GEC Stag Issue

A

aadhtbb

Joined
Jul 24, 2010
Messages
192
Just got my first stag , a GEC single blade trapper produced in 2011.The problem is that the liners are slightly bigger than the stag so I can feel the sharp edge of liner very very obviously thus make the knife uncomfortable to play or use .

Is this really a problem ( So I wanna return it) or something normal with all your stag handles ?

it cannot be shown in obviously as it is so slight , though the edge of liners is really sharp .

IMG_20130314_003156_zps9407e04f.jpg


IMG_20130314_003252_zpsb11a74f9.jpg


IMG_20130314_003307_zps302e34bc.jpg


IMG_20130314_003329_zpsb403b60a.jpg


IMG_20130314_003456_zpse255b96f.jpg
 
Last edited:
Depends on where you live. Relative humidity plays a large role in shrinking of natural material such as stag. My suggestion is to soak it overnight handle side down in a container of mineral oil. I think you will be surprised at how much the scales fill back out.

This is a well known tactic with large bowies and such.
 
Brass is soft. Some 400 grit on a 1/4" dowell will take down the excess liner sticking up and smooth it right out.

I did this on a stag stockman of mine, and it worked perfectly, no regrets.
 
The problem is that liner match the back spring perfect so if I sand down the liner I have to polish the steel back spring , which seems to be a hard work .


To Mink,thank you for ur advice and will a normal 3 in one oil for knife work ?


black mamba said:
Brass is soft. Some 400 grit on a 1/4" dowell will take down the excess liner sticking up and smooth it right out.

I did this on a stag stockman of mine, and it worked perfectly, no regrets.
Click to expand...
 
Both bone and stag do this in a dry climate.

I have a custom that is over 22 years old. The stag has shrunk.

The wooden dowel idea is a fine one.

You can also just take the edge off the sharp points on he back, and not have to sand the whole spring down.

I would try the mineral oil soak first, and then the sand method.




That is a great looking knife! Shame that it is not as pleasing in the hand as you would like!
 
Before I went so far as to start sanding, soaking, and grinding a brand new knife I paid that much for, I'd find out if the seller (if it were a dealer) has another example that did not have the protruding liners. I've handled a few pretty old knives with stag handles that have not shrunk.
 
aadhtbb said:
The problem is that liner match the back spring perfect so if I sand down the liner I have to polish the steel back spring , which seems to be a hard work .


To Mink,thank you for ur advice and will a normal 3 in one oil for knife work ?
Click to expand...

Personally, I would not use something like three in one. Simply for the reason I do not know how the stag would react to it. Mineral oil is very cheap and easy to come by. Stop by your local drug store and pick up a large bottle of baby oil. Same stuff. I had very good results with a stag handled bowie, and some mammoth that the aging cracks had started to widen. Depending on your climate, you may want to do this on an annual basis.
 
If it's a user just use it normally for a while. Just being in your pocket will wear the brass smoothly. I have a GEC # 23 with Bocote scales with the same problem. In less than two months of pocket time all edges are smooth and no longer a problem. I wouldn't go at the liner edges with any abrasives.
 
I just picked up an unused GEC 66 (one of Charlie's HJ6's, a grail of mine) in ebony that has the exact same issue. I may or may not try sanding it down, but it doesn't bother me too much.

~Jim
 
thawk said:
Before I went so far as to start sanding, soaking, and grinding a brand new knife I paid that much for, I'd find out if the seller (if it were a dealer) has another example that did not have the protruding liners.
Click to expand...

That, or contact GEC with these pictures and ask their recommendation-- before sanding, soaking, or grinding. (:eek:)

(Beautiful knife; I hope this is resolved to your satisfaction, at your hands or others'.)

SonnyJim said:
I just picked up an unused GEC 66 (one of Charlie's HJ6's, a grail of mine)....
Click to expand...

Sorta like this (lower knife)? ;)
pistonsandgears said:
Waynorth%20pair.jpg
Click to expand...

Congrats. :)

~ P.
 
thawk said:
Before I went so far as to start sanding, soaking, and grinding a brand new knife I paid that much for, I'd find out if the seller (if it were a dealer) has another example that did not have the protruding liners. I've handled a few pretty old knives with stag handles that have not shrunk.
Click to expand...

Right there with you. I have some old knives (four) that were passed down to me that were made in Germany back in the early 50s that have gorgeous stag handles and they haven't shrunk.

Robert
 
midnight flyer said:
Right there with you. I have some old knives (four) that were passed down to me that were made in Germany back in the early 50s that have gorgeous stag handles and they haven't shrunk.

Robert
Click to expand...

I *think* it has to do with how old/dry the stag was when it was attached to the knife.
Back in the old days stag was very common and there were warehouses full of it. There was plenty of time for it to age/cure.
Now with the embargo and scarcity of stag, what's available is snapped up and used right away.
It's my theory anyway...
 
I agree. GEC uses the best stag among current manufacturers, but IME they insufficiently cure it. I'very owned three stag Northfields and two of them had issues with shrinkage. A small sample to be sure, but shrinkage hasn't been a problem for any of my other stag handled knives.

- Christian
 
pertinux said:
That, or contact GEC with these pictures and ask their recommendation-- before sanding, soaking, or grinding. (:eek:)


Sorta like this (lower knife)? ;)


Congrats. :)

~ P.
Click to expand...

The exact knife, thanks Sarah! Now if I could only find a regular 66 in ebony...

~Jim
 
I just want to add, above all else I would avoid sanding on this knife unless you never intend to re-sell it. Secondly, if your climate is such that it is very dry and you handle this knife infrequently, then you might very well see this happen again with another knife, therefore replacing it may only be a temporary solution.

A mineral oil soak will do nothing to take away the value of the knife, or cause damage. The most extreme change I have seen is a slight darkening of the bone or stag. Not necessarily a bad thing either.

To each your own, and this is your knife so do as you wish, but a mineral oil soak is fairly standard maintenance for someone that has stag knives for long periods of time in drier areas.
 
Guys，12 hrs in baby oil and no difference in scale size.

What should I do now ? Return it to the dealer (but will they accept it ?) or just wait ?
 
You can see if the "Dealer" has a No Questions Asked,Money Back Return Policy.
 
As Bob mentioned, "No questions asked" means just that. Although there were a lot of good ideas recommended; you need to understand that these more drastic attempts most times mean you are stretching the bounds of any warranty. Luckily you are dealing with a factory that is very customer oriented. And, even though the dealer may take it back, the community would be better served by letting GEC examine the knife anyway.

Neither GEC nor the dealer want you to be stuck with a knife that doesn't tickle you. So send it back to GEC with a note of the problem and where you purchased it. If they can't fix it to suit you they will work some solution out with the dealer that works for everyone.

If you find a good "no questions asked" dealer just order 10 of them next time and pick the best one :D (not really).
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top