Is This Common on GEC Knives with Jigged Bone Scales?

knife_fan

knife_fan

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I recently purchased a new Tidioute #33 Whittler in Spring Green Jigged Bone. I must admit i was let down when I opened the waxed paper. :(

The center pin looks to be set to low in the bone and has carved a circle around the pin on both sides. Also the jigged bone looks to have a bunch of chips in it on the back side off to the right. It's rough in spots.

Are these issues common with GEC knives in jigged bone?

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I don't really see an issue.
 
I believe the center pins did not cause the "depression". It was made that way in my opinion. I don't see an issue either.
 
It wouldn't bother me. It's a hand made production knife. Some might be inclined to send it back but I wouldn't.
 
Rough spots in finely jigged bone are common, even in knives decades old. I have several that go back 50 plus years.
If you are going to carry it, you can knock the worst of them down with some light sanding with fine paper, IMO.
 
I've had a few come like that. A few moments rubbing down with a leather chamois smoothed them right out. No issues.
 
IMO it's not an issue. Here's a #92 Talon with same profile.
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It would bother me (sorry guys: it's the OCD). That's one of the reasons I avoid jigged bone scales. GEC has spoiled us with their consistently high level of quality, so anything less than perfect can be a disappointment.
 
Just looked at a couple of mine. I had to get out a magnifying glass to even begin to see the level of detail you are looking at. The circle around the pin is caused by the tool used to spin the pin head into a smooth dome. Perfectly normal.

Slightly rough jigging like that is common on some jigging patterns. I've noticed it on a couple of my GECs. Doesn't bother me, easy to smooth it out with some light buffing or sanding with very fine grit paper. I think the last one I had with sort of rough scales (would snag on soft cloth) I just buffed it against my jeans leg which took care of the sharpest points to where it didn't snag any more.
 
Shaggy said:
It would bother me (sorry guys: it's the OCD). That's one of the reasons I avoid jigged bone scales. GEC has spoiled us with their consistently high level of quality, so anything less than perfect can be a disappointment.
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There's your problem right there. GEC does make knives to a very high level, but none of the ones I've seen are perfect. Not even the knives I've seen from the benches of Ken Erickson or Tony Bose reach that impossible standard.
 
I think that pin is OK, it's domed and looks like the others. I don't care for one pin being sunk very low sink hole style, which GEC frequently turns out especially on wood handled models. Most people seem to think it OK but I dislike it, pins should be the same as each other.

I've noticed some rough spots on the jigging of Nothfield and Tidioute knives, sometimes they are really sharp and it's annoying aesthetically. However, as others have pointed out, they will very quickly smooth down with carry or a gentle sanding.
 
kamagong said:
There's your problem right there. GEC does make knives to a very high level, but none of the ones I've seen are perfect. Not even the knives I've seen from the benches of Ken Erickson or Tony Bose reach that impossible standard.
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Of course that's true of anything on an absolute scale. The question is: what level of imperfection are you willing to accept before it "bothers" you?
 
The rough jigging doesn't bother me as much as the circle does. It's deep enough that the top part of the circle is white showing the un-dyed bone.

I'm still on the fence about whether I'm going to keep it or not, but from now on I'll probably stick to wood scales.
 
Shaggy said:
Of course that's true of anything on an absolute scale. The question is: what level of imperfection are you willing to accept before it "bothers" you?
Click to expand...

The problem is using the term to describe knives. It's an ideal, something to strive for, but I would never use it for descriptive purposes. It does nothing but set you up for disappointment.

I prefer the term excellence. It gets the point across, without resorting to meaningless hyperbole. I hope that I don't come across as a pedant as these are just words we're talking about, but words have meaning.
 
I have a few jigged bone knives with these characteristics and it doesn't bother me but I can see why you would be less than happy with the knife.
I am pretty sure whatever retailer you got it from would exchange it for another, GEC does great with ebony scales.

Or buff it out with some foam backed micro mesh and that would clean the look up a bit.
Good luck with whatever route you take.
 
Put it in your pocket, use it, a drop of oil to the joints and blades every once in a while..... And in no time you will wonder why you ever questioned it. Great pattern.... If you want to jettison it you'll have no problem moving it on the forum.

Peter
 
That's possibly the roughest pin hole I've seen from GEC- It wouldn't bother me as far as usefulness of the knife.... but everytime I got it it out that rough finished pin would go "HI Jon".
The rough jigging is another matter and it wouldn't worry me at all.
If YOU don't like it send it back.
 
Funny, I just posted the same knife in the Sunday picture show, and until I read this thread, then grabbed my magnifying glass, I had no idea.:eek: Obviously it matters not to me, but now, I'm just curious why it's only the centre pin.
The Conductor is a great little user, use and enjoy it Knife Fan.;)
 
Looks pretty good to me, pin is not an issue and common on my GECs, I would sand (lightly) a couple of the jigs, and then carry.
 
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