GEC Half Whitt: First Impressions

S

SubSpace

Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
630
I know I'm late to the party on this knife, but be that as it may--

IMG_0406.jpg


I wanted to give GEC's acrylic a try, and ever since I bought my Case Swayback Jack a couple of years ago I've found the wharncliffe blade to be the most practical/useful for my urban EDC tasks. I do not use a pocket knife for food prep as I am somewhat a germaphobe and I do not skin raccoons or any other task for which another blade shape would be suitable. A straight edge is easier for me to sharpen and maintain. The point comes in handy. And it slices boxes and opens envelopes/blister packs like nobody's business.

IMG_4157.jpg


I am not sure how "traditional" this traditional knife is. It looks unlike anything else in my knife drawer. This is not a bad thing. It is very comfortable in my hand and, actually more important to me, given how little I actually "need" a knife day to day, it is comfortable in my pocket!

IMG_2379.jpg


I chose this model over the houndtooth because of this pen blade. There have been threads questioning the uses of such a blade. For me, I like to use the smallest blade possible to accomplish any EDC task, so the pen works well for me. I also like having two blades on one spring. Nothing wrong with a backup in case one gets dull in the office...er...field.

IMG_6739.jpg


Now the nitpicking. This is my first GEC to have a "gap" in between one of the liners and the backspring. The pen blade also rubs the wharncliffe when opening due, mostly, to me having to push them against each other as I engage the nail nick. All my knives are users, and in reference to a recent thread about a GEC being "too nice," I almost don't mind the small imperfection as it will help me use the knife more without worrying about flawing it up myself. It's a very pretty knife. I am warming to the acrylic and--most importantly--this is my anniversary present from my wife. 17 years. And I'm only 39!

Needless to say, a keeper for sure.

Thanks for looking.
 
I love the pattern as well. I have the Geppetto whitler in Ebony and its a fine piece. I have been wanting a Half-Whit...and I dont have any GEC acrylic as of yet. Would be neat to try one myself.
 
Thanks for the review. I have had my Half Whitt for about 9 months know. I do carry it occasionally. I too find it to be very comfortable in the hand. As it is my only wharnie, it has a place in the small collection. I too had issues with blade rub. I sent it back, waited 7 weeks with blades buffed out and a slight adjustment made in spacing....but you know??? I still get a little rub. That's fine...it is a user and I really don't see how to avoid it. Two blades sharing such confined quarters.

8514290921_999c6321eb_z.jpg


Enjoy that knife. It's a keeper.

Peter
 
With those knives with two blades on a single spring and with splitback whistlers, I find you have to lift the blades straight up and out to avoid blade rub. That's the price you pay. Not for the fumble-fingered among us.
 
Wow, what great pictures, SubSpace, to go with a very thorough write-up. Thanks!

ddml said:
...and with splitback whistlers....
Click to expand...


Next year's forum knife!

:D

black mamba said:
I believe Kerry made a post a couple years back on how to open a Bose 4 or 5 blade knife without getting a rub.
The key is to open the larger blades first, by getting hold of the nick and pulling the blade straight out without pushing on it.
Then, when the easier to open large blades are out of the way, open the small one you want, then close the others carefully.
Click to expand...

I know this works with my Conductor whittler, and I remember to open the smaller blades this way when I decide to care. Thanks for the reminder. :thumbup:

~ P.
 
I believe Kerry made a post a couple years back on how to open a Bose 4 or 5 blade knife without getting a rub.
The key is to open the larger blades first, by getting hold of the nick and pulling the blade straight out without pushing on it.
Then, when the easier to open large blades are out of the way, open the small one you want, then close the others carefully.
 
That is an awesome pattern, one of my favorites from GEC. I have one in burnt stag, a gift from my awesome brother for Christmas. I carry it daily, you're right about the wharncliffe blade being useful with "modern tasks" mail, boxes, etc.. I love the handle shape, the large front bolster is perfect for pinching between the thumb and forefinger for finer details when carving.

I actually skinned a porcupine with it over the winter. It went okay, but not great lol.. I did eat the porky tho
 
I didn't know porcupines were edible. This from a Louisiana guy that hasn't even seen a porcupine in the wild (aren't many in Louisiana, I guess). Well, I guess most things are, but some not necessarily as appetizing looking. I have eaten pretty much everything that was offered to me as food. I might not eat much of it, but I guess I'd be open to trying some porcupine... I like a wharncliffe for offfice... er ... field use, but not so much for skinning game. Whittling though is another matter as well as cutting stuff that needs to be cut. I'm really liking my houndstooth, but it has the wharncliffe by itself and on the other end of the handle.

Ed J
 
Yeah, blade rub seems to be more a fault of the user than the maker. I used my small Winchester (Queen) Congress and the blades are thin and easily pushed into the others when opening. I cringe but it happens.
 
The small blades on my Calf Ropers and even the pen blade on my White Owl will rub if I don't lift straight up on the nail nick. It bugged me at first just because I'm kind of ocd about things but now I don't really care anymore. I realized it doesn't really matter other than leaving a faint mark in the shiny finish of the blades where they make contact bu it's not like I can feel the mark it's just there if you look at certain angles.

I love your new Half Whitt and it's a pattern I want to try out someday for sure. I only have one knife with a Wharncliiffe blade and I really like it for edc around my office.
 
akadave2 said:
Yeah, blade rub seems to be more a fault of the user than the maker. I used my small Winchester (Queen) Congress and the blades are thin and easily pushed into the others when opening. I cringe but it happens.
Click to expand...

I have the same problem with my case stockman. I'm tempted to force a patina just so the scuff marks won't bother me as much.
 
newadventure said:
She sure is! and the knife too :)
Click to expand...

Hah! Very true.

Thanks for all the replies. The one other thing I love about this knife is how it is sharp when open, and not sharp when closed. I usually have to spend time rounding off the tangs on my GECs, but the design of this one has a sunken joint on the main blade, and the main blade covers the tang of the pen blade when closed. No sharp spots anywhere except the edge of the blade!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top