GEC #66 Stockman....YIPPEE!!

GEC does have a series out WITHOUT blade etches. It is one of their iron bolster/iron liner knives. The name escapes me just now but when I get back from town, I'll try to find it.
 
They also put out these Barlows a little while back.

Steel bolsters and liners with no blade etchings. No shield either.

IMG_1048.jpg


IMG_1035.jpg




The all steel backside looks nice.

IMG_1039.jpg
 
Back from town. Yes, you guys are right. Some of the steel Northfield Toenails and some of the steel Tidioute Toenails are etch free as well as some of their steel Tidioute Barlows. Nice pics Rick T..
 
Someone mentioned it above, but if they dropped the muskrat clip into this one, but the nail pick on the sheepsfoot on the pile side, and put in a punch blade (like the late Schrade 899s), I would be all over it. That being said, the Northfields are tempting.
 
I don't mind the etching since I buy their carbon blade knives or knife for now, and enjoy watching the patina fade it away! The 66 series are getting more appealing with the new stag and cocobolas introduced!
 
The #66 is a 3-1/2" serpentine frame instead of the 4-1/8" equal end cigar frame of the older Cuban stockman. It also has a regular (wider) clip main instead of the Cuban's muskrat clip main. Because of the wider clip blade hiding it, the nail nick on the sheepfoot is pile side instead of on the same side as the main blade.
 
Modoc ED said:
Here's what GEC calls "Calf Roper" (GEC Photo) The Sheepfoot blade and Spey blade on this knife will probably be pretty short -- 2" or less. Kinda short for a working knife. My .02¢
Click to expand...

Some folks like 3 1/2" or 3 5/8" stockman. Probably why it is called the Calf Roper instead of a Cattle Knife. Personally, I don't work cattle, nueter stock, or do heavy cutting all day, which might require the largest of the stockman family. If I wanted a stockman over 4" with longer blades, they already make the Stockman Whittler at 4 1/8".

I would like to see a cattle knife pattern with a spear and pen option too, for tradition sake. I'm not crazy about the etch, or the slanted and pinched bolsters, so until some more come out, I'll probably wait. For me often, simpler is more to my liking.
 
I just got this Dead Skunk Calf Roper in the mail today so I thought I would put up some pics.

I let my chance for a Primitive Bone "slip through my fingers" and I ended up getting this one instead.

It doesn't really show in my photos but the colors in the Acrylic have kind of a three dimensional look to them which I did not expect but I like it.

The pull on the blades is just about perfect at about a 4 1/2. These Calf Ropers are very nice and I will be getting another one as soon as I can. We have waited quite a while to see a smaller stockman from GEC and in my opinion it was worth the wait.

IMG_1124.jpg


IMG_1128.jpg


IMG_1130.jpg
 
Rick, those acrylic handles are very fine looking. That's perhaps prettiest dead skunk handles I've seen. Also the whole shape is quite attractive. I think I might buy one of these later... hopefully I'll get ebony version...
 
thejamppa said:
Rick, those acrylic handles are very fine looking. That's perhaps prettiest dead skunk handles I've seen. Also the whole shape is quite attractive. I think I might buy one of these later... hopefully I'll get ebony version...
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jani.

We are on the same train of thought. I usually don't care that much for the colors in Dead Skunk but this one looked pretty good to me. I think my next one will be the Ebony.
 
Surprisingly broad blades for a compact knife.

I may need to look into this.....
 
I received one of these today and the pull is lighter than what I usually expect from GEC. Still good snap opening and closing but the tension is just less. Anybody else who's received one care to comment? Is it just my example?
Don't get me wrong, it feels good -but I guess the pull is just lighter than I've grown accustomed to and generally prefer with this company.
 
jazub said:
I received one of these today and the pull is lighter than what I usually expect from GEC. Still good snap opening and closing but the tension is just less. Anybody else who's received one care to comment? Is it just my example?
Don't get me wrong, it feels good -but I guess the pull is just lighter than I've grown accustomed to and generally prefer with this company.
Click to expand...

I agree that the pull is a little lighter than many GEC's.

I think the lighter pulls might be common to the #66 patterns. (maybe a few others as well) I had a #66 Serpentine Jack in which the pull strength was about the same as my #66 Calf Roper.
 
Thanks for the response, Railsplitter :thumbup:

I got one in cocobolo and it is certainly a beautiful knife. The blades are great and the size is perfect. I guess what I learned, though, is that my preference really is for the stiffer pull and that it takes many elements to make a knife "just right" for any given individual. Definitely not a gripe, just an observation. :D
 
After I split my thumbnail last year on a hard opener, I would welcome a GEC with a lighter pull but still good walk and talk and the rest of the GEC properties.

Are there going to be other bone jigging variants? The Purple Sage and Indian Chofee jig bone are OK but I hoping they come out with some other bone options. Will they?
 
Railsplitter said:
I just got this Dead Skunk Calf Roper in the mail today so I thought I would put up some pics.
Click to expand...
Rick,
That's got to be one of the best GEC skunks that I've ever seen. IMO, they look best with more red than white in them. That one looks perfect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top