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Held a Gayle Bradley for the first time the other day
- Thread starter KJdanReuben
- Start date
1 vs. 2, similar but not the same, if the 2 had the liners of the 1 I'd be tempted to say it would beat the PM2 in my eyes
Since we are picking it apart the perfect GB would be:
Liners of the 1
Blade and handle length of the 1
Blade shape of the 2
Choil of the 1
Negative Blade angle of the 1
Sounds easy right!
Since I can't have all that Surf said it best the 1 feels best in hand and use so its an easy pick.
1 vs. 2, similar but not the same, if the 2 had the liners of the 1 I'd be tempted to say it would beat the PM2 in my eyes
Since we are picking it apart the perfect GB would be:
Liners of the 1
Blade and handle length of the 1
Blade shape of the 2
Choil of the 1
Negative Blade angle of the 1
Sounds easy right!
Since I can't have all that Surf said it best the 1 feels best in hand and use so its an easy pick.
This. I love my GB1 but the blade shape of the 2 is awesome. I'd love to have a GB1 with the blade of the 2.
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- May 25, 2013
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I too prefer the subtle changes they made to the blade shape in the two. A bit less drop in the drop point makes for a more useful tip in my work.
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- Nov 29, 2013
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I love my GB1 , and I'm sure the GB2 is very good ( Haven't seen or held one yet )
But.......
I lost a tiny amount of respect for Spyderco or Gayle Bradley ( not sure which ) when the knife that was designed and built without compromise .............. was compromised .
The creation of the GB2 can only be conformation that they think they got it wrong the first time .
My opinion is they got it right the first time , and the only mistake they made was doubting themselves .
Ken
But.......
I lost a tiny amount of respect for Spyderco or Gayle Bradley ( not sure which ) when the knife that was designed and built without compromise .............. was compromised .
The creation of the GB2 can only be conformation that they think they got it wrong the first time .
My opinion is they got it right the first time , and the only mistake they made was doubting themselves .
Ken
My GB2 should be delivered later this week! I think I will like it. Never had a GB1 to compare it to... so in a sense... I won't know what I'm missing.
1 vs. 2, similar but not the same, if the 2 had the liners of the 1 I'd be tempted to say it would beat the PM2 in my eyes
Those are both gorgeous but the GB2 easily beats the GB1 in the looks department. I'm pumped to get mine shortly. I may end up with a GB1 as well though. lol I've only been collecting knives for 4 months and already own two PM2s with another on preorder(Blurple s110v).
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- Jan 23, 2013
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On that point we disagree, the GB1 is a true classic while the 2 is just a very nice knife.
IMHO, if not for the 1, the lore of the Spyderco Gayle Bradley would not be what it is. Holding and using a GB1 is instrumental in discerning the aesthetic beauty of that classic - the thumb ramp transition, the finger choil integration with the blade (and precision smoothness of said parts), the downsweep of the blade's belly, the curvature of the "palm area" of the grip (so much like my beloved Emerson Commanders), liners thick enough to require spring cutout relief - all of these defining traits of the GB1 are (sadly IMHO) missing on the GB2. I would eventually pick up a GB2 if it hadn't pushed the 1 out of production; maybe I'll get over that, or maybe not.
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This thread took me from what's so great about GB to I need to get one. Did a ton of research. I love the look of GB1, and love many of the discontinued Spyderco models. The GB1s are still out there and one will be arriving shortly. Knowing me, I'm sure a GB2 is soon to follow. Thank you Gayle Bradley Thread.
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- Apr 24, 2013
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This. Just not sure how soon mine will arrive. Gotta save those pennies.
Holding it really made me like it a lot. I wish they weren't discontinued. That really puts the pressure on. I'm just not sure how often I'd actually carry it. It weighs more than what I normally like and I would hardly qualify my needs as hard use, but I just want one now. I should've known better and never picked it up.
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- Apr 24, 2013
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1 vs. 2, similar but not the same, if the 2 had the liners of the 1 I'd be tempted to say it would beat the PM2 in my eyes
Thanks for pictures! This thread needed some.
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- Dec 6, 2012
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- 5,522
Love my GB1. I'm glad I got it.
For me, the GB1 is the right size and weight for what I like in a knife. I thought hard about the GB2 though before going with the GB1, but the 2 is just a bit too long for me. I wanted the thick liners of the 1 most of all.
I'm not sure what Mr Bradley was thinking when he made the 2s handle longer, but I do like the 2s blade shape more than the 1.
If he would have put the 2 blade on the 1, then that would have been most excellent for me.
For me, the GB1 is the right size and weight for what I like in a knife. I thought hard about the GB2 though before going with the GB1, but the 2 is just a bit too long for me. I wanted the thick liners of the 1 most of all.
I'm not sure what Mr Bradley was thinking when he made the 2s handle longer, but I do like the 2s blade shape more than the 1.
If he would have put the 2 blade on the 1, then that would have been most excellent for me.
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Just received the GB1. Great knife. Every thing I read about is true.
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- Jan 23, 2013
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Most certainly this has been posted previously and it different threads, but with the fresh interest some are having for the disco'd GB1, here's Mr. Bradley talking us through the original's design:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk0IxU-fuW4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk0IxU-fuW4
GB940Rookie
Gold Member
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The GB1 is my favorite folder bar none. Just picked up a backup.
Nothing against the GB2 but Mr. Bradley got it right the first time.
Nothing against the GB2 but Mr. Bradley got it right the first time.Regarding the GB1 to GB2 comparisons: They're not directly related.
The GB1 was commissioned by Spyderco: Gayle designed it from the ground up to be a beast of a cutter "with no regard for aesthetics". The pattern is exclusive to Spyderco in that Gayle doesn't use it on his customs.
The GB2 is a collaboration with Gayle Bradley taking the pattern from his 4th model and building it with the same materials and manufacturing as the first design.
Granted: Spyderco's marketing says the GB2 is a CQI refinement of the original, but based on Gayle's interviews, it's not exactly the case.
The GB1 was commissioned by Spyderco: Gayle designed it from the ground up to be a beast of a cutter "with no regard for aesthetics". The pattern is exclusive to Spyderco in that Gayle doesn't use it on his customs.
The GB2 is a collaboration with Gayle Bradley taking the pattern from his 4th model and building it with the same materials and manufacturing as the first design.
Granted: Spyderco's marketing says the GB2 is a CQI refinement of the original, but based on Gayle's interviews, it's not exactly the case.
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Yall have ruined my other knives. I got my gb yesterday, and I used to admire how smooth the action on my manix was. Now all 3 of my manixs are hard to flick open. They are all rough. None of my knives fit my hand right. Except the Bradley. Yall ruined this for me... Thank you.
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