To me the Gayle Bradley 2 is what a knife should look like ! great looks and strong just the type of knife to have in your pocket when you need a knife. Mr Bradley any thoughts of a -1 Gayle Bradley ,1 oz lighter,1 inch shorter and 1 less tool steel to keep that gorgeous blade shinny,just my dream knife.
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Gayle Bradley 2 best looking knife
- Thread starter roninair
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rexromic
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Just received the GB2 and having owned original GB,I do like the weight reduction,slimmer shape and longer blade of GB2 but not so much the thinner liners,blade shape and opening the knife is pain compared to original.Like the looks and feel in hand of GB1 much more too.Will Sell GB2, keep the original and maybe get a backup one.No doubt that GB2 is a great blade but I prefer the original better.Cheers.
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Mingecutter
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Good looking knife, to be sure, but not the easiest to close/disengage the liner lock. Caused me to sell mine.
abbazaba
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Agreed. The GB2 is incredibly photogenic, but without the choil and blade forward lean it just doesn't work as well for me as a tool. I bought a GB1 backup now that its being discontinued. I wish the GB2 was a sibling rather than a "refined" replacement.
EDIT: Added comparison pics
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I had a GB1, gave it away. Bought the GB2, was underwhelmed with the "improvements". Quickly bought a LNIB GB1 from the exchange here and in direct comparison it wins in every way. I kind of look at the GB2 as a downgrade.
:thumbup:
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Uhhh....huh?
I am not sure what folks are talking about with the "more difficult to close" thing. I owned a GB1 for years before selling it to my bud Kevin, and now own the GB2. They are about on par as far as closing goes. I close the GB2 the same way I did with the 1. I jam the meat of my thumb in there, catch the lockbar, and press down, as my fingers start to close the blade, move my fingers, voila, closed. If I had to be candid, it's more or less the same effort as was involved with the GB1. Opening? Same thing. The Spyderhole is slightly blocked by the handle scale on both models, neither is better than the other.
I can't speak as to whether the GB2 is a better knife than the GB1, or whether the GB1 is better, because in my personally experienced opinion, they're both great. They both cut things well, and are well made.
For anyone reading this who is considering getting one, I say go for it. It came laserbeam sharp, light, absolutely perfect fit and finish, and if you've got a GB1, there's nothing better than a matched set (I'll pick up another GB1 for the collection, just to have 'em both).
I am not sure what folks are talking about with the "more difficult to close" thing. I owned a GB1 for years before selling it to my bud Kevin, and now own the GB2. They are about on par as far as closing goes. I close the GB2 the same way I did with the 1. I jam the meat of my thumb in there, catch the lockbar, and press down, as my fingers start to close the blade, move my fingers, voila, closed. If I had to be candid, it's more or less the same effort as was involved with the GB1. Opening? Same thing. The Spyderhole is slightly blocked by the handle scale on both models, neither is better than the other.
I can't speak as to whether the GB2 is a better knife than the GB1, or whether the GB1 is better, because in my personally experienced opinion, they're both great. They both cut things well, and are well made.
For anyone reading this who is considering getting one, I say go for it. It came laserbeam sharp, light, absolutely perfect fit and finish, and if you've got a GB1, there's nothing better than a matched set (I'll pick up another GB1 for the collection, just to have 'em both).
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My issue wasn't with the opening and closing, it was the change in ergos. Replacing the choil with a fingerguard totally changed the feel in hand to me. It made a longer handle feel shorter...and with the thinner liners and overall width, it just wasn't the same knife to me. I still have my GB2 and will likely keep it, but I have a feeling as they become harder and harder to find the GB1 will be the preferred design. The "GB minus 1" that the OP referenced would only really work with the original design, otherwise it'd be a scant three finger grip
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I've handled both and prefer the beefy liners and ergos of the GB1.
It is the one I bought, and I love it.
It is the one I bought, and I love it.
rje58
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I have a GB1 - couldn't wait to buy a GB2 to go with it. My impressions were almost completely in line with yours. I released my GB2 back into the wild on the Exchange. But my GB1 is a forever keeper.
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I've got a couple of Gayle Bradleys that I like a lot. It really is a fantastic design. The second version keeps calling to me but I can never bring myself to pull the trigger on one. The stout liner and lockup (one of the most solid of any folder I own) are part the of the reason I like the GB1 so much and photos of the GB2's lockup don't inspire the same confidence. I'd like to find a GB2 to handle in person.
One of my GB1s has been modified for easy lock access and I have to say that it's a welcome change. I probably won't have my other one modified but the cutout makes a huge difference in releasing the lock. I don't have any fears of it disengaging when I don't want it to either. I'm a habitual knife fondler/flipper (just ask my wife) so a lock that's easy to access is welcome.
One of my GB1s has been modified for easy lock access and I have to say that it's a welcome change. I probably won't have my other one modified but the cutout makes a huge difference in releasing the lock. I don't have any fears of it disengaging when I don't want it to either. I'm a habitual knife fondler/flipper (just ask my wife) so a lock that's easy to access is welcome.
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I never understood why they couldn't at least put a small cutout on it to make accessing the lock much easier. The whole "well we don't it to disengage while in use" is dumb.
Spyderco likes their C.Q.I., well here's a perfect opportunity to do just that.
I'll take the original GB, without the choil the GB is not the same knife.
Spyderco likes their C.Q.I., well here's a perfect opportunity to do just that.
I'll take the original GB, without the choil the GB is not the same knife.
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The GB1 was/is a classic icon of function, materials, ergonomics, and above all slicing. It was truly unique. The GB2 just isn't the same (except for materials, albeit thinner liners), and frankly would not IMHO have created the same "splash" in the knife pool without it's older sibling having drawn so much attention. It is not the unique, overbuilt jewel the GB1 is. I was in a local high end cutlery store when they brought out their first one, which the salesman eagerly brought over to me to check out - I was truly disappointed with the GB2, specifically because it lacked the thick liners and downward blade cant, and even more so that the GB1 is discontinued.
Sounds like a lot of the disappointment stems from (not wrongly) expecting the GB2 to be a direct sequel to the GB1. Other than being designed by the same person, manufactured by the same company/oem, and comprised of the same materials, they are essentially different knives.
I for one am highly satisfied with the Gayle Bradley 2. For me, it fixes the preference issues I had with the PM2, and checks every box for what I'm looking for in a large edc folding knife. The build quality and the price makes this knife a no brainer for my preferences (slim profile, no edge choil).
Btw, rexromic, I noticed you withdrew the GB2 from sale; What changed your mind, if you don't mind my asking?
I for one am highly satisfied with the Gayle Bradley 2. For me, it fixes the preference issues I had with the PM2, and checks every box for what I'm looking for in a large edc folding knife. The build quality and the price makes this knife a no brainer for my preferences (slim profile, no edge choil).
Btw, rexromic, I noticed you withdrew the GB2 from sale; What changed your mind, if you don't mind my asking?
rexromic
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Will go again for sale soon.Definitely not keeping it.