GEC Knives and use?

B

Bradb4178

Joined
Jun 20, 2014
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Hey guys so i am not sure if this has been answered yet or not on here, I tried looking but did not seem to find anything. Well to start off I am currently carrying a Zero Tolerance 0566bw. I work at a hunting store as a part time job during school and my knife gets used every weekend I am at work. I have always loved knives whether traditional's or more modern knives. I have currently been getting into traditional knives more and more and turning away from the modern knives. I always use my ZT at work to cut open the tops of shotgun shell cases (i use my knife instead of a box cutter), break down boxes, cut heavy duty zip ties, open bags of deer feed, etc. I am looking at getting my first GEC Knife and i am wondering what yall use yalls traditional's on. The reason i ask is that i am so used to using a heavy duty folder and that i do not quite know the limits, if any, that a traditional folder might have. I know it might seem like a dumb question, sorry im learning, I just want to see what yall put some of yalls knives through.
 
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Not a dumb question at all. If you are exposed to the marketing of some of the modern folding knife market, it's easy to see why this might concern you. I, like many here, only use slipjoints similar to what GEC offers. I have used mine to carve wood, cut leather, open packages, prepare and consume all manner of foods, cut rope, cut weeds, trim off annoying weird long hairs that pop up now and again (this is something you probably aren't familiar with, but wait until you hit 30) and anything else a person would use a knife for. There are some techniques, like batoning, that a slipjoint probably wouldn't be suggested for. For normal usage, like cutting, a GEC slipjoint will work just fine. The thing to remember is that this style of knife has been used for thousands of years, and by people that had a need for a tool that they could count on. Pick one and give it a go. It'll surprise you how competent a slipjoint actually is.
 
Hello Brad, this is the GEC number 15 I put through it's pass for a year. It is now in the hands of my nephew, who will do the same. I used ti fro breaking down boxes, fishing and cutting bait, cutting line used for crab pots, opening boxes and plastic blister packages, and many other things. It was used, but not abused, and that is the key.

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A traditional pocket knife will do what your modern ZT will do as far as real world cutting. It's the cutting edge that does the work, and used right, you will be able to do anything you really need to do. Look at it this way, our grandfathers, and their grandfathers before them did real work with these knives. A freight wagon driver getting a heavy loaded wagon over Raton Pass, a cowboy pushing a few thousand head of cattle up the trail, a sailor on a whaling ship, all used slip joints with no problem. They have been around for centuries for a reason, and that reason is they work. A thin blade of good carbon steel will do a lot. Look at the Stanley utility knife used on most construction sites. The blade is all of one inch long at the cutting edge, and about as thin as a a razor blade. Yet it slices tar paper, shingles, bags of cement and cuts of the plastic ends of caulking tubes. Very rarely they break. They don't break because it's the edge that does the work. Since 1890, millions of French peasants have used Opinels for everything with good results. And the Opinel is not even as sturdy built as a Case sodbuster or Buck stockman. Or a GEC Bull Nose

The GEC, or any other traditional pocket knife made by a reputable maker, will stand up to what you need. Breaking down boxes and opening feed bags won't even make it break a sweat. The Northwoods stockman I've been using since this past April, has done everything the GEC did with no problem. Again, breaking down boxes after a shopping trip to Sam's club, fishing, cutting dirty jute twine in the garden, opening 50 pound dog and bird seed bags. The carbon steel 1095 blades hold an edge as well as I could wish for. And there's three blades to choose from in one pocket size package.

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I spent 25 years carrying a Buck 301 stockman. It stood up to anything I had to do, and I did throw a lot at it. Try a traditional and see for yourself. You will be very surprise at how ell it works. And GEC is some good ones.
 
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You can use a GEC or any brand slip-joint for just about anything you'd reasonably use a pocket knife for. All the things you describe are easily handled by a traditional pocket knife.

Find one that appeals to you in size and materials and give it a go. :)

If you want to enjoy some truly great stories - all of which focus around the daily use of pocket knives - then try these. You'll quickly learn nearly anything can be done with a good old traditional pocket knife in plain old carbon steel. :)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-jackknife-s-tales-With-thanks-to-stockman242
 
I use my Dixie Stockman everyday at work. I cut fiberglass duct board and insulation, metal tape, cardboard of every thickness, strip wire, cut zip ties, etc. You'll be ok with a slipjoint in a sporting goods store. ;)
 
The only thing that hasn't been so great on some traditional knives for me is the size of the handles.
A lot of them seem to run on the small side, which doesn't work so well for me.
They're fine for cutting tape, bags and some boxes, but when I need to do heavier cutting, a handle which fills the hand works better.

That's due to the handle size though, not the lack of a lock or type of steel used.
 
If I mainly cut open boxes, I would use my #47 Viper (fills the hand).

My #61 Half Congress (sheepsfoot/pen) also does everything.
 
The only thing a traditional will not work well at its stabbing and for that I'm only use a fixed blade.
 
Thanks guys! I really appreciate all the info! I definitely get what yall are saying. I dont know why i never thought about how our fathers, grandfathers, and so on have used them for so many years! I guess growing up in the age of modern day folders and all i am so used to that and havent paid much attention. But now i am older and much wiser in the age of knives :) I guess one of my main concerns was that, the store i work at..although called a sporting goods store (we dont sell anything for sports) is in a small town of farmers and hunters that only sells hunting equipment, guns, and specialized stuff for hunting and shooting (no sports stuff), i open a lot of items and boxes as well as use it on my buddies farm where you have to put a good bit of pressure on your knife and was mainly worried about that but now my mind has been eased. But all my buddies around there who are cowboys all carry case knives so i dont know why i never thought about it. Thanks for all the info guys. Keep the recommendations coming if yall want on what GEC or traditional folder i should get. I havent quite narrowed it down yet. Too many good choices!
 
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I'll recommend a #82 Dixie Stockman. It's a pretty big knife, 4 1/8" closed I think. Three very useful blades, Muskrat clip point (I think that's what it's called), Wharncliffe, and drop point/Spey. It also carries nicely because of the narrower clip point and Wharncliffe instead of sheepsfoot.
 
I second what all of these guys have said. I came from using more modern style knives but over the past two years pretty much exclusively use traditional style knives. I use mine for all the cutting task you talk about and personally see a ZT or similar modern folder as overkill for such things.

If you use a knife as a knife and not a hammer, screwdriver, prybar, or axe you will be more than well served by any traditional. Of my traditionals my GECs are definitely the best built.

Coming from moderns you might want to start with a bigger pattern or more rugged pattern. If you are unsure if its for you start with something cheaper like an Opinel No.8, case sodbuster (fullsize is more like what your used to), or on the higher end a GEC Bullnose. A GEC 42, 73, 73 or 73 would give you the locking function you are used to.

I've used both of these for all kinds of harder uses. The opinel gets downright abused and the bullnose gets used without much thought about being delicate or careful.

 
Brad, this is a Northfield #23 Pioneer linerlock that I use hard outdoors, doing yard work and gardening. Cutting open soil and mulch sacks, trimming twigs, digging up the occasional weed, etc. The 1095 has taken a beautiful patina and is none the worse for wear. It's a tank.

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While I cannot give any advise on a slip joint, I checked out the GEC web site and they have some sharp looking knifes.
 
Gosh yall have some pretty knives. Traditional's to me are so unique and different. I love how each knife will develop its own patina. It just kind of makes each knife one of a kind in a sense. JackKnife thats a gorgeous pipe by the way.
 
A #42 Missouri trapper/trader if you want a bigger knife. I have been very happy with my 15. I the the 48trapper or improved trapper would be good.

Dave
 
jackknife said:
A traditional pocket knife will do what your modern ZT will do as far as real world cutting. It's the cutting edge that does the work, and used right, you will be able to do anything you really need to do. Look at it this way, our grandfathers, and their grandfathers before them did real work with these knives. A freight wagon driver getting a heavy loaded wagon over Raton Pass, a cowboy pushing a few thousand head of cattle up the trail, a sailor on a whaling ship, all used slip joints with no problem. They have been around for centuries for a reason, and that reason is they work. A thin blade of good carbon steel will do a lot. Look at the Stanley utility knife used on most construction sites. The blade is all of one inch long at the cutting edge, and about as thin as a a razor blade. Yet it slices tar paper, shingles, bags of cement and cuts of the plastic ends of caulking tubes. Very rarely they break. They don't break because it's the edge that does the work. Since 1890, millions of French peasants have used Opinels for everything with good results. And the Opinel is not even as sturdy built as a Case sodbuster or Buck stockman. Or a GEC Bull Nose

--snip--

I spent 25 years carrying a Buck 301 stockman. It stood up to anything I had to do, and I did throw a lot at it. Try a traditional and see for yourself. You will be very surprise at how ell it works. And GEC is some good ones.
Click to expand...

End of thread! Perfect response Carl. There is no reason a slipjoint traditional won't hold up to normal use as a cutting instrument for years if used as a cutting instrument, not a prybar or a throwing knife, or any of the other abuses of a knife. If you want that, then you'll need to keep a modern folder with screw construction and super thick blade stock as a backup. But for cutting, a thin slipjoint blade lasers through stuff like, well, a laser. Buy any of them and use it in good health. A good starting point for an inexpensive (not cheap, inexpensive) knife would be any of the Rough Riders, a Case sodbuster, or an Opinel 6 or 8. Good luck! Ask any questions you want here. We are a pretty patient lot compared to other subforums.
 
Just as an aside, if you're worried about the thin stock, take a look at this video I just made.

[video=youtube_share;J1R32MAW5R4]http://youtu.be/J1R32MAW5R4[/video]

Now, I'm a better knifemaker than a videographer, and this is a fixed rather than a folder, but it illustrates perfectly the downright abuse a 3/32" thick blade can take. This knife is in 52100, which has a bit more carbon and other alloying materials than 1095 or Case's CV, but you get the idea anyway. And a custom maker could always make you a knife in 52100.....

What, not even considering a custom yet?? Just wait brother, just wait........welcome to the dark side.........

Down

the

rabbit

hole..........

[insert evil laugh here......]
 
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