French Kate a bottle opener?

Sword and Shield said:
Eh, not much. If they're ground correctly, the liner and spring are the focal point, at least on most I've seen. There's typically a subtle angle taking the bolster out of the equation.

Of course, I can pop one with my ring (tungsten carbide) and it doesn't even blink. Turn it around, align the Square with the cap, and off it comes.
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I agree, the one I've used had the spring protruding past the bolsters.

French Kate was a real person in the history of Titusville and the early oil industry. She was a brothel madam who worked with Ben Hogan (hence the Drake Well anniversary knives being the Ben Hogan and French Kate, a real life historical pair), both namesakes for GEC models.

Information is sparse, but an internet search brings up many mentions of her. Here's one: http://www.petroleumhistory.org/OilHistory/pages/Wild Side/Hogan.html
 
Jack Black said:
You're welcome GT, I'm surprised Woodrow hasn't been in this thread promoting the pattern! ;) :D :thumbup:
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Yeah, he did seem to be enthusiastically promoting a French Kate cult in that old thread. :D

- GT
 
Modoc ED said:
I don't think the original run of French Kates by GEC would take the cap off a bottle. They (GEC) changed the pattern mid-run so that they would lift a bottle cap. There's a several page long thread about the GEC French Kate somewhere around here.
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I was kinda right. In another thread, Woodrow F Call said to Art_Vandeley in answer to Art's question about whether a French Kate would lift the cap (open) on a beer Woodrow said:

Yes. Unfortunately, the contact area is so small that you have to "open" in a couple of areas of the cap to get the cap to pop off. Not much different than the cap lifter blade. But you can open a beer with it.
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It was kinda like the caplifter blade on one of our Blade Forum Knives. GEC had to improve the grind of the caplifter opening to ensure positive opening/lifting of a cap from a bottle and it was the same for the French Kate.

Lordy!!! I hope I'm not talking myself into getting one of these things.:)
 
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Modoc ED said:
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It was kinda like the caplifter blade on one of our Blade Forum Knives. GEC had to improve the grind of the caplifter opening to ensure positive opening/lifting of a cap from a bottle and it was the same for the French Kate.

Lordy!!! I hope I'm not talking myself into getting one of these things.:)
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You know you WANT one, ED. You know you NEED one. :D:D

Regarding your description of the caplifter on one of the BF knives, I haven't found any knife whose caplifter blade is as efficient and effective as the old "church key" with a caplifter on one end and the sharp punch on the other end to make triangular holes in can tops before the days of pull tabs. I have several SAKs and scout knives, all with caplifters that just don't work very well (at least in my hands).

- GT
 
Neither of mine bear the three P logo of a first run, but both will open bottles just fine.



 
I threw this Rough Rider on top of an order because I find it sort of a silly knife, and sometimes I'm in a silly mood.

It will open a bottle of beer, but not very well. You kind of have to work your way around and I've already chewed up the heel a bit, as the spring doesn't protrude. (I think I'll file down the rough spots I made, so that might work better)



 
I was going to get one until I read this from Mike at Collectors Knives:

"The GEC Ben Hogan and French Kate knives have been arriving. No real demand for the bare ended French Kate as it really does come off as a novelty knife. The Hogan's had moderate interest and it really is a nice knife. Seems to me to be a substitute for Texas Toothpick tasks. Both made well, although I ding the #28 a bit for the intended economy build feel."
 
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