Gayle Bradley Grind Lines

ZuluKilo

ZuluKilo

Joined
Apr 28, 2012
Messages
255
After looking at the GB2 Prototype pics :thumbup: and FriarPhenns awesome GB photos in the "Which Spyderco are you carrying today?" thread :thumbup:, I picked up my own GB and did a little comparing. One thing I noticed between mine and Friar's is that the transition between his flats and hollow grind is straighter and higher than on mine.

Here's some pics of mine (I don't want to repost his pics without his permission, maybe he'll chime in):

AcuH4er.jpg


wcCCLKY.jpg



To my eyes: On the 'Texas side' the line is pretty straight with just a slight dip about 1/8"-1/4" before the swedge starts. On the 'Bug side' there's a relative rise from the hilt to the swedge, with an ever-so-slight waviness to boot.

Obviously, the moral to this story is 'If you're a recovering perfectionist (like me), don't compare your knife to other's'. :D Truth be told though, this is such a spectacular blade for the money and also a knife with relative high production numbers, I'm sure... so I don't care about slight imperfection(s). I just wanted to see the variations other GB owners have and their thoughts about them. Also, if anyone could chime in about how the hollow grinding process goes, more specifically: Is there more to the variances than simply the 'human element'?...that'd be great insight for me, perhaps others too.
 
Huh. That's really interesting. I hadn't thought to compare grind lines, but now I'll probably being noticing it on every GB I see. :thumbup: I kinda like the look of yours, to be honest!

I'm glad you picked one up, regardless! It's a great knife, and great steel. I look forward to hearing how you like yours, and seeing more pictures. :)

ETA: Looking at some pics of other GB's, it seems that there are two different grind lines. Those like mine and those like yours. Mine angles up slightly to meet the spine just past half way, and yours doesn't angle up, but cuts straighter across toward the point.

So I wouldn't be worried if these other pictures are accurate. It seems there are two versions. :)
 
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Ha, ya' made me look! :D
Mine appears nearly identical to yours Zulu (just more patina). There is slightly more of an arc on Spyder side, but more level on Texas side.
 
Lots of factors to consider.
Just a few: they are all hand ground, probably by different workers, grinding media is always in a constant state of wear, in Taiwan they also have Monday mornings and Friday afternoons I'm assuming.
There will be differences.
 
Barman1 said:
Lots of factors to consider.
Just a few: they are all hand ground, probably by different workers, grinding media is always in a constant state of wear, in Taiwan they also have Monday mornings and Friday afternoons I'm assuming.
There will be differences.
Click to expand...

Good points... but I did not know they were all hand ground! That is interesting!
 
Although I can't take credit for the pictures, here is the GB I just bought. The grind lines do look different than those in the OP.



 
Not a perfect profile shot, but here's a photo of mine:
2015-03-14%2019.00.16_zpsfawg6ljg.jpg



Mine is a "GK" on the box, by the way...
 
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And a picture of mine I just let go. :(
Too pretty for me to ruin so I'll let someone else do it.

The edge reprofile is my work though.

8A3fMYp.jpg
 
That's just not right letting a knife that beautiful go!
Who did the scales and what type of wood?
 
FDE said:
That's just not right letting a knife that beautiful go!
Who did the scales and what type of wood?
Click to expand...

I've got soooo many though. Not an excuse as much as a rationalization....:o

Steve Ketchen spketch did the scales in cocobolo. Beautiful job.
 
Barman1 said:
Lots of factors to consider.
Just a few: they are all hand ground, probably by different workers, grinding media is always in a constant state of wear, in Taiwan they also have Monday mornings and Friday afternoons I'm assuming.
There will be differences.
Click to expand...

+1, I have 2 of these one user and a back up. They are both different, luckily I loved this folder so much from the moment I saw it I put it straight to work.
 
I had a Gayle Bradley with one side .050" lower than the other on the grind. It was very noticeable and it's the only knife I've ever sent back. Got it replaced by the good people at spyderco.
 
I've got one I picked up here a couple of week's ago, looks close to FDE's.
It had a few light scratches on the blade which was fully disclosed prior,
which was fine with me, as I wanted to put it to work.
I've since encouraged some patina and re-profiled a wide 20 dps to 15 dps
with a 40 degree micro bevel and have made sure to work it every day.
While I have to say, the ergo's of the PM2 may suit me a little better...
the GB just oozes quality, is built like the proverbial brick s.h., cut's and slices
as well as the Para 2 and simply will not stay out of my pocket.
 
I almost forgot about this - I took these pics a little over a year ago, so I had to do some digging.

 
Mine also has the slightly higher hollow on the presentation side.

DSCF2343.jpg


photo-9.jpg


Though mine looks much different now than those pictures and much different than this:

GayleBradleylowedgeangle13_zpsdd913698.jpg


GayleBradleylowedgeangle19_zpsca285061.jpg
 
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