I dropped my GEC #63 Mako on a concrete floor, and I feel sick.

F

farmboy

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Aug 31, 1999
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I don't even know how it happened. I had it in my back pocket, reached for my wallet, and out it came.

It landed on a corner of the tail end, and the resulting scar/dent really doesn't amount to much. It pretty hard to see, really, even with a loupe.

But the shock of it must have shattered out a tiny little chip in the surface of the jigged bone scale, right next to the UN-X-LD shield. Admittedly, it is tiny. I didn't even see it until the next day, and it's only a surface chip. Nothing structural to be concerned about. But it bothers me a little.

I plan on carrying this knife, (in a different way, to be sure) so truthfully, it could be looked at as a battle scar,....something to be proud of. That's how it was with the Old Timer Stockman knife I carried 40+ years ago. So maybe I'm just being stupid about it.

Would you send it in and pay for a scale replacement, or would you just chalk it up to the hard knocks that a day to day carry knife may happen to go through?

Edited to add: I will be carrying it on a belt sheath from now on. Any suggestions which one it should be?
 
I know the feeling---it always hurts. That said, I would carry it for a bit as is and see if it continues to bother you. If so, you can always do the scale replacement. Having just benefited from one of glennbad's skillful mods, you might keep him in mind, and you could even choose a different type handle material and feel like you have a new knife altogether.

Andrew
 
It's always heartbreaking to ding up a good knife. But it's like putting that first scratch on a new gun. After the initial discouragement one can relax and enjoy using it without worrying any more.

As for sheaths, I'd look into getting one made for the knife by Gary Graley or Paul Long.
 
The first ding always hurts. The second one is annoying. A few more after that, it's no big deal and they're just adding more character. :)
 
Done this with more than a few.

Chipped both sides of the favorite bone on my Burke/Queen grandad barlow.

Dinged up more than one bolster and cracked the bone on one of favorites. UN-X-LD steel bolstered elephant toenail.
 
Painful :eek: It happens unfortunately. Hard to give an opinion without a pic of the knife, but from what you say, I'd carry it, maybe make a repair with coloured epoxy if the bone is flaking. You can always get it fixed professionally down the road if you're not happy. In the meantime, how about trying a pocket sheath? :thumbup:
 
If you lay on the garage floor with your cheek to the floor you may be able to find the tiny chip and crazy glue it back in
place. I have found the tiniest of pieces like this. :D

Best regards
Robin
 
new knife woes, thats why im always weary of using/carrying a new knife. shame i lost the bid on a 15 that wouldve been a user. i wonder if this will help the cause for steel scales...
 
I would see how you feel about it over time these things hurt, but once a few extra scratches occur, then I find it doesn't matter anymore. I stupidly allowed a GEC maverick to bounce on the congrete and give the bolsters a few dings. Now I associate those dings with memories of the time, and they become part of the knife's character.
It is a personal thing, but I would not replace the scales unless the crack is likely to grow larger e.g. at the centerpin. No matter how careful you are, you'll eventually drop it again.
 
It's a sub $100 knife and it's a knife. I'd carry it the way you were and just enjoy it. Would I be upset? Sure. However, if you have to have one perfect and mint, buy one, put it in a case and look at it.

I always drive and use my cars much harder after I get that first chip or scratch. Now every chip or scratch has a story and I call it patina. If I wreck one, I call that a lesson. Seems you had a couple, so really, you gained experience and your knife is fine.
 
Yeah, that first ding always hurts. But after that you can relax and enjoy it now. Without a pic it's hard to know for sure, but from what you describe it sounds minor.

Look at the pics of some of the old knife threads and see the dings and wear they exhibit. I always appreciate seeing a well-worn knife with lots of character. An old worn knife is interesting. It ages just like you do, scars and all. :D
 
Keep it, use it consider it a battle scar and use that spot as a worry spot, your hands will find it anyway so just rub. One day you'll look and it'll be smooth and you'll remember all the times it's calmed you down when running with your thumb. ;)

Hey at least you didn't break the tip off a blade.
 
Sorry about the damage to your #63. I dropped my 2-3 month old, NOS Case Swayback Jack (chestnut bone/CV) on a hard tile floor on Saturday night. No damage to the scales but a ding was suffered at the top edge of a bolster (as in a rounded edge was flattened), plus one other small mark on the same bolster. It was in my jacket pocket with my keys, which I was pulling out, and the knife came with them but wasn't in my hand. What can you do other than resolve to be more careful?
 
Take a heavy piece of leather and rub out the chipped area of the cover. It won't scratch the cover but will smooth out the edges of the chip thereby allowing the chip to blend in.
 
This stuff can happen, we use our knives and we have to be ready to occasional accident. I had similar incident one time, I just took very fine sand paper 1000 grit and 1500 grit and sanded carefully the chip are till it was smooth and almost invisible.

Mike
 
The best suggestion is simply: Do what you feel like doing. I think it seems like you want to send it in, so do. It's your knife, you should be happy with it.

I have several knives with chips in them, it usually doesn't bother me, but everyone's different.
 
Thanks for the kind words, fellas. I'm 56 and I've had a pocket knife in my pocket since I was about 8 years old, and way back then, it was usually an Old Timer Stockman. I know these things get dinged up, and after a few nicks, scratches, stained blades, and scratches, you've owned it long enough to make it truly yours.

But I still don't want to fumble this slender beauty like that again, so I ordered one of these:

http://store.dmbullardleather.com/all-in-stock-holster/in-stock-forward-slant-trapper-right-side

I hope it fits, and hopefully I can get back to giving it character marks that truly mean something other that getting out my wallet to show my Sam's Club card!
 
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