eisman
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2009
- Messages
- 6,882
I like the Irish Jack pattern knives. The combination of a long straight blade and a pen secondary works for me. I carry a 2013 Forum knife almost every day. It’s an old, hard to find pattern that’s unique enough to somewhat individualistic.
Until this spring, when GEC finally came around and made some offerings based on the 2013 knife, the only other brand I could find in this pattern (on a realistic price basis) was Fight’n Rooster. Those knives were German made, very well constructed, but done in short runs. Luckily that meant that most were “collected” and not used.
For those who might be interested in the pattern (and those of you just reading along because you have nothing else better to do) I’d like to point out some of the differences and (too me anyways) strong points between the GEC and Roosters of this type.
For this I’m going to use as examples my regular carry (2013), my previous pocket pal (FR), and one of the new GEC Speaker Jacks (SJ).
All three of these knives are the same length, sitting right at 3 5/8” closed. The biggest noticeable difference is that the Fight’n Rooster is both thicker and heavier. This might be just in the scales, but I have a couple of the Roosters in MOP and they also feel the same and those scales are not proud at all.
One of the nice things about having all three together is that you can see the different bolster treatments. The fluted bolsters on the 2013 are nice (better than plain), but I think the threaded bolsters on the SJ look better. The FR would look a lot better (just my opinion) with threaded bolsters like those on the Speaker Jack, in part due to its longer bolsters. By the same token, the GECs could use the polish the FR exhibits. I also like the somewhat deeper angled cut at the end of the bolsters on the FR knife.
Until I started looking at these together I didn’t realize that all three are assembled slightly differently. The FR used German (nickle) silver for the bolsters, and they have that slightly gold sheen to them. I think this looks good with the traditional brass liners. The 2013 is all stainless, and the SJ is stainless with brass liners. I can’t say I have a preference for a specific version based on this, but it’s interesting to see.
It’s the other way around with the blades, those on the FR being a mirror polished stainless, vs the GEC carbon steel. I like the way the character of the blade on the 2013 looks with the ivory scales. But the FR polish has really stood up too, and while not as heavily used, it looks good.
The scales on all three knives are fitted exceptionally well. The FR, being of German manufacture, stands a little thicker than the bolsters and are tapered down to the bolsters, where the GEC knives keep a low, smooth, profile their entire length. I think this smooth contour makes for a very slick, and more refined, profile. The materials on all three have history, and can be expected to last and perform well.
On a side note, the scales for the 2013 were a clearer white, and they have ‘yellowed” over the years like the ivory they were to mimic. It’s not much, but enough to notice. (I have an unused knife to compare to.)
I can’t say I’m perfectly satisfied with the shields on any of these, but it is interesting to see just how different they look. The bar forward on the FR seems unbalanced, where the bar centered on the 2013 just seems to detract from the curves of the frame. I wonder how much better it would look with a slightly curved bar in place? Or perhaps the “Cloud” from the SJ should have been centered?
Going back to the blades, I have to admit I prefer the secondary fitted as on the 2013; in front of, and nicked on the same side as, the primary blade. GEC did this very well, first in relieving the frame to allow access to the low sitting pen blade (nice touch) and using the long pull on the sheepsfoot main. Since the main rides fairly high, and pinching it to open is not difficult, there was no real need for the long pull, but it does look good on these blades.
However, I really prefer the sharper point of the FR main blade. It’s easier to start a cut in a corner with that blade, and it seems to “bite” better in some cuts. It also sets lower in the frame when using the pen blade, and as such it’s more comfortable to use. Which makes me wonder why FR didn’t set the pen down a little more and relieve the frame like GEC has done? And why hasn’t GEC put their Wharncliff main on a “Jack” in this pattern? That would interest me greatly.
One thing I did notice is that the FR has much better finish on the blade stops. The GECs look pretty rough when compared, Perhaps as a result, the blade on the FR seem much more positive both at center stop and fully extended.
Another thing GEC did, which I think shows a lot of class and planning, is the use of spacers to fill in the blade channel to match the blades. It’s a small thing, but it looks right, and most manufacturers miss this.
Last, and I admit I’m picking nits, but why did GEC use brass pins on the SJ. If there’s one visual complaint I have with this knife, it’s that those pins look out of place on the otherwise black and silver profile.
Anyways, there you have it. My $.02 on a few knives I like and carry; even though none are “perfect”. I hope this kept you entertained, and maybe got you to look at some of your knives a little more carefully.
Remember, pointy end forward…
Until this spring, when GEC finally came around and made some offerings based on the 2013 knife, the only other brand I could find in this pattern (on a realistic price basis) was Fight’n Rooster. Those knives were German made, very well constructed, but done in short runs. Luckily that meant that most were “collected” and not used.
For those who might be interested in the pattern (and those of you just reading along because you have nothing else better to do) I’d like to point out some of the differences and (too me anyways) strong points between the GEC and Roosters of this type.
For this I’m going to use as examples my regular carry (2013), my previous pocket pal (FR), and one of the new GEC Speaker Jacks (SJ).
All three of these knives are the same length, sitting right at 3 5/8” closed. The biggest noticeable difference is that the Fight’n Rooster is both thicker and heavier. This might be just in the scales, but I have a couple of the Roosters in MOP and they also feel the same and those scales are not proud at all.
One of the nice things about having all three together is that you can see the different bolster treatments. The fluted bolsters on the 2013 are nice (better than plain), but I think the threaded bolsters on the SJ look better. The FR would look a lot better (just my opinion) with threaded bolsters like those on the Speaker Jack, in part due to its longer bolsters. By the same token, the GECs could use the polish the FR exhibits. I also like the somewhat deeper angled cut at the end of the bolsters on the FR knife.
Until I started looking at these together I didn’t realize that all three are assembled slightly differently. The FR used German (nickle) silver for the bolsters, and they have that slightly gold sheen to them. I think this looks good with the traditional brass liners. The 2013 is all stainless, and the SJ is stainless with brass liners. I can’t say I have a preference for a specific version based on this, but it’s interesting to see.
It’s the other way around with the blades, those on the FR being a mirror polished stainless, vs the GEC carbon steel. I like the way the character of the blade on the 2013 looks with the ivory scales. But the FR polish has really stood up too, and while not as heavily used, it looks good.
The scales on all three knives are fitted exceptionally well. The FR, being of German manufacture, stands a little thicker than the bolsters and are tapered down to the bolsters, where the GEC knives keep a low, smooth, profile their entire length. I think this smooth contour makes for a very slick, and more refined, profile. The materials on all three have history, and can be expected to last and perform well.
On a side note, the scales for the 2013 were a clearer white, and they have ‘yellowed” over the years like the ivory they were to mimic. It’s not much, but enough to notice. (I have an unused knife to compare to.)
I can’t say I’m perfectly satisfied with the shields on any of these, but it is interesting to see just how different they look. The bar forward on the FR seems unbalanced, where the bar centered on the 2013 just seems to detract from the curves of the frame. I wonder how much better it would look with a slightly curved bar in place? Or perhaps the “Cloud” from the SJ should have been centered?
Going back to the blades, I have to admit I prefer the secondary fitted as on the 2013; in front of, and nicked on the same side as, the primary blade. GEC did this very well, first in relieving the frame to allow access to the low sitting pen blade (nice touch) and using the long pull on the sheepsfoot main. Since the main rides fairly high, and pinching it to open is not difficult, there was no real need for the long pull, but it does look good on these blades.
However, I really prefer the sharper point of the FR main blade. It’s easier to start a cut in a corner with that blade, and it seems to “bite” better in some cuts. It also sets lower in the frame when using the pen blade, and as such it’s more comfortable to use. Which makes me wonder why FR didn’t set the pen down a little more and relieve the frame like GEC has done? And why hasn’t GEC put their Wharncliff main on a “Jack” in this pattern? That would interest me greatly.
One thing I did notice is that the FR has much better finish on the blade stops. The GECs look pretty rough when compared, Perhaps as a result, the blade on the FR seem much more positive both at center stop and fully extended.
Another thing GEC did, which I think shows a lot of class and planning, is the use of spacers to fill in the blade channel to match the blades. It’s a small thing, but it looks right, and most manufacturers miss this.
Last, and I admit I’m picking nits, but why did GEC use brass pins on the SJ. If there’s one visual complaint I have with this knife, it’s that those pins look out of place on the otherwise black and silver profile.
Anyways, there you have it. My $.02 on a few knives I like and carry; even though none are “perfect”. I hope this kept you entertained, and maybe got you to look at some of your knives a little more carefully.
Remember, pointy end forward…
