Help Me Pick My First GEC

B

Brian.Evans

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Aug 20, 2011
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3,267
Hey guys. I'd like to get my first GEC, but I'm having trouble picking/deciphering all the different models.

I'd like a one or two blade, medium to small knife. I REALLY want a primitive bone or nice stag handle. Probably primitive bone though. I would rather it be a fairly skinny knife. I like spear points. I like the equal end jacks, but I'm not sure how big they are.

Help?
 
One or two blades? Medium to small? Slim? Spear Point?

IMG_3261-550x365.jpg


White Owl. :)

~ P.
 
I agree with Pertinux. It sounds like a #68 White Owl is what you're looking for.
 
An excellent choice, but there are also still #66 serpentine patterns (a hair under 3-1/2" closed) available in primitive bone.
Both moose (clip and spear blades at opposite ends) and stockman (clip, sheepfoot and spey blades) configurations are still around.
 
I actually just found the white owl on the GEC site. I REALLY like the Northfield primitive bones, but hate the bail.

I'm kind of thinking the Tidoute dusk buffalo. It is sharp!

Are they pretty slim?
 
I have a 54 moose but think it to be bigger then what you are looking for. I just received a #62 with 3 blades and that is rather thin and carries well, but I would trust pertinux, his white owl is one of the nicest knives I've seen, it's stunning. It is next on my list.
 
medicevans said:
Are they pretty slim?
Click to expand...

Yup!

I don't have any other GECs with which to compare, but here are some quick pictures of a White Owl amongst Case two-springers, to give you some idea of its svelte goodness (the width of other white owls may vary some with scale material other than bone).

From the top, Peanut, Swayback Jack, White Owl, Medium Stockman:
IMG_2154.jpg


Owl is third from right:
IMG_2158.jpg


Bail spotting (I love the bail; to each his own!):
IMG_2157.jpg


-- In case it's not clear, the White Owl is slimmer than the others, including the Peanut.

Again, I'm not familiar with any of the other GEC patterns, but the white owl does seem to fit your stated criteria well.

Have fun choosing!

~ P.
 
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Oh wow. Thank you everyone who replied so quickly. That's why I love bladeforums, and in particular the trad subforum.

I love my EDC peanut, and it is never too big. I was concerned a much bigger knife would feel too large in my pocket, but seeing them all side by side, well, I don't think that it will. I wonder, is there a way to get a primitive bone without a bail?
 
I don't think they made the primitive bone without the bail. I also was reluctant to buy a White Owl with the bail but the knife is actually one of my favorites from GEC and I've gotten used to the bail.

IMG_7487.jpg
 
My ebony Tidioute White Owl was 0.4375" wide, which is just 1/16" wider than my chestnut bone Peanut.

The bail is what kept me from going with a Northfield model, even though I liked some of those scales better. For me it takes away from the slim profile of the single spring knife and serves no useful purpose. I have seen a picture on here somewhere of at least one Northfield White Owl that had the bail removed.
 
I still have to throw a vote in for the #66, it's one of my favorites, even though the sleeveboard is in the pocket today....

GEC_66_110510_5.jpg
 
Yeah, I like my #66 too, only in stockman form for that ever-useful sheepfoot blade.
Wouldn't bother me at all if they made this as a 2-blade jack without the spey or the crinked blades.

CocoCalfRoper3.jpg
 
AKC said:
I still have to throw a vote in for the #66, it's one of my favorites, even though the sleeveboard is in the pocket today....

GEC_66_110510_5.jpg
Click to expand...

I do love all the pictures I've seen of those, and of those in others' hands, but have not seen one in person yet.

How well would it qualify as "slim"? I'm not sure I've ever seen a top-down shot of one.

Bet you can find yours if you drop it! Unless you drop it among bananas. Hmmmm.

~ P.
 
I didn't mention the #66, although they're great, because slimness and spear points were requested. I don't have a comparison pic of a #66 and #68 but I do have one of a #56 Jack (I believe its as thick as the #66) a #25 and a #61 (which I believe is the same thickness as a #68). If slimness is an important factor, then I'd have to go with the #68
IMG_0449.jpg
 
medicevans said:
Doug Add, do you recall if anyone has said how to remove the bail?
Click to expand...

I do not. I asked this question back when I was considering what to get, and at that time no one had yet done it.

I don't remember whose modified knife I saw. Hopefully, that person will read this and chime in.
 
I believe you saw a short run ivory northfield that did not come with a bail from GEC. I could be wrong though.

I really don't like the bail.
 
You guys need to stop with the White Owls, every time I see a new pic of one, I get a little twitchy and reach for a credit card. I get close to the edge, but talk myself down :-)
 
medicevans said:
I believe you saw a short run ivory northfield that did not come with a bail from GEC. I could be wrong though.

I really don't like the bail.
Click to expand...

Nope, you're correct. A handful of bark and interior ivories were made without bails. I remember that pic with the bail removed (but can't find it). It looked like it was just bent outwards and pulled off of the knife. It did leave a hole in the bolster though.
IMG_2246.jpg


Stich2442 said:
You guys need to stop with the White Owls, every time I see a new pic of one, I get a little twitchy and reach for a credit card. I get close to the edge, but talk myself down :-)
Click to expand...
Sorry, you're just going to have to take the plunge :D
 
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