GEC all steel?

Bigfattyt

Bigfattyt

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Title says it all.

What are your opinions on the all steel releases from GEC?

I ordered a Barlow and Sunfish with the stainless bolsters and liners.

Too much stainless? (I guess these are carbon steel bolsters and liners)

Seemed like add a bit to the overall toughness.

I like the look of stainless liners and bolsters from custom makers too (especially milled integral pieces!)
 
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I don't have any GECs (yet), but I've never seen a disadvantage in all-stainless construction. For liners especially, it really adds strength & rigidity to a knife. An awful lot of brass-lined knives eventually end up a little bit bent or warped, which creates or exacerbates other issues, like blade mis-alignment (off-centering) and play. Unless one were purely fixed on the aesthetics of a 'true' traditional pattern (carbon/brass/nickel), I think stainless frames & liners are always a plus.
 
I didn't know the bolsters and liners on GEC's all steel knives were stainless. I thought they were some type of carbon steel.

I used to have an all steel #25 Ebony Barlow. I sold it but it was a great little knife.
 
I think Rick's right, the steel liners and bolsters on the all-steel GECs seem to be carbon rather than stainless. I've gotten a little bit of corrosion on the bolsters on the two I own, because I assumed they were stainless and didn't oil them.:o

I really like the all-steel option on the GEC's, and wish they'd make more. I think it makes for a much more upscale knife than brass and nickel silver. They have a nice heft to them. :thumbup: And they don't have the electro-etching on the blades either, which is another plus. :)
 
Thanks for the additional info!

The thought that he bolsters and liners would be carbon steel too did not even cross my mind!!!
 
I remember how good the backspring area looked on my Barlow with the all steel construction. It was very clean looking. Wish I still had the pics.
 
DSC00827.jpg

DSC00824.jpg

DSC00783.jpg
 
I'm seeing a #73 UN-X-LD trapper pattern (model #GEC-735211STL-BS) on one vendor site, with a description that specifically lists stainless bolsters and liners (and 1095 blade).

I'd be surprised and somewhat disappointed, if the 'all steel' construction were all carbon steel. Seems to invite too many issues with corrosion (and the inevitable returns to the manufacturer). Carbon blades are fine, but I'd hate to see one in really bad shape, with a carbon steel blade rusted solidly to a carbon steel liner. At least with stainless liners, there's less chance of one getting rust-bonded to the other.
 
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I ordered a UN-X-LD Barlow with burnt stag, and a brown bown sunfish (like the one pictured above I believe).

I really like the Barlow pattern, especially if the bolsters are stamped! The burnt stag GEC I ordered had the UN-X-LD stamp on the bolsters. (I also ordered a file and wire grandaddy barlow, to try the ats34, and because I thought the S&M stamped bolsters looked fantastic).
 
I have an all steel sunfish from GEC and the bolsters are not stainless. Looks great new but requires more maintenance to keep it that way.
 
jazub said:
I have an all steel sunfish from GEC and the bolsters are not stainless. Looks great new but requires more maintenance to keep it that way.
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Will the bolsters patina the same as the blades? I like a hard patina on my 1095.

If not, I have buffing compound, and leather to keep it pretty and polished if need be.

I have let the back springs on my other 1095 slipjoints start to grey and patina as well.
 
Bigfattyt said:
I ordered a UN-X-LD Barlow with burnt stag, and a brown bown sunfish (like the one pictured above I believe).

I really like the Barlow pattern, especially if the bolsters are stamped! The burnt stag GEC I ordered had the UN-X-LD stamp on the bolsters. (I also ordered a file and wire grandaddy barlow, to try the ats34, and because I thought the S&M stamped bolsters looked fantastic).
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I like the UN-X-LD stamp on the bolsters too. Looks great on the Barlow pattern.

IMG_1076.jpg


I am normally not too crazy about blade etchings but this stamp from the same Barlow is kinda nice. Will your Stag Barlow have this blade stamp?

IMG_1074.jpg
 
Railsplitter said:
I like the UN-X-LD stamp on the bolsters too. Looks great on the Barlow pattern.

IMG_1076.jpg


I am normally not too crazy about blade etchings but this stamp from the same Barlow is kinda nice. Will your Stag Barlow have this blade stamp?

IMG_1074.jpg
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I believe so. The picture angle is a bit different, but it strikes me as a stamp, not an etch.

It is a non numbered also (which I think makes the bolsters look cleaner either with the UN-X-LD or without)


Here is the stock photo (hope dealer does not mind).

SteelBarlow.jpg


Steelsunfish.jpg


Also ordered these other three.

S&M File and Wire Large Barlow
SchattandMorganBarlow.jpg


Queen/Burke Large Barlow
QueenBurklargebarlow.jpg


Queen/Pardue canoe
QueenParduecanoe.jpg






Lets just say I am itching for Christmas! I sent these to my InLaws for Christmas. They have been there for a week now. Just sitting.......Lonely......

The two Queen's and the S&M are from my Inlaws, and the two GEC's are from my wife for Christmas.
 
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Bigfattyt,

I have not got a patina on mine but I spoke with a representative at GEC last winter who informed me that the bolsters and liners in the all-steel models are not stainless.

My personal experience is as follows: I carried an all-steel GEC Sunfish in a R.Ryder slip for about 2 months last winter in Chicago. Wiped it down every evening and let it breath on the dresser over night: no discoloration. Moved to California in the Spring and stopped carrying it as often. Must have put it away with sweaty hands once, came back a week later and there was spotting on the bolsters and backspring. Flitz and a paper towel handled it easily but I haven't carried it since. Summer was too hot and sweaty for rust prone anything and now I've moved to the foggy coast -basically, I'm waiting to use it my next... winter trip to the desert? :eek:

Looking forward to seeing how the patina works up on yours. GEC's sunfish is a wonderful pattern. :cool::thumbup:
 
I think this construction was intended to be a throwback. 100+ years ago, the fancy lines of most brands had nickel silver and brass; the budget lines had iron bolsters and liners.
 
Fatty, I've got one of those F&W Daddy Barlows, and it's one of my favorite knives: super solid.
 
Bigfattyt said:
The two Queen's and the S&M are from my Inlaws, and the two GEC's are from my wife for Christmas.
Click to expand...

You are a lucky man :)

It is a great shame that the dealer there doesn't ship outside CONUS anymore - mind you my credit card heaved a sigh :)
 
I have a Barlow and a Sunfish in All-Steel, that get rotated through the EDC Lineup which equals about one day of pocket carry every two weeks or so. They carry great, and no patina or anything here. (I'm a little OCD about cleaning and oiling every night after carrying regardless of the knife.)

Love those GEC Sunfish.
 
I am hoping I like the Sunfish as well.

I really really had to resist the Whaler. The blades and tangs just looked so proud, that practicality won out! Might have to give in later.
 
The Scagel Fruitport I've got which is made by GEC has Nickel silver bolsters and stainless liners. The backspring is developing a patina, distinguishing it from the liners.
 
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