GEC Tidioute #73 Osage Orange

I'm glad I picked up an Osage 73 fairly early, they seem to be getting snapped up pretty quickly. Mine is a perfect specimen (pics soon!) and my favorite 73 yet by far. I'm loving how they've rounded off/tapered the ends of this run, makes it just that little bit more comfy in hand and pocket. My first 73 was a liner lock in jigged bone, and after carrying and using it, found the lock to be annoying and redundant (with such a strong spring) and combined with the scale material and extra metal of the lock, too heavy. I dismissed the pattern til I found a nice cheap Beaver Tail on the exchange, and my opinion was drastically changed. Wood scales were the key for me : ) Picked up an ebony from the last run (haven't really bonded with it though), but the jigged rose wood and osage orange are my favorites (osage coming in first!).

~Jim
 
btmccutcheon said:
My apologies for the poor picture as it was taken late last night. So far I've not seen it in natural light and am looking forward to seeing how it looks.



As for the knife itself, blade is dead center, not a single gap. There is some roughness around the pins but hopefully that will get worn down with age. The lack of the secondary blade does in my opinion make it more comfortable to hold, however my big mitts like the girth provided by the second spring on the two bladed variety. The pull is at least and 8 and makes me a bit nervous now that I've given it an edge. This thing is a bear trap for sure. I spent about an hour last night just flushing with mineral oil and working the blade back and forth to the point my forearms are sore this morning. I'm leaving it open about 3/4 of the way for a while to hopefully ease that spring up a bit.

Overall, I like it and think it's beautiful and comfortable. However, it is a bear trap that I could see hurting someone pretty quick if they weren't careful. Definitely not for someone who has weak hands or nails.

Dad would like this fine bois d'arc knife.
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Good to hear your review, must say I prefer the Bois d'arc alternative name. I don't believe it can be more nail-breaker or rather, nail puller than a 73 Northfield I've got. Must be 9.8 no amount of oiling and opening/closing helped. Then I left it open at an acute angle for TWO MONTHS, nope no better. Eventually I filed the corner of the tang to reduce the strain, it worked a little but not much..I like a firm decent spring but that one is beyond belief. So, it can't be worse:D

Few days back I was glum over paltry funds and a bill mountain (range) looming into sight putting the block on me getting one of these beauties in liner-lock. Then I thought about cutting costs, well now it's walking to work for me and leaving the car at home. Should soon save quite a bit, cut down pollution, reduce short trip car wear and shed a few kgs from me:thumbup: So, it's en route across the Atlantic to Europe as we converse. Can't wait!!

I really like this wood, interesting grain, colour, not heavy but very tough and it's an eye-catcher in my book.

Thanks, Will
 
Meant to ask earlier, but does anyone have examples of how Osage Orange-wood darkens?

~Jim
 
Well, this Osage Orange thread really made me want one of these. It was a struggle...but I ordered a Northfield LL in cocobolow. I would like to have both, but I can't be greedy.
 
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Well, I was hoping GEC would come out with a stainless (440C) version of the new #73 run but it looks like that isn't going to happen so, I went to my regular dealer and asked him if he could find an earlier version of a single blade #73 with 440C (even an EDC one) but he said it was a no go and that he likely wouldn't be able to find one in the future so, I went to his site to see what he had and noticed he didn't have any of the #73s with Osage-Orange covers soooooooo, I went to KSF and ordered a non-LL #73 with Osage-Orange covers from them - even paid extra for Priority Mail. If they ship it today, it could be here Monday but Tuesday most likely. One thing I'm happy to see is no etching on the blades. I'll post pictures when it gets here.
 
SonnyJim said:
Meant to ask earlier, but does anyone have examples of how Osage Orange-wood darkens?

~Jim
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I don't, but my understanding is that it just browns. It's much more interesting soon after being worked than after it's been exposed to UV light for awhile. The primary benefits of Osage Orange are its hardness, density, seasonal stability, and rot resistance which all make it suitable for knife handles--not to mention it's low modulus of elasticity (why it's also known as Bois d'arc or "bow wood").
 
Modoc ED said:
Well, I was hoping GEC would come out with a stainless (440C) version of the new #73 run but it looks like that isn't going to happen so, I went to my regular dealer and asked him if he could find an earlier version of a single blade #73 with 440C (even an EDC one) but he said it was a no go and that he likely wouldn't be able to find one in the future so, I went to his site to see what he had and noticed he didn't have any of the #73s with Osage-Orange covers soooooooo, I went to KSF and ordered a non-LL #73 with Osage-Orange covers from them - even paid extra for Priority Mail. If they ship it today, it could be here Monday but Tuesday most likely. One thing I'm happy to see is no etching on the blades. I'll post pictures when it gets here.
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The knife arrived in the afternoon mail. Very fast service by KSF - ordered Friday afternoon and delivered Monday afternoon. No time for pictures just now. Going to town for pizza.
 
Back from town and the pizza. Here's the knife. One thing I particularly like is that there is no blade etch. After I took these pictures, I broke the edge of the blade spine at the back square. That way it will not wear a hole in my pocket.

iAcetqg.jpg
 
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Modoc ED said:
Back from town and the pizza. Here's the knife. One thing I particularly like is that there is no blade etch. After I took these pictures, I broke the edge of the blade spine at the back square. That way it will not wear a hole in my pocket.

iAcetqg.jpg
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I'd like to see what you did with the spine. Pic?
 
I don't have a pic but imagine the blade closed. Go to the back of the spine at the tang and you'll notice that the edge of the spine is quite sharp. I broke the edge of the spine with a file. I didn't round it - just broke the sharp edge. This way you reduce the chance of wearing a hole in your pocket when you carry the knife. I'll try to post a picture tomorrow.
 
Ok, here we go. Look at the spine of the blade and go from the nail nick up to the tip at the end of the spine which is circled in red in the picture. That is a very sharp edge and if left as it comes, it will eventually rub a hole in your pocket when you carry your knife. To test this theory just close the knife and run that part of the knife across your shirt or jeans and you'll see how it catches.

You can't really see it all that much but what I do is take a file and juuuuuuussssssttttt break the edge of the spine just the slightest amount - only enough so it doesn't catch but rather glides when it is run across my shirt or jeans. The break is so slight that it is not noticeable when the blade is fully open and you look at the joint formed by the blade spine and spring.

dfwFrUz.jpg


I do it to all my knives with a prominent edge on the spine at the back square. Of course knives with sunken joints or nearly sunken joints do not need this treatment. Further, I rounded the covers at the butt end of the frame just the slightest also.

These are great knives. I'm sitting here thinking that I just may order another.
 
Yep, I do the same to nearly all my knives, except Case and Canal Street. Those have nice rounded tangs out of the box : )
On my 73, I also did a quick wipe with some fine wet/dry sand paper on the inside edge of the brass liners, they were left with a pretty clean sharp edge too. It's definitely hand/pocket friendly now.

~Jim
 
SonnyJim said:
Yep, I do the same to nearly all my knives, except Case and Canal Street. Those have nice rounded tangs out of the box : )
On my 73, I also did a quick wipe with some fine wet/dry sand paper on the inside edge of the brass liners, they were left with a pretty clean sharp edge too. It's definitely hand/pocket friendly now.

~Jim
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I don't think that's necessary on my particular #73 but have done it on the odd knife I've come across over time. It certainly never hurts to do these various treatments to an EDC knife so as to make them more comfortable to carry and more comfortable to use.
 
Handsome knife there Ron! This could be THE 73 of all times and I've got quite a few of this pattern, just looks like that wood suits it completely.:cool:

ETA on mine ANOTHER WEEK yet I'd say:eek:

A lot of carpet is going to get chewed in the meantime.....:eek::D:D:barf::D

Thanks, Will
 
The Osage Orange knives are very nice, but I'm a jigged bone type of guy. To me, this is what the 73 is all about, clean, sleek, all knife, family heirloom quality.

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Will Power said:
Handsome knife there Ron! This could be THE 73 of all times and I've got quite a few of this pattern, just looks like that wood suits it completely.:cool:

ETA on mine ANOTHER WEEK yet I'd say:eek:

A lot of carpet is going to get chewed in the meantime.....:eek::D:D:barf::D

Thanks, Will
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Thank you Sir. This is actually my 1st 73 and I am wondering why I waited so long. It is a great knife and the Osage Orange is going to be hard to beat.
I have pre-ordered a Cocobolo Scout non locking and I hope it looks as pleasing as this one to me.

Will, have a great day my friend :)
 
That Blackbox certainly tempted me, and the pins look superbly finished (nice domed) but I'm in a cash-crisis at the moment so I had to hold off, unfortunately.
 
Thanks Ron! I'm about to turn in as it's near 1 am over here in Europe.

Regards, Will
 
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