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GEC Champlin Eureka Jack??
- Thread starter Vanguard41xx
- Start date
Will Power
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 33,647
EUREKA!
THE TIDIOUTE JACK IS HERE. Well, it was already here on Fri but the maw of the P.O. swallowed it
Was is worth the wait? Absolutely! Friends, here's a short review: I'm extremely pleased with this knife, the pattern is better than I imagined and it will make a first class garden knife, or outdoor user. Full marks to GEC for reviving this pattern, it is scarce or only available via the expense of a custom. The handle is odd, a bizarre kind of Swayback with a swell-centre on the top side of the handle only! It has a distinctive narrow 'snout' too as the bolster is narrow in width, a very pleasing feature. For me the length is super and it's quite a thick knife but not bulky or clumsy, well weighted.
Aspects of F&F Pros: Excellent in the hand feel, the backsprings are really impressive: close your eyes run your fingers over it and it's so smooth it feels like one piece of metal not two springs,two liners and 2 bone covers! If I compare this to the contours and topography of a certain Collab knife the GEC puts it to total shame, first rate workmanship. No blade play at all. Centred blades, no rub obviously, good and sharp from the tube, pins all nicely domed and set in the jigging(no sharp bits). Bolsters&liners smoothly radiused no rough parts anywhere. Strong snap, both blades. Pull medium not weak not nail drawing. I was concerned the access to the Spear blade might be tricky, not at all, deeply struck nail nick ensures excellent opening. The wraparound spring is a very welcome aspect (another reason CASE's SBJ is rightly liked) too. The Antique Green Jigged Bone is really something, the lighter parts giving a fine contrast, the jigging suits the handle shape and this will wear in the pocket really nicely. I like the all steel construction, developed a distaste for brass lately (it smells!). Very good tang spring mating, no underblading-about which there was some hoo-hah 3 years or so ago. I don't mind so long as a knife has no hint of raised spring on open.
CONS: Some dislike the lack of shield but I've decided the inclusion of a 4th pin and narrow bolster lessen the need for it. Some very, very slight gaps only revealed by strong lamplight. Can't find any other build faults or issues whatsoever, stunningly good.
I like Spear blades and although this is only with nail nick and no longpull, it still looks fine. Longpull might be rather lost when you have same side nicks anyway. Having a Coping blade minor is a fine change, I can see this being a real garlic clove slicer. Anybody wanting an unusual Jack that is superb in the hand, look no further, this is my best knife of the year no contest! Did think about getting the White Bone, would really like that too but cash is tight like for most of us.
Thanks, Will
THE TIDIOUTE JACK IS HERE. Well, it was already here on Fri but the maw of the P.O. swallowed it
Was is worth the wait? Absolutely! Friends, here's a short review: I'm extremely pleased with this knife, the pattern is better than I imagined and it will make a first class garden knife, or outdoor user. Full marks to GEC for reviving this pattern, it is scarce or only available via the expense of a custom. The handle is odd, a bizarre kind of Swayback with a swell-centre on the top side of the handle only! It has a distinctive narrow 'snout' too as the bolster is narrow in width, a very pleasing feature. For me the length is super and it's quite a thick knife but not bulky or clumsy, well weighted.
Aspects of F&F Pros: Excellent in the hand feel, the backsprings are really impressive: close your eyes run your fingers over it and it's so smooth it feels like one piece of metal not two springs,two liners and 2 bone covers! If I compare this to the contours and topography of a certain Collab knife the GEC puts it to total shame, first rate workmanship. No blade play at all. Centred blades, no rub obviously, good and sharp from the tube, pins all nicely domed and set in the jigging(no sharp bits). Bolsters&liners smoothly radiused no rough parts anywhere. Strong snap, both blades. Pull medium not weak not nail drawing. I was concerned the access to the Spear blade might be tricky, not at all, deeply struck nail nick ensures excellent opening. The wraparound spring is a very welcome aspect (another reason CASE's SBJ is rightly liked) too. The Antique Green Jigged Bone is really something, the lighter parts giving a fine contrast, the jigging suits the handle shape and this will wear in the pocket really nicely. I like the all steel construction, developed a distaste for brass lately (it smells!). Very good tang spring mating, no underblading-about which there was some hoo-hah 3 years or so ago. I don't mind so long as a knife has no hint of raised spring on open.
CONS: Some dislike the lack of shield but I've decided the inclusion of a 4th pin and narrow bolster lessen the need for it. Some very, very slight gaps only revealed by strong lamplight. Can't find any other build faults or issues whatsoever, stunningly good.
I like Spear blades and although this is only with nail nick and no longpull, it still looks fine. Longpull might be rather lost when you have same side nicks anyway. Having a Coping blade minor is a fine change, I can see this being a real garlic clove slicer. Anybody wanting an unusual Jack that is superb in the hand, look no further, this is my best knife of the year no contest! Did think about getting the White Bone, would really like that too but cash is tight like for most of us.
Thanks, Will
Will Power
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 33,647
I don't find it difficult actually. My nails are short but strong, the pull on the blade is moderate so that helps but as I said, the Master blade's nick is both well cited and deeply struck. All this makes opening easy on the one I got.
Some have talked about lowering the Coping blade's kick to reveal more of the Spear's nick. I certainly don't need to on mine. You have to be very careful doing this or you can mess up the spring flushness. Years ago I wrecked a CASE Stockman by filing down too much kick, horrible raised springs ensued...
:thumbdn:
Some have talked about lowering the Coping blade's kick to reveal more of the Spear's nick. I certainly don't need to on mine. You have to be very careful doing this or you can mess up the spring flushness. Years ago I wrecked a CASE Stockman by filing down too much kick, horrible raised springs ensued...
:thumbdn:My approach is going to be to take off the top corner of the coping blade and not mess with the kick. That way it will have a more Wharncliffe style blade curve and allowing for more access to the main blade. I've played around with the kick on an old Kabar jack knife and it can be very tricky. Lower just enough to ensure the point is not exposed but not so much that the spring remains close to flush.
Will Power
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 33,647
Yes good point and it makes sense! The end of the Coping blade is rather brutally guillotined, so rounding it to Wharncliffe could be a useful approach.
Mine arrived today, I'm going to stick my neck out and say I think it's the prettiest knife I've had from GEC!
I love the colouring of the bone and the jigging, all nicely balanced on both sides. A really sweet knife, I'll see how things pan out with the coping blade
Sam
I love the colouring of the bone and the jigging, all nicely balanced on both sides. A really sweet knife, I'll see how things pan out with the coping blade
Sam
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2011
- Messages
- 2,618
So, I couldn't resist!
I think the story behind the wood harvested for these knives is so cool, and the package that was put together, including the openers, the neat boxes and the enclosed cards is just so perfectly done. I just had to put it all together in a shadow box. Don't worry though...the knives are held in place with elastic so they can be removed very easily if I decide to carry them.
I think the story behind the wood harvested for these knives is so cool, and the package that was put together, including the openers, the neat boxes and the enclosed cards is just so perfectly done. I just had to put it all together in a shadow box. Don't worry though...the knives are held in place with elastic so they can be removed very easily if I decide to carry them.
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2007
- Messages
- 3,372
Cool presentation.
Mike
Mike
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2013
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- 5,713
Mine arrived today, I'm going to stick my neck out and say I think it's the prettiest knife I've had from GEC!
I love the colouring of the bone and the jigging, all nicely balanced on both sides. A really sweet knife, I'll see how things pan out with the coping blade
Sam
That is an excellent example.
Thanks, it took me a while to choose!
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2012
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- 11,783
Wow, does that look great! Thanks for the picture. I had no idea the covers looked that good. Great depth and color in the jigging. :thumbup:
Great job! Thanks for including the bit about the knives being easily removed for use. I was going to ask.
~ P.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2011
- Messages
- 658
that's a nice presentation box, the knives are worthy of display, good thing they are still easily deployable for action though - you could put a sign underneath saying 'in case of apple, break glass'So, I couldn't resist!
Don't worry though...the knives are held in place with elastic so they can be removed very easily if I decide to carry them.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2008
- Messages
- 4,565
I keep coming back to look at the great pics in this thread. If I where to order one of these I think I would have to flip a coin to choose because I can not pick between the jigged bone or ivory bone. Thanks for all the great pics everyone :thumbup:
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2008
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- 7,923
Mine arrived today, I'm going to stick my neck out and say I think it's the prettiest knife I've had from GEC!
I love the colouring of the bone and the jigging, all nicely balanced on both sides. A really sweet knife, I'll see how things pan out with the coping blade
Sam
Got admit, that bone looks mighty fine!
Will Power
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 33,647
Yes it is. I'm really pleased with my Antique Green too.
I was interested in the smooth whitebone too(still am) but in the end I felt I got the best option, the jigging is wonderful. Whole knife is a treat and exceptional build-quality.
I was interested in the smooth whitebone too(still am) but in the end I felt I got the best option, the jigging is wonderful. Whole knife is a treat and exceptional build-quality.
^^Aye!
OK, I decided to tackle the coping blade this evening....
Besides putting a convex edge on my knives I tend to gently round off the sharp tang edges on my multi bladed knives anyway. Sooo, I did think about taking a file to the corner but really didn't want to lose the lambsfoot shape of the blade as I like the contrast with the main spear. Instead I opted to spent five minutes with 600 grit gently rounding the corner, perfect!
I would take a picture but the difference visually is negligible, I'd certainly recommend trying that first if you're thinking of tinkering.
OK, I decided to tackle the coping blade this evening....
Besides putting a convex edge on my knives I tend to gently round off the sharp tang edges on my multi bladed knives anyway. Sooo, I did think about taking a file to the corner but really didn't want to lose the lambsfoot shape of the blade as I like the contrast with the main spear. Instead I opted to spent five minutes with 600 grit gently rounding the corner, perfect!
I would take a picture but the difference visually is negligible, I'd certainly recommend trying that first if you're thinking of tinkering.
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2013
- Messages
- 5,713
Dang it. I'm trying to hold out for another purchase, but these green bone Eurekas are calling me. 