GEC #77 Medium Barlow Impressions

Mine came in Friday. Copperhead sawcut. Great knife. It needed sharpening, so I sharpened it. Not a complaint, it had a typical GEC factory edge.

I carried it Saturday and Sunday and used it for some minor duties around the house. I can't carry a knife as often as I used to but this one will be a regular.
 
Here's my unpolished micarta. Doesn't seem too different, but I like it. Very grippy and will patina/darken with use. Looks even more like wood grain.

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jc57 said:
Mine came in Friday. Copperhead sawcut. Great knife. It needed sharpening, so I sharpened it. Not a complaint, it had a typical GEC factory edge.

I carried it Saturday and Sunday and used it for some minor duties around the house. I can't carry a knife as often as I used to but this one will be a regular.
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I got my copperhead on Friday as well. Now, I'm no expert, but I thought mine came plenty sharp. In fact, it bit me pretty good on the thumb as I wiped the factory oil off the blade with a paper towel.

Same here, carried it over the weekend. We're packing for a move so it got some use cutting tape, etc. This is my first NF 77 and I am quite smitten! Size, weight, covers, F&F, you name it... top notch. Color me a happy camper.
 
I said it wasn't a complaint. I am not a pro sharpener but I can put a pretty good edge on a knife if I want to. I didn't say it was dull, I said it needed sharpening.

The edge bevel was very small, and somewhat obtuse, and a little rough. It would cut paper. I assume I could have cut myself on it.

So I sharpened it. Now it has the kind of edge I like on my knives.

My wife washes new clothes before she wears them. I sharpen new knives before I carry them. It was a typical GEC factory edge. Usable, but not good enough for my preferences.
 
I didn't take it as a complaint, sir. Just commenting on my own experience. I'll keep it to myself going forward.
 
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Center bottom pin (towards the spring) looks a bit rough in most the sawcut pictures... and toothy sharpness on both of mine. Overall happy with the new clip point and choices we had this year for covers.
 
It's OK, major_works, I am certain there is variation on the blade edges as they come from the factory, just as we all have our own preferences for sharpness.

I wasn't jabbing at you, just clarifying where I was coming from. Sometimes people take a comment like "it needed sharpening" to mean "it was dull as a butter knife." That's why I went into more detail in the second post. I encourage you to share your observations, positive or otherwise.

I often cut myself with a new knife, usually when I am doing initial polishing or inspecting. As Daniel said, it's part of the bonding process. I haven't cut myself with the 77 NF Barlow yet but give it some time, I'm sure it'll figure out how to get me.
 
Great pic blademan [emoji106][emoji106][emoji380]. Perfect colors for fall
 
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The new clip is a winner! Started a nice patina already.

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jc57 said:
I often cut myself with a new knife, usually when I am doing initial polishing or inspecting. As Daniel said, it's part of the bonding process.
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OK, what the heck is this about? I'm not going to say that I cut myself every time I get a new knife, but I'd say it's probably a good 50% of the time! I'd say it's just a matter of not being familiar with a new knife, but I can pick up and fondle dozens of knives at a knife show and not have any issues. Maybe it's just the excitement of getting a new knife makes me jittery? I don't know why it happens, but I know that when I get a new knife I make sure to have paper towel on hand to stop the bleeding.
 
Cory Hess said:
OK, what the heck is this about? I'm not going to say that I cut myself every time I get a new knife, but I'd say it's probably a good 50% of the time! I'd say it's just a matter of not being familiar with a new knife, but I can pick up and fondle dozens of knives at a knife show and not have any issues. Maybe it's just the excitement of getting a new knife makes me jittery? I don't know why it happens, but I know that when I get a new knife I make sure to have paper towel on hand to stop the bleeding.
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It always seems to be when they are new. I guess that's when I am fiddling with them more and perhaps not used to the pull or snap. Plus maybe they get broken in as they are used. Once I've had one a while it's either being carried, used, or sharpened so not as much fondling, buffing, and polishing like when they were brand new.

I always viewed it as sign that the knife had accepted me as custodian. The others, who have never cut me, are just biding their time.
 
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