GEC #15 navy knife

G

GABaus

Joined
May 7, 2017
Messages
234
What are your thoughts on his particular run? I recently purchased one(chestnut covers) and so far I think it is nice.
 
I got one of the stainless in Micarta without a bail on the way, but I'm going to reshape the blade ;)
 
When it arrives please comment on the scale thickness, mine has such thin brass that when I open the knife I can use my fingertips to pinch the two sides together. I have not decided as to what I think about the bail.
 
Okay... I have owned many GEC #15s, including the small handfull I have now, and they are all pretty much the same thickness. There is a little flex in the handle slabs on a GEC, but I can't squeeze the slabs until they touch on any of them, pretty far from it.
 
This may be due to differences in grip strength. I do not think the flex will be a problem.

thanks for replying.
 
I liked mine! A warning if you got the 'old barn chestnut'. It's not stabilised. At all. You can mark it with a fingernail and water soaks in making it worse. After 4 months of daily carry it looked like this.

dents.jpg


I sanded it down, treated it with a mixture of Linseed and Tung oil and it was like new, hard, water resistant and stabilised.

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So if you're going to carry yours, I recommend treating the wood.
 
That's a good point, actually. I had a clip point in that barn board once, and it is some seriously soft wood. That might be why you're able to pinch it so far.
 
Based off of the number of replies (I would like to once again thank both individuals for replying) it can be assumed that this is not the most popular GEC model.
 
Mine was my very first GEC and is still my only stainless GEC. It's simple and functional and super easy to open and close, all of which I appreciate. I think, maybe, some folks don't care for that blade shape and some folks like a stronger pull, so it might not be the most popular GEC model (as evidenced by the fact that dealers still have it in stock), but that doesn't mean it's a bad knife by any means. The main reason I don't carry mine more is because I like carbon steel better for the very trivial reason that I like the patina process. :oops: If I needed stainess steel, this would be in my pocket way more often. :)

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Mine is my first and currently only GEC. It is a good knife but not awe inspiring. I usually carry at least two knives on my person, so I can carry this knife & one which develops a patina(currently an opinel #5)
 
I've got a few , I find the bail awkward and the overall closed footprint seems wide . I like the knife but it doesn't seem very pocket friendly. I haven't actually tried though.
 
prefer the 15 clip in 440/barnwood that came during the run. that knife has revisited my collection several times.
 
I liked mine other than the aforementioned issues. Good steel, the bail was great for hooking a finger in to pull out of pocket or pouch, the blade was eminently pinch-able and the package was very people friendly.

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Here's mine after the lambsfoot mod. I was fortunate to find one without the bail. Would like to find a few more.

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Not much handle flex on this one, either. I think that barnboard is just soft wood.
 
This Navy knife was designed for specific tasks, so it is tough to judge it in a role as an every day carry. While this subject knife is a great reproduction of the antique originals, even improving it somewhat:thumbsup:, these days my Lambsfoot is much more versatile as an EDC.
Nice job, traumakommode!:thumbsup:
 
waynorth said:
This Navy knife was designed for specific tasks, so it is tough to judge it in a role as an every day carry. While this subject knife is a great reproduction of the antique originals, even improving it somewhat:thumbsup:, these days my Lambsfoot is much more versatile as an EDC.
Nice job, traumakommode!:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thanks, Charlie!

Yes, weren't these also called "rope knives", and not just because of the rope-themed bail that came on your SFOs? Used on ships for chopping rope, so loosing the sharp point was a safety measure, in case the boat swayed on a wave and a sailor slipped/slid across the deck?
 
I do not own one but like the pictures and plan to purchase one eventually. I guess I am biased though because I like rope knives and have a few older ones plus a discontinued Case Whaler that is still unused. I like rope knives and rigging knives because I grew up using them while sailing. No, I didn't grow up rich, I worked and owned sailboats from racing dinghies, day sailors, to compact cruisers and one liveaboard for a time starting at age 12. In an environment where a knife is not just a tool but a potentially life saving device(lots of rope), the design excels. That exxagerated sheepsfoot can do some cutting and the spine can be whacked to chop through rope yet the lack of point helps protect expensive sails. The blade pattern reminds me of the shape of a whale. The bail is great to keep it tethered, easy to lose stuff on a pitching boat or when working aloft . Used in the environment it is designed for, the rope or navy knife is a great design. I use them and also like historic nautical items, so it is a pattern for me .

One thing about the pattern that has confused me though is the name rope knife. GEC calls it a navy knife but many others sell it as a rope knife, which I believe is the more common name. One problem is there is no such thing as rope on a ship, there is only line.
A bit nerdy about the topic I know.
 
mas113m said:
I do not own one but like the pictures and plan to purchase one eventually. I guess I am biased though because I like rope knives and have a few older ones plus a discontinued Case Whaler that is still unused. I like rope knives and rigging knives because I grew up using them while sailing. No, I didn't grow up rich, I worked and owned sailboats from racing dinghies, day sailors, to compact cruisers and one liveaboard for a time starting at age 12. In an environment where a knife is not just a tool but a potentially life saving device(lots of rope), the design excels. That exxagerated sheepsfoot can do some cutting and the spine can be whacked to chop through rope yet the lack of point helps protect expensive sails. The blade pattern reminds me of the shape of a whale. The bail is great to keep it tethered, easy to lose stuff on a pitching boat or when working aloft . Used in the environment it is designed for, the rope or navy knife is a great design. I use them and also like historic nautical items, so it is a pattern for me .

One thing about the pattern that has confused me though is the name rope knife. GEC calls it a navy knife but many others sell it as a rope knife, which I believe is the more common name. One problem is there is no such thing as rope on a ship, there is only line.
A bit nerdy about the topic I know.
Click to expand...

This is great info, even if you decide to call it "nerdy". It's the kind of insight that's best served from actual sailors, especially who used the knives for that specific purpose.
 
I clipped a small carabiner to the bail and then hung it from a belt loop, works great. Although the bail is awkward.
 
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