- Joined
- Mar 1, 2008
- Messages
- 4,558
I have spent a fair amount of time with both. While being very similar in size and shape I have found them to fit different needs for my uses.
I fabricate and install stone countertops. When in the shop it is wet and dusty. I find myself cutting water and air hoses for repair. Cutting cardboard and corrugated plastic for templates and glue pallets. scraping the seal surface of an air grinder I am replacing. I have even used my knives to make little fuzz sticks and shavings to start the fire in our stove this winter on occasion. When out in the field I have more cardboard to cut, boxes to open. Shims to trim, caulking tubes to cut open. Shaving a high spot in a cabinet or scraping away old caulking. Most days I would say I use my pocket knife about 10 times and the 1095 steel in my Great Eastern knives works very well. I sharpened the viper the day it arrived and have yet to touch it up. It may not shave hairs but it still slices receipt paper like nobodies business. I try not to go longer then two weeks but the first time I sharpen it I like to see how long it will go. Every GEC knife I have used hard has passed the two week test of more then being capable of cutting stuff after two weeks of use. They really know what they are doing with this steel :thumbup:
The #55 Houndstooth -
This pattern just oozes style and class to me. Maybe it is just the autumn bone that makes it come alive but I find it hard to leave this one alone. The wharncliffe blade just works for me. I have used this little one hard and without prejudice to the task at hand. The very fine tip lasted a few months on the jobsite before it finally broke stripping some caulking off an old countertop. The pic above is post repair and I still find it just as useful and its still very pointy. Mine just so happens to be a liner lock and to be honest, this model does not need it. The snap is so strong on it and while its very smooth, it has not weakened with use, the 55 is not pinchable to open. The LL is not noticeable at all in use either and I am used to operating it one handed to close. The first few times you really need to pay attention. If someone asks to use my knife I usually operate the houndstooth for them, my buddy cut himself bad on it the first day I had it at work. Aside from the great snap I think the dogleg pattern just fits in my hand better than any other I have tried. It is so comfortable to use with zero hotspots and while the cut swedge of the Northfield looks very thin from above, with normal use it poses no issues at all. If I had a lot of templates to make one day where I am using the tip to scroll cut I would probably choose the viper that day knowing ahead of time. All things considered I used to use a razor blade for this and the 55 is leagues ahead in comfort.
The #47 Viper -
I told myself I did not need the viper when it was announced. Being so close to the 55 I kind of felt it was redundant and tried to shrug it off. I knew it wouldn't work but I did try for a few days anyway
. Most notably the viper is just plain bigger
It tackles all the same tasks as the houndstooth but I feel it is easier to use hard given the bigger handle. I would say I find myself wanting the bigger handle of the viper more, over the smaller more controllable blade of the houndstooth. This is where personal preference comes in. The viper takes a little getting used to. While its shape is close to the 55 it does feel different in hand. Now after about a month or so of every day carry I can say that the swayback just keeps getting comfortable the more I use it. I eat apples all the time and the 55 does a great job at it. The 47 wins that challenge as the swayback is an extension of your hand in the draw cut position. The longer blade is nece to have when peeling and the bigger handle is a no brainer for me. The other noticeable difference in gripping or grips between the two has to do with choking up. You cant really do that with the houndstooth and the need is not there as I feel it is at its best with precision cutting, so much control of that smaller blade. The 47 has the big square bolsters and they lend themselves to choking up when needed. You can not make the houndstooth longer but the viper can be shortened to control that tip.
Overall they are both winners in my book. I think the viper has earned its spot in my pocket during the work week. While home on the weekends or wearing dress pants I can see myself reaching for the smaller, lighter and still very capable houndstooth. Appreciate anyone that made it this far lol and don't hesitate to ask for pics or more explanations.
I end it with a few more pics
I fabricate and install stone countertops. When in the shop it is wet and dusty. I find myself cutting water and air hoses for repair. Cutting cardboard and corrugated plastic for templates and glue pallets. scraping the seal surface of an air grinder I am replacing. I have even used my knives to make little fuzz sticks and shavings to start the fire in our stove this winter on occasion. When out in the field I have more cardboard to cut, boxes to open. Shims to trim, caulking tubes to cut open. Shaving a high spot in a cabinet or scraping away old caulking. Most days I would say I use my pocket knife about 10 times and the 1095 steel in my Great Eastern knives works very well. I sharpened the viper the day it arrived and have yet to touch it up. It may not shave hairs but it still slices receipt paper like nobodies business. I try not to go longer then two weeks but the first time I sharpen it I like to see how long it will go. Every GEC knife I have used hard has passed the two week test of more then being capable of cutting stuff after two weeks of use. They really know what they are doing with this steel :thumbup:
The #55 Houndstooth -
This pattern just oozes style and class to me. Maybe it is just the autumn bone that makes it come alive but I find it hard to leave this one alone. The wharncliffe blade just works for me. I have used this little one hard and without prejudice to the task at hand. The very fine tip lasted a few months on the jobsite before it finally broke stripping some caulking off an old countertop. The pic above is post repair and I still find it just as useful and its still very pointy. Mine just so happens to be a liner lock and to be honest, this model does not need it. The snap is so strong on it and while its very smooth, it has not weakened with use, the 55 is not pinchable to open. The LL is not noticeable at all in use either and I am used to operating it one handed to close. The first few times you really need to pay attention. If someone asks to use my knife I usually operate the houndstooth for them, my buddy cut himself bad on it the first day I had it at work. Aside from the great snap I think the dogleg pattern just fits in my hand better than any other I have tried. It is so comfortable to use with zero hotspots and while the cut swedge of the Northfield looks very thin from above, with normal use it poses no issues at all. If I had a lot of templates to make one day where I am using the tip to scroll cut I would probably choose the viper that day knowing ahead of time. All things considered I used to use a razor blade for this and the 55 is leagues ahead in comfort.
The #47 Viper -
I told myself I did not need the viper when it was announced. Being so close to the 55 I kind of felt it was redundant and tried to shrug it off. I knew it wouldn't work but I did try for a few days anyway
. Most notably the viper is just plain bigger
It tackles all the same tasks as the houndstooth but I feel it is easier to use hard given the bigger handle. I would say I find myself wanting the bigger handle of the viper more, over the smaller more controllable blade of the houndstooth. This is where personal preference comes in. The viper takes a little getting used to. While its shape is close to the 55 it does feel different in hand. Now after about a month or so of every day carry I can say that the swayback just keeps getting comfortable the more I use it. I eat apples all the time and the 55 does a great job at it. The 47 wins that challenge as the swayback is an extension of your hand in the draw cut position. The longer blade is nece to have when peeling and the bigger handle is a no brainer for me. The other noticeable difference in gripping or grips between the two has to do with choking up. You cant really do that with the houndstooth and the need is not there as I feel it is at its best with precision cutting, so much control of that smaller blade. The 47 has the big square bolsters and they lend themselves to choking up when needed. You can not make the houndstooth longer but the viper can be shortened to control that tip.
Overall they are both winners in my book. I think the viper has earned its spot in my pocket during the work week. While home on the weekends or wearing dress pants I can see myself reaching for the smaller, lighter and still very capable houndstooth. Appreciate anyone that made it this far lol and don't hesitate to ask for pics or more explanations.
I end it with a few more pics
I own a boys knife with a clip point and I EDC it almost constantly of late.