GEC #77 Medium Barlow Impressions

[jlhoffman74]

Thanks for posting the pics everyone, I am drooling over the blackwood and red sawcut handles, please post more.

-Jeff

 

[Baldy McBalders]

So, I think I figured it out; this pattern in the sheepsfoot blade hits a real sweet spot for me between the 15 frame's blade (a touch too short):

and the old (enormous) Northwoods English Jack (all apologies to Derrick for swiping the picture; I don't own one, and only want to use this pic to make my point):

The 77 seems to just sit perfectly in the Goldilocks zone of sheepsfoot blade length, at least for me. AHHHHHH. . . fantastic! Just right!

Anywhoo,
Thanks!
Brian
P.S. Don't think it was accidental to show how great a sheepsfoot blade looks with a caplifter, as its faithful, and ever prepared, sidekick. . .

 

[Dr. Scott]

I'm loving my stag covers!



The slabs on my clip blade are crazy thick! Especially the mark side slab. I'm both surprised and pleased that GEC would put such thick slabs on a knife. And the asymmetry with the super thick mark side handle, it just makes it easier to use the knife, more purchase for the hand.

 

[Baldy McBalders]

Those really look amazing Scott; I really think that I would really need to hold one in my hand to get a feel for the asymmetry; I am not sure that I could handle the difference. Regardless;wow!:thumbup: The appearance is simply stunning on those!! Very well done!
Thanks,
Brian

 

[arizonaranchman]

So, I think I figured it out; this pattern in the sheepsfoot blade hits a real sweet spot for me between the 15 frame's blade (a touch too short):

and the old (enormous) Northwoods English Jack (all apologies to Derrick for swiping the picture; I don't own one, and only want to use this pic to make my point):

The 77 seems to just sit perfectly in the Goldilocks zone of sheepsfoot blade length, at least for me. AHHHHHH. . . fantastic! Just right!

Anywhoo,
Thanks!
Brian
P.S. Don't think it was accidental to show how great a sheepsfoot blade looks with a caplifter, as its faithful, and ever prepared, sidekick. . .

Interesting note... See how the #15's sheepfoot contour is a bit more blunt than the #77's contour? I just noticed that with this post's comparison shots.

 

[SCWillson]

I got my Sawcut Tan sheepsfoot Thursday, and it is indeed a beautifully executed knife. Sturdily constructed, size is perfect, fit and finish outstanding, and a walk 'n' talk that brings tears of joy to my eyes. But I do have an observation.

I think GEC would have done better to seat the blade a bit deeper in the trough. Indeed, the tip of mine is so high I can catch the skin on my finger when I slide my finger from the bare end towards the bolster. (Yes, I can and will reduce the kick a bit to correct this but I shouldn't have to.) Instead of going for maximum possible blade/handle ratio, the blade would have been better 1/8" - 3/16" shorter but set deeper. What's the point of a long pull (beyond possibly aesthetics) when the exposed portion of the blade significantly exceeds a knife with an easy-opening notch? Indeed, I open it without the nail nick every time I use it.

I'm sure I'll be accused of heresy by legions of GEC fans for this, but IMO GEC fell just short of creating a perfect sheepsfoot. It's a great knife - perhaps 95% perfect - but I so wanted that last 5%.

 

[tstaut]

Heresy no, not at all... but anomaly IMO.

I received two sheeps from this run and immediately checked both for a proud point... they both sit perfectly.

Sorry you got one that needs adjustment.

 

[Dr. Scott]

I prefer the more blunt sheepfoot of the 15. Sheepfoot blades should fill that place between coping and wharncliffe blades, and the profile of this new sheepfoot is a little too wharncliffey. But it is still a sheepfoot, and a beauty of a blade.

GEC doesn't put a lot of effort into sharpness of blades or perfect seating of the blade in the handle. I suppose they figure you will file the kick or sharpen the blade to your own taste. But I agree, they should check every knife for proud blades, and the factory edge should be super sharp. The knife needs to be ready to go out of the box!

Having said that, I have zero complaints about my new clip and sheepfoot knives with stag covers. Very well done!

 

[Augie]

More than happy with my three, the autumn bone is a late Valentines Day gift for my wife. Beautiful, well done knives.

 

[intron]

The Tan sawcuts this run turned out great. They look like a light tan. The earlier two bladed tan sawcut version seemed a little too dark. Similar to the autumn bone GEC does.

Wish I could have snagged a red bone version, The dye job is stunning.

 

[singin50]

I prefer the more blunt sheepfoot of the 15. Sheepfoot blades should fill that place between coping and wharncliffe blades, and the profile of this new sheepfoot is a little too wharncliffey. But it is still a sheepfoot, and a beauty of a blade.

GEC doesn't put a lot of effort into sharpness of blades or perfect seating of the blade in the handle. I suppose they figure you will file the kick or sharpen the blade to your own taste. But I agree, they should check every knife for proud blades, and the factory edge should be super sharp. The knife needs to be ready to go out of the box!

Having said that, I have zero complaints about my new clip and sheepfoot knives with stag covers. Very well done!

Scott, I think that fatty stag is awesome!
Perry

 

[SCWillson]

I prefer the more blunt sheepfoot of the 15. Sheepfoot blades should fill that place between coping and wharncliffe blades, and the profile of this new sheepfoot is a little too wharncliffey. But it is still a sheepfoot, and a beauty of a blade.

GEC doesn't put a lot of effort into sharpness of blades or perfect seating of the blade in the handle. I suppose they figure you will file the kick or sharpen the blade to your own taste. But I agree, they should check every knife for proud blades, and the factory edge should be super sharp. The knife needs to be ready to go out of the box!

This! A quality knife shouldn't require adjustment of the seating. There is a 3/8" gap between the tip of the blade and the bottom of the trough, meaning the blade tip could have been seated a full quarter inch lower without risking contact between the blade and back spring.

It was serviceably sharp, so I'm not going to gripe about that. Razor sharp, no, but I was not buying a razor. ;-)

 

[knifeswapper]

This! A quality knife shouldn't require adjustment of the seating. There is a 3/8" gap between the tip of the blade and the bottom of the trough, meaning the blade tip could have been seated a full quarter inch lower without risking contact between the blade and back spring.

It was serviceably sharp, so I'm not going to gripe about that. Razor sharp, no, but I was not buying a razor. ;-)

That is somewhat optimistic with the strength of the spring and the habit of folks to let them fall and over-travel. But, Bill said upfront (it is on a thread somewhere here) that he was leaving the sheepfoot high but clearing the end pin so folks could lower them at their own risk. If he drops them into the well, then one guy out of a couple hundred comes to the forum and is mad because he can't pinch it and for him that leaves it only 92% perfect

But we all get to make our own decisions and without taking a roll call, I feel comfortable that there are those that are happy with the fall of the sheepfoot. But, I would say if we got you to 95% perfection - that is 10% better than I would have rated the best one I saw ==> so all is good!

 

[blademan 13]

Mike, whether it was coincidence or not, I sure appreciate the fact these blades were not peened too tightly. I personally prefer the added snap and liveliness this provides.

 

[SCWillson]

That is somewhat optimistic with the strength of the spring and the habit of folks to let them fall and over-travel. But, Bill said upfront (it is on a thread somewhere here) that he was leaving the sheepfoot high but clearing the end pin so folks could lower them at their own risk. If he drops them into the well, then one guy out of a couple hundred comes to the forum and is mad because he can't pinch it and for him that leaves it only 92% perfect

But we all get to make our own decisions and without taking a roll call, I feel comfortable that there are those that are happy with the fall of the sheepfoot. But, I would say if we got you to 95% perfection - that is 10% better than I would have rated the best one I saw ==> so all is good!

It still should not have gone out GEC's door with a proud tip. I have (very carefully) taken the kick down enough to get the tip into the handle about 1/8", which makes the knife safe to carry without fear of injury to hand or pocket.

If I decide to do further work I will heed your advice and be exceedingly cautious about how far I take it down. A damaged tip is just as bad as a proud one and less easily corrected.

It is still, minor issues withstanding, a sweet knife which already entered my EDC rotation. And as always CK's service was topnotch.

 

[oldtymer]

Just received my example of the77 yankee barlow with the sheepsfoot blade and sawcut tan covers.
IMHO this knife and the 2014 Forum knife are the two best GEC produced knives that I have purchased.
The F&F ,Blade centering, weight of pull, and sharpness out of the tube were all much better than all of
the standard production knives that I have purchased made by GEC.
I don't know if they intentionally are paying more attention for the SFO runs or I was just fortunate in
the luck of the draw.
Everyone posted here looks great,thanks to Mike & the crew at GEC.

 

[payton206]

Also hoping for a micarta option in the next run.

 

[arizonaranchman]

It still should not have gone out GEC's door with a proud tip. I have (very carefully) taken the kick down enough to get the tip into the handle about 1/8", which makes the knife safe to carry without fear of injury to hand or pocket.

If I decide to do further work I will heed your advice and be exceedingly cautious about how far I take it down. A damaged tip is just as bad as a proud one and less easily corrected.

It is still, minor issues withstanding, a sweet knife which already entered my EDC rotation. And as always CK's service was topnotch.

How did it effect the spring when you lowered the tip that far? I don't want a sunken spring, so not sure how far you can lower it without changing the spring noticeably.

 

[kootenay joe]

I have just returned home from picking up my # 77 Clip/African Blackwood. Very nice no 'issues' but i am not as blown away as some here are. The pull is smooth but quite stiff, I'd say a solid 7, almost as strong as my Forest Jack. And from pics posted here it looks like some of the Blackwood truly is black, whereas others are a dark brown. Mine are dark brown which to me is disappointing. The jet black of good African Blackwood or old growth ebony is very striking on a knife. Really makes it stand apart, very classy, like a top of the line tuxedo.
But it is nicely made with the handles and bolsters well radiused to the liners, very smooth, no sharp edges.
Thank you Mike.
kj

Please go to next page, post # 688 to see a picture in daylight. The handles look darker in natural light than when viewed inside the house.
kj

 

[singin50]

Hey KJ, glad they arrived! Blackwood does have some variation to it, guess as they say, it's the luck of the draw.
Perry