The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Great write up. Thanks for the comparisons with other models too.There was a time, quite awhile ago, where I desired a 68. Having had the opportunity to own and check out GEC's other cigar patterns, I was keen on trying out their smallest one - the 68. However, it was a pattern that had not been run since 2013 (could be mistaken on that) and one never saw these knives come up for sale or trade - at least, I never did.
Time went on and my interest faded - after all, there are many, many knives in the sea... When this 68 run was announced, the spark was thrown and my interest became ignited yet again.
I am very, very pleased with my Pony Jack. Out of the tube, the action was pretty gritty but it smoothed right out after a flush and an oiling. Surprisingly, it wasn't all that dirty so I must have just flushed out a bit of grit and gave the joints the oil they needed. The pulls on both blades are pretty similar to the main blade of the most recent run of 66s, with the pen blade being ever so slightly lighter. I am, of course, a big fan of all steel construction and it is rendered beautifully on this pattern - it also pairs very nicely with the bright and warm Cocobolo that they used on this run. It will surely darken with carry and use but all that does is add to its charm.
It hits a bit of a sweet spot when it comes to very pocketable medium sized slip joints. In terms of where it lands when it comes to girth, heft, etc., I'd say it is right smack in the middle - as determined by this modest lineup.
For fans of the 66, the 68 is going to be a hard one for you to pass up. The clip blade is essentially the same and aside from the obvious differences, they absolutely are in the same weight class.
Aside from wanting a coping blade secondary versus a pen, my only wish is that the bolsters/end caps were rat tailed. Aside from looking nice, it is definitely more of a tactile preference on my part. I thought the M&G Trapper made an already excellent 35 frame even better with the added touches on the bolsters.
It is a very fine knife, one that will be as comfortable in the hand as it is in the pocket. Solid, dependable, and low profile - it will get the job done.
Is the shield pined or just glued?I just got this in the mail...
Yup, this is the same one that @Terdl76 modded and shared the photos of not long ago...when I saw it, I told myself I needed thisSo I begged lol. Pony Jack is already a nice knife but that shield just puts the final touch for me.
That looks fantastic,I did it!!!
r8shell
!! Great work! May I ask how you did that? I have a backup that may need a similar treatment! 
Is this a regrind? If it is, that looks like the best pen to coping blade conversion I have ever seen!!! Fantastic!
Looks great. I was debating between doing the same or turning it into a caplifter. I went with caplifter.
It'll get there, in a hundred years or so.Great work. Pity you can't do that to the main blade.
Thanks!Great Job
Is this a regrind? If it is, that looks like the best pen to coping blade conversion I have ever seen!!! Fantastic!
I used a belt sander to remove the steel from the spine down to the tip. Then I used diamond files and ceramic stones to flatten the edge and blend the swedge a bit. Then it took a good while to sharpen a new straight bevel.That looks fantastic,
I'd like to see some pictures of that, if you don't mind.
Looks fantastic. What you have their now is a mni-lambsfootIt'll get there, in a hundred years or so.
Thanks!
Yes, it's a regrind. I just had to find the coping blade within.
I used a belt sander to remove the steel from the spine down to the tip. Then I used diamond files and ceramic stones to flatten the edge and blend the swedge a bit. Then it took a good while to sharpen a new straight bevel.
The only downside is that the blade is somewhat thicker behind the edge now, but I plan to take some time this weekend to refine it some more.
I'd like to see some pictures of that, if you don't mind.
It'll get there, in a hundred years or so.
Thanks!
Yes, it's a regrind. I just had to find the coping blade within.
I used a belt sander to remove the steel from the spine down to the tip. Then I used diamond files and ceramic stones to flatten the edge and blend the swedge a bit. Then it took a good while to sharpen a new straight bevel.
The only downside is that the blade is somewhat thicker behind the edge now, but I plan to take some time this weekend to refine it some more.
I'd like to see some pictures of that, if you don't mind.
Great Eastern Cutlery Club on Fb. I gave up trying to post on here a long time ago.It'll get there, in a hundred years or so.
Thanks!
Yes, it's a regrind. I just had to find the coping blade within.
I used a belt sander to remove the steel from the spine down to the tip. Then I used diamond files and ceramic stones to flatten the edge and blend the swedge a bit. Then it took a good while to sharpen a new straight bevel.
The only downside is that the blade is somewhat thicker behind the edge now, but I plan to take some time this weekend to refine it some more.
I'd like to see some pictures of that, if you don't mind.
Ah. I gave up logging on to facebook.
