GEC Your Best of The BIG BOYS!

For those of you who use the #46 pattern, what do you use them for? Do they excell at particular tasks or usages? Are the blades thin slicers or stout cutters?

They sure paint a wide canvas for handle material and steel!
 
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RobbW said:
For those of you who use the #46 pattern, what do you use them for?
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Oh, you know-- frying eggs, flipping pancakes, the usual.

Do they excel at particular tasks or usages?
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The historical patterns on which these current iterations are based are either explicitly purpose-driven, or the result of marketing that not only worked back in the day, but - hey! - is still effective today!

:D

More seriously, I would love to watch someone using one of these knives for its originally designed use. I can imagine the tall, thin blade would "excel," less prone to binding than a 'shorter' blade would be, when cutting when through thick rope -- but my thoughts are merely conjecture.

As for my own usage, I will once again amusedly and somewhat abashedly confess that most of my daily 'needs' could be more than met by one of the Victorinox Classics that I carried daily for the entire span between "small, with a traditional jack knife" and "discovers Bladeforums in 5th decade of life." :-D

I carry and use the ebony Whaler simply because it makes me happy, in all its too-muchness, of wood, steel, and friendship. :)

Are the blades thin slicers or stout cutters?
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Thin slicers with some meat behind them, if only in volume! I don't have a measured comparison from which to draw, but my impression is that the blade of the Whaler is as thin as any on my other GEC patterns, perhaps even thinner than some. It does not feel delicate in any way(!), so perhaps 'stout' works as well...? But those are words we would have to parse out further to see if we are meaning the same thing. :)

They sure paint a wide canvas for handle material and steel!
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Absolutely!

~ P.
 
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pertinux said:
Oh, you know-- frying eggs, flipping pancakes, the usual.



The historical patterns on which these current iterations are based are either explicitly purpose-driven, or the result of marketing that not only worked back in the day, but - hey! - is still effective today!

:D

More seriously, I would love to watch someone using one of these knives for its originally designed use. I can imagine the tall, thin blade would "excel," less prone to binding than a 'shorter' blade would be, when cutting when through thick rope -- but my thoughts are merely conjecture.

As for my own usage, I will once again amusedly and somewhat abashedly confess that most of my daily 'needs' could be more than met by one of the Victorinox Classics that I carried daily for the entire span between "small, with a traditional jack knife" and "discovers Bladeforums in 5th decade of life." :-D

I carry and use the ebony Whaler simply because it makes me happy, in all its too-muchness, of wood, steel, and friendship. :)



Thin slicers with some meat behind them, if only in volume! I don't have a measured comparison from which to draw, but my impression is that the blade of the Whaler is as thin as any on my other GEC patterns, perhaps even thinner than some. It does not feel delicate in any way(!), so perhaps 'stout' works as well...? But those are words we would have to parse out further to see if we are meaning the same thing. :)



Absolutely!

~ P.
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Well, I just realized that Pertinux is short for Perspicacity! I should have known sooner, and probably did in the back of my mind. Thanks for the wit, humor, insight, perspective, and time taken to respond. :thumbup:

Spatula is right! This things aren't just long, they're as broad as the midwest horizon! Most of my knives fit a very narrow length and size profile: 3" to 3-3/8" for suit duty, and 3-1/2" to 3-7/8" for work-a-day. Those sizes just meet my needs in terms of usefulness and willingness to carry.

#45s and #46s on the other hand are simply huge--almost comically so in my view. Yet they are so (relatively) thin I could see actually carrying them in a backpocket or Carhartt-type legpocket. If nothing else, simply for the variety and comic relief. How could you use one of these and not smile or break right out laughing for the pure joy of using something so excessive? Plus, they have the advantage that every LP Record has over it's CD or MP3 File counterpart--the size of the album cover. No one can dispute that, and Lumberjack/Whaler handles cannot be bested by a 3-1/2" folder in terms of real estate.

Would I ever actually put one of these behemoths to use? I just might, especially after learning that the blade has a narrow thickness that would make it a good slicer--it's a serious consideration at this point.

Thanks again for the well-crafted thoughts. :thumbup:
 
RobbW said:
For those of you who use the #46 pattern, what do you use them for? Do they excell at particular tasks or usages? Are the blades thin slicers or stout cutters?

They sure paint a wide canvas for handle material and steel!
Click to expand...

As I understand it, the Whaler was used by naval shipmen as a rope knife. The knife blade was placed onto the very heavy cords of rope, with the cutting edge placed against the rope, and a mallet would be used to hammer the back edge of the knife, causing it to slice through the heavy cords of naval rope.
 
pertinux said:
I (inexpertly) modified my GEC box to contain a certain Big Boy:

IMG_2077_1.jpg~original


IMG_2078_1.jpg~original


IMG_2079.jpg~original


IMG_2080.jpg~original


This way, I can keep it near and readily accessible while providing a modicum of protection. :cool:

~ P.
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Just saw one of these sell for the highest price I've ever seen a GEC sell for. Cherish that one!!
 
Maybe so.... Maybe so....

Lovely what you've done. That is one of my favorite knives. Don't tell the lady farmers jacks.

Roosters and farmers jacks, that I refer as the female persuasion, that must be love...
 
That's a good etch too Sarah,I've seen some that are light.:thumbup::thumbup:
 
That Big Boy certainly looks at home in the box. I went a little way on the Whaler that just sold....... Need one for my collection. What kicks is that I was at the 2011 Rendevouz and did not have enough funds to buy the White Bone Whaler due to many other purchases.:mad:
 
Rusty1 said:
That Big Boy certainly looks at home in the box. I went a little way on the Whaler that just sold....... Need one for my collection. What kicks is that I was at the 2011 Rendevouz and did not have enough funds to buy the White Bone Whaler due to many other purchases.:mad:
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Missed you at the Rendezvous' .

Here's mine:

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Would liked to of been there Lyle! Clashing plans the same weekend. Another fine view of the Whaler.......Hopefully one day I will come across one.
Russell
 
PPP and Proto etches? Great find.

I really like the typeface of the Tidioute stamp as well.

I can't recall seeing that on other GECs. Very nice!:thumbup:
 
pertinux said:
I (inexpertly) modified my GEC box to contain a certain Big Boy:

IMG_2077_1.jpg~original


IMG_2078_1.jpg~original


IMG_2079.jpg~original


IMG_2080.jpg~original


This way, I can keep it near and readily accessible while providing a modicum of protection. :cool:

~ P.
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Sarah, that is absolutely beautiful.


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My GEC 462211 Grooved Buffalo Horn. EDC knife. To be honest, I use them all.[emoji39] [emoji380]

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