GEC or Northwoods for first Traditional?

rye_a

rye_a

Joined
Apr 27, 2007
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I'm looking to buy my first traditional to EDC in my suit pocket at work and while I wish I could find a Tom's Choice Barlow, I have narrowed my choice down to the GEC #66 and the Northwoods Burnside Jack. I know that some of the Northwoods are made by GEC, but I don't know about the Burnside. Any advice or recommendations about the models and/or brands?
 
The Northwoods Burnside Jack is made by GEC and is based upon the 56 frame. The Burnside Jack is not exactly a slender knife, particularly the Stag and Pioneer Bone variations and may be a bit chunky for suit pocket carry. It is an excellent knife with moderate pull and with half-stops.

The top one is the Calico Bone and the lower is the Pioneer Bone, which is similar to a rough cut bone.

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Thanks! Any recommendations for other models would be appreciated.
 
The Burnside is a great, compact knife. I have one in pioneer bone and it's not too thick for slacks carry. Can be pinched open and has great blade length for its size. I highly recommend it. Here's mine, alongside a Canal Street half moon trapper (4" closed)

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The Northwoods Presidential is a large knife at 4" closed but is more slender than the 3.5" Burnside Jack. The Fremont Jack is my favorite Northwoods pattern and the Camel Bone and Calico Bone scale models fit nicely in the pocket.

The 66 is very popular on this forum and is an excellent size and shape. I wish it had a half-stop and the two that I have sampled did not have the walk and talk I am used to experiencing with GEC. Perhaps those two are far outside the norm. I like the 68 White Owl when wearing slacks and it is the same length but slimmer than the 66 but also lacks a half-stop and has a lighter pull. Plus it has the bail which can be handy.

Here is the 66 Calf Roper Jack on top and the 68 White Owl on bottom.

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Hello,

I have a couple of ideas; the 68 white owl at 3.5 inches closed is a single spring and a good slim carry - pictured here at the top in cocobolo covers. The 33 conductor is 3.25 closed and can be found as a whittler or a single spring pen (mine here is a whittler).





I prefer the 33 because I love the elegant swell centre frame and it actually has a main blade exactly the same as the white owl.



good hunting, and welcome to the porch.
 
The 66 Calf Roper Slim would be an excellent choice for suit carry. I prefer single blade or single spring multibladed knives while wearing my dress pants at work and I carry them in a Knivesshipfree pocket slip which keeps it upright and protected from my keys. Some more options would be the 61 or 62 half congress, 68 White Owl, single blade 15 Boys Knives which if you didn't already know are exactly like the TC Barlows only they don't have the fancy elongated bolster. Also the 22 Magnum and 06 Pemberton if you like smaller sized knives. If you can find a single blade 25 little jack or barlow those are fantastic as well. You have so many options with GEC and it can be overwhelming! :)

61 Half Congress with my KSF Mainstreet Pocket Sleeve
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Another good one with a single back spring is this 57 Halfwhitt that I forgot to mention above.
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68 White Owl with GEC small pocket sleeve.
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66 Calf Roper Slim
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I almost forgot the SFO run of the Canal Street Eric's Jack! Excellent knife and made with stainless bolsters & 440C Stainless blade. There were only 100 of these made but last time I checked gunstockjacks site he still had some available.
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Jake
 
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My go to traditional when wearing a suit is a GEC #09 Esquire. <3" and fairly slim with a nice spear main and coping secondary. Very solidly built for a small knife with firm springs and good snap. Grab a nice one in stag or bone and call it a day.
 
I'm going to second the Esquire, super classy, but it is very small. So if you want a bit more blade at your fingertips, try the #66 Calf Roper Slim -- classiest of my collection by a mile. It would be perfect for a suit. It is one of the most elegant of the GEC line, in my opinion, and the Slim version is considerably sleeker than the Jack #66. REALLY a nice knife.

The Burnside Jack is bulkier in the pocket, but is a more solid knife as well (2.3oz vs. 1.8oz). The blade is maybe over twice as thick as the Slim Roper. Really solid. But the Roper with its pinched bolsters and little thumb cutout and soft gentle serpentine curve and sleek profile - ugh... sexy. as. hell. Definitely my choice for fancy wear.

Here is a photo that includes the Slim Roper, Burnside Jack and Esquire, for comparison. But the #66 Slim Calf Roper would be my hands down choice, and they are readily available new right now.

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It's not too late to reserve a #77 Barlow SFO.... slightly larger than the TC Barlow. Should be out around the end of the month, but if you want one, I wouldn't wait long.
 
I don't have an 09 Esquire but it is on my list and have always looked at it as an excellent dress knife. sendcakeplease's stag covered one may be the finest I have seen. :thumbup:

Back to Northwoods, the Mini Moose (top) made by Queen in ATS-34 and the Norfolk (bottom) made by GEC are both fine gentlemen's knives.

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Please let us know (plus photo) of what you end up with. It is a tough decision to narrow it down to one I'm sure.
 
draggat said:
It's not too late to reserve a #77 Barlow SFO.... slightly larger than the TC Barlow. Should be out around the end of the month, but if you want one, I wouldn't wait long.
Click to expand...

On the thread it looks like these are sold out at 350 knives. Am I missing something?
 
I really like wharncliffe blades, and I started with the GEC 55 but found it was too small for me, and got a 47. Then a Northwoods Fremont and Hawthorne followed.
 
Just got my first traditional. A GEC 2010 Northfield Orange Bone Cattle Baron PROTOTYPE. Sweet knife, but an awfully hefty price tag. I just like the old fashioned look of it, so I had to buy it!
 
I have seen one of the same and it is a fine knife and covers a lot of ground with 3 practical blades and an awl. Great size too. Be sure to post up some pics of it.
 
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