GEC Tidioute steel Toenail?

I looked at them (on line) and the idea of steel inside, where it's not so easy to wipe down, made me worry about rust (I plan to carry it, at least sometimes).

I picked a Northfield sunfish with green jigged bone. It's huge. It's funny looking. It's cartoonish. It's loveable! I love it!

I went ahead and ordered the smaller, but somewhat similarly styled sleeveboard model too (Tidioute, Frontier Bone version).

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I think that brass should give even more troubles, huh?

to clean it a tissue paper and a stick/small screwdriver should be all you need to clean them
Maxx
 
i received my Northfield Ebony Toenail/Sunfish today and it is :cool::thumbup:
truly a beauty.
i was feeling concerned about rust but i think my solution will be to carry it more than my other sunfish so that i can keep a close eye on it :D
way to go, GEC. sure would love another in ebony with standard brass and ns, though...
 
concerning rust on the inside i think it will be a minor problem since you do'nt contact that knife part. if you fall in the lake all knives have to be blown out & treated with rem-oil or similar.
dennis
 
My GEC toenail is semi nail buster but its like bank vault. I put it next to some of my heavy duty folders:
Buck 110
ZT 0500 MUDD
Spyderco Gayle Bradly

and I have to say, my Toenail looked like it belongs there. It's really comfy with more modern heavy duty knives. I am glad I got toenail in trade. Its one of those patterns I would have never bought simply it looked... odd and it was expensive. Now my toenail is one of my favourite knives, though its bit big for EDC'ing it gets job done marvelously at home.
 
DennisStrickland said:
concerning rust on the inside i think it will be a minor problem since you do'nt contact that knife part. if you fall in the lake all knives have to be blown out & treated with rem-oil or similar.
dennis
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haha. this made me laugh. i tried to imagine someone with the problem of repeatedly falling into a lake. :D
i'm more concerned about the humidity where i live as well as the sizable temperature fluctuations in my dwelling place, which lead to condensation issues (i guess you could say that our heater is "traditional"). like i said, though, i will just give it more attention. it is surely a wonderful pocket knife that i love already -but i may still be first in line for GECs toenail in 440C.
i'll try to get a couple of pictures of my new favorite up in a while.
 
...i think that counts as "a while."
here are a couple of photos of the Steel Toenail/Sunfish:









pictured with a ns&brass model





mine arrived with a not-quite light-tight back (which generally drives me nuts) but this imperfection is overshadowed by the overall excellence of the knife's "feel." the wood handle is great in hand and i can tell i'm going to be looking for excuses to pull it out of my pocket and use it.

**Edit:
thought that i should add that the pull is a pleasant, firm 7-8 or so and there is a nice, satisfying snap when closing. nothing mushy about the mechanics of this model compared with earlier examples; the ebony has the smoothest action of the three total that i own. good stuff.
 
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I don't have an all steel one, but for the last month my Pumpkin colored one has been in the EDC Rota.

Nice Snap, tight fit and finish, and pleasantly sharp out of the box.

36%20carved%20pumpkin.JPG
 
i had seen pics of old time hardware stores where the rolls of rope were stored in a barn structure. the toenails were commonly used to cut lengths of rope for customers.a common scenario was a toenail laying on the big stump where the knife was hit by a mallet to slice the heavy rope. i think we could say the toenail is of sturdy construction.if my steel ebony comes in this week i'll show some pics.
dennis
 
Just received my Ebony Toenail/Sunfish, I like the way the knife has been made with steel liners and bolsters the way they knives were made years ago, also the blade is stamped or deep etched not like recent knives from GEC. worries me a bit too with all being steel, we'll just see how it goes. Liking this one a lot!!

Russell

rl00203.jpg
 
rusty one that's a fantastic photo. i am wondering how to show my ebony since the steel bolsters have a deeper richer blush than the n.s. bolsters. thanks man
dennis
 
Thanks Dennis! I either take pictures out side on a dull day when the clouds are grey, or inside I have made a small lightbox with daylight type lamps, diffused with thin white cotton sheet, four lamps above and two either side.

Russell
 
Liked the look and feel of these so much, I picked up an all-steel one in Black Cherry Bone...

Just out of the Tube, and talk about a nailbreaker bear trap. She may need to be broken in a touch.
 
Jenner 515 said:
Liked the look and feel of these so much, I picked up an all-steel one in Black Cherry Bone...

Just out of the Tube, and talk about a nailbreaker bear trap. She may need to be broken in a touch.
Click to expand...

i received one that was the same way and thought it would be going back to retailer. however, carefully working some mineral oil in to get the grit out [i.e.; taking care to not lose a finger to a greasy slip of blade] made a huge difference. ymmv but my result was very satisfactory.
 
Beautiful photos. That knife (and your photography) is a pleasure to look at!

My Northfield Sunfish's action is tight, and the small blade is a little lacking in the "snap" department. On the little Tidioute Sleeveboard version the small blade has to be pushed all the way home; it won't snap closed most times.

I flushed them out thoroughly with Breakfree CLP and worked out all the grit. I lubed them with Militech and exersized them a bunch, but they still don't have a nice action. Hopefully, with time....

Is there anything else one can try?

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
those toenails are probably the most beautiful (IMHO) ive seen of the new ones, everything about them screams classic... just beautiful
man this thread may cause me to do something financially damaging:D
regards
gene
 
Looks great! I love that a production knife is available with steel liners and bolsters... the way knives should be!
 
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