GEC Radio Knife

gastonian said:
Well guys I've been looking for another traditional knife that featured a bottle opener like my beloved Victorinox Farmer and stumbled on these knives.

Needless to say I have a new knife with ebony covers on the way!:thumbup:

Looking forward to carrying a non-stainless blade for a while.
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That is just what arrived this morning. I too had to snag an ebony but it wasn't my first choice. I had a yellow coming and was certain of it. Got a note from Christine at GEC telling me one was going out that day to me but after I inquired asking where my antique yellow she said was going out to me was, as it never showed and then a couple days later she tells me sorry she thought she had it and didn't so I had to settle for the ebony as a second and find one in a hurry trying to nail one down. I have another yellow ordered but I'll believe it when I see it at this point as I would not be surprised to get a refund and email saying sorry they were actually none in stock or something. Not a big sacrifice I guess for the ebony but a bit disappointing. I wanted that antique yellow over the wood. Anyway, the pull on my driver blade is border line nail breaker for me but its doable. A bit stiff but it won't be a issue since I don't plan to carry it.
 
Mine came in the standard Tidoute tube. I can take a picture in a couple hours if no one else has. The pull on my ebony is perfect. It has a very satisfying snap when opening it up.
 
STR said:
That is just what arrived this morning. I too had to snag an ebony but it wasn't my first choice. I had a yellow coming and was certain of it. Got a note from Christine at GEC telling me one was going out that day to me but after I inquired asking where my antique yellow she said was going out to me was, as it never showed and then a couple days later she tells me sorry she thought she had it and didn't so I had to settle for the ebony as a second and find one in a hurry trying to nail one down. I have another yellow ordered but I'll believe it when I see it at this point as I would not be surprised to get a refund and email saying sorry they were actually none in stock or something. Not a big sacrifice I guess for the ebony but a bit disappointing. I wanted that antique yellow over the wood. Anyway, the pull on my driver blade is border line nail breaker for me but its doable. A bit stiff but it won't be a issue since I don't plan to carry it.
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Hopefully your order will go through!

I am glade you mentioned that the pulls are on the tougher side.

I am one of those weirdos that love a nice reassuring thwack as I open my blade.

Now I am even more excited!
 
JerryIsAlive said:
Mine came in the standard Tidoute tube. I can take a picture in a couple hours if no one else has. The pull on my ebony is perfect. It has a very satisfying snap when opening it up.
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^^ That's very nice to hear.

I loved your pictures btw
 
JerryIsAlive said:
Mine came in the standard Tidoute tube. I can take a picture in a couple hours if no one else has. The pull on my ebony is perfect. It has a very satisfying snap when opening it up.
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Thanks. I was thinking that maybe they came in a tube with a specialized lable - mayber a radio tower, sparks, etc..
 
waynorth said:
You have quite the eye my friend!!
When I got the knife, I could feel a slight "snag" from the jigging, when I ran my finger lightly over the handles. I got a piece of 400 grit paper, and rubbed the bone, carefully staying off the bolsters.
Then I followed it with 600 grit, and finally green compound and a stiff rag.
Last, BlueMagic with a soft cloth.
It got rid of the snag (which would wear off in your pocket anyway), but it enhanced the red measurably!!
Didn't think anyone would notice on a computer screen, so didn't mention it.
It is indeed like speeding up the pocket-wear process!
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I thought it looked like it might have gone through one of your 'break-in' treatments. I think it looks great, and now I'm tempted to do it to my new antique yellow Radio knife as well (although mine doesn't have any 'snags' in the jigging). :thumbup:

These all look so great. I wouldn't minding owning one of each!
 
Just nice steel Jacks!!

There are no better production Jacks anywhere, IMO!!

The jigging wraps around, just like the fine old knives we hunt for. The colors are pleasing. The workmanship is great . . .I had to get one of each also!!

22nd Century antiques!!
 
waynorth said:
Just nice steel Jacks!!

There are no better production Jacks anywhere, IMO!!

The jigging wraps around, just like the fine old knives we hunt for. The colors are pleasing. The workmanship is great . . .I had to get one of each also!!

22nd Century antiques!!
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Agreed, those Diamond Jacks aren't too shabby either.....
 
I tend to give GEC a pass on poor sharpening because 1) they cater mostly to collectors, and I think to some degree we on this forum constitute the minority that use them quite hard and quite regularly, and 2) I don't mind a little time on the whetstone to get that eerie sharp 1095 semi-convex I prefer, as long as the pattern and materials are to my liking.

But that said, these Radio knives are the sharpest GEC I've gotten out of tube and a fair sight better than most other production knives I've gotten, traditional and modern included. Both "wipe" hair off my arm and sliver newspaper with little effort. It's a small touch, but it means a lot.
 
Sonnemann said:
I tend to give GEC a pass on poor sharpening because 1) they cater mostly to collectors, and I think to some degree we on this forum constitute the minority that use them quite hard and quite regularly, and 2) I don't mind a little time on the whetstone to get that eerie sharp 1095 semi-convex I prefer, as long as the pattern and materials are to my liking.

But that said, these Radio knives are the sharpest GEC I've gotten out of tube and a fair sight better than most other production knives I've gotten, traditional and modern included. Both "wipe" hair off my arm and sliver newspaper with little effort. It's a small touch, but it means a lot.
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Agreed! These, along with this round of Charlows, are the sharpest GECs/ production traditionals I have purchased. I appreciate being able to put a new knife into my pocket without finding time right away to hit the stones. Made my day when I took it out of the tube the first time.
 
Sonnemann said:


Both perfect!
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I haven't read every post in this thread and maybe someone has mentioned this but what strikes me about these knives is that they don't have shields. It's a feature I like very much - nothing to distract from the jigging.
 
I just got mine from Mike Latham and I have to say I am very impressed. Everything about this knife screams quality. The jigging is superb, and like others have mentioned, it arrived razor sharp. This is the first GEC I have purchased that can shave hair right out of the tube.

The pulls on mine are what I consider perfect (7 out of 10).

I think this will be the knife that goes to my first grandson, many years from now.
 
I had a sparkling water on the movies (The Hobbit) last night. They forgot to pop the cap off. Luckily for me I had my radio in my pocket!
 
Got my antique yellow jigged bone Radio knife today - Outstanding. Blade/Caplifter are well centered. Pulls are snappy. Jigging looks great and feels good in-hand. Sharp out of the tube. Though I prefer it sharper, it's an easy fix with some time spent on my benchstone. Bigger and heavier than I thought. Makes me want to find one of those old radio set kits :)
 
Now I've got a Red on its way, m'dealer had one after all:thumbup:

What I'd like to know is- how is the bottle opener on this knife? Does it whip 'em off like that, or is it troublesome??

I ask because some people had difficulty with the GEC made Forum Knife 2011's opener. They even had to mod it. I didn't because of serial expertise in bottle opening...:D.I still think this is the best made Forum Knife of all time, but I'm eagerly awaiting the 2013 variant, could I be the first in Europe to get mine:cool:
 
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