GEC #77 Medium Barlow Impressions

[redsparrow]

I'm really smitten with the Red Bone on these.

Me too!! Smitten!!!

I got a tan sheepfoot and I'm real happy I did but after seeing how well the red turned out I wish I'd ordered a red clip at the same time. Oh well, maybe next time. Enjoy yours. :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[arizonaranchman]

I'm really enjoying this knife. I jumped over the cliff and made it mine this weekend. A few apples, a ham steak and a coffee dip or two have started the patina, and I went to town on the kick to bring the tip down to what I think is a reasonable level, probably about 3/32 deep in the well. I can still pinch it open, but I'm an upright bass player, so my grip strength may not be representative. I also have thumbnails of steel, so I have no problem using the long pull. I also touched up and evened out the edge on my lansky.

20150223_113049 by mrbleh, on Flickr
20150223_113117 by mrbleh, on Flickr

Sean,

Looks great!! By chance would you have "before and after" pics of the knife with blade closed? Curious how much you lowered the spine. My tip is not proud, but I'd like the spine a tiny bit lower if I can, just for a more sleek profile.

Also, any visible spring effect? Mine is perfectly flush in open and closed position. Very slightly proud at half-stop. I dont want the spring sunken is my only concern.

 

[bleh]

Sean,

Looks great!! By chance would you have "before and after" pics of the knife with blade closed? Curious how much you lowered the spine. My tip is not proud, but I'd like the spine a tiny bit lower if I can, just for a more sleek profile.

Also, any visible spring effect? Mine is perfectly flush in open and closed position. Very slightly proud at half-stop. I dont want the spring sunken is my only concern.

I was going to post a before/after, but I didn't take any before pics apparently. Mine is/was the same as yours. The tip wasn't proud, but I didn't like how it rode in the pocket with the tip essentially level with the top of the liners, and I find it more aesthetically pleasing with the slimmer profile. jIt was also flush open and closed with the spring being slightly proud in the half stop position. This is still the case for the most part. The spring is ever so slightly sub-flush in the closed position now. Less than the width of a sheet of paper. It's only noticeable if you look specifically at the spring/bolster interface from an angle or drag your thumbnail over it looking for it to catch.

 

[Dr. Scott]

I'm loving these more and more. I sure hope Mike doesn't order up more of the stag covers. It'll push my budget right off the cliff!

The more I look, the more I see evidence that the cutlers took some extra time, and made some choices about the materials, that resulted in my unique examples of the Northfield "Yankee" Barlow. A little grinding on one edge might have made the handle covers more symmetrical, but would have lost some grooves in the stag that make it unusual. And with stag handle covers, asymmetry is to be expected, especially when a really cool piece of stag is being utilized.

The clip blade is close to the fantasy knife of my childhood. Thanks, Mike! Your knives make me feel young again!

 

[Stand Straight]

Two very fine knives there. Is the Stag handle much wider than the Blackwood ?
kj

The best I can do is 4/32 with the blackwood and thickest point on the stag at 3/16. But as textured as the stag is it's remarkable how matched both sides are. It's nothing the eye would pick up on and register even an inkling of dislike. I would never have considered measuring if I had not been asked. Answer to your question..."no, not much difference."

 

[Half/Stop]

My Impressions for these 2 African Blackwoods are as follows. Fit is good.
Finish is not perfect but acceptable to me. I have 2 more pairs to look at
when I get a chance. Overall I love the size and the feel in the hand and pocket.

 

[kootenay joe]

I asked because my Blackwood being slender is one of the aspects i like best. Vintage Sheffield cutlers knew how to haft Stag thinly especially on Pen knives or smaller Jacks. But then some years back everyone wanted 'fat stag' which made knives unnecessarily bulky. So it is good to find out that slender Stag slabs adorn these 77's. Far classier than 'fat Stag'.
Now i might have to look for a Stag one at some point.
kj

 

[bleh]

 

[Mort Canard]

Bleh,
Mighty fine pairing, that! :thumbup: The Barlow and Laphroaig are probably two of the best things imported from the British Isles!

 

[polymerhead]

Funny - I had a half dram of Laphroaig this evening. I'm trying to get through a bottle of the Select, which is quite a disappointment. I could talk Islay malts all night but I know the mods have an intense dislike of off-topic discussion.

I'll bring it back on track by mentioning two things: 1. I'm impressed there have not been more of these on the Exchange forums. I think those that have them really like them, and it's a nod to the high quality & desirability of these knives. 2. I'm continually impressed with the forum members who forego attempted profit & list their knives for basically what they have in them (this and other models). It's good for the hobby to have a supply of limited run knives available at realistic prices. I've seen several on this site at prices that would mean their owners are breaking even if not losing a few bucks.

 

[arizonaranchman]

Sean,

Thanks for the info on your blade adjustment. I lowered mine a very tiny bit. No change to the spring and the tip is just a hair lower in the channel that it was prior.

This 77 has rapidly jumped to the top of my Favorites list :thumbup:

 

[Sonnemann]

After no small amount of deliberation, I decided that I'll let my stag sheepsfoot mellow in my pocket for the next few years. It got a trip to Mr. Lansky, a thorough oiling and cleaning, and now it's jangling in my pocket with some keys and change. The #33 gets to rest for a while.

 

[kai76]

After no small amount of deliberation, I decided that I'll let my stag sheepsfoot mellow in my pocket for the next few years. It got a trip to Mr. Lansky, a thorough oiling and cleaning, and now it's jangling in my pocket with some keys and change. The #33 gets to rest for a while.

Gnarly popcorn! I like.

 

[paulhilborn]

This pair arrived today, I'm impressed:thumbup:

 

[Pokerface]

My Impressions for these 2 African Blackwoods are as follows. Fit is good.
Finish is not perfect but acceptable to me… Overall I love the size and the feel in the hand and pocket.

I second this. My two Clips will require some buffing here and there. The quality of the knives is still a lot better than any Boker, Buck, Queen, or Case that I've had, just not as perfect as other GEC's. I'd still shell out money for future renditions. I really like the size of these #77's.

 

[Pokerface]

I second this. My two Clips will require some buffing here and there. The quality of the knives is still a lot better than any Boker, Buck, Queen, or Case that I've had, just not as perfect as other GEC's. I'd still shell out money for future renditions. I really like the size of these #77's.

I forgot to add…I think that these Yankee Barlows are the first GEC's that I receive with a hair shaving edge. :thumbup:

 

[arizonaranchman]

After no small amount of deliberation, I decided that I'll let my stag sheepsfoot mellow in my pocket for the next few years. It got a trip to Mr. Lansky, a thorough oiling and cleaning, and now it's jangling in my pocket with some keys and change. The #33 gets to rest for a while.

Wow! I'm well aware of your long devotion to your #33, so this is a momentous event. The 77 has smitten you that much?

For me it's instantly rocketed to the top of my carry rotation. Everything else is relegated to the gunsafe until further notice. That's saying alot. I'm very impressed with this Barlow. :thumbup:

 

[Dr. Scott]

I asked because my Blackwood being slender is one of the aspects i like best. Vintage Sheffield cutlers knew how to haft Stag thinly especially on Pen knives or smaller Jacks. But then some years back everyone wanted 'fat stag' which made knives unnecessarily bulky. So it is good to find out that slender Stag slabs adorn these 77's. Far classier than 'fat Stag'.
Now i might have to look for a Stag one at some point.
kj

kj, GEC seems to be putting out all sorts of stag covers. My 2014 forum knife has super thin stag, paper thin in places. My sheepfoot Yankee Barlow has normal size stag covers, like you would see on a wood handled knife. My clip blade Yankee Barlow has super thick, fat stag covers. And I've decided I like all three! The unpredictable, asymmetrical individualism of this natural material is a big part of its appeal to me. I like knowing that there isn't another knife just like this one. I bet if you held my fat stag clip blade in your hand, you might change your mind about what's classy.

This pair arrived today, I'm impressed:thumbup:

Paul, those are gorgeous knives! I've never seen those exact colors from GEC before. Just a shade or two off from the bone I've seen from GEC in the past. They weren't in my knife budget this month, but I'm glad you got 'em!

 

[draggat]

kj, GEC seems to be putting out all sorts of stag covers. My 2014 forum knife has super thin stag, paper thin in places. My sheepfoot Yankee Barlow has normal size stag covers, like you would see on a wood handled knife. My clip blade Yankee Barlow has super thick, fat stag covers. And I've decided I like all three! The unpredictable, asymmetrical individualism of this natural material is a big part of its appeal to me. I like knowing that there isn't another knife just like this one. I bet if you held my fat stag clip blade in your hand, you might change your mind about what's classy.



Paul, those are gorgeous knives! I've never seen those exact colors from GEC before. Just a shade or two off from the bone I've seen from GEC in the past. They weren't in my knife budget this month, but I'm glad you got 'em!

I have to agree with KJ here..... I love the super thin stag (your forum knife is amazing!) But I really dislike the fat stag. I understand why others like it, but sight unseen, I stay away from it.

BTW, these were last month's knife budget!

I was a little worried that I had forfeited my red sheepsfoot, but it looks like GEC came through with the brass liners. Finally got my shipping notice today!

 

[Lemmy Caution]

Brought down the kick on my blackwood sheepsfoot a bit. The knife rides better in pocket. Its still pretty easy to open with the nick and even pinchable if the blades isnt too oily, but I'm thinking I may add an easy open notch on the dremel. Am I crazy? I've done it before on knives of mine with good results, but what do y'all think?