GEC Compare & Contrast: Conductor vs. White Owl?

[BRL]

Wow, Rick... that picture. If I buy one of these things now, it's your fault!

 

[meako]

Hey Rick -i just took delivery of #16 in snakewood. I Like it a lot .
Can I ask if you used anything on the scales to bring out that wonderful glossy grainy sheen?
Also I ummed n aahed for a a few weeks whether to get conductor or white owl. Man it was a hard decision.
cheers.

 

[Rick]

Thanks, guys. I'm loving that little White Owl. The snakewood used on this run was quite good. I had no trouble finding one with lots of nice figuring, and there are still some great examples out there on the various dealer websites. I had to touch up the kick on the pen blade to lower the tip into the handle a hair, but other than that minor issue, the workmanship on this knife is just exemplary. The Tidioute satin blade finish coupled with the Northfield trim is a nice change of pace.

Hey Rick -i just took delivery of #16 in snakewood. I Like it a lot .
Can I ask if you used anything on the scales to bring out that wonderful glossy grainy sheen?

Hi Meako. I used a drop of lemon oil on the scales (the kind used to protect guitar fingerboards), followed by a little Renaissance wax.

 

[meako]

cheers for that Rick. I'll try and get some.

 

[richstag]

Both are excellent patterns, but I give the White Owl a slight edge in comfort. The joints are more deeply sunk in the handle, so there are less sharp edges to abrade the hand and the pocket. I also think the wider handle offers better control with less tenancy to roll in the hand.

Everything about this is awesome. The satin finish, the long pull, the character and intensity of the wood and the photo to show it all so well.

 

[Will Power]

WHITE OWL flew in at last! Took its time due to a shipping mix-up and the sloth of customs...:grumpy:

Few quick impressions: Very well made, no gaps, play, blades open out properly, no 'droop' so they line up with the back of the knife, excellent W&T. Main Clip is nice and broad, very good knife indeed although the Conductor shades it in the hand possibly because of the hump/swell centre?

The scales: Er.....This Kryptonite is bright! None of the photos I've seen show it as it is, this is fluorescent gear alright. It has an interesting swirl of pearl colour in there too but frankly, I need a pair of dark glasses to look at it! So, this one may be kept on hold for trades i'm not sure about it. I took the risk but it's too lurid for my tastes. However, there's no faulting the build or the integrity of the pattern. Just wish those bails had stayed out of the Northfield rendering.

 

[Ramiel]

Got my White Owl last week and I'm lovin it too! Great quality knife. #08 Snakewood for me.

 

[supratentorial]

WHITE OWL flew in at last! Took its time due to a shipping mix-up and the sloth of customs...:grumpy:

Few quick impressions: Very well made, no gaps, play, blades open out properly, no 'droop' so they line up with the back of the knife, excellent W&T. Main Clip is nice and broad, very good knife indeed although the Conductor shades it in the hand possibly because of the hump/swell centre?

The scales: Er.....This Kryptonite is bright! None of the photos I've seen show it as it is, this is fluorescent gear alright. It has an interesting swirl of pearl colour in there too but frankly, I need a pair of dark glasses to look at it! So, this one may be kept on hold for trades i'm not sure about it. I took the risk but it's too lurid for my tastes. However, there's no faulting the build or the integrity of the pattern. Just wish those bails had stayed out of the Northfield rendering.

The tube is adequate shielding so you shouldn't notice any loss of super powers.

I was thinking about removing the bail on one of my conductors. It looks simple to accomplish... which means that I'm probably wrong.

 

[Thalestin]

Heh, I personally love the bails. I think it really captures a unique feature. Adds character IMO. I just got my white owl and love it. Small but not too small. Perfect for my needs. I'll do a more objective review in a couple weeks. I'm much too subjective when a knife is brand new

 

[Chief]

Don't own a white owl so can't compare them directly but wanted to share a couple thoughts on the beloved conductor.

Overall I like it ... but ... have a couple criticisms that prevent me from wanting to buy another. On the one I own the blades show evidence of rub in two places. In my experiance, that's common on production slipjoints with blades on opposite ends. Maybe someone with more experiance can clue me in if this is normal or not, but the only production slipjoints I have owned with blades on opposite ends that don't rub are the Case / Bose collaborations. Even if I ignore the blade rub, the pen blade on mine is significantly more difficult to open than the clip. I rate the clip pull a 4 on the 10 scale, exactly what I prefer, and the pen a 7-8. Not only is the pull strength higher on the pen blade than my preference, the good looking center swell is in the way of the nail nick on the pen blade. IMO this is a design flaw, pic illustrates my point. Those issues have resulted in me breaking my thumbnail trying to open the pen blade and render the pen blade worthless to me. Unless I can inspect them in person, I'm done with production slipjoints with blades on opposite ends, I can only use one blade at a time anyway.

 

[FLymon]

Don't own a white owl so can't compare them directly but wanted to share a couple thoughts on the beloved conductor.

Overall I like it ... but ... have a couple criticisms that prevent me from wanting to buy another. On the one I own the blades show evidence of rub in two places. In my experiance, that's common on production slipjoints with blades on opposite ends. Maybe someone with more experiance can clue me in if this is normal or not, but the only production slipjoints I have owned with blades on opposite ends that don't rub are the Case / Bose collaborations. Even if I ignore the blade rub, the pen blade on mine is significantly more difficult to open than the clip. I rate the clip pull a 4 on the 10 scale, exactly what I prefer, and the pen a 7-8. Not only is the pull strength higher on the pen blade than my preference, the good looking center swell is in the way of the nail nick on the pen blade. IMO this is a design flaw, pic illustrates my point. Those issues have resulted in me breaking my thumbnail trying to open the pen blade and render the pen blade worthless to me. Unless I can inspect them in person, I'm done with production slipjoints with blades on opposite ends, I can only use one blade at a time anyway.

That's horrible! You shouldn't subject yourself to another minute of carrying that knife.
Send it to me, and I will keep it out of your sight

But seriously, that pattern is a really nice knife that with just a few tweaks can be truly great knife. If they can fine tune it over the next couple of runs the Conductor should be as good as it gets.

 

[War Eagle]

Chief, sorry to hear about your problems with the #33. I just recently purchased my first Conductor and it doesn't have any blade rub or the stiff pen blade. Now my pen blade is a little harder to open than the main blade but no where near the level you are describing on yours. I would say the main blade is about a 4 just like yours but I would only say the pen on mine is a 5. Also my pen blade doesn't sit that far down in the frame, mine is a little easier to get to than yours. I'm not sure what to tell you to do about those problems, you may want to give GEC a call or email to check and see if there is even anything that can be done.

 

[Will Power]

Don't own a white owl so can't compare them directly but wanted to share a couple thoughts on the beloved conductor.

Overall I like it ... but ... have a couple criticisms that prevent me from wanting to buy another.

Chief, you bring up important concerns which certainly must be aired.

I'm very keen indeed on the Conductor (GEC in general) but I don't want to fall into the Fanboi trap however who will hear no criticisms. Your picture clearly shows the defect, but I wouldn't regard it as an innate design fault . My Conductor has the nail nick well above the hump so no problem. Yours should be the same and it renders yours very tricky to open. It's odd too that the blades suffer from such different pull, them being on the same spring, but it may explain the rub? somebody may explain the mechanics of it, and it shouldn't rub. The only single spring I have that rubs is a CASE Pen in cv, the Trusharp doesn't nor do 3 other GECs couple of Queens, S&M, RR or an old Höffritz and an aged Remmington Pen (well worn and still smooth).

Is that the Ivory version?

Regards, Will

I appreciate you posting this as it's given me pause for thought, I'm after another Conductor but I know now to examine the pen blade side pictures very carefully. Of course, you could send it back-it should NOT be like that but I do know what a drag and worry it can be sending knives 'in' always annoying.

 

[SubSpace]

I love my Conductor but it does have its drawbacks. For me it is the sharp joints when the knife is closed. When I first carried it new I actually cut myself reaching into my pocket to retrieve it. I followed the advice of some forum members and smoothed out the edges using the fine stone rods from my Sharpmaker, but even after that they still snag my pocket and have scratched the heck out of the leather front pocket wallet the knife rides next to in my right pocket. I feel GEC should not have left the joints so sharp on a knife with this sort of design.

Mine also has blade rub, but I found this to be due to "user error" and not GEC's fault. When opening the pen blade, I would inadvertently pull the housed clip blade into the pen. Thus, as it opened, they would grind against each other. This put a nasty scratch on my clip blade, but since it is a user I do not mind. I've since learned to be careful when opening the pen, and there is no longer any blade rub.

Still wish the little guy would be less sharp when shut...

I guess I have more filing to do.

 

[AFAustin]

I love my Conductor but it does have its drawbacks. For me it is the sharp joints when the knife is closed. When I first carried it new I actually cut myself reaching into my pocket to retrieve it. I followed the advice of some forum members and smoothed out the edges using the fine stone rods from my Sharpmaker, but even after that they still snag my pocket and have scratched the heck out of the leather front pocket wallet the knife rides next to in my right pocket. I feel GEC should not have left the joints so sharp on a knife with this sort of design.

I'm new to traditionals, but for the life of me cannot understand why the tangs on a nice folder are left sharp. I have filed down the tang corners on every GEC in my possession, and IMHO, it much improves the knife.

Andrew

 

[AFAustin]

After semi-derailing my own thread to gripe about sharp tangs, I figured I'd better atone a bit by addressing the original subject. I took the plunge on a White Owl and have updated my OP to show it next to my Conductor.

They are both very nice knives, and light, slim, and trim in the pocket.

Andrew

 

[supratentorial]

The placement of the nail nick on my Conductor looks the same. I they moved the nail nick about 2mm back, it wouldn't be blocked at all. But I can open it with my pointer finger and the pull on the pen blade is about a 4 out of 10 on mine (same as the clip blade).

Andrew, That red buffalo horn handle looks great on this pattern.

 

[AFAustin]

Thanks, Jake. I wanted a dusk buffalo that had some strong red highlights, and it took some doing to find it. Several I asked about only had a trace. Even this one has very little on the pile side.

Andrew

 

[Chief]

Your picture clearly shows the defect, but I wouldn't regard it as an innate design fault . My Conductor has the nail nick well above the hump so no problem. Yours should be the same and it renders yours very tricky to open. It's odd too that the blades suffer from such different pull, them being on the same spring, but it may explain the rub? somebody may explain the mechanics of it, and it shouldn't rub. The only single spring I have that rubs is a CASE Pen in cv, the Trusharp doesn't nor do 3 other GECs couple of Queens, S&M, RR or an old Höffritz and an aged Remmington Pen (well worn and still smooth).

Is that the Ivory version?

Of course, you could send it back-it should NOT be like that but I do know what a drag and worry it can be sending knives 'in' always annoying.

Yes, it's ivory. To call it an innate design flaw is incorrect since yours doesn't sit as low, would you please post a pic? Because the pen sits low, it probably exacerbates my perception of the pull, but it resulted in a splintered thumbnail none the less. Considered sending it in, but didn't know if I was being unreasonable in my expectations. Thanks for your input.

 

[Will Power]

Chief, no camera and no picture skills I'm afraid.

Been looking at dealer shots of these knives, they DO vary.Some are like mine,well above the hump, others too low. Yours is an expensive version and really should not be in that state I feel.