GEC #85 Bullet End Jack opinions

M

mobenzowner

Joined
Oct 17, 2010
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462
It's a bit late to be asking opinions on the Bullet End Jack since I just bought one from here off the forum, but those of you that have them, how do you like em?
I've done the usual searches (probably pretty ineptly) and have found lots of info on GEC Jacks, but not a lot on the #85's. Are they generally speaking a pattern GEC does well? Is fit and finish good? Does any of you guys(or gals) edc them regularly, and if so what tasks do they do well at and what limitations do they have for knife of their size? Thanks..
 
I have the stag two blade and it is tied with my #53 as favorites, and next to the trapper my favorite pivot end jack! I use it much as I would any med. size traditional like the stockman, and yes they do it as well a factory knife can be! It's just a handy dandy, and a handsome little devil to my eyes! I would eventually like to get a wood version in either cocobolo or ebony.
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I've got more than a few of them with a few more on the way but I haven't really carried one. I started carrying my Tidioute Ebony #85 about 2 weeks ago (when I saw the JBF Champlin and Sons jacks) to get a better feel for the pattern. I have to say the pattern works very well for me. Its a little shorter and fatter than my #48 Jacks but that hasn't been an issue. Its very comfortable in hand when using the main blade. The spear does stick up a little bit when using the pen but because of the Tidioute's drawn swedge, its not uncomfortable. One thing to keep an eye out for is that the main blade tends to hit the back spring if you let them snap shut like I usually to do. I've got a nick in the blade because of it but it'll sharpen out eventually so I'm not worried. I think this was the most common complain I've seen for the spear/pen jack. Here it is (before the patina really started setting in) along with a new #12 Powderhorn jack I received this weekend and my #48J and #33.
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I bought my father in law a stag one for Christmas last year. It had great fit and finish.
 
I don't have one, yet. There's a Bullet End w/ a punch in primitive bone on a dealer site that I keep checking on. Surprised it's still there.
 
I bought three of the ebony easy opens when they were available. Single blade version. I got one for my father, one for myself and the third to have for whatever I felt like. All three had the same fit and finish issues. I was so overwhelmed with how nice the knife was but at the same time I wanted to return them. I ended up keeping them. The blairing problems were excessive blade play, excessive gaps on the lanyard end caused by sloppy machining from what I can tell. The blade on both my fathers and my own hit the spring. My fathers still has a ding I have yet to sharpen out but mine has been sharpened out now. Another issue with all three was the half stops of the tangs were not even and they actually had little mountains that would gouge into the spring during opening and closing. The knife was a mess IMO when holding it up to what I am used to from GEC. With that said, I worked out ever problem with the knife aside from the gaps at the lanyard end. You can not tighten it down. Its not loose, the surfaces are simply not evenly ground to each other.

Anyhow, after all that you would think I hate the knife but its actually quite the opposite. I don't know how any of the rest of the 85's are but the tang issue was a forging issue.

Kevin
 
richstag said:
I bought three of the ebony easy opens when they were available. Single blade version. I got one for my father, one for myself and the third to have for whatever I felt like. All three had the same fit and finish issues. I was so overwhelmed with how nice the knife was but at the same time I wanted to return them. I ended up keeping them. The blairing problems were excessive blade play, excessive gaps on the lanyard end caused by sloppy machining from what I can tell. The blade on both my fathers and my own hit the spring. My fathers still has a ding I have yet to sharpen out but mine has been sharpened out now. Another issue with all three was the half stops of the tangs were not even and they actually had little mountains that would gouge into the spring during opening and closing. The knife was a mess IMO when holding it up to what I am used to from GEC. With that said, I worked out ever problem with the knife aside from the gaps at the lanyard end. You can not tighten it down. Its not loose, the surfaces are simply not evenly ground to each other.

Anyhow, after all that you would think I hate the knife but its actually quite the opposite. I don't know how any of the rest of the 85's are but the tang issue was a forging issue.

Kevin
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Thanks for the reply. How did you fix the blade play, just tighten the pivot end in a vice ? Blade play is something I really dislike in a knife. I was warned in an earlier post about the blade hitting the spring, so I'll definitely be watching for that. The knife coming to me is used, so it might already have the telltale blade nick. Did you smooth out the tang stops, or did they just finally "wear in"?
 
I gave it a squeeze in a vice and peened the pin and refinished the bolsters. It was my first learning experience with that. I used a diamond file to even out the tang and I also refinished that. I recontoured all the wood and took out all the high and lows in relation to liners to covers and covers to bolsters. I would not worry too much. I love mine. Worst case senerio you can send it to GEC. They offered to fix all three of mine at no cost. I just did not feel like waiting and I like to learn.
 
I'm just waiting for one of Charlies 85 Real harness jacks that I plan on carrying, tell you soon what I think of it. For my taste the 85 bullet end is the closest to an early style knife that GEC makes.

Best regards

Robin
 
I have a Jack in Stag, the Forum 11 knife in Bone and an EZ-Open in stag (single-blade) No gaps, blade play or blade hitting the spring with mine-I have heard of these issues from a few others though. The EZ Open is especially well turned out, satisfying stag and the blade is a worthy slicer. good size this pattern, good in the hand and looks well too.

More versions are on the way in some nice acrylic, amongst others, and with CLIP master and same side pulls.
 
I have an 85 bullet in cocobolo, which is by far my favorite and almost always in my pocket. Fit and finish was flawless out of the box. No spring nick, like I had with my stag 85. It fits beautifully in my hand. It has done all sorts of work from opening many boxes (just moved from TX to CA), to some food prep....blade is perfect for spreading peanut butter on bread... To opening blister packs and the such.

While there are still one or two knives I covet, I can't imagine any one of them surpassing my Coco 85. I will get an 85 EO like Kevin's if they ever come available again.

Peter
 
I bought an 85 from a member, and it's a fine knife. Personally I don't care for the spear, but that's just me. The fit anf finish are fine, as is the stag. Really a lovely knife, but I usually carry a bigger one, and also a different blade configuration. But they are nice!
 
I carry an 85 ez open in stag every day. It's got a couple gaps, but walk & talk are nice. I reprofiled it to 40 degree inclusive & now it's sharper than what I shave my face with! It's a good all around knife, best for stuffin' my face & little day to day cuttin' tasks. Whenever michael morris gets in touch with me, it'll probably be knocked out of my pocket, but it's probably my favorite slip joint. hate I missed the forum version, but I'm keepin' an eye out for one.

edited to add, everybody loves pics so...
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Past 3 months I've had my EZ Open # 85 Stag in my pocket. Love it!! Prior that I carried 2 months # 85 Indian paint brush Jigged Bone... Before that I carried # 85 smooth Buffalo horn... # 85 pattern is my most carried pattern knives in past 2 years... Dang Forum knife 2011... Now they got clip point versions comming...
 
Well my knife came in today. As I said in an earlier post in this thread, it is slightly used. There is no gap in the scales/liners etc even when hoding up to a bright lightsource. It has no noticeable blade play and no nicks on the blade. The snap as well as the walk and talk are great. I think it will be a great user.
 
Congrats! If your experience compares with mine, you'll likely find GE to be one of the best production brands available, in both appearance and function.
 
Finedges said:
C'mon mobenzowner! Pics,pics,pics! Let's see that beauty
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My picture taking skills with the iphone are pretty limited. So just remember you asked for it................lol

First with an ole Case Trapper
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and now the upside down fuzzy contrasted solo shot
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