GEC is Growing Up!

waynorth

waynorth

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 19, 2005
Messages
33,190
When I first saw this GEC pattern, I thought "What the heck is that??".
A goofy knife for sure. Got no business coming from a Company purporting to make traditional style knives. So I blew it off, and put a negative check mark on the board for GEC.
But the thing kept nagging at me.
I've had, and even carried, doctor's knives, and melon testers, and slimmer whittlers like Balloon/Swell Centers, and a nice thin 4" Equal End that Schrade made pre-War.
So I coughed up the dough, less than $100, (way less than that Schrade) and ordered one.
I was pleasantly surprised!
GECSlim1.jpg

GECSlim2.jpg

GECSlim3.jpg

I thought it would be fragile feeling, but it's not. The blades have good snap, and are nicely ground, swedged, and above all, sharpened!
The main blade has nice length, enough to cut an apple in half at one go, and the smaller blades will do any lighter task easily, whether detail whittling, or the all-important opening mail which is half of what my pocket knives do anyway. And it's purty!!
And it actually carries in my front pocket easier than I thought at 4"; unobtrusive, but you always know it's there. I've pictured it with a Barlow for comparison.
GECSlim6.jpg

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And it's got a wedged pair of backsprings! You have to be a serious cutler to fit this sucker together! And the fit is near flawless! Nice shield, and maybe, JUST MAYBE, the industry has finally solved the inherent problems with Celluloid!!! You get that nice flashy color, without the morbid fear of a cloud of Nitric Acid eating your cutlery and your money!! Did I mention it's purty!
And, a big AND, it's made in Pennsylvania, U.S.A, and it's got good ole 1095 steel in it!! Sheesh! Maybe I should see if they need another salesman - I could get behind selling these things!:D
 
P.S. All Gouges, hair, orts, spit, bugs and dust are on my scanner, and not the knife!:o

Geez, I like looking at that knife on the monitor!!;)
 
Hopefully GEC will keep up the good work and be around for a long time. Good, solid USA made knives !! Nice, sleek piece there Charlie.
Greg
 
I have been on the fence about these as well, but your review and great photos has made a believer out of me! Good stuff!
 
waynorth said:
Nice shield, and maybe, JUST MAYBE, the industry has finally solved the inherent problems with Celluloid!!! You get that nice flashy color, without the morbid fear of a cloud of Nitric Acid eating your cutlery and your money!! Did I mention it's purty!
Click to expand...

They don't use celluloid; that's how they solved the problem. :cool:




BTW -- It's acrylic.
 
joe-bob said:
They don't use celluloid; that's how they solved the problem. :cool:




BTW -- It's acrylic.
Click to expand...

Thanks Joe-Bob! I should have mentioned that. Now I probably won't get that salesman's job!!:grumpy:

:D:D
 
I don't like the acrylic handle material or the pinched bolsters but I really like the knife. :)
The main blade is killer.....
I'm putting this one on my list. It looks like a comfy carry.
 
I've been having trouble resisting that one too. Something about it says c'mon, you know you want to buy me.
 
I like the knife overall...
But I'd so much prefer that the colored bits in the celluloid/acrylic handles were less square and more elongated oval-shaped to reflect the long and rounded details of the design.
Other than that personal artistic criticism, I really like it and agree...the workmanship is first rate.

CP
 
Charlie, your review might push me over the edge. I too, have been considering these. I love every knife I have from GEC.
 
Very nice, Charlie. I've been seriously considering one of those puppies since the Northfield Wharnie version came out, but I'm holding off to see what else they have in store for us in the way of handle scales.

Question: Are the backsprings reasonably flush with the handles when the blades are open and closed? I read one review on a stag version of the same knife wherein the owner complained of non-flush springs, uneven blacking in the blade pulls and bolster grooves and lots of minor handling scratches straight from the tube. Yours certainly looks first rate (but since your lovely wife handed you that lost Bose, we all know you lead a charmed life ;)).

Thanks!
 
This is an *old* pattern - well, except for the long wharncliffe master. I've got one that's basically identical except for having a spear master (one with the point below the center line of the blade), a bar shield, and ivory scales. It also has the deeply pinched bolsters like this one -- though I think it only has threading outlining the pinch, not the deeper "flutes". It's about 4 1/4" long and like this one is also rather more substantial than it would appear. Mine is by a lesser known old Sheffield maker - but dangit, I cannot remember who right now. I'll have to see if I can find it to take a look. I'll admit though, while it's an interesting pattern, it's really not a favorite of mine (even the old one).
 
There are many very desirable old patterns that were dropped from production long ago, so it's a real treat to see GEC reviving some of these.
I agree with an above post, it would be very classy in African Blackwood or Ebony.
I recently picked up an old K.C. with jigged bone in this same long slim Sleeveboard pattern. it has a bail at the slim end.
Thanks for posting Charlie. i just hope i don't now suddenly realize that i absolutely need this GEC offering, because i need to "take a brake(break)".
B.F. and responsible financial planning do not go well together.
roland
 
Looks like it would be a great splinter picker, too! I like the lines on that knife, and really like the shield. Thanks for sharing your impressions.
 
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