Help getting into traditional knives!

A

ackeith4570

Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Messages
362
I have been looking at the all the traditional knives and it is overwhelming me. I have one traditional knife and that is a Case stockman and belonged to my great grandfather, which is in a display case, but the traditional knives i am looking to buy are too be used. The two main brands i have been looking at are GEC and Case. I have read a few other post about which to get but i still and stumped. So advice on that would be appreciated and if GEC is the best for me where should i buy it because i was trying to look at them and they are only on a few websites. I am more a fan of single bladed knives. There are just a lot of options and would like some help. Thanks for taking the time to read this!
 
Well, you came to the right place for advice. So, preference for single blade, and you want a user. How big of a knife are you looking for? Do you care whether the blades are stainless steel or carbon steel? Do you care much about looks or more for function? What are you looking to spend? Are you thinking about just getting one and carrying it, or were you wanting to own several?

As to where to buy GEC knives, check out the www.greateasterncutlery.net web site and click on their link to dealers. They don't have a lot of dealers which is fine because they are small factory so there's only so many dealers they can keep supplied.

There are three (that I know of) that are Bladeforum dealer members: OldHundredCollectibles.com, collectorknives.net, knivesshipfree.com.
 
Last edited:
RESEARCH! Just look at tons of knives! It's a lot of fun figuring out what you want. GEC has tons of offerings in an awesome assortment of handle materials. Some good single blade options are: GEC #73 scout, GEC #15, GEC #85 (the Easy open is nice), GEC #99, GEC #55 and lots more. You can even get some with liner locks. Its a great community here and these guys know their stuff. I have based many of my purchases off of advice from the jovial Traditonal forum regulars. If you want to look at comparison photos, we have a GEC comparison shot thread.
 
When I first started getting into traditionals in a serious way, I would spend hours right here in this forum. Especially the what are you tottin' thread. eventually patterns will start jumping out at you. I first got here trying to find a replacement for a knife I had as a kid. It didn't take long for the Case Swayback Jack to pop up on my radar. It was the knife that really drew me in. Oddly enough, however, I still haven't pulled the trigger on one...Someday...someday...Enjoy the journey!
 
ackblade24: How much are you looking to spend? And what do you wear most days? Are you a jeans guys, or do you work in dress pants? Do you hunt and fish. or do you work on violins and collect fine wines as a hobby?

-- Mark
 
My advice is going through as many pages of the longest BF thread ("what traditional knife are you totin' today?") and see which knives catch your eye. As you will soon find out, the universe of traditional knives is very wide.
But, considering your specifications, I would look for a GEC 72 lockback or 73 slipjoint, or for a Canal Street Cutlery lockback (pinch lockback) or slipjoint (half moon trapper).

Fausto
:cool:
 
I recently bought a GEC Northfield #57 Whittler, which took me months of scouring through pages of their dealers websites. I was in the market for a whittler, and went back and forth between different models, settling on the 57. It is my first GEC and I realize now that I couldn't have gone wrong with any model. I purchased mine through knivesshipfree.com and had a good experience with them with fast shipping.

I am a fan of case and own a few, but am now a sold on GEC. They require a bit of sharpening out of the box, but I expect that with any knife and put my own edge on regardless. I'm with you on the single edge for a carry knife, and was looking at the #15 Boys knife. That or a #66 might be my next GEC purchase.
 
If after looking around you remain bewildered try this. Get the modern Case version of your Grand dad's stockman. Get it in CV steel. That can be your intro and you can see how you like a slip joint and carbon steel and will ne nostalgic. Shouldn't set you back that far.
 
thanks for the help yall! i am just going to look between the offerings Case and GEC have and find one i like of both and compare there and which brand i like better ill just buy more of them! If i have any other questions ill be back!
 
I would personally snag one of the SFO EO 85's offered by Mike at collectorknives.net while they are still available. The liner locks are single blade I believe.
 
Last edited:
How do you like the looks of the Case peanut? I haven't been into collecting traditionals that long myself, but one thing that helped me get into it was shopping around at flea markets, antique stores, and such. You'll see a lot of junk, but there are also a fair amount of decent old slip joints there as well, that will provide you with a lot of education for not a lot of dough.
 
Get a Case yellow sod buster, put it in your pocket and use the fire out of it. You won't be sorry. They are inexpensive, easy to sharpen and really grow on you as they patina. You won't find a harder working traditional pocket knife.
God Bless
Tracy
 
Traditional single blade? How about a barlow?

594i.jpg


- Christian
 
one of the problems with looking online is that you can get a good idea of the look but not the feel of a knife. comparing case and gec online is only going to get you so far. the gec will be generally heavier and thicker, which is not all positive if you like a thin light knife. and so on and so forth.
 
ackblade- so begins a wonderful obsession. You will be amazed at the collective knowledge that can be found on this forum. Everything from metallurgy, wood grain qualities, jigging patterns, repairs, with dash of literature. The list goes on. Soon you might be making second and third choices. Good luck- let us know what you end up with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top