GEC's jigging

In my view, you can't have too many threads about jigging, it's a core issue in the aesthetics of a Traditional knife. Of course, there are those who say, rather oddly, that aesthetics are not an important part of Traditional lore. It's more to do with authenticity of a pattern or what a cutler may or may not have done in 'x' place at 'y' year, should this or that blade be there, names are unimportant etc they say. But for me, a Traditional knife IS an aesthetic experience, handling and using a knife you find beautiful and just looking at it and marvelling, is very central to why I want to own many Traditionals. Jigging therefore, is a key. I would say that Smooth Bone is also desirable but from another point obviously.

This Lick Creek really impresses me and the more I handle the knife, the better it gets

IMG_4064.jpg


I really like this stuff on the Eureka, it enhances the shape of the frame, small bolster adding to the effect. It too ages nicely.

IMG_3851.jpg


This early 25 has nice irregular type jig. Believe it's called Amber Barnboard ?

IMG_3107.jpg


More early stuff, 07 or 08 on a stainless fixed. Horsecut jigged. Has very nice light parts on a basically dark bone.

IMG_2995.jpg


Finally, this 56 Pruner has bone similar to the Eureka, shows that GEC might be able to come up with some credible Winterbottom Bone in the future? It's a really well finished knife this and the smaller Hawkbill proves very useful indeed. Hope you've enjoyed my pix and enjoy Christmas & New Year wherever you are and whoever you may be!

IMG_0787.jpg
 
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Will Power said:
In my view, you can't have too many threads about jigging, it's a core issue in the aesthetics of a Traditional knife. Of course, there are those who say, rather oddly, that aesthetics are not an important part of Traditional lore. It's more to do with authenticity of a pattern or what a cutler may or may not have done in 'x' place at 'y' year, should this or that blade be there, names are unimportant etc they say. But for me, a Traditional knife IS an aesthetic experience, handling and using a knife you find beautiful and just looking at it and marvelling, is very central to why I want to own many Traditionals. Jigging therefore, is a key. I would say that Smooth Bone is also desirable but from another point obviously.

This Lick Creek really impresses me and the more I handle the knife, the better it gets

IMG_4064.jpg


I really like this stuff on the Eureka, it enhances the shape of the frame, small bolster adding to the effect. It too ages nicely.

IMG_3851.jpg


This early 25 has nice irregular type jig. Believe it's called Amber Barnboard ?

IMG_3107.jpg


More early stuff, 07 or 08 on a stainless fixed. Horsecut jigged. Has very nice light parts on a basically dark bone.

IMG_2995.jpg


Finally, this 56 Pruner has bone similar to the Eureka, shows that GEC might be able to come up with some credible Winterbottom Bone in the future? It's a really well finished knife this and the smaller Hawkbill proves very useful indeed. Hope you've enjoyed my pix and enjoy Christmas & New Year wherever you are and whoever you may be!

IMG_0787.jpg
Click to expand...

Have I told you recently how glad I am that you finally learned to post pictures?! I mean, it's likely been years now, but I remember when you used to just tell us about your knives-- so close and yet so far. Now? Your knives, and pictures, tend to register in a 'best of' category for whatever you choose to show.... Thank you. :)

I agree with you about jigging, and the impact it has on each pattern.

...GEC's naming practices can be maddening, with bone named after color regardless of the jigging, wildly different jigging given the same name on different patterns, etc.

Regardless, whenever "jigging" is mentioned, this knife answers the bell:

IMG_6772_zps1edcee26.jpg~original


Horsecut Antique bone, as seen on a 2008 #25 (other iterations of Horsecut jigging, on other patterns, can look similar but I haven't seen anything else quite like this? Although it does seem GEC has gotten closer to it in more recent in-house attempts).

The combination of the variegation in the bone coloring plus the non-template randomness not just of each cut but in the depth of the cuts really sets this one apart to me.

IMG_3140.jpg~original


HorsecutFallLeaves-1.jpg~original


HorsecutAntique-1.jpg~original

(The pile side's color matches that of the mark side; this is just the best image I have of the back, under different lighting conditions than most of the pile side pictures.)

With its 2008 compatriot, also fine:
IMG_9814.jpg~original

(I believe the red knife's jigging is referred to as "red jigged bone" in GEC's records. Yes, that clears it up, thank you.)

~ P.
 
I enjoyed this topic quite a bit when it came up for this years forum knife, nice to see a dedicated thread. For a short time I owned a #15 rope knife before gifting it to a friend and I will admit that it had the nicest jigging of any GEC knife that I have handled or owned. I think that most pictures don't do justice to how good a job GEC did on that run. Thanks everyone for all the great pictures. I enjoy many styles of jigging but here's a few borrowed examples that I provided earlier this year-



 
pertinux said:
With its 2008 compatriot, also fine:
IMG_9814.jpg~original

(I believe the red knife's jigging is referred to as "red jigged bone" in GEC's records. Yes, that clears it up, thank you.)

~ P.
Click to expand...

The red is fabulous! Jigging and the color is just right. Never seen that one before.
 
Sarah Very kind of you to say so. It's only a point&shoot Canon that I got from a local supermarket that was clearing out its stock. "nobody needs those now, too out of date" the girl told me, but I needed one :D Smart phones interest me not, too much to lug around and worry about-the work one I seldom switch on, let alone use.;) I have no need for instant connectivity, your brain should be doing that anyway.... It cost me less than 40€ which in those days was some Dollars more but peanuts in any currency for what it does.

That dark 25 you have has the jigging from beyond the Cosmos! Just superb, including the colour. More proof that aesthetics is a guiding light..:)

Regards, Will
 
I was talking to Bill at GEC a few months ago and he said good jigging is as much the guy feeding the jigging machine as it is the machine. Interesting as I thought once machine was configured you just fed bone in. Not so....... I wonder what would happen if you refed the jigged bone in again or....again and again....?
 
Thanks Jeff for the correction :thumbup: The Brimstone looks particularly handsome on that 53 frame.
 
Will Power said:
Bonestag/Stagbone is controversial. Some look down on it as mere faux Stag, so the accompanying drink might be appropriate :D But I like it, I think this was GEC's only foray into this type of jigging. From '08 a liner lock 73
Click to expand...

Faux Stag or not I also like it. Yours is a very nice looking knife.
 
pertinux said:
Regardless, whenever "jigging" is mentioned, this knife answers the bell:

IMG_6772_zps1edcee26.jpg~original


Horsecut Antique bone, as seen on a 2008 #25 (other iterations of Horsecut jigging, on other patterns, can look similar but I haven't seen anything else quite like this? Although it does seem GEC has gotten closer to it in more recent in-house attempts).

The combination of the variegation in the bone coloring plus the non-template randomness not just of each cut but in the depth of the cuts really sets this one apart to me.
Click to expand...

Pertinux, that is just flat-out gorgeous! It has a nebula-like quality to it, that draws you into peering deeper into the bone. Very nice!
 
Anyone have one of those GEC Sarpent 23s? It had some type of oval-circle jigging. I haven't seen one of those in a while but I have seen a few custom slipjoints with similar jigging.
 
That Sarpent Bone is so realistic it makes your flesh creep...:eek::eek: I think they only did it on the 23 a very large knife.

Here's some recent Rust Red bone from this year. I wouldn't call it rust, it's much darker, not far off wine. Much preferable to CASE's current efforts at Red Bone, I also like the fact that the jigging goes into the bolster. Like a lot of Tidioute jigged, it had some sharp facets that need wearing down with pocket carry, alright by me. :D


The pin-work on these is very good too, like some of my other Tidioutes and those shown by Jeff on the 53s. Nice domed or flush pins, no ugly centre sink-hole that you often find, including on very expensive handle runs by Northwoods. Sticks out like a sore thumb in my view, but a lot of people don't seem to mind or even notice :confused:

IMG_4234.jpg
 
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