, and I do like it better than its original presentation-- though I still don't care for the knife itself much.)

~ P.

 

[rma100]

That was me, too.



Remember: "It's a axe."

(For me it still tips over the line of ridiculous, but I like it that way, this slab o' steel.)



Sounds promising, though the RR's proportions look a little off to me. It's a start! I look forward to your impressions.



It can look classy. Or, it can bear an unfortunate resemblance to snot. I dyed mine:

(It looks better now, shined up, and I do like it better than its original presentation-- though I still don't care for the knife itself much.)

~ P.

Sorry P, but I like the Snot better. JMHO. But I won't make any vulgar references to what the Dye color resembles. And the RR Smooth Tobacco Bone is better with their Acorn Shield. IMHO.

 

[B.F.U]

That was me, too.



Remember: "It's a axe."

(For me it still tips over the line of ridiculous, but I like it that way, this slab o' steel.)



Sounds promising, though the RR's proportions look a little off to me. It's a start! I look forward to your impressions.



It can look classy. Or, it can bear an unfortunate resemblance to snot. I dyed mine:

(It looks better now, shined up, and I do like it better than its original presentation-- though I still don't care for the knife itself much.)

~ P.

Yeah, I prefer single blades and the secondary on the rough rider looks a bit strange. I would love to buy from gec to try patterns (I love supporting companies from the commonwealth) but that's just out of the question for now. I'll definitely put updates in this threadwhen I get it and dye it.

 

[Turk88]

I like the sunfish, whalers, lumberjack patterns I think because of the cartoonish looks. I don't have any. I can imagine that they are nearly as useful as most other blades, but also are a very good conversation piece and paperweight.

 

[pertinux]

Sorry P, but I like the Snot better. JMHO.

I was pretty sure you would, before I posted the picture (and that others would, too, before I even dyed the knife)-- especially since it looks much better in pictures than it did to me in person. I like it better darker, which was The Point. To each his own.

But I won't make any vulgar references to what the Dye color resembles. And the RR Smooth Tobacco Bone is better with their Acorn Shield. IMHO.

I agree, plus barlows don't need a shield a'tall. As I was reminded when I had to glue this one back in.

Yeah, I prefer single blades and the secondary on the rough rider looks a bit strange. I would love to buy from gec to try patterns (I love supporting companies from the commonwealth) but that's just out of the question for now. I'll definitely put updates in this thread when I get it and dye it.

Understood (regarding GEC), and I look forward to seeing your sunfish. :thumbup:

Speaking of which, we now return to our regularly-scheduled programming:

~ P.

 

[bonafide]

4 more from Case and 1 Ka-Bar

 

[B.F.U]

I got my rough rider large sunfish today. Man, is it great when you get a well put together rough rider!

Both blades came super sharp. Neither blade touching the scales. Good springs. Even the tobacco bone, which I didn't think I would like, is pretty nice (although there is a crack at one of the pins). The small blade is like a vault, the large only has a teence of wiggle.

Anyway, I'm still going to dye the bone black. I'm going to try to turn the small blade into a wharncliffe. I want to drop the spine on the large blade, either into a Wenger like spear shape or a mean looking bowie.

 

[whetrock]

ALLHSS let us know how it turns out. Here's the GEC I purchased.

 

[B.F.U]

I got my rough rider large sunfish today. Man, is it great when you get a well put together rough rider!

Both blades came super sharp. Neither blade touching the scales. Good springs. Even the tobacco bone, which I didn't think I would like, is pretty nice (although there is a crack at one of the pins). The small blade is like a vault, the large only has a teence of wiggle.

Anyway, I'm still going to dye the bone black. I'm going to try to turn the small blade into a wharncliffe. I want to drop the spine on the large blade, either into a Wenger like spear shape or a mean looking bowie.

Okay so here it is:

The dye job turned out ok, much more even in the back. The wharncliffe of the secondary blade went well. The clip point of the mail blade feels and looks good, but if really inspected is a bit wavy.

Eh, modding is tough.

 

[whetrock]

You did what you said you were going to. That's impressive in it self, no procrastination. I like the mods. Very unique. I like how it turned out.

 

[B.F.U]

You did what you said you were going to. That's impressive in it self, no procrastination. I like the mods. Very unique. I like how it turned out.

I should've just done a more acute spear shape, I can do those pretty well. Oh well, it was $11.

 

[VictorLouis]

Ok, I've only 'scanned' this thread, rather than reading every word. Can someone explain if this pattern has any real usefulness? It's one thing to have an example of it for a piece of history, or a collection, but just can't see the utililty of it.
I'm sure there was, at ONE time..........

 

[B.F.U]

Ok, I've only 'scanned' this thread, rather than reading every word. Can someone explain if this pattern has any real usefulness? It's one thing to have an example of it for a piece of history, or a collection, but just can't see the utililty of it.
I'm sure there was, at ONE time..........

In my little experience, it seems like it has a use if you ONLY carry traditionals. That use is a big, tough, beater work type knife. But for me, I would rather have a modern for those uses as they are in general more designed towards that usage. But it definitely can fill a role.

 

[blademan 13]

I recently purchased a #36 STL and really like it. Took considerable time getting the edges thinned on both blades to my satisfaction. Love the action on the main blade, medium pull to open yet requires a very solid effort to close. Perfect. My problem is the action on the small blade, just not much spring there at all on closing. At first I was thinking it just needed to be broke in but that is not the case. With the blade closed the tip is free to move 1/4" with no resistance from the spring at all and little to no snap on closing. I'm afraid it may need to visit PA. My question to you all is, how is the walk & talk on your #36's secondary?

 

[Living_Simply]

ALLHSS I really like how you modded that RR. I might have to pick one up myself. The original blade proportions were just too far off for me and I didn't want to spend the $$ on the GEC for a knife I doubt I will carry. Great job on that.

 

[B.F.U]

ALLHSS I really like how you modded that RR. I might have to pick one up myself. The original blade proportions were just too far off for me and I didn't want to spend the $$ on the GEC for a knife I doubt I will carry. Great job on that.

Thanks a lot! I felt the same way, and can always use practice on modding/making.

 

[blademan 13]

I recently purchased a #36 STL and really like it. Took considerable time getting the edges thinned on both blades to my satisfaction. Love the action on the main blade, medium pull to open yet requires a very solid effort to close. Perfect. My problem is the action on the small blade, just not much spring there at all on closing. At first I was thinking it just needed to be broke in but that is not the case. With the blade closed the tip is free to move 1/4" with no resistance from the spring at all and little to no snap on closing. I'm afraid it may need to visit PA. My question to you all is, how is the walk & talk on your #36's secondary?

The love/hate relationship continues. Sent the knife to GEC and got it back with no improvement in action on the secondary which bummed me out a bit. Sad part is I got it back in worse shape than I sent it in as they felt the need to sharpen the blades! We are all very familiar with the infamous GEC edge, they basically blunted the edges I spent considerable getting where I wanted them. This darn near put me over the edge and I was pretty much at my wits end. I explained the situation to one of our fine dealers here who attempted to ease my mind and offered me a credit on the knife. As kind as his offer was, this was not his fight and I declined his offer. The problem was between me, the knife and GEC. I looked at the knife for a few days, then worked the action dry for a couple more, flushed it, oiled it and got it to where the secondary would at least snap closed. Okay, I can live with that. Back to the stones to reprofile again (GRRRR!) and properly hone. Nice! Got to the point I started throwing the knife in my back pocket when I get to work in the morning. Started using it. Liking it more each day. The secondary is literally a scalpel. Short, wide and very thin allows great control and excellent performance. The same traits scale up to the master, along with a certain sense of "do anything" capability. The nicely shaped, full size handle allowed the leverage necessary to effortlessly glide that thin, wide blade through any cutting task. This thing literally DESTROYS! cardboard, you could comfortably slice the stuff all day with zero hotspots on your grip. And that opening snap, very cool! Opens with moderate pull and snaps open with a satisfying THUNK! Takes a very firm push to start the closing process, very reassuring for a slip joint.

With the high level of initial disappointment with the knife as received and even more so when returned to me from the factory, why did I decide to keep the knife? For one, it was an all steel version which I coveted. It also was from the run which featured the stamped UN-X-LD blade which for me was a must. This was the last model the dealer had in the bone so if I returned it, it could not be replaced with what I wanted. I decided to give the knife a chance and I am so glad I did. It's a keeper, one that makes me smile every workday when I pick it up off my desk and put it in my pocket. It has its role, it has its purpose. It's my work knife. It cuts the cardboard, plastic strapping and other things encountered in a normal day. It accompanies me in the woods, the shop floor and even underground.

For anyone on the fence about the utility and functionality of the Sunfish pattern, all I can say is try one. Give it some love, give it some time and it will return to you a very rewarding cutlery experience. Might just get a second with an EO.

 

[dirtpig67]

I was doing some searching on here regarding the #36 GEC Sunfish and dug up this old thread. I have one of their older ones from 2008 in stag. Very nice piece but find pocket carry a bit much due to the weight. Does anyone know of a belt sheath that will fit it? If you happen to have a link just drop me a PM. I am not looking for anything fancy, just a simple leather sheath with snap cover.

 

[afishhunter]

As a matter of fact ... a CASE medium size belt sheath fits my Rough Rider large sunfish. It'll stretch the sides of the sheath out, but it is easy enough to pull it out, or put in (I put mine in main blade point down, acorn shield pointing out) and the flap still snaps closed.

I only have two of the Rough Riders, "Tobacco" brown bone and white bone. Both are great. I EDC'd the tobacco brown for about three or four months.