GEC #78 american Jack

Is this pattern based on the 79 workhorse/whittler patterns? Reminds me of the boy's knife and the 85 a little bit too. It sure looks like it will be a great knife either way. :thumbup:
 
burnside said:
Is this pattern based on the 79 workhorse/whittler patterns? Reminds me of the boy's knife and the 85 a little bit too. It sure looks like it will be a great knife either way. :thumbup:
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I think so, being a similar shape but a little larger should do nicely :thumbup:
 
That one caught my attention as well, but I've just exhausted the knife fund for awhile. I imagine it will pop up just as I've replenished it though :D
 
burnside said:
Is this pattern based on the 79 workhorse/whittler patterns?
Click to expand...

The dimensions and proportions look to be the same...? But I'm not sure.

When evaluating my 3-spring Workhorse Whittler for comfort (and demonstrating the same for someone else) I took the following picture:
c3c93b17-eb5a-4d94-9805-bfe4f8d222ec.jpg~original

(Main blade hidden)

I wouldn't have thought I'd want a jack this large, but I love my #79 and can see how the #78's blades and handle configuration will work really well.

(A/k/a, "UH-oh. :D)

~ P.
 
Old Hunter said:
It shouts vintage Case 31 to me - that'll will be a winner. OH
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Agreed. Was just thinking the other day that despite the various patterns GEC has they don't have one that really compares to a Case 31 1/2 heavy jack, which I'm really fond of. I think I'll like this one, but it wouldn't hurt my feeling it they'd change the top bolster to square. Regardless, I hope they'll do a beavertail version.
 
pertinux said:
The dimensions and proportions look to be the same...? But I'm not sure.

When evaluating my 3-spring Workhorse Whittler for comfort (and demonstrating the same for someone else) I took the following picture:
c3c93b17-eb5a-4d94-9805-bfe4f8d222ec.jpg~original

(Main blade hidden)

I wouldn't have thought I'd want a jack this large, but I love my #79 and can see how the #78's blades and handle configuration will work really well.

(A/k/a, "UH-oh. :D)

~ P.
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing out that the main blade of the #79 Workhorse Whittler is hidden in your picture Sarah. I think it noteable to point out that the main blade of the #79 opens (is pinned) at the big end (swell end) of the frame while the #78's main blade opens (is pinned) at the small end of the frame.

I prefer that a main blade opens (is pinned) at the big end (swelled end) of the frame as it may keep your hand from sliding along the frame while using it. A minor point and not considered to amount to a hill of beans by some but something to consider none-the-less.
 
Modoc ED said:
Thanks for pointing out that the main blade of the #79 Workhorse Whittler is hidden in your picture Sarah. I think it noteable to point out that the main blade of the #79 opens (is pinned) at the big end (swell end) of the frame while the #78's main blade opens (is pinned) at the small end of the frame.
Click to expand...

Yep!

(For the purposes of clarity, again: the open blade shown is a secondary on this knife, thus not as proportionally long as a main blade would be. [Not disagreeing with any of the above, just reinforcing why the blade on this #79, as "pictured," looks short for the handle.]

CIfonly.jpg~original


I prefer that a main blade opens (is pinned) at the big end (swelled end) of the frame as it may keep your hand from sliding along the frame while using it. A minor point and not considered to amount to a hill of beans by some but something to consider none-the-less.
Click to expand...

Interesting observation and preference, and one I wouldn't have thought of beyond "looks."

I agree with Old Hunter that the #78 echoes the lines of some of the older "regular jacks" I admire, and I do love the comfort of the handle on my existing #79 with either secondary blade with the main blade's spine out of the way.

As another point of comparison, the #25 Jacks and Barlows share a similarly-proportioned (if much smaller!) sleeveboard shape with the main blades pivoting at the narrow end, and they are among my all-time favorites.

IMG_0500.jpg~original


So for me, so far, there are no downsides. :)

-- Before running further (if even in my own brain!) with the above comparisons, I'm hoping for clarification regarding whether or not this new #78 shares a frame with the #79 (is there precedent, same frame, different number?!), or is "similar but different." :)

~ P.
 
pertinux said:
-- Before running further (if even in my own brain!) with the above comparisons, I'm hoping for clarification regarding whether or not this new #78 shares a frame with the #79 (is there precedent, same frame, different number?!), or is "similar but different." :)

~ P.
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I'd guess so. Like the 25/26, 56/57, and 45/46.
 
2Dead said:
I'd guess so. Like the 25/26, 56/57, and 45/46.
Click to expand...

Ah, good point! (:o)

It doesn't surprise me that I missed something obvious (including that I had written and then omitted #26 thoughts-- the main blade on the wider end of the same frame as the #25s-- from my post!).

slaphead.gif~original


~ P.
 
Sarah said:

As another point of comparison, the #25 Jacks and Barlows share a similarly-proportioned (if much smaller!) sleeveboard shape with the main blades pivoting at the narrow end, and they are among my all-time favorites.
Click to expand...

I can see how you'd like the #25 and at one time I had two of them but found them too small from me so I traded one away and gifted the other.
 
Modoc ED said:
I can see how you'd like the #25 and at one time I had two of them but found them too small from me so I traded one away and gifted the other.
Click to expand...

For sure, GEC's #25s appeal to me as few others have (one of only two patterns in which I have multiple iterations, the other being #15s), though I readily understand how others might find them too small.

At the same time, I'm still surprised and pleased by my affection for the #79 Workhorse Whittler. Should I be hard-pressed to choose just one knife (perish the thought!), the #79 would definitely run near the front of the pack, with a chance of winning. Hence, my interest in this upcoming #78....

~ P.
 
Been hoping that GEC would make one of these.

In ebony it would be a grail knife for me right now:D
 
GEDC0244.JPG


Looks like a medium size swell end jack pattern (a favorite of mine) with a longer than normal pen blade. I like the extra length of the secondary, but kind of wish it had the profile of the pen blade on a Case Small Texas Jack (a sort of modified wharncliffe).

For Reference;
IMG_1808copy_zps75f69f8e.jpg


But, I'll take one anyway.
 
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