GEC 25s - Gots 'em?

[AKC]

Nice four to stick with.

I recently missed out on a SGP.

Love the Orange EO...

 

[Shadow449]

These GEC # 25 barlows have become my latest obsession. I don't have one yet but i'm keeping my eyes on the sales forum. Hopefully i can find one soon and post a pic of my own.

 

[pertinux]

Got this Bulldog yesterday. Weird that the COA calls it a Tadpole when it's a single blade Barlow. From the above pictures maybe they only called the two blade versions a Barlow.

I'd not heard "Tadpole" before, save as a name for a wee-est of Case knives. In-teresting. I like the contours on the bone, and the deeper red; you're reeling in some nice ones.

YYYEEESSS!!!

Got me another Bulldog!

Shiny!

And now, I'm looking at the script on yours, and returning to the puzzle of the scroll-y "S" on hig789's, of which you said,

Actually, without being able to see it closer, it does appear to match the cursive style of the older bolster serial numbers.

And possibly, the script on your Bulldog...?

What say ye?

After selling two, this is what's left of my 25s. I'm partial to the Smokey Grey Pearl Tidioute barlow in the first photo and the Northfield Blood Red Bone EO in the second. The EOs in particular are handy knives in a watch pocket.

Ah, very nice. Yours is only the second wharncliffe #25 I've seen in that configuration, featuring a secondary pen (instead of the swoopy clip blade), and behind the main blade at that. The other (Perry's/Singin50's) is also in white bone. Great knife!

That smoky gray pearl is a standout.

I love the "no nick" touch on the slim sheepsfoot singles....

Today's (US) Memorial Day carry, with its striking etch:

(thanks again, Lyle.)

~ P.

 

[pmew]

I love this thread so much. I've been busy so I havent been around much but I did some cutting and pasting of GEC's production shedules to come up with a wee reference guide for those of us who adore these little gems.

Incidentally, hig789, I can't seem to find your bulldog amongst this list...

paul

 

[Jack Black]

Good to see you here Paul :thumbup:

 

[pmew]

Great Eastern Cutlery 25's

TIDIOUTE CUTLERY 2008

#252208
Patriot 50 pcs. serialised 3 pcs. no serial number
Abstract 8 pcs. serialised
Purple Haze 3 pcs. serialised
Rose Petals 4 pcs. serialised
Brown Bone 1 pcs. serialised
Honeydew 4 pcs. serialised
Duck Feathers 1 pc. no serial number
Brown Jig Bone 22 pcs. serialised
Green Jig Bone 5 pcs. serialised
Red Jig Bone 12 pcs. serialised
Saw Cut Tan Bone 3 pcs. serialised
Tractor Green 50 pcs. ser 9 pcs. no serial number
Banana Peel Sheffield Jig 10 pcs. serialised
Banana Peel Herringbone Jig 4 pcs. serialised
Banana Peel Rodgers Jig 3 pcs. serialised
Banana Peel Single Wave Jig 7 pcs. serialised
Banana Peel Jig Bone 11 pcs. serialised
Smooth Buffalo Horn 50 pcs. ser 40 pcs. no serial number
Tractor Red Jig Bone 50 pcs. ser 1 pcs. no serial number
Exotic Mexican Bocote 50 pcs. ser 10 pcs. no serial number
Red Acrylic 1 pc. serialised open house
Gray/White Acrylic 2 pcs. serialised open house
Black/Yellow Acrylic 1 pc. serialised open house
Blue/Brown Acrylic 2 pcs. serialised open house
Tiger Acrylic 2 pcs. serialised open house
Black/Gray Acrylic 1 pc. serialised open house
Black/White Acrylic 14 pcs. serialised open house
Blue/Black Acrylic 2 pcs. serialised open house
Orange/Black Acrylic 2 pcs. serialised open house
Olive Acrylic 2 pcs. serialised open house
Tan/White Acrylic 2 pcs. serialised open house
Blue Swirl Acrylic 2 pcs. serialised open house
Charcoal Acrylic 3 pcs. serialised open house
Inferno Red Acrylic 17 pcs. serialised open house
Green Swirl Acrylic 1 pc. serialised open house
Blue/Brown Acrylic 2 pcs. serialised open house

#252208B
Frontier Bone 47 pcs. serialised
River Blue Jig Bone 50 pcs. serialised 32 pcs. no serial number
Inferno Bone 50 pcs. serialised 27 pcs. no serial number

#253208J
Smooth Black Buffalo Horn 11 pcs. serialised
Smooth Red Buffalo Horn 11 pcs. serialised
Cracked Marble 4 pcs. serialised
Patriot 19 pcs. serialised
Red Jigged Bone 50 pcs. serialised 26 pcs. no serial number
Northern Lights 50 pcs. serialised 20 pcs. no serial number
Exotic Mexican Bocote 21 pcs. serialised 4 pcs. no serial number
Jigged Walnut 27 pcs. serialised

NORTHFIELD UN-X-LD 2008

#250208
Burnt Stag 95 pcs. serialised
Frontier Bone 50 pcs. serialised 2 pcs. no ser
Smooth Banana Peel 46 pcs. serialised
Red Hangman Bone 38 pcs. serialised

#251208LPJ
HME Granite 19 pcs. serialised
Pink Squirrel 2 pcs. no serial number
Amber Jig 6 pcs. no serial number
Red Jig Bone 24 pcs. no serial number
Jigged Walnut Bone 2 pcs. no serial number

#251208J
HME Granite 50 pcs. serialised 16 pcs. no serial number
Burnt Stag 50 pcs. serialised 93 pcs. no serial number

#251208LP
Amber Jig Bone 50 pcs. serialised 29 pcs. no serial number

#251208LPB
Burnt Stag 50 pcs. serialised 113 pcs. no serial number
Genuine Stag 25 pcs. serialised
Primitive Bone 50 pcs. serialised 19 pcs. no serial number
Stonewashed Blue 49 pcs. serialised
LVS Abalone 33 pcs. serialised

#251208B
Mother of Pearl 24 pcs. serialised
Smooth Red Buffalo Horn 50 pcs. serialised 21 pcs. no serial number
Mother of Pearl (clip/pen) 19 pcs. serialised

#252208B
Tan Barlow Bone 50 pcs. serialised 22 pcs. no serial number
Black Walnut Bone 50 pcs. serialised 8 pcs. no serial number
Genuine Stag 67 pcs. serialised
Burnt Stag 23 pcs. serialised 4 pcs. no serial number
Horsecut Antique 37 pcs. serialised 13 pcs. no serial number


TIDIOUTE CUTLERY 2009

#250109J
Exotic Mexican Bocote 42 pcs. Serialised
Exotic Mexican Bocote 5 pcs. Unserialized Plain Shield
Tortoise Shell Acrylic 4 pcs. Unserialized Plain Shield
Tortoise Shell Acrylic 47 Serialized
Strawberry Jig Bone 19 pcs. Unserialized

#250209J
Strawberry Jig Bone 18 pcs. Unserialized
Appaloosa Bone 50 pcs. Serialized 47 pcs. Unserialized Plain Shield

#251109
Red Jig Bone10 pcs. Unserialized
Cameo Bone 37 pcs. Unserialized
Lollypop Red 4 pcs. Unserialized
Blue Oyster 11 pcs. Unserialized
Birthday Looking Glass 6 pcs. Unserialized
Cinnamon Swirl Looking Glass 14 pcs. Unserialized
Smokey Pearl 7 pcs. Unserialized
Cocobolo Rosewood 19 pcs. Unserialized
Exotic Mexican Bocote 50 pcs. Serialized 5 pcs. Unserialized
Orange Jig Bone 36 pcs. Serialized

#251109J
Strawberry Jig Bone 8 pcs. Unserialized
Tortoise Shell Acrylic 2 pcs. Unserialized

#251209
Exotic Mexican Bocote 2 pcs. Unserialized
Orange Jig Bone 49 pcs. Serialized

#251209J
Tractor Green 11 pcs. Unserialized
Northern Lights 1 pc. Unserialized
Strawberry Jig Bone 7 pcs. Unserialized

#253109EO
Red Peach Seed Jig Bone 24 pcs. Serialized 36 pcs. Unserialized
Oiled Smooth Bone 36 pcs. Serialized 17 pcs. Unserialized
Burnt Orange Jig Bone 43 pcs. Serialized 19 pcs. Unserialized
Copper Snake Acrylic 31 pcs. Serialized 4 pcs. Unserialized
Exotic Mexican Bocote 35 pcs. Serialized 1 pc. Unserialized
Cocobolo Rosewood 27 cs. Serialized 6 pcs. Unserialized

NORTHFIELD UN-X-LD 2009

#250109B
Mammoth Ivory 10 pcs. Serialized

#250109J
Burnt Stag 48 pcs. Serialized 2 pcs. Unserialized
Smooth Oiled Bone 25 pcs. Unserialized
Mammoth Ivory 9 pcs. Serialized
Arrowhead Jig Bone 49 pcs. Serialized

#250109EO
Blood Red Jig Bone 4 pcs. Unserialized

#250209J
Arrowhead Jig Bone 48 pcs. Serialized 1 pc. Unserialized
Burnt Stag 47 pcs. Serialized 2 pcs. Unserialized

#250209B
Mammoth Bark Ivory 1 pc. Serialized

#250209EC
Mammoth Ivory 4 pcs. Serialized

#251209EC
Mammoth Ivory 1 pc. Serialized

#252109LP
Red Jig Bone 11 pcs. Unserialized
Banana Peel 10 pcs. Unserialized

#252109EO
Antique Amber Barnboard Jig Bone 50 pcs. Serialized 24 pcs. Unserialized

#252109EOLP
Burnt Stag 50 pcs. Serialized 201 pcs. Unserialized
Banana Peel 50 pcs. Serialized 32 pcs. Unserialized
River Blue Jig Bone 50 pcs. Serialized 29 pcs. Unserialized

#252209
Smooth White Bone 3 pcs. Unserialized

#252209J
Burnt Stag 50 pcs. Serialized 5 pcs. Unserialized
Green Velvet 12 pcs. Unserialized
Orange Crush 11 pcs. Unserialized
Smooth Mango Bone 44 pcs. Serialized

#252209JLP
LVS Abalone 31 pcs. Serialized
Mother Of Pearl 24 pcs. Serialized 3 pcs. Unserialized

#252209LP
Orange Jig Bone 13 pcs. Unserialized

#253109EO
Burnt Stag 50 pcs. Serialized 93 pcs. Unserialized
Blood Red Jig Bone 50 pcs. Serialized 28 pcs. Unserialized

GREAT EASTERN 2010

#252110EO
American Elk 50 pcs. serialized 43 pcs. no serial numbers
Zebra Wood 29 pcs. no serial numbers
Desert Sand Jig Bone 50 pcs. serialized 8 pcs. no serial numbers
Grape Jig Bone 50 pcs. serialized 10 pcs. no serial numbers

#253110EO
American Elk 50 pcs. serialized 43 pcs. no serial numbers
Zebra Wood 31 pcs. no serial numbers
Desert Sand Jig Bone 50 pcs. serialized 17 pcs. no serial numbers
Grape Jig Bone 50 pcs. serialized 4 pcs. no serial numbers
Smooth White Bone 3 pcs. no serial numbers

BULLDOG BRAND 2010

#253110EO
Burnt Stag 100 pcs. serialised
LVS Abalone 31 pcs. serialised

FACTORY TEST RUN 2010

#250109EC (2009 Tang Stamp)
End Of Day 1 pc. no serial number

TIDIOUTE CUTLERY 2011

#251211B
Ruby Red Jig Bone 7 pcs. no serial number
Green Saw Cut Bone 20 pcs. no serial number

#251211STLB
Ebony Wood 73 pcs. no serial number
Goldenrod Saw Cut Bone 46 pcs. no serial number

NORTHFIELD UN-X-LD 2011

#251211
Interior Mammoth Ivory 1 pc. Serialised
Exterior Mammoth Ivory 1 pc. Serialised
Genuine Stag 1 pc. Serialised

#251211STL
Burnt Stag 73 pcs. no serial number
Primitive Bone 36 pcs. serialized
Snakewood 24 pcs. serialized
Burnt Orange Jig Bone 13 pcs. no serial number
Red Sienna Jig Bone 50 pcs. no serial number

#255111
Burnt Stag
Saw Cut Antique Bone 22 pcs. no serial number
Burnt Orange Jig Bone 25 pcs. serialized 23 pcs. no serial number

#255111EO
Blue Basketweave Jig Bone 12 pcs. no serial number
Cocobolo Wood 10 pcs. no serial number
25 pcs. serialized 18 pcs. no serial number

SPECIALS 2011

#250209
Tidioute Appaloosa Bone New Aged 6 pcs. no serial number

TIDIOUTE CUTLERY 2012

252212ECJ
Smooth Black Buffalo Horn 13 pcs. no serial numbers
Black Micarta 14 pcs. no serial numbers
Kyrptonite Acrylic 28 pcs. no serial numbers
Dead Skunk Acrylic 28 pcs. no serial numbers
Autumn Oak Jig Bone 24 pcs. no serial numbers

NORTHFIELD UN-X-LD 2012

252212
Jobillo Wood 12 pcs. no serial numbers

252212ECJ
King Wood 25 pcs. no serial numbers
Snakewood 22 pcs. serialised
Amber Jig Bone 25 pcs. no serial numbers
Burnt Stag 28 pcs. no serial numbers
Natural Stag 22 pcs. serialised
Qua Bone 22 pcs. serialised

TIDIOUTE CUTLERY 2013

#253113STL
Rust Red Jig Bone 63 pcs. no serial numbers
Ebony Wood 64 pcs. no serial numbers

NORTHWOODS 2013

#25STL
Cocobolo Wood 66 pcs. no serial number
Frontier Bone 67 pcs. no serial number
Orange Camel Bone 12 pcs. no serial number
Green Camel Bone 8 pcs. no serial number
Burnt Stag 69 pcs. no serial number

 

[pmew]

Good to see you here Paul :thumbup:

Thanks Jack, I'm making the effort

 

[pmew]

To continue the conversation from earlier; I do like this Fleur-de-lis (sp?) shield. This kindly gifted me by the exceptionally generous plk7...



Personally I prefer the corset shield;



but even the regular shields hold fascination for me;

the ornate Un-x-LD



the plain hotdog



the early, larger tidioute



and the later smaller one



But more than that it's the little variations that draw me to the pattern, the early 2008 barlow's for instance with their identical thickness on the secondary and then the reproduced thinner blade for 2012;






the bolster change on the barlow again;



and the subtle change in the spear main;



I could go on and on and on.....

 

[coolio]

Even though I have neither as yet, I love the Un-X-Ld bolsters, and the corset shield is my favorite as well, so elegant.

 

[TX_planes]

Interesting overview of the variations on the 25s. Thanks for documenting the changes.

 

[plk7]

pmew, thanks for taking the time to put together that list, and for sharing those photos. I would love to see more photos of the micarta 25, maybe next to your Esnyx tweed custom.

 

[pmew]

pmew, thanks for taking the time to put together that list, and for sharing those photos. I would love to see more photos of the micarta 25, maybe next to your Esnyx tweed custom.

I'll see if I can russell up some for you

In the mean time I must show off this and completely embarrass you.

Folks, after reading my jealous posts in this thread about this particular 2012 beauty, plk7 sent me a message asking if I'd like to be first in line for his. I jumped at the chance. Plk7 then decided that he would send it me as a gift. A GIFT! What a guy. I'm honoured.





I'll be carrying it today for Wooden Wednesday.

Thanks plk7

Paul

 

[RDaneel]

Kudos to plk7 and you also, Paul. That knife is a looker.

 

[plk7]

I'll see if I can russell up some for you

In the mean time I must show off this and completely embarrass you.

Folks, after reading my jealous posts in this thread about this particular 2012 beauty, plk7 sent me a message asking if I'd like to be first in line for his. I jumped at the chance. Plk7 then decided that he would send it me as a gift. A GIFT! What a guy. I'm honoured.





I'll be carrying it today for Wooden Wednesday.

Thanks plk7

Paul

It gave me great pleasure to send it to you - it gives me even more that you like it! As it sees use, please post periodic patina photos (how's that for alliteration!).

 

[pertinux]

I love this thread so much. I've been busy so I havent been around much but I did some cutting and pasting of GEC's production shedules to come up with a wee reference guide for those of us who adore these little gems.

Incidentally, hig789, I can't seem to find your bulldog amongst this list...

Great Eastern Cutlery 25's....

Thanks, Paul! And 'Aye, there's the rub' all at the same time. GEC's production totals can be, shall we say, idiosyncratic. This list covers a lot of ground, however, and I'm grateful to so much information here--thanks for your efforts.

To continue the conversation from earlier; I do like this Fleur-de-lis (sp?) shield. This kindly gifted me by the exceptionally generous plk7...

So very fine. Congratulations.

Wow, am I liking this one, all over again! Noice.

...
and the subtle change in the spear main;

For those following along at home, how would you describe the change in the spear main? Is it simply a matter of a different grind...? I can't imagine GEC would re-tool the spear, but then again, they have modified other aspects of these knives along the way, as you have noted.

I love comparisons and details like the ones you've delineated. Thanks much.

It gave me great pleasure to send it to you - it gives me even more that you like it! As it sees use, please post periodic patina photos (how's that for alliteration!)*.

Oh, well done, plk7! A wonderful gift to a good bloke who loves the pattern.

~ P.

*"... Please post periodic patina pictures." There ya go.

 

[coolio]

For those following along at home, how would you describe the change in the spear main?

I'm looking at where the long pull starts and stops, I believe that's the difference Sarah.

 

[pmew]

I'm looking at where the long pull starts and stops, I believe that's the difference Sarah.

.... and coolio takes it by a nose!....

 

[pmew]

Indeed. The earlier long pulls on the NF 2008 run all the way up to the ricasso, as does the swedge, and are very close to the spine. The later 2009+ ones are positioned further from the spine and stop shy of the ricasso. They do, the '09s and up, have deeper cut swedges ground into them too.

Goodness I need to get out more....

 

[coolio]

Excellently put sir! Which one do you favor? I think the longer the pull the better...short of the ricasso always seems to me to look like a "slot" for some reason, while the true long pull doesn't.

 

[pmew]

Excellently put sir! Which one do you favor? I think the longer the pull the better...short of the ricasso always seems to me to look like a "slot" for some reason, while the true long pull doesn't.

I find them both very pleasing to the eye. I love how GEC mix it up like this sometimes. Personally, I prefer a nail nick. Aesthetically the long pulls are fantastic but I find their positioning on most of GECs offerings (not just the 25s) are not particularly conducive to ease of opening, while their nail nicks tend to be closer to the sweet spot as it were.