Giving GEC another try

Doug Add

Doug Add

Joined
Jan 9, 2012
Messages
3,331
I am used to being in the minority, so it does not surprise me that unlike many on this forum, I have never found Great Eastern Cutlery knives to be my favorites. I have owned four, but no longer own any of them. Not that there was necessarily anything wrong with them (well, except for the primitive bone 73 that I could not open and returned to the seller), they just did not capture my imagination to the extent that I could not imagine being without them. I kept the 65 Ben Hogan the longest (just over six months), but let it go today.

In it's place I have at least one, and maybe two GEC Northfield 66s on the way. I have a feeling that this one (and both if I do get the other) will be sticking around for a while. The 66 frame size is more to my liking than the 65, 72, or 73, and the bone handles are quite appealing to me. I will post my impressions of the 66 when it arrives, and hopefully will be able to repeat the process if I pick up the second one.

There is no shame in being predominantly a Case and Schrade man, the knives they made in the middle to latter part of the 20th century are the ones that I really enjoy. I have a feeling that once I get a 66 in my hand, I will be just as happy with it.
 
Well Doug, you're not alone. I've got exactly one...and it was a gift. Different strokes and all that...hope you like your new one though.
 
I hope you like it, Doug. If you don't maybe you should just accept being a Case and Schrade man. :cool:
 
Good luck, Doug. The #66 is a hard pattern not to like. I hope you adore it.

I think I might have been the original owner of that Primitive Bone #73 that you speak of. Mine was serial number 06 and I think I remember seeing it change hands a time or two. Yep, that blade was a real bear trap.
 
Look forward to it - I may have to try them out..... :) have not had a new factory knife for a few years now. :eek::grumpy:
Doug Add said:
I am used to being in the minority, so it does not surprise me that unlike many on this forum, I have never found Great Eastern Cutlery knives to be my favorites. I have owned four, but no longer own any of them. Not that there was necessarily anything wrong with them (well, except for the primitive bone 73 that I could not open and returned to the seller), they just did not capture my imagination to the extent that I could not imagine being without them. I kept the 65 Ben Hogan the longest (just over six months), but let it go today.

In it's place I have at least one, and maybe two GEC Northfield 66s on the way. I have a feeling that this one (and both if I do get the other) will be sticking around for a while. The 66 frame size is more to my liking than the 65, 72, or 73, and the bone handles are quite appealing to me. I will post my impressions of the 66 when it arrives, and hopefully will be able to repeat the process if I pick up the second one.
There is no shame in being predominantly a Case and Schrade man, the knives they made in the middle to latter part of the 20th century are the ones that I really enjoy. I have a feeling that once I get a 66 in my hand, I will be just as happy with it.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Doug! Which pattern of the #66 do you have coming ..... Calf Roper, Serpentine Jack, Mink Skinner, Bullwinkle J. Moose??? I have a Tidioute #66 Serpentine Jack clad in ebony and it's a sweet knife. Pretty much your no-frills, no surprises, rock-solid jackknife. Good luck and I hope it's a keeper for you! ;)
 
Last edited:
My first and only was a bummer to be honest, but I'm hoping a forum member may have an 85 real harness jack that I Need.

Regards

Robin
 
Doug, I hope you find what you're looking for in the 66. It's more or less the quintessential multiblade GEC. My own GECs I've kept have in part been inspired by seeing the models you've gone through (White Owl, 72, Ben Hogan) so it's only fair!
 
Hope you like the 66, that is one that I have been intending to get for a while now, actually offered up a S&M Heritage Series Cattle King for trade a couple days ago to see if I could get any bites on a trade for one...no bites. I still have my eye on an ebony 66 jack.
 
Railsplitter said:
I think I might have been the original owner of that Primitive Bone #73 that you speak of. Mine was serial number 06 and I think I remember seeing it change hands a time or two. Yep, that blade was a real bear trap.
Click to expand...

Near relative, Rick. Mine was #12, hope that doesn't mean it was twice as hard to open as yours! I saw my returned 73 pop up once or twice, too.
 
On the topic of bear trap 73s, I had a snakewood 73 jack for a while but got rid of it because it was just to hard to open the pen blade. All the most recent GECs I have gotten have not been nearly as difficult to open.
 
coyote711 said:
Hi Doug! Which pattern of the #66 do you have coming ..... Calf Roper, Serpentine Jack, Mink Skinner, Bullwinkle J. Moose??? I have a Tidioute #66 Serpentine Jack clad in ebony and it's a sweet knife. Pretty much your no-frills, no surprises, rock-solid jackknife. Good luck and I hope it's a keeper for you! ;)
Click to expand...

Another surprise, Keith. The guy who prefers jack knives is going for the Moose. I could not pass up the bone on this one. I promise pictures when it gets here in week or so.

Hopefully, I will like it as much as I do these two, that have blades opening from opposite ends, Case pen:

CasepenApr29g.jpg


Camillus equal end:

CamillusEEopenfront.jpg
 
Last edited:
I hope you like the Moose Doug, I really do. For me it's just the right size for the 'classic' pocket knife that I always remembered guys having as a kid. Something about the serpentine shape too. I have a NF jack, the red bone NF Moose and a NF Calf Roper in cocobolo which I have yet to photograph but carried most of last weekend.

I should check out the Mink Skinner :D
 
Sonnemann said:
Doug, I hope you find what you're looking for in the 66. It's more or less the quintessential multiblade GEC. My own GECs I've kept have in part been inspired by seeing the models you've gone through (White Owl, 72, Ben Hogan) so it's only fair!
Click to expand...

I think I will. The 65 was longer than I am comfortable carrying. The 72 had gorgeous cocobolo, but I'm not a fan of lockbacks (bought it because of that handle material), and I prefer more than one blade in a knife. The 68 is the one I probably should have kept, as the ebony was beautiful and the size just right. At the time I had too many spear blade knives (and needed the cash more than another knife). If it would have had a clip main, I may have been less inclined to let it go.
 
You know I am a fan, I have been enjoying my Calf Roper lately rotating it with ol'yellar. I need to take some picks, she has been used hard lately at my new job. Debating on the Moose myself. I hope you enjoy the 66 frame, it melts in my hand and I dont hesitate to use it for anything. Been punching holes in metal cans. cutting sheetrock, trimming some plastic and some wood work. I am sure the Moose will hold up to the same use. The forum knife might sideline them for awhile, might ;)
 
Doug Add said:
Not that there was necessarily anything wrong with them (well, except for the primitive bone 73 that I could not open and returned to the seller), they just did not capture my imagination to the extent that I could not imagine being without them.
Click to expand...

You're definitely not alone. I've owned three GECs -- a Big Jack, a spearpoint #72, and a single blade #73. Although the quality was excellent on all the knives, only the #73 kept my interest.

I think it's the fact that GECs don't pass the eyeball test. I don't have any problems with GEC's craftsmanship, but the proportions on their knives seem off. Most of them are either too fat and stubby or long and skinny. Very few of their knives look right to me.

I don't understand you being a Case and Schrade man though. The best knives are made by Queen. ;)

- Christian
 
I have had similar experience, having bought six different patterns. Only two really speak to me - the 73 (my all-time favorite slipjoint) and the toothpick.
 
Being a devout Queen 48 D2 whittler fan, at least in the production department, I find this information a bit disconcerting considering I was literally about to take the plunge on a clip blade Geppetto Whittler. :(
 
Just to whet your appetite, here are my three #66s, a mink skinner and two calf ropers.

IMG_9901-2.jpg


PrimRoper.jpg


CocoCalfRoper3.jpg


The cocobolo stockman is a fine little user for me.
 
Thanks for the pictures Jeff!

I just confirmed purchase of the 66 jack, so I will have two Northfield 66s heading my way in the next week or so.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top