gayle bradley 2 vs. 1

jbmonkey

jbmonkey

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I own both been carrying the 2 for a few weeks now. 2 is so much bettter in many ways but i sure miss the thick liner lock and thicker liners of the 1. Wish the 2 had the thick liners and liner lock. Am i the only own?
 
I prefer the thicker liners of the 1, but I can see how some people might like the thinner profile of the 2 for pocket-carry.
 
Officer's Match said:
No, I was sorely disappointed with the 2 when I handled it. Much prefer the 1, and the thick liners are a big part of that.
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I wouldn't say I was sorely disappointed...I knew I wasn't going to like it more overall. But, it does have a few advantages over the 1. I'm not planning on buying one.

Seems like there are GB1 people and GB2 people. Either way, it's a winning proposition!! :D
 
ZuluKilo said:
I wouldn't say I was sorely disappointed...I knew I wasn't going to like it more overall. But, it does have a few advantages over the 1. I'm not planning on buying one.

Seems like there are GB1 people and GB2 people. Either way, it's a winning proposition!! :D
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I actually was. I'm glad I rushed 45 minutes to the brick & mortar store when they got their first one in instead of my usual buying online. To me the 2 was just another lightweight linerlock, and the one I looked at had a very late lockup. Sorry, M4 steel can only carry me so far, there was really nothing else about the 2 that I found special at all. I guess the 1 has cemented in my mind what a Gayle Bradley Spyderco is, and I might be a little less harsh on the 2 if it didn't push the 1 out of production.
 
I see them as different knives, just made with the same materials and design cues, so there was no need to directly compare them in that way. Unfortunately, they are named the same, and the GB1 is getting discontinued, hence the expectations of carrying the GB1 lineage.

I think the GB2 compares well as an upscale PM2, or a budget-friendly Sebenza-substitute.

It is also one of the most mainstream-looking and feeling designs in Spyderco's lineup. I contemplated the GB1 originally, but the size and weight was a turn-off, despite it's attractive looks and utility. I also didn't need a folding knife to be thaaaat robust when a fixed blade would be far more appropriate, but I understand that others might prefer to have an easier-to-carry heavy cutter at work.
 
what i like on the 2 is slightly longer blade, and handle shape with the sort of a guard shape to it. feels better in my hand........but the liners really are a let down for me. it's okay, but the 1's thickness just felt better.

if they made a version 3 with the longer blade, thick liners and handle shape of the 2, i'd be a happy camper. that's me though.

thanks for the feedback y'all, appreciated.
 
jbmonkey said:
what i like on the 2 is slightly longer blade, and handle shape with the sort of a guard shape to it. feels better in my hand........but the liners really are a let down for me. it's okay, but the 1's thickness just felt better.

if they made a version 3 with the longer blade, thick liners and handle shape of the 2, i'd be a happy camper. that's me though.

thanks for the feedback y'all, appreciated.
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And that one would indeed be in my stable. However, it is the 1's discontinuance in favor of the 2 that probably casts a negative light on the 2 for me. The 1 was a classic.
 
I owned a 1 and now own the 2. Personally the 2 feels more comfortable for me. The 1 was a great knife fit/finish wise and no doubt a workhorse but at the time I just couldn't get myself to carry it. I usually don't have on gloves when I am working so the thickness of the liners on the 1 vs the 2 wasn't a deal breaker and I wasn't a huge fan of the choil.

To me they are more different than what I would consider the 2 a new design over a redesign, like the Para/Para2. With that I do find it odd that the 1 was discontinued considering the fairly large differences. I know companies rotate out designs and such based on what is selling so I would figure something along those lines spurred that decision.

I think both fit an area of carry for different uses/users. The 1 feels more no frills suited to gloved use while the 2 is a more refined carry option still capable of heavier tasks. These are just some thoughts/opinions based on my typical carry. During the week I work in office building/financial institutions where I pick and choose certain carry options based on that environment and on the weekends/off time I carry others.

Side note, I haven't ever been a huge Spyderco fan. That said I have recently come to own a Para 2, a Manix 2, and the GB 2 to go along with my Matriarch 2. Apparently my direction has changed haha. Aside from one other blade they have been hogging my pocket time. :D:D
 
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Officer's Match said:
... However, it is the 1's discontinuance in favor of the 2 that probably casts a negative light on the 2 for me. The 1 was a classic.
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My feelings as well.

I liked the quirkiness of the first model. It was so different yet so well made and so well designed I bought a second one almost immediately just to keep in reserve. I'm glad I did given what was to come.

In comparison, the second model just seems too normal...too ordinary.
 
i have kept the three gayle bradley 1's that i own,because i didn't think they could improve on this knife!i never had the #2 in my hands,but i still say its not much of a improvement!but thats just me.;)
 
I like them both. The first one is unique and the second one is mainstream. Pick your adjectives. I do prefer the ergos of the 2. I wish it had thicker liners and then some of the original's personality would have been retained. I also wish they had used a different scale material. It's not bad but why not mix it up. Overall the 2 will find plenty of fans but the 1 will become a classic.
 
From what I have read here I have zero interest in buying a GB2 .
My GB1 is so good at doing what I ask of it , I would be a fool to trade it in on its younger brother .

Ken
 
I never got on with the 1, but I like the 2. I don't really care for overbuilt knives since for me it is mostly added weight and no practical advantage. The 2 is a more mainstream design, but it is probably plenty strong and the handle fits me better.
 
I like the 1 better because I can get my hand close to the blade. The 2 looks nice but, too close in configuration to other knives I own. The 1 is a pretty unique knife.

I think the plunge on the 2 should be pulled back a bit. Just my opinion though.
 
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They seem to me to be 2 very different knives, with different roles.

Honestly it might have been better to give it an entirely new name, since calling it the GB2 implies that it's an upgrade when it's really more of a sidegrade.
 
The liners on my gb1 are .07".
I find liners of .05" plenty stout for up to 4" blades.
Anyone know what thickness the gb2 liners are?
 
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