Embarrassing GEC Calf Roper

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Modoc ED

Modoc ED

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I got a GEC Calf Roper knife with Ebony Covers a week or so ago and posted pictures of it in one of the Stockman threads. After I posted the pictures, I got to looking at the knife and got kind of an embarrassed feeling. The danged thing looked like a little kids knife. Sorta like a Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, or Hopalong Cassidy knife from my youth. Of course it isn't a toy knife but it looks like one. If GEC had used just a tad more black ink in the etching, they'd have given the knife the appearance of one of those tactical knives with a black coated blade. Enough already with the heavily etched blades from GEC. My .02¢

Anyway, here is a before/after picture of the knife with the etching and without the etching (polished out with Flitz). I think the knife looks much better without the etching.

geccalfroperebonyscales.jpg
 
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I flitzed off the etch on my Calf Roper also. I let the etch on my White Owl disappear gradually into the patina.

It could be worse. The etch could say "tickler". :D

logan-gregg10.jpg
 
Ah, much better sans the cheesy etch.

I actually passed on an otherwise great looking Roper in Tomato acrylic due to that etch, which is right up there with their nasty "Tango" job in terms of sheer awfulness. It's no big deal on a user, but I collect, as well, and the thought of owning something reminiscent of a "Boy's Life" magazine ad was a real deal-breaker.
 
I agree. The etch makes it look like a novelty knife. Hopalong Cassidy was the first thing that came to my mind when the Calf Ropers were released. It looks much better without the etch.
 
Rick said:
Ah, much better sans the cheesy etch.

I actually passed on an otherwise great looking Roper in Tomato acrylic due to that etch, which is right up there with their nasty "Tango" job in terms of sheer awfulness. It's no big deal on a user, but I collect, as well, and the thought of owning something reminiscent of a "Boy's Life" magazine ad was a real deal-breaker.
Click to expand...

I hear -- errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr read ya Rick. From a collectors poin-of-view, I agree with you completely. Your "Boy's Life" magazine comparison is spot on.

In all fairness to the knife itself, I gotta say that at 3 1/2" it is a very sturdy knife for it's size and should be capable of handling almost any daily task that I can think of. I carried it yesterday and today and like it quite a bit.
 
Good work with the Flitz, great stuff. Love my Calf Roper and have been contemplating whether to Flitz away the etch or just patina it into oblivion. After your pics I'm going the Flitz route :)

Thanks for the pics!
 
Total transformation Ed, love it.
Now I need to go reconsider a couple of tiddy-oot White Owls.
 
The etch is second only to the Queen Country Cousin in cheesiness. What were they thinking!?

-- Mark
 
I had a similar experience with my Case Conoe in CV and amber bone. I really loved the knife in general, but found the etch ( an indian in a conoe) to be a bit much, so I forced an overnight patina on it with vinegar overnight and pretty much covered up the etch.
 
It seems like most blade etches are just plain goofy and sometimes embarrassing. I'd rather not be seen with a knife that has an indian in a canoe or hopalong cassidy on the blade. Just because I don't always act like one doesn't mean I don't want an Adult knife.
 
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