GEC new #43 pattern, who’s excited?

[Modoc ED]

Ordered a Beaver Tail last night. It's a big knife to pocket carry so it won't get much carry time by me. Looks like it may be a good wood shed candidate as the snow has been flying here with more to come.

Get off these dealer's butts about shipping time. The weather across America is pretty rough right now what with flooding, heavy snow, hail, etc.. All the shipping companies have "Possible Weather Delay" notices on their tracking sites.

 

[Boggs]

Ed....


I’m with you on both points...

 

[Mitt]

Just noticed that the blade is hitting the spring. Makes me wonder if these were rushed to completion since they were a month past the expected release date.

Get off these dealer's butts about shipping time. The weather across America is pretty rough right now what with flooding, heavy snow, hail, etc.. All the shipping companies have "Possible Weather Delay" notices on their tracking sites.

5 days to go 140miles is unexceptionable bad weather or not.

 

[Modoc ED]

It's no big deal. If there is a ding in the blade, sharpen it out. There are multiple threads that deal with blades hitting the spring. Search is a nice feature and can bring up those threads quickly.

Actually 5-days isn't too bad. Was there a weekend involved perhaps the Presidents Day holiday?

 

[Mitt]

It's no big deal. If there is a ding in the blade, sharpen it out. There are multiple threads that deal with blades hitting the spring. Search is a nice feature and can bring up those threads quickly.

Actually 5-days isn't too bad. Was there a weekend involved perhaps the Presidents Day holiday?

I know I can sharpen it out. What irritates me is that it’s a 1/2” section of the blade is hitting the spring. That’s not something I would consider tolerable or expected from GEC.

There was a weekend involved during shipping but that didn't cause shipping to stop. At that distance UPS or FedEx would have gotten it here the next day with standard shipping. I know, I have done it.

 

[B.F.U]

Welcome to Oregon my Oregon Trapper
Well opened mine up and love the pattern! And how big it is !
Blade is dead centered with no wobble , excellent walk and talk , finish not so great on covers.
The frontier Bone on this particular one not digging it to much . It’s looks as if the dark brown topping it’s painted or brushed on . On the non show side it’s actually looks and feels like a portion of the “paint ?” Is chipping or and has chipped off and can see and feel the edge all around that area . Really takes away from a otherwise really nice knife . I’ve had relatively good luck with mike & CK knifes but unfortunately this will receive no praise because of the above mentioned area lol . It makes me wonder if it will start chipping in other areas . Literally looks like some type of paint or coating was brushed on
Cool knife very poor Frontier bones covers . I’ll keep it though and maybe try blending in the paint chips with some sandpaper to take off the deep edges between the light and dark “coatings “ a little disappointed with GEC on these particular covers . Again hope it’s not a indicator that it will start doing that In other areas after time .
I think they needed to let the paint dry longer

And the beautiful paint job

Well I when there is no shipping option and the only way they ship is USPS it can be a big factor. I always have issues receiving packages when shipped by USPS. So I mostly try and deal with vendors that at least have UPS or FedEx as an option.

That being it finally got here and I am happy to have it.

There are some issues but I’m going to keep it as a user. There is some chipping in the bone at the top of the shield, when one of the pin holes was drilled it blew out a small chip and a gap between the bone and the liner.

These kinds of things are why I generally stay away from Frontier / Pioneer Bone United I can see it first

 

[cbr1000]

I know I can sharpen it out. What irritates me is that it’s a 1/2” section of the blade is hitting the spring. That’s not something I would consider tolerable or expected from GEC.

There was a weekend involved during shipping but that didn't cause shipping to stop. At that distance UPS or FedEx would have gotten it here the next day with standard shipping. I know, I have done it.

That stinks - sorry to hear. Just wanted to throw out that as you are deciding what to do don't assume it will sharpen out to your expectation.

 

[traumkommode]

I know I can sharpen it out. What irritates me is that it’s a 1/2” section of the blade is hitting the spring. That’s not something I would consider tolerable or expected from GEC.

There was a weekend involved during shipping but that didn't cause shipping to stop. At that distance UPS or FedEx would have gotten it here the next day with standard shipping. I know, I have done it.

Tolerable, maybe not. Expected - it happens a lot more often on the bigger knives. I've seen it on 74s, 53/54s, the big Madison Barlows , some others. Because it often sharpens out, a lot of guys don't consider it the same kind of problem as issues with covers or blade action. In the interim, you can put a little piece of cork in the blade well where the kick rests to keep the blade from coming down so hard/far. I agree it's disappointing, but 1/2" sounds like way more of the blade than what I've seen. I'm talking 1/16" max, just a little from where the blade hits the swell in the spring that channels that center spring pin. 1/2" is a whole lot of blade, and that might need to be repaired at the factory. Probably could be attended to quickly, or even replaced, since they're still in the middle of the run.

 

[TheFactor]

These kinds of things are why I generally stay away from Frontier / Pioneer Bone United I can see it first

Yup lesson learned for me !
Gave it a second chance was able to pick one out at knifecenter

 

[TheFactor]

Thanks to knife connection I was able to pick one out which appears to be a very good example of what they should look Like . Mine should be here at the end of the week

 

[TheFactor]

Another Thanks to M Mitt for the heads up

 

[B.F.U]

Yup lesson learned for me !
Gave it a second chance was able to pick one out at knifecenter

Knife connection you mean?

 

[TheFactor]

Knife connection you mean?

Yes Sir !
That would be the one and thanks for the correction so the appropriate dealer gets credit where credit is due .

 

[Modoc ED]

Well I when there is no shipping option and the only way they ship is USPS it can be a big factor. I always have issues receiving packages when shipped by USPS. So I mostly try and deal with vendors that at least have UPS or FedEx as an option.

That being it finally got here and I am happy to have it.

There are some issues but I’m going to keep it as a user. There is some chipping in the bone at the top of the shield, when one of the pin holes was drilled it blew out a small chip and a gap between the bone and the liner.

I went back and gave your knife another look. Overall, it's a nice looking knife Mitt. As to the small chip and the sunken pins, things like that don't matter if you're going to make it a user. Looks like a keeper.

 

[knifeswapper]

Almost canceled my Cocobolo 43 reserve but hopefully it won’t have painted covers lol .
Decided to take my chances ... hoping it’s not another second .

Not sure if you were referring to me but I have a hunch you were .For me it was much less painful and faster giving it away at almost half off .
Much more satisfying to say the least !! I felt better instantly lol . That was about the ugliest , cheapest finish / coating on covers I’ve ever layed my eyes on . Oh did I mention how disappointed I was after waiting months on the early reserve ? You are correct I should of not vented here but was at the wrong place at the wrong time guess you can say .

The funny thing about this is that 90% of my sizable order came very light colored; although with good shades and character. I was not fond of them at all. They looked great, but for those that are accustomed to GEC's Pioneer, Frontier, or Primitive bone - they just didn't have enough character. I remember the first batch of primitive bone I received years ago, I ended up sending them back as soon as they arrived because of all the cracks, etc. The day after I put them in the mail I started getting calls and emails from customers wanting "the most cracked up nasty primitive you have". So, I said then, I was never going to try and second-guess what the customer would want. But I recall looking at the knife that came up randomly for TheFactor and being tickled about it. If anything looked like it had been carried by a pioneer or walked a trapline - it was this knife. I had 2-3 of these old smooth two-tone tan models that I just really didn't want to have to send out. You never know.

Not at all as a knock on this thread but I agree with "live by the sword - die by the sword" because it takes about 10 positive remarks to neutralize 1 negative. And when you have a customer that is very public about being happy - you know it is just a matter of time until they have a disappointment. I have several people that would have loved to had that knife and I only just now even viewed the thread. So a little communication goes a long way.

 

[knifeswapper]

5 days to go 140miles is unexceptionable bad weather or not.

We started offering these to Early Reserves on the 20th. And every knife that was sold had the following note on the product page. Thus, I don't know what day your knife shipped, but it was ahead of schedule if you have already received it..... My apologies if that was not clear.

 

[TheFactor]

The funny thing about this is that 90% of my sizable order came very light colored; although with good shades and character. I was not fond of them at all. They looked great, but for those that are accustomed to GEC's Pioneer, Frontier, or Primitive bone - they just didn't have enough character. I remember the first batch of primitive bone I received years ago, I ended up sending them back as soon as they arrived because of all the cracks, etc. The day after I put them in the mail I started getting calls and emails from customers wanting "the most cracked up nasty primitive you have". So, I said then, I was never going to try and second-guess what the customer would want. But I recall looking at the knife that came up randomly for TheFactor and being tickled about it. If anything looked like it had been carried by a pioneer or walked a trapline - it was this knife. I had 2-3 of these old smooth two-tone tan models that I just really didn't want to have to send out. You never know.

Not at all as a knock on this thread but I agree with "live by the sword - die by the sword" because it takes about 10 positive remarks to neutralize 1 negative. And when you have a customer that is very public about being happy - you know it is just a matter of time until they have a disappointment. I have several people that would have loved to had that knife and I only just now even viewed the thread. So a little communication goes a long way.

I really wish they could of got that knife instead of me . It looked more like it was hand painted by one of the pioneer kids.
I like character as well as chips but what ever they sprayed or applied to these covers was horrible . You could rub the color off with your finger like it wasn’t in the paint booth long enough . With over spray on the edges.
I’ll be one to prefer a lighter cover with little to no coating and more natural .
No fault to you mike and my apologies for any directed your way . It definitely was disappointing after the wait on early reserve and getting that knife . But left a bitter taste in my mouth . It’s kind of like going to a friends house and getting bit by there dog that they had no control of because normally it has a great temperament . But after that your thoughts have changed of wanting to go visit there house and dog .

 

[flylock]

I'm with mike on this one. I viewed pictures of these on several different dealer sites and all that I had seen looked to light for me. I would have bought one, if I had seen a good gnarly one like thefactor had, his was real sweet! cant believe he didn't like it.

 

[TheFactor]

I'm with mike on this one. I viewed pictures of these on several different dealer sites and all that I had seen looked to light for me. I would have bought one, if I had seen a good gnarly one like thefactor had, his was real sweet! cant believe he didn't like it.

I think once you got it in or “on “your hand you would of felt differently. Pictures did it justice ..
Perfect blade centering , walk and talk though .

 

[Mitt]

We started offering these to Early Reserves on the 20th. And every knife that was sold had the following note on the product page. Thus, I don't know what day your knife shipped, but it was ahead of schedule if you have already received it..... My apologies if that was not clear.

View attachment 857662

That was clear and I do like that you let me know that. It was the tracker after the order that got me frustrated. It said delivery by 8:00pm on the 24th. Then late on the 24th (around 11pm) it showed up as rerouted with a delivery date to be determined.

I do like the knife I received. It’s going to make a great user as I intended it to be. In fact I started carrying it today. It’s much more of a substantial knife than the SWA25 that it replaces.