GEC #61 Congress - Opinions

VermontEdge

VermontEdge

Joined
Jun 10, 2015
Messages
1,144
Hey All,
Finding myself quite taken with this design. Anyone have one? Would love to hear your thoughts on it!
 
I have a #61 Half Congress but I've never owned the four blade version. I've got no complaints about the Half Congress but I don't carry mine so my experience is limited. The Abalone Looking Glass covers are a bit too flashy for pocket carry. Mine has the typical GEC quality that we all know and love.

I like the looks of the four blade versions very much but I don't see myself needing a four blade knife. Especially when there are only two types of blades on the knife. Four different blades would be much more practical than a pair of redundant blades. But four blades is overkill for me even if they are all different.

That being said, if I were to carry a Congress I think I would go with GEC unless I demanded stainless steel. The #61 that I saw on The Exchange last night is a real looker.
 
ooooh #61 half congress, post a pic! I am a big fan of half congress (2 blade congress pen) and carry a very old one frequently. I have not seen a half congress from GEC......
 
rishma said:
ooooh #61 half congress, post a pic! I am a big fan of half congress (2 blade congress pen) and carry a very old one frequently. I have not seen a half congress from GEC......
Click to expand...

I don't have access to those photos right now but I'll try to remember to post a couple pics later today. :thumbup:
 
The square bolster #61's are some of the nicest looking knives GEC has ever produced. YMMV

Alan
 
Two blade version.

gecstainless2.jpg
 
Here's another variant of the 61. Wharncliffe main, coping secondary. Half-stops on both blades. Single spring construction. Nickel silver bolsters, pins and liners. 3 5/8 inches closed. Excellent fit/finish. The long, deeply-stamped bolsters are not everyone's cup of tea, but I like 'em :)
ymdcDFB.jpg
 
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I've always liked the looks of the signature bolsters and Wharncliffe blade versions. Very nice looking pattern. I'm among those who like the stamped bolsters.

Here are the pics of my Abalone Looking Glass #61 that I promised earlier.





 
I love the two blade half cores and carry it frequently. I have a 4 blade and it is well made but it is an anchor in my pocket. I almost need to put it in a belt sheath.
 
This has all been very helpful but it still hasn't allowed me to answer that burning question: should I buy one!?

There's a four bladed (two wharncliffe and two different size pen blade) model in bocote that I'm right on the cusp of pulling the trigger on. Can someone push me one way or another?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
VermontEdge said:
This has all been very helpful but it still hasn't allowed me to answer that burning question: should I buy one!?

There's a four bladed (two wharncliffe and two different size pen blade) model in bocote that I'm right on the cusp of pulling the trigger on. Can someone push me one way or another?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

If you're anything like me your mind won't rest until you pull the trigger. But then my will power leaves a lot to be desired. I say snatch it up while you've got the chance. You can always put it on The Exchange if you don't like it. Any loss you might take is the cost of "renting" the knife for a period of time. You'll probably like it though.

You bought it while I was typing this didn't you. :D
 
I have the 4-blade version in red jigged bone. I bought it when I was wanting to expand the variety of my collection, so I was like "I don't have any 4-blade knives, I should get one" and I did. It is a beautiful and well made knife. Unfortunately, it has pretty much lived in its tube since I first got it.

There is nothing wrong with it, it's just a victim of me having too many knives and having settled on a relatively small number of carry knives.

It's a 2-spring knife so not thicker than a typical jack pattern. The blades are ground with an offset but you still get blade rub. Nature of the beast. The squared bolsters make it a little less pocket friendly compared to rounded bolsters, but that's a matter of individual preference.

Mine is essentially a mirror-image jack knife - sheepsfoot and pen on each end, the same size and shape of blades.

I don't have a pic of mine but it is essentially this one:
610410bldred1.gif
 
John, Al, Rick -

You are KILLING me with those 2 blade congress. Awesome and thanks for taking the time to post. I go back and forth between half-congress and beerscout as my favorite pattern. Today is half-congress.
 
I have had two four blade congress patters and have found them to be as redundant as the real Congress. Two blade congress or half congress is the way to go.


And one in Snakewood in this group
 
I've two #61s;



A four blade Northfield and a two blade congress pen (commonly referred to as a half congress and there was a thread dedicated to that discussion some time ago but I can't find it. I tend to call them half congresses too although IIRC Mr Levine's opinion was that no such pattern existed).



The Tidioute teal bone was my second ever GEC and although I only ever bought one version of that pattern - it remains my most carried and most loved of all my folding knives.



I really like the four blade but don't tend to carry it very much yet as its a relatively recent addition. I love the banner shield and yellow bone though.



There is of course the harder to find and one of a kind #13 ...



... which is based on the same frame as the #61 ...



... but uses a jack formation and is known as a congress jack or Irish jack ...



... and has a considerably longer sheepfoot main.

For me however, I just can't get past this one. I sometimes put it away for a while but it always comes back and has been with me all over the place.













So all I can say is; get one.


- Paul
 
A great write up and some wonderful pictures, Paul! I do have the BF Congress Jack. I might have to get another after reading this.
 
I still hold out hope that GEC releases a production version of the Congress Jack.
 
Peregrin said:
A great write up and some wonderful pictures, Paul! I do have the BF Congress Jack. I might have to get another after reading this.
Click to expand...

D'you I sometimes regret that I didn't get a second to keep 'mint', it's such an elegant piece and with no production version likely to happen ~ *ahem* cos of politics ~ it remains an elusive and sought after specimen. :)


- Paul
 
Thank you for making my morning with these 2 shots guys...



2015-10-21%2013.45.49_zpsrcjplf8i.jpg


-Jimbo

EDIT: To throw in my opinion, I would get one where the pins match the caps (I see a lot of bronze pins with silver caps), 2 blades with some kind of dark wood or Bone :cool:
 
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