GEC #47 Harvester and #74 Cotton Sampler. First 2023 run.

Alex.Y. said:
Is that steel bolsters on these? Don't see any info on GEC's website.
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I don't recall where it was stated or by who. That said, the color looks right for steel and they are using steel liners - though I guess those could be nickel too. Would be just as curious if they ended up using nickel silver for liners/bolsters, yet stick with brass pins.
 
Still strange to me but I just remembered that they used brass pins with the recent steel constructed 35s as well.
 
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Will Power said:
All I could find was a very short film about how cotton changed Poteau, Oklahoma. It mentioned that bales of cotton were brought to the market place on horse drawn wagons and a small incision was cut in the bottom of the bales to sample quality.

Why any sharp knife wouldn't do the job is something of a mystery? Yet the Cotton Sampler has this very distinctive shape, perhaps it is to take a round, uniform plug out of the bale rather than stabbing into it?

There must be Americans here who have direct connexions or exp. with cotton farming and can shed light? Interesting that it's Europeans who are curious ;)

Of course, it could be the Cutlery industry seeing a promising niche to promote a must have tool back in more agricultural days? A kind of cutlers' whimsy at a time when pocket-knives of various sorts were ubiquitous. Bit like the Melon Tester whose actual use could be dubious...they do look cool though. Whether such knives were widely used for such a purpose must remain conjecture.

I do know that the 2 mini samplers I have from RR are very promising hard sausage/salami slicers!
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I've always had the hunch these were novelty or salesman's knives. Cotton was graded by cutting a fairly large "biscuit" from a ginned bale to grade. The knives used were much bigger but had a similar shape.
 
I did some reading on Chechen wood and truns out it has some sort of poison under the bark which might cause an allergic reaction on contact. I wonder if that substance gets completely out of the wood by some method before the exploitation or some of it might stay deep within? Anyone happen to know something about it?
 
Alex.Y. said:
I did some reading on Chechen wood and truns out it has some sort of poison under the bark which might cause an allergic reaction on contact. I wonder if that substance gets completely out of the wood by some method before the exploitation or some of it might stay deep within? Anyone happen to know something about it?
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It apparently is the sap, not the wood, that might cause a reaction.... Attached is a search finding..... Not something I personally would worry about....
Screenshot_20230110_125038_Chrome.jpg
 
Alex.Y. said:
I did some reading on Chechen wood and truns out it has some sort of poison under the bark which might cause an allergic reaction on contact. I wonder if that substance gets completely out of the wood by some method before the exploitation or some of it might stay deep within? Anyone happen to know something about it?
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Chechen | The Wood Database (Hardwood)

www.wood-database.com www.wood-database.com
 
JoKr said:

Chechen | The Wood Database (Hardwood)

www.wood-database.com www.wood-database.com
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Poisonwood...
... Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation.

Yeah, "simply".


HEMI 49 said:
It apparently is the sap, not the wood, that might cause a reaction.... Attached is a search finding..... Not something I personally would worry about....
View attachment 2041773
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If it's only in sap, then it must be dried completely before use, I guess. Question is if GEC's wood supplier does that thoroughly.
 
Alex.Y. said:
Poisonwood...
... Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation.

Yeah, "simply".



If it's only in sap, then it must be dried completely before use, I guess. Question is if GEC's wood supplier does that thoroughly.
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Al,.... Sap is in cambium layer between the bark and the sapwood..... That portion of the log isn't used.... What is used is the heartwood that is either air dried or kiln dried..... You needn't fear touching the handles if you acquire one of the knives.
 
HEMI 49 said:
Al,.... Sap is in cambium layer between the bark and the sapwood..... That portion of the log isn't used.... What is used is the heartwood that is either air dried or kiln dried..... You needn't fear touching the handles if you acquire one of the knives.
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Much appreciated, Brent! I guess I am just a typical example of modern education quality. Though trying to improve whenever possible.
 
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