Any love for the GEC Farmboy? (Warning: Contains Grandpa knife story)....

Macchina · Dec 21, 2015

We got together with my Maternal family last night and I was talking with my Grandpa who is turning 80 soon about life and other things. I was sharpening a cousin's knife and my Grandpa reached into his pocket (he's always carried a CASE CV Peanut with yellow Delrin scales) and them remembered that he misplaced his pocket knife a while back and was still meaning to get a new one. I happened to have my CASE CV Mini Trapper with yellow Delrin scales in my pocket at the time and was ecstatic to be able to give it him as a hopeful replacement for his misplaced Peanut. He exclaimed that it was very similar to his Case in both size and carbon steel (which "mikght stain but takes a much keener edge than stain free steel") and put it in his pocket after some protests. The ironic thing here is that it was my Grandpa's yellow Delrin Peanut that has attracted me to the classic Case knives and the reason for picking up the knife in the first place. This Grandpa has given me his knives over the years as he declares he no longer needs them (I have his old Buck 112 and his Schrade hunting fixed blade) and it felt awesome to be able to give one back. Easily twice as fun as getting the knife in the first place. He bought me my first sharpening stone some 20 years ago (a pocket Arkansas that I still have a piece of) and taught me to sharpen free hand. He always warned: only sharpen your knife when you absolutely need to otherwise you'll wear it away too quickly. I guess not all of his advise stuck

.

Anyway...

So here I am the morning after and I decide I should probably pick up another Case Mini Trapper. After looking for a while I head down one tangent then another and I realize that a barehead Ebony trapper would be awesome. After a few searches (still wanting a Case) I give up thinking that a barehead ebony Mini Trapper has never been made and I'd have to forget about ever owning one. During lunch today I was perusing the "The Knife of 2015" thread and saw btb01's post with a GEC Farmboy in it! I remembered seeing these in Ebony at one time but knew they were made a few years back so I was most likely out of luck. I search my favorite sources and once again CK comes through with 1 left in stock! Possibly the last Ebony Farmboy on the internet. Needless to say, it's headed to me.

Though I have a few #15's, I find the Farmboy sits in a unique position being the only #15 non-barlow that I can think of that has 2 full size blades. A pretty useful looking knife if you ask me.

So, anyone else a fan of this GEC "Mini Trapper"? Any pictures or stories would be greatly appreciated.

I can't wait to CF and CE mine...

GEML151213FEB__91336.1385852317.1280.1280.JPG

(shamelessly borrowed the picture from Collector Knives as I bought the last one...)

wundergussy · Dec 21, 2015

I'm carrying the TC variant today -- very handy knife

Ryouchijtx · Dec 21, 2015

Always liked this trapper after seeing the TC variations. Looks like a very attractive and handy knife with two full blades that don't get in the way of one another.

Macchina · Dec 21, 2015

Beautiful knife Gus, that is my grail TC.
That is probably the best die-job I've seen on GEC Red Sawcut Bone, the fitted area near the bolsters rarely turn out that red!

wundergussy · Dec 21, 2015

Macchina said:
Beautiful knife Gus, that is my grail TC.
That is probably the best die-job I've seen on GEC Red Sawcut Bone, the fitted area near the bolsters rarely turn out that red!

Thanks! It's actually Brown, but this one got a lighter dye job and turned out this beautiful chestnut. I have a single Days Work to match it, and that one is much darker.

Macchina · Dec 21, 2015

wundergussy said:
Thanks! It's actually Brown, but this one got a lighter dye job and turned out this beautiful chestnut. I have a single Days Work to match it, and that one is much darker.

I'm incredibly color blind. I just got tested and somehow failed even one of the "control" tests... Great knife however you see it!

btmccutcheon · Dec 21, 2015

The farmboy has been on my list for a while, however it keeps getting bumped from "next purchase" by others I find. Someday...

pertinux · Dec 21, 2015

Ryouchijtx said:
Always liked this trapper after seeing the TC variations. Looks like a very attractive and handy knife with two full blades that don't get in the way of one another.

Absolutely! The spey blade, especially, disappears into the frame-- a full-lengthy, stealthy surprise.

And, as you've inferred in your description, the clip blade slinks down neatly into the handle as well, surprisingly unobtrusive when closed for such a robust little blade:

... I think I know what I'm carrying tomorrow.

~ P.

btb01 · Dec 21, 2015

Well, as you know (since you mentioned my post from the "Knife of 2015 thread), I really like this knife. I love the trapper configuration with the two full-sized blades. I've handled a few Case mini trappers and find them to be bulky compared to the #15 Farm Boy. I don't think you'll be disappointed, Macchina! That ebony is a good looking knife!

And because threads are always better with more pics...

lambertiana · Dec 22, 2015

I have an ebony farm boy, it's a great knife.

Jack Black · Dec 22, 2015

Nice post Macchina, must have been great to be able to give your grandfather a knife

Congratulations on the new acquisition, hope it serves you well :thumbup:

redsparrow · Dec 22, 2015

Macchina said:
... anyone else a fan of this GEC "Mini Trapper"?

Yes, I'm a big fan!
GEC's Farmboy has been a favorite of mine going on three years. It's opened the Grand-kids Christmas and birthday gifts, sliced nearly a bushel of apples, seen substantial use in the garage and garden (string, packages, light pruning...) broke down way too many pizza boxes, cut piles of cardboard, opened volumes of mail ...
In fact I like the little Farmboy so much I considered a second one as a backup. I've actually had CK's last ebony in my cart more times than I can count. Only reason I decided against it is I have several similiar knives, but none better than the Farmboy. Glad to hear you got it Macchina. You're gonna love it.

EDIT: Supratentorial's "carpenter boy" (see below) made me laugh but I want one too.

supratentorial · Dec 22, 2015

I had also been eyeing that last one!

I was thinking about grinding the spey into a sheepfoot but I would need to cut a new nail nick and that's something that I haven't done previously. When GEC adds a coping or sheepfoot blade secondary, they usually make it smaller than necessary... mostly, they're swapping out a pen blade and they make it similar in size. A pen needs to be pointy but a sheepfoot or coping blade does not benefit from being narrow. A large sheepfoot blade can fit just as well and still sit low in the handle. The 15 is a great pattern with a lot of versatility. I'd also like them to make a carpenters knife... maybe a "carpenter boy"

... with a full length sheepfoot as well as a clip blade. I'd like the sheepfoot to sit low in the handle like the spey blade on the "farm boy".

btb01 · Dec 22, 2015

redsparrow said:

I love the bone on yours! It looks much lighter in color and more worn than mine. Was it like that when you bought it, or has it worn down from use/carry?

Will Power · Dec 22, 2015

Some fine knives on view here.:thumbup:

At first I misread the title: Any love for the GEC Fanboy?

As if such a thing could exist

Thanks, Will

redsparrow · Dec 22, 2015

btb01 thanks. The color was very much like yours when I first got it. The covers lightened in the first couple of weeks during some very wet usage. The color actually came off onto my hand. At first I was bummed but soon realized I liked the more yellow look. Since then they seem to be mostly stable.

RDaneel · Dec 22, 2015

Beautiful knives all. One that I have looked at a few times.

Tyler.Bachman · Dec 22, 2015

When are they producing these they look like a user and wonderful at the same time. I love one in stag

Tyler.Bachman · Dec 22, 2015

Macchina said:
We got together with my Maternal family last night and I was talking with my Grandpa who is turning 80 soon about life and other things. I was sharpening a cousin's knife and my Grandpa reached into his pocket (he's always carried a CASE CV Peanut with yellow Delrin scales) and them remembered that he misplaced his pocket knife a while back and was still meaning to get a new one. I happened to have my CASE CV Mini Trapper with yellow Delrin scales in my pocket at the time and was ecstatic to be able to give it him as a hopeful replacement for his misplaced Peanut. He exclaimed that it was very similar to his Case in both size and carbon steel (which "mikght stain but takes a much keener edge than stain free steel") and put it in his pocket after some protests. The ironic thing here is that it was my Grandpa's yellow Delrin Peanut that has attracted me to the classic Case knives and the reason for picking up the knife in the first place. This Grandpa has given me his knives over the years as he declares he no longer needs them (I have his old Buck 112 and his Schrade hunting fixed blade) and it felt awesome to be able to give one back. Easily twice as fun as getting the knife in the first place. He bought me my first sharpening stone some 20 years ago (a pocket Arkansas that I still have a piece of) and taught me to sharpen free hand. He always warned: only sharpen your knife when you absolutely need to otherwise you'll wear it away too quickly. I guess not all of his advise stuck .

Anyway...

So here I am the morning after and I decide I should probably pick up another Case Mini Trapper. After looking for a while I head down one tangent then another and I realize that a barehead Ebony trapper would be awesome. After a few searches (still wanting a Case) I give up thinking that a barehead ebony Mini Trapper has never been made and I'd have to forget about ever owning one. During lunch today I was perusing the "The Knife of 2015" thread and saw btb01's post with a GEC Farmboy in it! I remembered seeing these in Ebony at one time but knew they were made a few years back so I was most likely out of luck. I search my favorite sources and once again CK comes through with 1 left in stock! Possibly the last Ebony Farmboy on the internet. Needless to say, it's headed to me.

Though I have a few #15's, I find the Farmboy sits in a unique position being the only #15 non-barlow that I can think of that has 2 full size blades. A pretty useful looking knife if you ask me.

So, anyone else a fan of this GEC "Mini Trapper"? Any pictures or stories would be greatly appreciated.

I can't wait to CF and CE mine...

(shamelessly borrowed the picture from Collector Knives as I bought the last one...)

Man that brakes my heart as my grandfather passed recently before I could get his SAK and sch ease sharpfinger. I gave him a peanut but he never used it said it never had size he needed. He was a mechanic like a longer blade so he could get it in tight spaces. H did give me my first 110 as a kid I lost in a hunting trip a couple years ago I want to replace

r redden · Dec 22, 2015

Great story great looking knives I do however have one complaint this thread just cost me $90.24 (red jigged bone)

Any love for the GEC Farmboy? (Warning: Contains Grandpa knife story)....

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