GEC's three brands and a couple other newbie questions

[russde]

I'm new to the Traditional world and have been lurking in the forum soaking up knowledge and now I have a few questions that I can't find an answers to.
1. GEC's website lists Northfield and UN-X-LD as brands and say they use 1095 steel, they also show "Great Eastern Cutlery" as a separate brand and say 440C is used...but I can't find any GEC (specific) knives, only Northfield and UN-X-LD.

2. I've seen in some posts that some folks prefer 'single spring knives', why? Simply because this gives a thinner profile? Or is the walk and talk different on a single spring?

3. In the discussion of the forum knife a request/comment for a 'wrap around spring for the pen blade', what is a wrap around spring? As opposed to what?

4. I understand when folks speak of "aprox a 5 pound pull", but what is a 'long pull'?

Thanks in advance for answering questions that may seem common knowledge...but not common to me
Cheers,
Russel

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Welcome to the "old timey" addiction!

1. Great Eastern Cutlery is the actual business, own the factory etc. They have several different brands, including Great Eastern, Northfield UNXLD and Tidioute. I have folders from all three subgroups, and other than the difference in steels and nail nick/long pull, I see no big difference in any of them. The Northfields are usually a little nicer than the Great Eastern or Tidoute. I have a Beaver Falls trapper, marked Tidioute. I found this out recently, Northfield and Tidioute are marked Titusville ironworks, Great Eastern is marked Cyclops (gonna double check).

2. I prefer more than one spring on multi blade knives, so I'm not the one to ask. I did pick up a GEC half whittler in a trade, and bought a Queen canoe a couple years ago, both single springs. No problems, knock on wood.

3. No idea, I'll be back to learn sumtin'.

4. If I am correct in my assumption, something dad told me to never do , they mean the long nail pull. I looked for some good pics or diagrams. The basic nail nick is the basic half moon/tear shape indentation you hook a fingernail in to open a blade on a folder. Basically, the long pull, or matchstriker pull, or French nail nick, is a longer nail nick, generally in a straight line extending for a portion of the blade. I've seen some that are fairly short, while most are about 2/3 length of the blade.

Maybe others here can better enlighten you, with some pics . Lemme know what you think of that trapper .

 

[Simple Man]

I'm learning about GEC's also, and while I can't add anything. I'll say this will be followed intently, thanks Russ. :thumbup:

Are there many/any GEC's that have a flush tang ie. where the tang is not protruding from the scale when closed?

 

[ndeezl]

Here's a pic of what I believe is meant by "wrap around spring". I borrowed the pic from Blade_Crazy so I hope he doesn't mind. As you can see the spring wraps around the front of the knife where the pen blade sits. The wharcliffe blade doesn't have a wrap around spring. Also with the pull, a "5" on the pull scale doesn't mean it takes 5lb of pressue to open the knife. It's simply a scale from 1-10 with 1 being VERY easy to open the knife, and a 10 being extremely stiff/difficult. Hope this helps.

Nathan

 

[Sonnemann]

Edit: beaten to it by ndeezl!

3. Here is a comparison of a Case Peanut (left) and a Case Swayback Jack (right). Despite the two different blade lengths on the Peanut, the wells in which the blades sit are the same length. You'll notice on the SBJ that the pen blade's spring appears "wrapped around" which basically means that the space in the knife not taken up by the shorter blade is instead taken up by the backspring. It makes for a nicer presentation in my opinion and might even prevent foreign objects from gunking up the knife.

 

[2Dead]

1 - SHS is basically correct although not all GEC blades have Cyclops Steel Works on the tang. The ones with 440c do but I have some with 420 that do not even though they are acorn shielded GECs. Also, I believe the newest fixed blades are 1095 not 440c, and the #71 Bullnose work knife is in 0-1 while still being GEC. GEC doesn't make as many patterns under the GEC brand as the Northfields and Tidioutes. The last 2 made were the #33 Conductors (which are still out there) and #72 Mini Hunter lockbacks (pretty much gone). Off the top of my head, there are #12 Toothpicks, #23 Pioneers, #25 Jacks, #33 Conductors, #53 Cubans, #72 Mini Hunters, #73 Scout trappers. There are also I think H50 and H60 fixed blades in 440c.

2 - Thinner profile does it for me. Usually less bulky too when you're talking multi blades

3 - I don't have a handy pic but if you look at a jack with a short pen blade and a longer blade, the longer blade goes all the way to the end of the the handle while the pen stops short half way. Typically there is empty space all the way to the end of the handle while a wraparound spring actually has most of that area filled in by the back spring. I think its mostly for aesthetics but I'll defer to those more knowledgeable.

4 - SHS is right again. Although I would say its not a "5 pound pull" but usually a "5 on the pull scale". Everyone is different so its hard to have the same measure of pull strength needed to open a knife. I use a Victorinox Pioneer/Soldier as an example of a 5 on the pull. A blade that falls out would be a 0, a blade that I can't open even with pliers is a 10. Everything else is in between in varying degrees.

 

[johnny twoshoes]

Pics make everything better. :thumbup:

Okay, as stated above GEC is the company, but they offer three brands.

First is Great Eastern Cutlery, which is the only brand offered with stainless steel and an Acorn shield.

Second, is Tidioute cutlery. 1095 steel blades, but with less flare as the Northfield/UN-X-LD brand.
No Swedges, satin finished blades, just less work which makes for a slight price difference.

Then there is the Northfield/UN-X-LD brand. Again, 1095 steel blades, but this time you get swedges, long pools, polished blades and other goodies, like lined bolsters.

 

[2Dead]

I'm learning about GEC's also, and while I can't add anything. I'll say this will be followed intently, thanks Russ. :thumbup:

Are there many/any GEC's that have a flush tang ie. where the tang is not protruding from the scale when closed?

I don't recall one being made where the tang is completely hidden when closed unless you're looking at the #65 Ben Hogan. It has a copperhead style bolster that covers most of it.

 

[rma100]

The Great Eastern Cutlery Company uses three Brand knives for their own production knives. Great Eastern is their Stainless Blade Line. They use 440C for the Blades on these knives.They also make very few runs of Great Eastern Knives.

The Tidioute Cutlery brand is considered their entry level,or "work" knife. These have 1095 Carbon Steel Blades with a matte finish,plain bolsters and usually a "Tidioute" or "Hot Dog" Inlay Shield. They also have more reasonably priced handle materials.

The Beavertail Knives are a group of Tidioute Cutlery Knives.

The third brand is Northfield UN-X-LD. These are the Premium Line of knives. Dimpled and lined bolsters,sometimes a Double Pull,Long Pull or Matchstriker Pull. They also have the Premium Handle Materials,Burnt Stag,Genuine Stag,Primitive Bone,Snakewood,etc,etc. These knives also have 1095 Carbon Syeel Blades with a bright finish.

A single spring knife is popular because of it's slim profile and ease of pocket carry.
The best GEC pattern for a "Flush Tang" would be the 62 pattern.

 

[coyote711]

Also, in case ya didn't get it, UN-X-LD is their way of saying Unexcelled.

 

[russde]

Wow, a whole passel of excellent info! Thanks so much to all.
Now I'll have a better idea of what I'm reading...and dreaming about buying.

 

[Simple Man]

Agreed, thanks. I will look into the #62. I don't have to have full flush tangs, but I do prefer it to be closer to the SBJ style (current carry) than say a Sodbuster which sticks up quite a bit. Canoes don't quite count in my opinion as flush tang because the scales is "abnormal" to cover it.

(shamelessly lifted from ebay, for example only)

 

[russde]

Alrighty, got another question. How do you (individual) pronounce Tidioute?
We just moved to the Boston area from San Antonio and the pronunciation of some names is interesting to say the least. Peabody is pronounced pee-bidy, that one is my favorite.
R

 

[Rick]

Alrighty, got another question. How do you (individual) pronounce Tidioute?

Think: "Tiddy-oot," as in "titty" and "hoot."

 

[Simple Man]

This sounds convincing and correct, so I an going with it 'till told otherwise.

Start at :40 and go from there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgOZ1TmFBLQ

 

[rma100]

Tid Dee Yoot,it's a native american word

 

[Brian.Evans]

I really really really want one of those easy pocket congress with two blades and primitive bone.

 

[dannyp]

Everybody's got the GEC basics pretty much covered already. Here's a couple pics to show different types of pulls.

Long pulls are long and straight. On some old knives they go all the way through the tang. Nail nicks are crescent shaped and need to be properly located to look good and function well. The 2011 Easy Open Forum Knife shows both types.

Another term is matchstrike pull. It is simply a pull that has little 'teeth' cut into it. This can be applied to either a nail nick or long pull.

 

[chevy_racin]

This is a great thread OP. I am learning a lot.

 

[biglmbass]

Are there many/any GEC's that have a flush tang ie. where the tang is not protruding from the scale when closed?

The main blade on the #57 geppetto whittler is nearly flush with the top of the bolster. The #12 toothpicks are nearly so, while the pen blade on a two blade #12 toothpick (called a powderhorn jack) is nicley flush.