GEC 3 1/2" Dogleg Jack

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It is encouraging to get a direct response from a knife manufacturer. For years I have harangued Case on such subjects as a CV Seahorse whittler, cutting better swedges and reviving some of their beautiful old Harness Jacks, to no avail!
I talked to Bill at GEC about this current knife also, and like the fact that he listens to the issues.
 
knifeswapper said:
Sometimes it doesn't matter what you type, there are those that try and figure out your motives and what your subliminal message must be. Or maybe it is that I just do a crappy job at putting thoughts on the keyboard.

But, let me clarify a couple of points. I could not care in the least if this pattern was scrapped tomorrow because of this very issue. Most dealers figure out pretty quickly to not try and determine what the collector will like; it is an effort in futility. Offer the selection and let the base make their decision. So these little back-handed comments about my "inspiration" for trying to have a discussion on this topic are not appropriate nor fair to me. But I am a big boy (much more than I like) and can handle it...

So, quickly, I will once again try to state my position. I would much prefer a perfect interconnect between blade / backspring! My only issue is that this thread took a right turn when some started acting like this was the first knife in American cutlery to have this issue. We can now acknowledge from pictures and first hand reports; it is not. Since this thread started down this track, the position has been changed from "all interconnects should be flush" to the current iteration of "this backspring could be rounded down for a more appealing aesthetic". In the background I have been talking to the factory to try and have them address this themselves.

Now, having said all that..... I have just had another conversation with Bill Howard. He went back and looked at the design -vs- the initial run of the product being shipped. Somewhere in the tooling/assembling the blade fit was left a little forward; which simply means that in open position the blade is not as in line with the backspring as his original design. This is due to the tang shape, and can be remedied in the tang itself. Adjusting the tang to original design will bring the blade to more align with the backspring and bring the run-up / backspring closer to the same level. Not flush, but closer. He also said that he would work with his craftsmen to get this implemented to design with future runs and would alter any customers knife that feel it is not acceptable in its current setup.

So, they now know realize this is a BIG issue with the perception of quality build of a knife. And will tune this new pattern to be more in line with customer expectations. Not bad for a couple days of play on a forum...
Click to expand...

...and it will be a better knife. It's ok to say that. ;)

It's encouraging that a problem was recognized and that it's going to be corrected. Kudos for following up on the concerns noted and letting everyone know.
 
:o It will be the better for it....happy?

I have also requested that they leave the backsprings proud in open position and gaps from end to end in the backspring/liners 'cause that is how the experts say a knife is s'pose to be built :D (remember smile = humor)
 
knifeswapper said:
Now, having said all that..... I have just had another conversation with Bill Howard. He went back and looked at the design -vs- the initial run of the product being shipped. Somewhere in the tooling/assembling the blade fit was left a little forward; which simply means that in open position the blade is not as in line with the backspring as his original design. This is due to the tang shape, and can be remedied in the tang itself. Adjusting the tang to original design will bring the blade to more align with the backspring and bring the run-up / backspring closer to the same level. Not flush, but closer. He also said that he would work with his craftsmen to get this implemented to design with future runs and would alter any customers knife that feel it is not acceptable in its current setup.

So, they now know realize this is a BIG issue with the perception of quality build of a knife. And will tune this new pattern to be more in line with customer expectations. Not bad for a couple days of play on a forum...
Click to expand...

Proof that the power of dialog, the forums and the internet can be harnessed in a positive way.

Thanks for that update.

(And thanks to all for keeping any ruffled feathers from creating a tempest in a teapot where none was needed or desired. :thumbup:)
 
knifeswapper said:
I have just had another conversation with Bill Howard. He went back and looked at the design -vs- the initial run of the product being shipped. Somewhere in the tooling/assembling the blade fit was left a little forward; which simply means that in open position the blade is not as in line with the backspring as his original design. This is due to the tang shape, and can be remedied in the tang itself. Adjusting the tang to original design will bring the blade to more align with the backspring and bring the run-up / backspring closer to the same level. Not flush, but closer. He also said that he would work with his craftsmen to get this implemented to design with future runs and would alter any customers knife that feel it is not acceptable in its current setup.
Click to expand...
Gosh, I'm hanging on to my original PPP "error" version.
dp8ju0.jpg

No doubt in my mind which version will be most "collectible".:D
 
KnifeHead said:
...and it will be a better knife. It's ok to say that. ;)

It's encouraging that a problem was recognized and that it's going to be corrected. Kudos for following up on the concerns noted and letting everyone know.
Click to expand...

No, it will not be a better knife. It might be more pleasing to the eye but it will not be better at least from the standpoint of being a better working knife. My .02¢
 
Gentlemen, we're rapidly approaching this point...

beating_a_dead_horse.jpg


...there's really no good reason to continue to throw fuel on the fire if you have nothing new to contribute. I'm just sayin'...
 
puukkoman said:
Bah... All these new knives coming out are TOO SMALL! If the 56 was maybe 3 7/8" or 4" long, and had a 3" main blade (or so), I'd have considered picking one up.

What about all us ham-fisted clod-hoppers with big mitts??
Click to expand...

You're joking, right? Most of the knives GEC makes are huge. Consider the 4" whittler, 4.5" Scout, 4 1/8" Cuban, 4 1/2" Pioneer, 4 1/8" Harness Jack, 4 1/8" Moose, 4 1/8" Muskrat, 4 1/8" Whittler Stockman and so on.
 
I suppose... those big whittlers seem to spindly to be any kind of sturdy, and yeah the Pioneers are large, but aren't most of their barlows, jacks, etc. in the 3 1/2" bracket?
 
mnblade said:
You're joking, right? Most of the knives GEC makes are huge. Consider the 4" whittler, 4.5" Scout, 4 1/8" Cuban, 4 1/2" Pioneer, 4 1/8" Harness Jack, 4 1/8" Moose, 4 1/8" Muskrat, 4 1/8" Whittler Stockman and so on.
Click to expand...

puukkoman said:
I suppose... those big whittlers seem to spindly to be any kind of sturdy, and yeah the Pioneers are large, but aren't most of their barlows, jacks, etc. in the 3 1/2" bracket?
Click to expand...

Maybe we should post in another or open up a new thread so as to maintain some semblance of staying on track here. Lord knows there's enough threads in the forum on GEC's vast array of offerings that at least one should be apropos.
 
knifeswapper said:
Now, having said all that..... I have just had another conversation with Bill Howard. He went back and looked at the design -vs- the initial run of the product being shipped. Somewhere in the tooling/assembling the blade fit was left a little forward; which simply means that in open position the blade is not as in line with the backspring as his original design. This is due to the tang shape, and can be remedied in the tang itself. Adjusting the tang to original design will bring the blade to more align with the backspring and bring the run-up / backspring closer to the same level. Not flush, but closer. He also said that he would work with his craftsmen to get this implemented to design with future runs and would alter any customers knife that feel it is not acceptable in its current setup.

So, they now know realize this is a BIG issue with the perception of quality build of a knife. And will tune this new pattern to be more in line with customer expectations. Not bad for a couple days of play on a forum...
Click to expand...

waynorth said:
It is encouraging to get a direct response from a knife manufacturer. For years I have harangued Case on such subjects as a CV Seahorse whittler, cutting better swedges and reviving some of their beautiful old Harness Jacks, to no avail!
I talked to Bill at GEC about this current knife also, and like the fact that he listens to the issues.
Click to expand...


Now that this issue has been tackled, whats next ???? :D JK

After being a critic, I do feel somewhat obligated to buy one of the knives, but I think I'll wait until the changes have been implemented :D
 
Modoc ED said:
No, it will not be a better knife. It might be more pleasing to the eye but it will not be better at least from the standpoint of being a better working knife. My .02¢
Click to expand...

I believe knife manufacturers do indeed care what their knives look like. Especially when aesthetic issues like the one being discussed in this thread could easily be viewed negatively as it relates to overall quality. Right or wrong..... aesthetics matter.
 
knifeswapper said:
Sometimes it doesn't matter what you type, there are those that try and figure out your motives and what your subliminal message must be. Or maybe it is that I just do a crappy job at putting thoughts on the keyboard.

But, let me clarify a couple of points. I could not care in the least if this pattern was scrapped tomorrow because of this very issue. Most dealers figure out pretty quickly to not try and determine what the collector will like; it is an effort in futility. Offer the selection and let the base make their decision. So these little back-handed comments about my "inspiration" for trying to have a discussion on this topic are not appropriate nor fair to me. But I am a big boy (much more than I like) and can handle it...

So, quickly, I will once again try to state my position. I would much prefer a perfect interconnect between blade / backspring! My only issue is that this thread took a right turn when some started acting like this was the first knife in American cutlery to have this issue. We can now acknowledge from pictures and first hand reports; it is not. Since this thread started down this track, the position has been changed from "all interconnects should be flush" to the current iteration of "this backspring could be rounded down for a more appealing aesthetic". In the background I have been talking to the factory to try and have them address this themselves.

Now, having said all that..... I have just had another conversation with Bill Howard. He went back and looked at the design -vs- the initial run of the product being shipped. Somewhere in the tooling/assembling the blade fit was left a little forward; which simply means that in open position the blade is not as in line with the backspring as his original design. This is due to the tang shape, and can be remedied in the tang itself. Adjusting the tang to original design will bring the blade to more align with the backspring and bring the run-up / backspring closer to the same level. Not flush, but closer. He also said that he would work with his craftsmen to get this implemented to design with future runs and would alter any customers knife that feel it is not acceptable in its current setup.

So, they now know realize this is a BIG issue with the perception of quality build of a knife. And will tune this new pattern to be more in line with customer expectations. Not bad for a couple days of play on a forum...
Click to expand...

Knifeswapper, Any idea when the revised ones will be available? I want one but would rather wait for the "improved" version (sorry couldn't help it :D) ?
 
jfrye said:
Knifeswapper, Any idea when the revised ones will be available? I want one but would rather wait for the "improved" version (sorry couldn't help it :D) ?
Click to expand...

Guys, let's take this to email or PM since this forum is not the place to discuss commerce or potential orders. Please contact GEC or your dealer of choice for further information.
 
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