GEC 26 (Sleeveboard) - Clip or Wharncliffe for whittling?

[pertinux]

I briefly had my happy little paws on a GEC 26 Sleeveboard earlier today.

The one I saw had a spear point main, with no others with which to compare.

I like the looks of the 26 with a wharncliffe main for whittling, but (think) I wish the small blade were a pen instead of a coping blade-- because something with a wee bit of belly would be nice? That would mean a clip main, which looks less useful for whittling. But, I'm open to other opinions.

My questions:

1) Do any of you have experience with both, or even just one of the models (clip or wharncliffe), and impressions thereof? My leaning would be to go with the wharncliffe, but I'm very interested in how useful others have found the broad, short clip.

2) The pen blade on the 26 I saw was so stiff that it was hard to budge even with a metal "nail." Whoa. I've since read that the 26s sometimes had this issue, of super-duper stiff springs. Is this (still) something to be concerned about, meaning, something that GEC either has not addressed or cannot fix post-sale with a return to its service people? A nail-breaker is a deal-breaker.

-- For now, I'm not interested in a Geppetto. The funny little 26 fit *really* well in my hand, and better yet made me laugh-- that goes a long way with me.

Thanks!

~ P.

 

[yablanowitz]

I have no experience with the particular knives in question, but I have done a fair bit of whittling. My opinion, for whatever that may be worth, is that short, broad blades in general are great for making pointy sticks, but next to worthless for much else. A short, broad wharncliff is less worthless than a short, broad clip for most carving. The coping blade, as long as it is fairly narrow, is very useful for whittling, but for tight corners, especially when the grain is working against you, sometimes a little belly helps.

 

[richstag]

I have always used a knife with a clip, pen and coping. I have a few 57's and I chose the clip to work with. I was using it tonight. I would go with the clip 57. It may be a wide blade but its not near the tip...

I would be lost without that pen. I just know how to do to much with one. My style is of course going to be different then others. I'm so used to my old serpintene whittler by Henckels (Boker) that any of them seem to lack.

Jack does some amazing stuff, and my comments are not to discount his. I just have what works for me.

Kevin

 

[pertinux]

Hmmm.

I've just started whittling (beyond making sharp sticks, or no sticks, both of which I find very relaxing), and have gravitated toward the small pen blade on my Sway Back Jack and the small sort-of clip blade (original) on my 70's Small Tinker. Thus, the pen blade married to the chunky handle of the 26 instantly appealed to me. I'm just not sure of the usefulness of either a short, wide clip or wharncliffe main (I've already ruled out Spear), which defeats the greater "purpose" of the knife for me.

I can also become okay with wanting it Just Because, but I had hoped for more specific efficiency.

Thanks for your input.

~ P.

 

[yablanowitz]

Well, for what it's worth, I seldom use the main blade on my Geppetto. Mostly I use the coping and small clip blades.

 

[richstag]

P,

I do more artsy stuff with hardwoods. I like to do more curves and contours. Jack really does serious whittling. If that is your pursuit, then I would take his advice. Even myself, doing less tight and technical whittling than Jack, I would not go for the 26.

If you just want a reason, I think whittling is not it for this knife

I am talking about the 57 which has more blade length and less stubby blades.

Then I have briefly tried my girlfriend's 57 that she has been working with. She mainly uses the small secondary clip, but the main blade has come in handy as has the coping secondary. She is working on a dog out of a block of walnut and it is coming along great.

Here is her knife:

And here is a picture of mine:

I would say both 57's have VERY wide main blades for a whittling knife. I could not imagine going past one of these.

Kevin

 

[jwh]

I do very little whittling but I sure love my Sleevebaord Wharnie.

jwh

 

[pertinux]

I do very little whittling but I sure love my Sleevebaord Wharnie.

jwh

Well, there is that!

Funny, how I don't always "see" a certain knife until I'm looking for it. I was rereading the Sheepsfoots and Wharncliffes thread (oh my!, indeed), and noticed your contribution anew. Guess what jumped out at me this time, that didn't even register the first time through?

Not that you don't have many other fine knives there. Your collection is inspirational-- it's right in my wheel wagon.

~ P.