GEC's Congress

CL01

CL01

Joined
Apr 19, 2007
Messages
3,396
I've been picking up quite a few slip-joints lately & I know what I like. However, I've never tried or handled a 4 blade Congress, but it definitely appeals to me.

I think I've seen some Congresses in the 3.5" range, but I really like GEC's knives (Have had 2 or 3) & I'm seriously thinking of getting one.

So my question is mainly to people that have a GEC Congress, how does it carry in the pocket & how long are the 2 longer Sheepsfoot blades. Pics comparing it would be nice, but really would like to hear from members that have one.

Thank you in advance.
 
I've got Queen's in D2. It's so nice that now I'd love to have one by GEC. Looking forward to some pics.
 
Hi :D

I have a nice Burnt Orange for me. And liked it so much I purchased one in Black Micarta for my grand daughter. The black makes a striking look.

A little over 1 3/4" on the main blades and 1 1/2" for the pen blades.
VERY happy with all parts of my Congress. Top notch quality. Rides light and easy in jeans or in shorts cargo pockets.

GreatEastern001.jpg



ChloesGECCongress.jpg



The black is a stock photo. I will work on some in hand shots.
 
Do some 4 blade Congress have a different config from the GEC matched pairs?
 
I have a Tidioute Congress that I like very much. It's in my pocket right now, and I'm considering picking up another one. The blade action on the congress pattern is the nicest out of all of the GEC's so far, IMO. The blades have a good snap to them, but they're not super-hard to open like a lot of the GECs are. I don't like the congress pattern in general, it's one of my least favorite of the Case patterns, but Great Eastern's interpretation is quite nice. Some of the Northfield versions with the curved shield and threaded bolsters are absolutely gorgeous.

The sheepsfoot blades are 2" long, from bolster to tip. They're long enough to do most cutting tasks, but short enough to be handy. With the full-sized handle and short blades, you can get a lot of leverage behind those sheepsfoot blades. They're great for whittling. And you aren't going to scare anyone with a Congress pattern knife- it's very non-threatening.
 
willgoy said:
Do some 4 blade Congress have a different config from the GEC matched pairs?
Click to expand...

Yes, some have 3 or 4 different blade styles.

I have a number of GEC congress knives and a number of congress knives in general. It is becoming a favorite pattern. They seem like little works of art the way it is constructed and presented.

The interesting thing about the GEC congresses is that the two main blades are shorter than you would expect them to be. They could be another 1/2" longer, and still fit in the frame. That is the way most other congress models are.

I'm not saying the GEC is wrong or bad, though. I really like the GEC congress.

Eric.
 
Thank you. That's what I was looking for. I've heard/read that it's relatively lighter vs their similar sized Scout & with softer springs. I really liked the Barlow, but found the little blade was too hard to pull sometimes (Sometimes it'd be fine, other times, practically a nail buster). The Scout was nice, but too wide & heavy for my tastes.

2" is OK, but I agree that another 1/2" wouldn't have been bad for a 3.75" knife. Plus, if it's 2" from tip to bolster, than the edge is probably around 1.75 or so.

Still, I do think I "need" to get one.
 
This is the one I'm currently having a very hard time resisting.
DSCN7063.jpg

I'm a little unsure about how tough those LVS abalone scales are, and the thing is crazy $$$$, but it sure does look amazing!
 
moonwilson said:
This is the one I'm currently having a very hard time resisting.
DSCN7063.jpg

I'm a little unsure about how tough those LVS abalone scales are, and the thing is crazy $$$$, but it sure does look amazing!
Click to expand...

I'm trying to resist that one as well. I have a few LVS abalone knives and while they are pretty, I don't tend to carry them and they just end up in a drawer to look at occasionally. On the other hand, most of my knives are like that. I try to be more a user, than a collector, but it is not working.

Eric.
 
I'd like to see them do a 2 bladed one, similar to Queen Cutlery's version, but not in that naff Bird's Eye Maple.......
 
willgoy said:
I'd like to see them do a 2 bladed one, similar to Queen Cutlery's version, but not in that naff Bird's Eye Maple.......
Click to expand...

Me too! I don't need four blades on a knife. 2 is plenty- 1095 holds a good edge. A slim congress would be pretty cool. :cool:
 
moonwilson said:
This is the one I'm currently having a very hard time resisting.
DSCN7063.jpg

I'm a little unsure about how tough those LVS abalone scales are, and the thing is crazy $$$$, but it sure does look amazing!
Click to expand...

The abalone scales are certainly pretty, but LVS stands for "Laminated Veneer Sheets"; a composite slab made from resin-bonded abalone chips. On the plus side, the scales are probably less vulnerable to cracking than the real thing, but I find it hard to justify the asking price for reconstituted abalone.
 
Rick said:
LVS stands for "Laminated Veneer Sheets"; a composite slab made from resin-bonded abalone chips.
Click to expand...

I had no idea! :eek: But, knowing that now, maybe I'll consider one of these. I've seen MOP scaled knives with shattered scales, and I was afraid of spending the money on a knife of this size, to have such a fragile scale material.

Gorgeous knife.

thx - cpr
 
I have the S&M 16 series 4" Congress.
It a beautiful piece of work!
A main Sheepsfoot and Spear
A coping and pen as secondary
The F&F is outstanding

I also have a Queen in white stagbone in D2.
A solid knife with two sheepsfoot and two pens

I also have a Boker Tang series in carbon at 3 5/8"
A really nice knife for under $40
A sheepsfoot and spear as the main blades
And two pen blades as the secondary, but the pen are ground differently so one can be sharpened into a modified wharnie.
 
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