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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.
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GEC #77 Medium Barlow Impressions
- Thread starter knifeswapper
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- Apr 21, 2015
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+4 that looks super clean Jake. Might have to try the same with mine.
I wonder what grit GEC used on the bolsters. I have 400 at home, which should also work well.
Cory Hess
Basic Member
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- Jul 1, 2014
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As so many others did, I received my 2 bladed red sawcut barlow on Monday. I thought I'd hop on and give my initial impressions. The fit/finish is right up there with the clip red sawcut I had from the last run as the best I've ever seen come out of GEC.
There are no significant gaps anywhere. Everything is flush where you expect it to be. As was noted earlier in this thread, the transition from spring to blade spine is a little off but much closer than GEC usually accomplishes. The spring to liner surface is perfectly flush in both open and closed position on both blades.
The blade centering is as near to perfect as my eyes can detect. GEC has a habit of leaving their blades a little high for my tastes when in the closed position. The coping blade is fine in this regard, though the spear could be dropped a bit. The tip is under the liners, but just barely so. The coping blade looks to my eye more like a lambsfoot than a true coping. It lacks that cut off look that coping blades usually have. I prefer the shape on this knife, as I usually have to soften that corner a bit on coping blades. This one was ready to drop in the pocket right out of the tube.
The pins are rounded beautifully with only the one closest to the bolster being sunken, and even then it's very close to flush. The covers are a beautiful rich red, and the sawcut pattern is perfect. The red is very even throughout the covers without the typical light spots that come out pinkish on most red colored bone.
As AZranchman stated, the two bladed knife feels very substantial in the hand. It's got the heft of quality. The blade action is very smooth, and after some cleaning comes in around a 6 on my scale. I was hoping for the main to be pinchable, but with how high the coping sits and the dramatic swedge it's not. If the coping was half an inch shorter, or if the swedge on the spear started half an inch further out, you'd be able to grab the main just before the swedge and pinch it open. I can't really deduct points for this as it's a personal preference thing. The lack of a blade etch is ideal on this knife. The bolster and tang stamps are adornment enough, and the knife looks very clean when open.
The accompanying pocket slip is a nice touch. I have never used a slip of any kind before, but have been carrying this one so far this week. This knife feels really classy to me, and the slip extends that classiness. I don't know if it'll stick, but I really appreciate the effort. Small gestures like this earn big points in my book.
Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase. It may be my favorite GEC yet. The only change I would make would be to have the main blade pinchable, and that really is a small thing. When we're buying production knives we usually have to compromise between what we wish for and what is offered. I feel like this knife is as close to my wish list as GEC has ever come, and that's saying a lot. I tip my hat to Mike and the GEC team for pushing the bar a little higher. The idea that we as consumers are too demanding when it comes to production slip joints nowadays gets kicked around here now and again. Knives like this are what ruin us for the typical run of the mill. I say Bravo.
There are no significant gaps anywhere. Everything is flush where you expect it to be. As was noted earlier in this thread, the transition from spring to blade spine is a little off but much closer than GEC usually accomplishes. The spring to liner surface is perfectly flush in both open and closed position on both blades.
The blade centering is as near to perfect as my eyes can detect. GEC has a habit of leaving their blades a little high for my tastes when in the closed position. The coping blade is fine in this regard, though the spear could be dropped a bit. The tip is under the liners, but just barely so. The coping blade looks to my eye more like a lambsfoot than a true coping. It lacks that cut off look that coping blades usually have. I prefer the shape on this knife, as I usually have to soften that corner a bit on coping blades. This one was ready to drop in the pocket right out of the tube.
The pins are rounded beautifully with only the one closest to the bolster being sunken, and even then it's very close to flush. The covers are a beautiful rich red, and the sawcut pattern is perfect. The red is very even throughout the covers without the typical light spots that come out pinkish on most red colored bone.
As AZranchman stated, the two bladed knife feels very substantial in the hand. It's got the heft of quality. The blade action is very smooth, and after some cleaning comes in around a 6 on my scale. I was hoping for the main to be pinchable, but with how high the coping sits and the dramatic swedge it's not. If the coping was half an inch shorter, or if the swedge on the spear started half an inch further out, you'd be able to grab the main just before the swedge and pinch it open. I can't really deduct points for this as it's a personal preference thing. The lack of a blade etch is ideal on this knife. The bolster and tang stamps are adornment enough, and the knife looks very clean when open.
The accompanying pocket slip is a nice touch. I have never used a slip of any kind before, but have been carrying this one so far this week. This knife feels really classy to me, and the slip extends that classiness. I don't know if it'll stick, but I really appreciate the effort. Small gestures like this earn big points in my book.
Overall, I'm very happy with this purchase. It may be my favorite GEC yet. The only change I would make would be to have the main blade pinchable, and that really is a small thing. When we're buying production knives we usually have to compromise between what we wish for and what is offered. I feel like this knife is as close to my wish list as GEC has ever come, and that's saying a lot. I tip my hat to Mike and the GEC team for pushing the bar a little higher. The idea that we as consumers are too demanding when it comes to production slip joints nowadays gets kicked around here now and again. Knives like this are what ruin us for the typical run of the mill. I say Bravo.
Jsega51
Gold Member
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- Feb 11, 2015
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- 9,136
Luc, I find the wet/dry paper to be less aggressive than your run of the mill sandpaper as it utilizes a different medium rather than the normal glass/sand texture. It doesn't "bite" as much and I find it's easier to get a nice and even finish.
Cory, nice write up!
Cory, nice write up!
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2014
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- 11,240
Back on topic, here are my three new ones... I think the autumn gold bone is my favorite, there is just so much depth to the coloration. :thumbup: The stag has some weird differences in finish on the blade, almost like it didn't completely get done being buffed. Oh well, the patina will eventually hide it anyway.
Erik - A striking trio you have there! :thumbup:
I think the micarta versions look better after giving the blade the same treatment that the bolsters got...I used 320 grit wet/dry paper going nice and easy with minimum pressure.
I'll have to get some pics of my stag when it stops raining. Inside pictures don't turn out well for me.
Jake - The brushed finish is attractive on the Micarta! :thumbup:
I was looking forward to showing mine off to everyone today. The only problem I have is the fact that they have been taken to a town at least 50 miles from where I live! Hopefully someone will get it straightened out tomorrow! That way they will only be one day late!
:thumbdn:
Buzzbait
Gold Member
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- Feb 25, 2001
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- 6,808
I can see why there are so many pictures of the canvas micarta. It's a hard knife to take a bad picture of. Some knives are just magical that way.
The stag is quite beautiful too, but alas this one will be leaving me and going to its rightful owner, my father-in-law. He's really excited. His first real knife was a barlow, and he's been itching to get another.
I'm very impressed with this run. The pull on the blades is simply outstanding. Absolutely perfect, IMHO. A solid 8 or 8.5 on my 2B canvas micarta. Just a touch less on the 2B stag. Fit and finish is very good, and the sharpened blades are a welcome change. I really didn't think that the Beer Scout run could be topped, but these are indeed better. The weight and solidity of these 77's feels great in the hand.
I really like the size of the 77. The 15 has always felt a bit small for my tastes. The Beer Scouts packed a phenomenal amount of sheepsfoot blade into the handle, and the 77 performs that same magic trick with the spear. The coping blade is actually more than a "secondary blade that'll never get used", like so many secondary blades. This coping blade is big enough to actually do stuff. Very nice!!!
It's going to be hard for anything to knock the canvas micarta out of my pocket for the time being. This is pure barlow goodness.
The stag is quite beautiful too, but alas this one will be leaving me and going to its rightful owner, my father-in-law. He's really excited. His first real knife was a barlow, and he's been itching to get another.
I'm very impressed with this run. The pull on the blades is simply outstanding. Absolutely perfect, IMHO. A solid 8 or 8.5 on my 2B canvas micarta. Just a touch less on the 2B stag. Fit and finish is very good, and the sharpened blades are a welcome change. I really didn't think that the Beer Scout run could be topped, but these are indeed better. The weight and solidity of these 77's feels great in the hand.
I really like the size of the 77. The 15 has always felt a bit small for my tastes. The Beer Scouts packed a phenomenal amount of sheepsfoot blade into the handle, and the 77 performs that same magic trick with the spear. The coping blade is actually more than a "secondary blade that'll never get used", like so many secondary blades. This coping blade is big enough to actually do stuff. Very nice!!!
It's going to be hard for anything to knock the canvas micarta out of my pocket for the time being. This is pure barlow goodness.
Last edited:
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- Jul 16, 2012
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Thank you Erik, Al, Will and Ron for the kind words. This was a nice run of knives. Not quite as good as the Beer Scouts in F&F, but close (just my opinion based on the knives I have in hand). I agree with Buzzbait above, the size of the 77 is about perfect for me.
Buzzbait
Gold Member
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- Feb 25, 2001
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Yes. The grip in my hand is very secure. Nothing dainty about it. A pure working knife.
arizonaranchman
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I must confess... I can't stop fondling it!! I'm loving this red saw-cut 77 more and more :thumbup:
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It is the Precious. One knife to rule them all, one knife to find them. One knife to bring them all, and in the pocket bind them.
Perfect! Sounds like a great signature line, John.
arizonaranchman
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It is the Precious. One knife to rule them all, one knife to find them. One knife to bring them all, and in the pocket bind them.
Ha!!! Indeed it is! I like it more and more. It's as near perfect as any GEC that I've owned.
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+2 to that... This is something I've mentioned before. Most likely in this thread...
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My Micartas also have some odd finish on the blade. Almost like some translucent patina where the finish is different. But you really need to have the blade in the right light to see it. I'll probably take care of it by putting a satin finish on it like Jake did.
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yeah mostly been seeing Autumn and Ivory bone in the exchange.
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SB:
Maker: Great Eastern Cutlery
Brand: Northfield
Year: 2015
Handles: Smooth Ivory Bone
Weight: 2.5 oz
2B:
Maker: Great Eastern Cutlery
Brand: Northfield
Year: 2015
Handles: Smooth Ivory Bone
Weight: 3.25 ozs
Buzzbait
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I don't think many people are crazy enough to let the micarta out of their hands.
arizonaranchman
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Thanks cbr, I really like the heft and feel of this 2B in bone. :thumbup: