Gayle Bradley Hard Use

Picked up a Gayle Bradley today...so far I like it a lot the the only thing I wish it had was a bigger area where the thumbhole is on the handle. Other than that it opens wicked fast and the fit and finish is nuts!
 
great thread, just as I'm trying to decide between Spyderco Gayle Bradley, Southard and Tuff.

what do you guys see as the advantage of GB over the other two?
 
99cuts said:
great thread, just as I'm trying to decide between Spyderco Gayle Bradley, Southard and Tuff.

what do you guys see as the advantage of GB over the other two?
Click to expand...
Better blade steel,better slicer,better ergonomics,better looks...
 
99cuts said:
great thread, just as I'm trying to decide between Spyderco Gayle Bradley, Southard and Tuff.

what do you guys see as the advantage of GB over the other two?
Click to expand...

It is a personal choice mainly as they "are all good, just different". Different design philosophy between them IMO. What appeals to me most is the fact that it is a gentleman folder made for work and it seems most of my folders and that what I like falls into that category.

I have been using my GB for some time and pushed the edge to 5 degrees per side.

Here are the results:

Original thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...es-My-experience-recently?highlight=low+angle

I have been decreasing the edge angle on my Gayle Bradley using the shoulders as a guide.

Finally finished with it and the edge is around 5 Degrees Per Side (DPS). Finished it up on a Spyderco UF stone.

The edge was shaving sharp in both directions and felt very crisp to the touch.

Mandatory glamour shots.

GayleBradleylowedgeangle18_zpsd8f997b2.jpg


GayleBradleylowedgeangle19_zpsca285061.jpg


GayleBradleylowedgeangle17_zps43352b68.jpg


GayleBradleylowedgeangle13_zpsdd913698.jpg


I went ahead and did some woodwork. This piece has been dried out for some time so it was nice and hard.

GayleBradleySample2_zps06adcb49.jpg


GayleBradleysamples1_zps70125180.jpg


Results where....well interesting to say the least. Significant edge deformation in terms of chipping.

GayleBradleylowedgeangle6_zps3c8ff940.jpg


GayleBradleylowedgeangle5_zpsccb7731c.jpg


GayleBradleylowedgeangle3_zps810ea0e7.jpg


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Sharpened to 10-12 DPS.

[video=youtube;qzzzrcaEQE4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzzzrcaEQE4[/video]

There remained a small chip:

AfterMacrobevel1_zpsbceffd3e.jpg


Rerun of the test on the same piece of wood, focusing on an area with a small knot. Did not experience the same deformation.

GayleBradleySamplesaftermacrobevel_zpsa09b461a.jpg


AfterMacrobevel2_zps28b867be.jpg.html


What can I conclude:

Nothing much, this is just an fyi for those that might have wondered how CPM-M4 might perform at this low angle.
 
O. I think it is appropriate to state the philosophy of the knife appeals to me and the man that designed it is a great maker:

[video=youtube;Qk0IxU-fuW4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk0IxU-fuW4[/video]
 
marthinus said:
It is a personal choice mainly as they "are all good, just different". Different design philosophy between them IMO. What appeals to me most is the fact that it is a gentleman folder made for work and it seems most of my folders and that what I like falls into that category.

I have been using my GB for some time and pushed the edge to 5 degrees per side.

Here are the results:

Original thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...es-My-experience-recently?highlight=low+angle
Click to expand...

haha, actually that thread is what got me interested in the Gayle Bradley. Thanks marthinus!
 
99cuts said:
haha, actually that thread is what got me interested in the Gayle Bradley. Thanks marthinus!
Click to expand...

Glad I could help. See my photobucket band with is up for the month...good thing it is the 31st here so pictures should be up again shortly.

powernoodle said:
Thanks for that. Very interesting. I guess the moral of the story is not to drop it down to 5 degrees per side.
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Agreed.

Some people asked if the experience I had with M4 chipping out like that fouled my experience of the knife. Just want to state NO it did not. I still feel the Gayle Bradley is an awesome folder and one of the best knives ever made. It is the sum of its parts that make it an exceptional knife for the price IMO.
 
marthinus said:
O. I think it is appropriate to state the philosophy of the knife appeals to me and the man that designed it is a great maker:

[video=youtube;Qk0IxU-fuW4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk0IxU-fuW4[/video]
Click to expand...
That was a real treat -- I had missed that one.
 
This certainly is a long lived thread. Mine is in the mail and should be delivered tomorrow. Got it in a trade with a fellow member. Can't wait to try it out.
 
Mine came in today. It is a very stout impressive blade. Different ergos than I am use to with Spyderco but I think it will work for my needs. It got to meet my 25 right out of the box and they agreed to some ground rules.

6C55C14F-CEA7-441B-A487-B45810A61363-905-0000007B1F5B46CF_zps347c6410.jpg


Then I introduced him to his brother from a smaller mother.
88F9A6D7-98D8-413E-BB36-89097576FCE5-905-0000007666054DA0_zpsaee26910.jpg
 
I love comparison posts like this. Real applications, real and unbiased results
 
I love just about everything about my Gayle Bradley. Its fit and finish is AMAZING! I polished the washers and now it is unbelievably smooth. By far my favorite Spyderco.

My only gripe is the balance of the knife. i wish it wasn't so handle heavy.
 
Pigpin76 said:
My only gripe is the balance of the knife. i wish it wasn't so handle heavy.
Click to expand...

I took a drill to the liners of my GB and poked a few holes in it to try to lighten up a bit. It wasn't a huge difference, but every bit helps. Those liners are so thick that I didn't think a little extra skeletonizing would hurt ;)


GB Diet by senorsquare, on Flickr
 
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