GEC Tidioute #73 Osage Orange

Here's what my second one looks like cleaned of all oil/wax on the covers - much better than it looked when it came from the tube.

3xYFk7W.jpg


and a crack at the butt end which only showed up when the wax/oil was cleaned away. It's definitely a crack and not grain because if I put a drop of alcohol on it, let it set and soak in, it rises to the surface when the butt end is squeezed. No problem.

jaXUVRx.jpg
 
Will Power said:
Bob Here's an interior shot, I'm afraid I'm not good at this kind of pic.

Anyway, you'll see that the additional liner makes very little difference to the thickness, it's the scales themselves that are important. You may be able to see that the Beaver Tail in Almond Bone on the left is a thicker knife than the Osage liner-lock next to it and that the Northfield next to that is marginally thinner. Tidioute linerlock extreme right.

IMG_3269.jpg


Here's my entire 73 Tribe lined up. Osage Orange front. 3 linerlocks: Wood, Bonestag, Stag. 3 Northfields, 3 Tidioutes and 1 Cyclop's Works stainless 2 blade. Love 'em!

IMG_3270.jpg


Regards, Will
Click to expand...

Will, thank you for taking the time to snap those pics. While not much extra thickness, the subtle difference can certainly change the way the knife feels in hand from my experience. That group shot shows me what I was wondering. That's a very nice group of 73's. I love the pattern so much, I just wish I could get one with a lighter pull.
Thanks again Will.
 
mikefromsac said:
You guys are killing me. I'm not a fan of most wood handles but after going through these five pages I had to order one. Now I sit and wait for the mail ...
Click to expand...

... And today it arrived. Wow, I can't believe how much I like it. Thanks for pointing out this great knife!
 
Well, I broke down and got a second one...
This one came with wood that appears to already be starting to show some age darkening.



Compare it to my first one, bright fresh wood:
 
okbohn said:
Here is another photo....

GEC-73-Front-9028__71038.1431113755.1280.1280.jpg


Beautiful stuff.
Click to expand...
I had decided that a #73 would be my next GEC. But, I couldn't decide on what handle material I wanted or I could find. I found the Osage Orange on KSF's site and here is the one I found. I'm surprised it was still available. Thanks Derrick, the delivery wait is on.

Alan
 
That's a nice one Alan. I'm sure you'll enjoy it when it arrives. Be sure to post your own pictures of it - they always look different in person than they do in the dealer's photos. The pull may be a bit stiff when you get it but it'll ease up after use and a "oil the joints" session.
 
What I like about Osage is that it appears to be very hardy tough wood, yet it looks very attractive on a Barehead knife. Here's my liner lock version after a few months, it's darkening a bit but not much and it offsets the stripes in the grain. Nor is this a heavy knife in the pocket either.

IMG_3481.jpg


Regards, Will
 
Thanks Ed and Will. I've been looking for a good looker with the ability to take the ups and downs of EDC. I'm partial to single blades and my first two GEC's were more in the realm of gent's knives. I can't wait (who can) to get this Osage in hand. Thanks,

Alan
 
Last edited:
Finally received the #73 in Osage Orange after the USPS took it on a detour. Very nice! I'm usually a fan of the fancier Northfields but this Tidioute may have changed my mind. Elegant simplicity. And, Modoc ED, lucky me. I don't have enough experience with GEC to put a number on it, but a nice even pull. My apologies to Alaska and Hawaii but I couldn't find a 50 Star Flag to use in my photo. Thanks again to all of you who influenced my decision.
image_zpsd0e3a52a.jpg


Alan

colors are a little off because I can't resist editing, but they're close.
 
I couldn't resist and picked one of these babies up for myself. I think it's my new favorite edc. Does everyone else's have a super strong pull? Like an 8 or 9? I like it, but it would be a nail breaker for some.

Pics coming.
 
Envious here. I haven't been able to find a non-linerlock. So I picked up a Bull Buster from KSF in Osage Orange and its a beauty.
I'll have to content myself with my 73 in green micarta, and my 2-blade in Ebony.
 
Osage is such a beautiful and tough wood. George Washington is said to have had teeth made of it (Yuk). It darkens due to exposure to UV light. There is a UV protectant spar varnish that blocks the reaction. When I was making bows of Osage, I always wanted to make a stencil of an arrowhead and spray that area with UV protective spar varnish, then put a finish over the whole thing. As time goes by, the image will show up lighter than the surrounding wood. It's a real oily wood, so you have to degrease it before any type of finish, or glueing it.
 
I have posted this 73 in Osage Orange many times. I bought this knife from the exchange, so I am the second owner.
I cannot lay claim to all of the patina on the handle or blade, but I have definitely added to it. This is without a doubt
my most frequently toted knife. As a note of record, when I attended the Rendezvous back in August they happened
to be producing the new #83 Lock Blade in Cocobolo. When I was taking my factory tour the process of finish buffing
was taking place and the discussion of the wood types some how was brought up. Bill Howard at this time told us that
the Osage Orange wood was the only one that Great Eastern used without having it go through a stabilization process.
This is a testament to the toughness and stability this wood possesses in the natural state. My knife actual has a small
repaired area at the lower left of the Hot Dog shield that has been repaired with filler at the factory. I assume it must have
chipped out during the milling operation for the Shield, thus eluding to the hardness this wood possesses.

21555377362_4d521651c0_b.jpg
 
Yes, interesting. If that statement is true, they stabilize cocobolo, ebony, and blackwood, which are normally not stabilized.
 
lambertiana said:
Yes, interesting. If that statement is true, they stabilize cocobolo, ebony, and blackwood, which are normally not stabilized.
Click to expand...

I can't think of one reason why GEC would go through the hassle of stabilizing woods that don't require it. Someone educate me, or set the record straight here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top