Attempting to rekindle an old flame

pmew

pmew

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Oct 2, 2011
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Over a year ago I bought myself my first GEC. A Northfield white owl in cocobolo with a clip main. I chose it because it looked the perfect pocket size, I like slim single spring knives and the 3.5 inch length. I am also perhaps a little superstitious (touch wood) so I wanted the cocobolo scales and I fell for the long pull.
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When it arrived I loved it (but of course had to by more GECs but they are not for this thread) although I found the bail really annoying. It gets in the way when I use the knife and it waggles about in a frustrating manner. I have considered removing it on many an occasion but then feel like I'd be doing it a dis-service and the unsightly holes left behind would also bug me. Oh why didn't I go for the Tidioute? The dealer I usually use no longer has Tidioutes with wooden scales either so that's that scrubbed.
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Frustrated, I have kind of neglected it a bit and haven't used it much, bringing it out for the odd wooden Wednesday just. However I am going to try and use it more and ignore the bail. I know that many of you love bails and this isn't an attack, I even have other knives with bails that I love which is odd. To me, it is perfect in every other respect.

How many of you have a knife that has some infinitesimally minute detail that you can't get past? I'd love to hear your stories.

Paul
 
if I was in your situation I would fix the bail problem, because what you have there is a very sleek little folder with a great patina.

possible solutions include cutting the bail off and re-piening, or loop a thin paracord through. I just think thats the perfect knife and its disheartening that such a small problem is preventing you from fully enjoying it
 
How about having a go at tightening the bail up Paul?
 
Put a little leather tail on the bail. Makes it easy to pull from the pocket. Learn to accept and enjoy it's character?
 
Aw, c'mon...if you handle a kilt, I figure you shouldn't have any trouble making the bail work for you. Accessorize man, accessorize! ;):p

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I mean, if we were really worried about having the easiest knives to live with, we wouldn't be in the "traditional folders and fixed blades" section cooing over patinas and knives without thumbstuds right? ;)
 
Bails irritate me, they also scratch up the bolster 'nicely' and interfere with handling, so I can well understand your frustration. Taking the bail off will leave an eyesore hole, been there with a scout knife....:eek:

You could look at the Acorn shield stainless versions, they have longpull and pinched bolsters, fine knives, but if it's carbon you need...Perhaps ask GEC to de-bal it and put on a new bolster?

Some knives I have get neglected because of a build issue: non flush spring on open, but the only comparable situation is hideously mis-matched handles. That too can lead to neglect.....but not abuse:D
 
"How many of you have a knife that has some infinitesimally minute detail that you can't get past? I'd love to hear your stories."

I can see why a bail would bug you and if it were mine I'd cut the bail off. My deal breaker as insane as it may seem to some is the way GEC sinks some of their pins <<< WHY???? It drives me crazy, so much so that I actually epoxied a piece of pin on top of the sunken pin to fill the hole.:D If I had seen the hole I would have passed on buying the knife (a stag 72.) So don't feel bad Paul.

Best regards

Robin
 
I'm right with you on that one Robin! I like the pins all the same depth or slightly domed. Some GECs have pins sunk like wells...I too have sawn off brass rod and glued the piece in the offending pit, tricky business mind

Thanks, Will
 
willgoy said:
I'm right with you on that one Robin! I like the pins all the same depth or slightly domed. Some GECs have pins sunk like wells...I too have sawn off brass rod and glued the piece in the offending pit, tricky business mind

Thanks, Will
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Will, that made my day.:D

Best regards

Robin
 
Woodrow F Call said:
Put a little leather tail on the bail. Makes it easy to pull from the pocket. Learn to accept and enjoy it's character?
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I have a lanyard on a bolo machete so that I don't cut a femoral artery when gardening, I also have one on a British army knife that I use when I'm sailing to attach it to myself. I don't see the need on a small pocket knife though. I'm not into the dangly stuff really but I agree I should maybe learn to accept stuff.

Jack Black said:
How about having a go at tightening the bail up Paul?
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It's the bail itself that annoys me, even if it was solidly locked up it would bug me still.

arizonaranchman said:
If it's the perfect knife in all other ways then I'd lose the bail and enjoy the knife.
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I think so. Someone mentioned re-peining after cutting it off, how do I go about that?

Pipeman said:
"How many of you have a knife that has some infinitesimally minute detail that you can't get past? I'd love to hear your stories."

I can see why a bail would bug you and if it were mine I'd cut the bail off. My deal breaker as insane as it may seem to some is the way GEC sinks some of their pins <<< WHY???? It drives me crazy, so much so that I actually epoxied a piece of pin on top of the sunken pin to fill the hole.:D If I had seen the hole I would have passed on buying the knife (a stag 72.) So don't feel bad Paul.

Best regards

Robin
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Robin, I'm pouring a whiskey with satisfaction knowing I'm not alone in my idiosyncrasy.

:)
 
I think the lanyard is the solution (toxic green with pewter skull, to be inkeeping with the trad aesthetic), make the irritating defect work for you. My walnut scaled #73 doesn't get much pocket time because it is so heavy with its double bolsters, such a lovely knife, it really isn't a fault, but I know its not getting chosen to carry with me on most days.
 
fatcorgi said:
I think the lanyard is the solution (toxic green with pewter skull, to be inkeeping with the trad aesthetic), make the irritating defect work for you. My walnut scaled #73 doesn't get much pocket time because it is so heavy with its double bolsters, such a lovely knife, it really isn't a fault, but I know its not getting chosen to carry with me on most days.
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Haha, all kidding aside I think a nice leather lanyard is the way to go.

Connor
 
If that bail is peened onto the pivot pin, you can snip off the bail and leave the end bits on the pin, or you can break the bail off, which will allow the pin to loosen up unless you hammer the pin ends. Hammering the pin ends will leave an ugly mushroom on each side that you'll have to try to file or grind off without marring the bolster. Also slip a razor blade into the joint before hammering or you'll get it too tight.
I think you'd be better off trading it to somebody who likes bails.
But to answer your original question, I had similar reservations about my cub scout knife's bail, and did to it what I'm implying you shouldn't.
 
Pipeman said:
"How many of you have a knife that has some infinitesimally minute detail that you can't get past? I'd love to hear your stories."

I can see why a bail would bug you and if it were mine I'd cut the bail off. My deal breaker as insane as it may seem to some is the way GEC sinks some of their pins <<< WHY???? It drives me crazy, so much so that I actually epoxied a piece of pin on top of the sunken pin to fill the hole.:D If I had seen the hole I would have passed on buying the knife (a stag 72.) So don't feel bad Paul.

Best regards

Robin
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And here I thought I was crazy because that detail bugs me on the #15 Boy's knife. Whew!

- Christian
 
I found myself in the same situation as you... I love the cocobolo, long pull and cloud shield. I can't stand the bail on this size of a knife. I went out and picked up a tidioute in ebony, but it just wasn't the same! This was my quick fix, but I rarely carry this knife despite its utility and beauty. I will be following this thread to see what the outcome is.
 
I love the cloud shield and cocobolo scales and that's the exact version I wanted but I just couldn't live with the bail and I know for a fact I would end up never carrying it because of it so I went with the Tidioute version with ebony wood and I really love that knife. It's perfect for my dress pants at work because it's nice and slim and lighter than some of my other GEC knives that are the same length.

I would honestly shoot an email to Christine Tucker at GEC and see if there is anyway they could remove it for you. Even if they charged you a little bit of money it would probably be worthwhile to you as you love everything else about the knife. Here is her email address. chris@greateasterncutlery.net
 
Pipeman said:
Will, that made my day.:D

Best regards

Robin
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Right there with you on an identical knife. I have thought many times of epoxying a pin in the handle of my old #72 but have always passed. I have become pretty good at judging stag handle shape by assessing the pin depth however and I must say as a result my recent #72 is darn near perfect
 
Yep the #68 is nearly perfect. If it had a coping blade in place of the pen I'd be in heaven. I don't even notice the bail on mine.
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