We all have our likes and dislikes. Some of them can go so far as to be totally illogical and/or irrational. But then that's why they have all those flavors at the ice cream place.
I used to be a die hard Case man. When I was growing up, one heck of a lot of the pocket knives were made by Case. My own dad was a Case knife person. And down at the old Jenkins Country store, where the liars circle held court, the Case Little Finn was THE hunting' knife. Oh, they had a fe Western and Kabar's floating about, the Case was the one of choice. When I got my very first sheath knife from the hardware store up the road by convincing the owner I was reliable for a lay-away, it was a leather handle Case that was my choice. Even Mr. Van, our old mud marine scout master approved it with his comment that "it'll do to go up the beach with." This was the highest praise from hi that could be gotten.
So, even though my own knife history was taken up for a couple decades by a Buck 301 stockman, I eventually came back to Case after dad passed on, and he left me his little peanut that sat on top of my dresser. I still think it was some sort of message that in my sleep, his shade would be whispering, "Hey bonehead, carry the peanut." Yeah, I could see him doing that.
Sooo, having said all that, I find it comes as a shock to realize that my loyalty has been slowly distracted by a brand I had formally blown off as a "boutique" brand knife. Yes, I'm talking GEC here. I had no interest in GEC before, both because of the infamous bear trap springs, and the numerous posts of "I gt this GEC and I'm thinking of sending it back because "
I figured a knife that costs what they charge, and still has issues just ain't the cookie I'm looking' for.
I was wrong.
Last summer, Dan, AKA silenthunterstudios, gave me a GEC number 15 boys knife. I liked it. But there was something about it that felt good. GEC seems to have done with their number 15 frame what Colt did with the 1911. Made a knife that feels good to a wide variety of folks. Not too big, not too small, and lays just right in the pocket. I'm a dyed in the wool wheel gun man, and I don't like auto's. Glock, HK, Berretta, even Smith and Wesson's autos' meh. We even had a Glock for a while, but neither Karen nor I could bond with it, so it went drown the road. Just didn't feel right. I always felt it should have been stamped "Made by Mattel". But stick an old 1911 in my hand, and I'm happy, happy, happy. I love the way to feels in th hand. I won't care if it's an Old Colt's, Remington Rand, Union Switch and Signal, or even a springfield. I love the dimensions that Mr. John Moses Browning designed into that grip. Same with the GEC 15. I love it.
Of course it doesn't hurt that it has a nice thin ground 1095 blade, wonderful feeling ebony scales that take on a certain sheen when rubbed down with a soft rag and a little linseed oil. And it doesn't hurt that it gets scary sharp like an Opinel, but without the wood swelling issue. Last september we took a canoe trip, and the 15 was wet quite a bit. No problem with rust, just some staining on the blade and bolster. Dan, what hast thou wrought?
Of course, here's the knife that changed my outlook.
Carl.
I used to be a die hard Case man. When I was growing up, one heck of a lot of the pocket knives were made by Case. My own dad was a Case knife person. And down at the old Jenkins Country store, where the liars circle held court, the Case Little Finn was THE hunting' knife. Oh, they had a fe Western and Kabar's floating about, the Case was the one of choice. When I got my very first sheath knife from the hardware store up the road by convincing the owner I was reliable for a lay-away, it was a leather handle Case that was my choice. Even Mr. Van, our old mud marine scout master approved it with his comment that "it'll do to go up the beach with." This was the highest praise from hi that could be gotten.
So, even though my own knife history was taken up for a couple decades by a Buck 301 stockman, I eventually came back to Case after dad passed on, and he left me his little peanut that sat on top of my dresser. I still think it was some sort of message that in my sleep, his shade would be whispering, "Hey bonehead, carry the peanut." Yeah, I could see him doing that.
Sooo, having said all that, I find it comes as a shock to realize that my loyalty has been slowly distracted by a brand I had formally blown off as a "boutique" brand knife. Yes, I'm talking GEC here. I had no interest in GEC before, both because of the infamous bear trap springs, and the numerous posts of "I gt this GEC and I'm thinking of sending it back because "
I figured a knife that costs what they charge, and still has issues just ain't the cookie I'm looking' for.
I was wrong.
Last summer, Dan, AKA silenthunterstudios, gave me a GEC number 15 boys knife. I liked it. But there was something about it that felt good. GEC seems to have done with their number 15 frame what Colt did with the 1911. Made a knife that feels good to a wide variety of folks. Not too big, not too small, and lays just right in the pocket. I'm a dyed in the wool wheel gun man, and I don't like auto's. Glock, HK, Berretta, even Smith and Wesson's autos' meh. We even had a Glock for a while, but neither Karen nor I could bond with it, so it went drown the road. Just didn't feel right. I always felt it should have been stamped "Made by Mattel". But stick an old 1911 in my hand, and I'm happy, happy, happy. I love the way to feels in th hand. I won't care if it's an Old Colt's, Remington Rand, Union Switch and Signal, or even a springfield. I love the dimensions that Mr. John Moses Browning designed into that grip. Same with the GEC 15. I love it.
Of course it doesn't hurt that it has a nice thin ground 1095 blade, wonderful feeling ebony scales that take on a certain sheen when rubbed down with a soft rag and a little linseed oil. And it doesn't hurt that it gets scary sharp like an Opinel, but without the wood swelling issue. Last september we took a canoe trip, and the 15 was wet quite a bit. No problem with rust, just some staining on the blade and bolster. Dan, what hast thou wrought?
Of course, here's the knife that changed my outlook.
Carl.
