I have been lookin at those white owls by GEC and trying to decide to bail or not to bail. I just ordered one without in Kryptonite acrylic but I really like the Northfields with thier beautiful woods and traditional old time look. I have carried a SAK with a bail and kinda liked it, but functionally, it got in the way when I used the screwdriver. I think they look great on the Owls and Conductors! I know lots of people don't care for them but I know some of you do! (I hope!?) So to all out there who actually carry a knife with a bail, could you please tell us how you carry it? Do you attach a lanyard or a fob? Do you just leave it there? How do you carry it? Did it sort of grow on you? Do you have pictures? I'm looking for bail success stories!!!
I chose the White Owl with bail because I thought it was a nice 'extra' feature, like the pinched bolsters, only available on a select few knives. If I were to carry a Great Eastern I'd want a bail for sure for attaching a lanyard to my belt; I don't carry any knife without a lanyard. Here's the White Owl I picked out: http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/682211-cocobolo-fixed.jpg Good luck deciding!
We used to go fishing almost every weekend and I was always using my SAK for something and generally where it would go in the drink if I dropped it and you can bet your, "Sweet Bippy" that I always had a lanyard on it!!! And the lanyard did save its "SB" many, many, times!:thumbup:
Bail! Get a Victorinox belt hanger (or an old BSA one), a chain or paracord, and a quick release. Put it all together and voila - your knife is attatched to your person. I would sure hate to lose such a nice knife.
Bob W, Nice choice! I would love to see a photo of your knife. It seems so far, that a quick release of some kind is the answer. Looking forward to hearing from other bailers!
I love bails, while they aren't for everbody I find them to give knives a great nostalgic look. Here's a pic of a GEC #33 Northfield Conductor in burnt stag with a bail.
I got the white owl in snakewood. I have the Wenger SI, and really enjoy the bail. I find they are fun to play with. I don't really use them for attaching, but I could if needed. Heres a picture:
GEC Conductor with a bail. Clip the bail to a P7, clip to pocket edge, it hangs vertically. Easy to deploy, doesn't print as a knife, doesn't fall out, out of the way if I want to reach in my pocket. Also have a Gerber shard on that same P7 so I can pry and handle screws. I'm so pleased with how this has worked out, at least in an office setting, that I don't see myself going forward buying any more slipjoints without a bail or at least a lanyard hole. Still on the hunt for a slipjoint for the woods (if only GEC made a muskrat with bail). It will have to have a bail or a lanyard hole, for sure.
My old Camillus electrician's knife has a bail. I added a loop of leather lace to it that helps pull the knife up out of the bottom of my pocket. Plus I just think the bail is cool and I like leather.
