I finally received my GEC #23 in cocobolo.

jakemex

jakemex

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Oct 19, 2011
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View attachment 328158View attachment 328162Shaving sharp out of the tube and the fit and finish is good except for one point:

The brass liners are proud all around the scales leaving a sharp edge and in some spots are sticking out from .001" to 005" beyond the wood. The liners are only smooth and flush with the nickle silver bolsters. Looking at the knife from either side there is a outline of brass showing around the outside of the handle.

I expected more from GEC. Oh well. :yawn:

Also make that Bocote wood instead of cocobolo. I don't know how that got there.
 
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Sounds like it needs to go back to get that rectified....
 
Might have skipped a step in finishing.

Or the wood shrank a tiny bit.

I have more than one knife that the natural handle material shrank just a tiny bit. This has happened to me with wood, bone, and stag.
 
I have one fixed blade with wooden handles (lignum vitae) which has the same problem in winter but is perfect in summer. My guess is that it's due to the humidity changes, which will always be a problem with wood.
I wouldn't do anything yet, it would be kind of silly if you fix it now and have the reversed problem in half a year ;) (Or maybe that would then be acceptable because there are no sharp edges? dunno)
Bottom line: natural materials always shrink/expand a bit over time.
 
sturzi said:
I have one fixed blade with wooden handles (lignum vitae) which has the same problem in winter but is perfect in summer. My guess is that it's due to the humidity changes, which will always be a problem with wood.
I wouldn't do anything yet, it would be kind of silly if you fix it now and have the reversed problem in half a year ;) (Or maybe that would then be acceptable because there are no sharp edges? dunno)
Bottom line: natural materials always shrink/expand a bit over time.
Click to expand...

That was my thought too. I live most of the time in an arid part of Mexico and this knife was at the border in Laredo where the humidity has been very low, 15 to 20%, and with posted fire danger warnings. Maybe the scales will flesh out during the rainy season, if there is one this year! Another reason I think this is so is because the wood at the end grain at the end of the handle is flush and perfectly finished. In all other respects this knife is great. The pull is about 5 and the walk and talk is smooth and just right for my tastes.
 
Looks like a keeper Jake! Pretty wood on that one...you might could just very lightly polish the edges of the brass liners to take away the sharpness, then give it a bunch of carry and use and see where she settles in...
 
sitflyer said:
Looks like a keeper Jake! Pretty wood on that one...you might could just very lightly polish the edges of the brass liners to take away the sharpness, then give it a bunch of carry and use and see where she settles in...
Click to expand...

Good idea! That's exactly what I am going to do. I need to find some crocus cloth, if possible, here in this little town in Mexico. There are a lot of jewelers that might have a way to do it too, without messing up the rest of the knife.
 
Great looking knife :thumbup:

Sucks the wood shrunk but I like the approach you are going to take. Look forward to your impressions down the road after you get to know it :)
 
Theres always the option of investing in a humidor and taking up cigar smoking as well. :D
 
rockgolfer said:
Great looking knife :thumbup:

Sucks the wood shrunk but I like the approach you are going to take. Look forward to your impressions down the road after you get to know it :)
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I've got it in my back pocket right now... Love the length, weight, polished wood, and the great blade shape. I'm really looking forward to the patina to develop on that 1095!
 
Mink said:
Theres always the option of investing in a humidor and taking up cigar smoking as well. :D
Click to expand...

Thanks for the idea but... I'm allergic to tobacco smoke... And the humidor/humidifier idea wouldn't be too good an idea. It might rust! :p Either way the knife is staying it's beautiful!
 
jakemex said:
Good idea! That's exactly what I am going to do. I need to find some crocus cloth, if possible, here in this little town in Mexico. There are a lot of jewelers that might have a way to do it too, without messing up the rest of the knife.
Click to expand...
Funny, that was one of my original thoughts:thumbup:
 
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