Does GEC make any knives for larger hands?

S

statesevens

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Mar 7, 2016
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Thanks in large part to Blade Forums, I've become pretty much obsessed with traditional folders and Great Eastern Cutlery specifically. I haven't really seen a pattern from them I didn't like. Here's the problem though...

I'm 7ft tall. Consequently, I have massive hands. I'm in the market for a pocketknife that looks like it could have been made in the first half of the 20th century, and that doesn't disappear in my palm. A bone handle would be ideal but it's not a deal breaker. The #98 is 4 7/8 inches closed which is about where I want to be, but I can't track down any other pattern with similar sizing. I imagine I'm just not looking hard enough, but the sheer number of products GEC has put out is truly intimidating.

Can someone point me in the right direction? I'm planning on carrying the thing daily, and eventually passing it down through the family.
 
If I were your size I'd go for the #98 Camp or Texas Whittler.. but it looks like you already know about that one. Everybody above has covered what I can think of... the Esky Zulu or #74 is almost 4" which is under the size you are looking for, but something else to consider. Not a GEC - Case Grand Daddy Barlow is big.. I think 5" ish handle. I really like the giant clip on the GEC 98's.
 
A #45 might fill your hand. Here's one next to my #48 trapper.
Nc7zzI6.jpg
 
Theres 3 #45s made with muscle bone covers at Gunstock Jacks If your interested I saw them just now when I was ordering my BF Knife. It's a limited run from 2012 so if you're interested I'd move quick. Good luck. :D
 
I think the #23 would be a good choice. Here is a YouTube of a #23 and a #73 being compared. Most would consider the #73 a pretty universally sized pocket knife, I would think, but the #23 (although the same pattern of trapper) is considerably larger.

https://youtu.be/y_g01Ak0Y8Y


- Paul
 
As others have suggested a 2 blade 23 is a pretty large knife, getting close to Buck 110 size.

IMG_2523_zps9e4d3228.jpg
 
Some of the larger GEC knives. The 81 Abilene stockman at 4 inches is the smallest.
BigKnife05_zpsciyjakf4.jpg


Top to bottom:
Tidioute 98 Whittler - 4 7/8 inches
Northfield 23 Bull Lock/Pioneer - 4 1/2 inches
Smith & Sons 21 Mudbug (by GEC) - 4 5/8 inches
Northfield 81 Abilene - 4 inches
Northfield 42 Missouri Trader - 4 1/4 inches
Northwoods 44 Madison Barlow (by GEC) - 4 1/4 inches

On the Left: Northfield 36 Sunfish - 4 1/4 inches
On the Right: Northfield 45 Roughneck - 4 1/2 inches




Not GEC, but some more big traditionals. Daddy Barlows, Folding Hunters, and the like. The Schrade 8OT Old Timer stockman at 4 inches is for comparison.
BigKnife02_zpsxhp5rst6.jpg
 
I like big knives and the 23 and 21 are the best I've found from GEC. The 98 is a touch too big for my liking, might be just the thing for you though. If you're used to modern knives, the 23 is pretty close to a large Griptilian in size.

GEC can frustrate you if you're looking for a specific pattern though, as they can go a couple years between runs. You might want to check out a Queen Mountain Man as an alternative to the 23 or a Case Sodbuster as an alternative to the 21 until another run comes up. Good luck in your hunt.
 
There recently was a thread about Maher & Grosh knives. I believe they're 5 1/4" closed. AG Russell has some really big folders.

Alan
 
Hey Statesevens, I picked out the largest GECs from my collection to share with a gratuitous size comparison.

The #42 Missouri Trader is 4.25". I didn't measure the other two, but they are very close to the same length.

In my mind, the #42 (also comes in trapper) may be the best fit for you, but I'm short, so what do I know?[emoji2]

IMG_20160903_100007.jpg

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
#98, #65, #64, #45, #23, #21

Check those out. I have large hands and they're all big enough.



Sabercat said:
Hey Statesevens, I picked out the largest GECs from my collection to share with a gratuitous size comparison.

The #42 Missouri Trader is 4.25". I didn't measure the other two, but they are very close to the same length.

In my mind, the #42 (also comes in trapper) may be the best fit for you, but I'm short, so what do I know?[emoji2]

View attachment 658122

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Wow, awesome oil sucker rod there!
 
Joerazda hit it on the head ,look at some of A G Russell's traditional folders and any videos of them you might find- he has a simply enormous locking hunter and some others from his Texas ranger line that should fill even your big mitts🙂 7ft! I'm impressed, I'm the smallest in my family at 6'1", 230ish lbs, but I have cousins in the 6'8" range. Good luck, oh and Queen makes some big folders too, in good steels.
Thanks, Neal
 
Check out the Northwoods Madison barlow in post #14 from MerryMadMonk. That thing is huge in the hand as the blade is nearly as long as the handle. They show up in the exchange often and have a nice bone handle on some of them. I think at least the original run was made by GEC.

Andrew
 
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