Freemont Jack or GEC #47 Viper

dgebler

dgebler

Joined
Feb 12, 2012
Messages
265
So I am looking for a sheepsfoot or wharncliffe bladed traditional and have been waivering between the northwoods freemont jack and the GEC #47 Viper.
Anyone have one or both and care to give me any feedback or comparison? Starting to get the itchy trigger and leaning towards the #47 but could be swayed.
 
Never owned a 47, but have had a few Freemont's and they are superb knives. Very robest and can handle tough work. The shape of the handle is really comfortable as well with no hot spots at all.
 
I have both and though you couldn't go wrong with either....IMO, there is no question that the Fremont is the better knife. It is, of course, the more expensive knife also.
 
Thanks for the replies so far...I am starting to turn more towards the freemont, but not quite sold on the yellow camel bone. Can't afford the mammoth and not sure I feel right with micarta on a traditional.
Any thoughts...pictures of the yellow camel bone to sink the hook?
 
Relee1 said:
I have both and though you couldn't go wrong with either....IMO, there is no question that the Fremont is the better knife. It is, of course, the more expensive knife also.
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The better knife? that my friend is very subjective.
 
I have 1 Fremont Jack and 5 Vipers. As someone said, the Fremont seems robust. Its blade is more like a saber grind than flat like the viper, and the tip being more like a sheepfoot doesn't seem as delicate. I think the Viper will slice better (haven't used the Fremont yet). The Fremont is slightly shorter and feel a bit chunkier though it's not much thicker. I prefer the swayback pattern to the sleeveboard for a sheepfoot or wharnie blade because on a pulling type cut the upswept handle feels better than one that is tapered. The Fremont can easily be pinched open, and the Tidioute Viper almost as easily. The Northfield with its swedge and polished blade is much more difficult.

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Viper is stainless. Fremont is carbon. I think I would lean towards the viper because all of my other traditionals are carbon. But I must say both knives peak my interest as well.
 
I have both, and feel that they are distinctly different knives, sharing only some characteristics of their blade profiles. The Freemont blade is heavier-duty than the 47. The 47 feels lithe in the hand by comparison. The pictures show only a modest difference in size, but they handle very differently in use. As you can see, the grind is different on each. The top of the Freemont blade is quite thick whereas the 47 is a thin blade throughout. Of course, you really should have both :D
 
I use one of my #47's to cut just about anything and the knife does it like a Razor with very little effort from me.! Slick.*
The Freemont ~ I do not use on my Veggies or my main course as the #47 does just a better job all the way around plus it
feels like it was made to really fit every body's hand like a glove from small to large. Could not ask for any better and if by chance I do find something better I will post it.!***
 
dgebler said:
...and not sure I feel right with micarta on a traditional.
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Awww... I'm kind of fond of it :)

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redbike said:
I have both, and feel that they are distinctly different knives, sharing only some characteristics of their blade profiles. The Freemont blade is heavier-duty than the 47. The 47 feels lithe in the hand by comparison. The pictures show only a modest difference in size, but they handle very differently in use. As you can see, the grind is different on each. The top of the Freemont blade is quite thick whereas the 47 is a thin blade throughout. Of course, you really should have both :D
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^^ Can't really add anything to all of that. And we all know you'll end up with both eventually...

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