GEC Half Congress vs Easy Pocket Congress.

thesouthernguitarist · Mar 17, 2012

What's the difference? I have narrowed my first GEC choice down between one of these two knives, but I don't know what the difference is. Could someone please explain the differences? Also, anyone who has one of these knives, what are your thoughts on it?

quattromori · Mar 17, 2012

I don't own the knives, but if you are talking about the #61 and #62 (both in the two bladed version), I assume the only big difference is in the bolsters; they're squared in the #61 and rounded in the #62.
Pics for comparison:

Fausto

thesouthernguitarist · Mar 17, 2012

Thanks for the response. I was assuming that was the only difference. I wonder if the squared bolsters make it less pocket friendly?

Will Power · Mar 17, 2012

Not all Half Congress have these extended bolsters. Some also come with different blades: Sheepfoot/Pen. Whereas the Easy Pocket has Wharncliffe as master blade. One significant difference is that the Sheepfoot models' blade rides higher when closed, this has limited its appeal for me as the blade sticks out quite a lot. I don't use mine very much for this reason. Wharncliffes sit lower and the rounded bolsters are preferred by some. Quite different knives actually.

quattromori · Mar 17, 2012

The #61 is a bit shorter too, but it's the same pattern.
I assume the #62 would be more pocket friendly for the rounded bolsters...but the #61 is shorter...so I don't know

Hopefully others will be more helpful

Fausto

Railsplitter · Mar 17, 2012

Here's an example of the 61 Half Congress (non Deluxe model).

smcclown05 · Mar 17, 2012

I love the look of those squared bolsters!

buckthorn · Mar 17, 2012

I agree about the undesirable appearance of the sheepfoot blade protruding so high. This can, to a certain extent, be remedied by carefully filing the kick a bit at a time, checking against the blade bottoming against the inside of the spring as you go. I did that to mine and it makes it much more visually friendly.

willgoy said:
Not all Half Congress have these extended bolsters. Some also come with different blades: Sheepfoot/Pen. Whereas the Easy Pocket has Wharncliffe as master blade. One significant difference is that the Sheepfoot models' blade rides higher when closed, this has limited its appeal for me as the blade sticks out quite a lot. I don't use mine very much for this reason. Wharncliffes sit lower and the rounded bolsters are preferred by some. Quite different knives actually.

type00rev · Mar 18, 2012

smcclown05 said:
I love the look of those squared bolsters!

That makes two of us.