Just received my new GEC Dogleg Jack

Eric H

Eric H

Joined
Jul 15, 1999
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541
After having and carrying my single blade weaver jack for a couple of weeks, I've been wanting a double bolstered, two-bladed (spear & pen), bone-handled GEC #56 folder.

They are pretty much impossible to find in that configuration, so I 'settled' for the clip blade master version instead. I was even lucky enough to find one single white/natural bone handled model, which I happen to love.

A couple of initial observations:

First, with the bone handles and the second blade, this knife is much stouter, heavier, and just plain more "there" than my single blade weaver jack in ebony.

Second, when I opened it up, I immediately put my thumbnail in the nick on the master blade and bent it back. Ow. Interestingly, though, after opening the blade the first time, it has been much easier to open since.

Third, this is my first experiment with a 2-bladed jack type knife (meaning with a smaller/pen styled second blade.) When I was bitten by the traditional bug a month or so ago, I had zero interest in secondary pen-bladed jacks. After reading up, I've slowly come around to their usefuleness, and I've already used the pen more in the first hour of owning the knife than the master blade!

Fourth, that natural bone is beautiful. It's also a perfect match for my natural bone Scagel Fruitport wharnie (made by GEC). I'm seriously considering picking up a second knife slip for the new knife.

Here are some pics comparing the new dogleg to my weaver jack and Fruitport:

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Here's a close up of the back of the main blade. What is the significance of the three P's? Is this something that would cause me to make the knife a safe queen? (So far, I've bought all of my traditionals with the intention of carrying and using them--they are all beautiful, but they have also all been cheaper than modern knives that I wouldn't hesitate to use every day.)

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Yours looks to be the stable mate of mine.

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Mine got a bit easier to open over time. A bit of oil helped. But I still angle my nail up instead of opening the blade with my thumb nail at 90° straight out. And I do wish the springs were not quite so robust.

I do love the clip blade, both the shape and the thickness of it.
 
PPP is Pattern Production Premier, I believe. Not a reason for me not to use mine.

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I love the 56 knives.
 
Hey there guys,
Yep, I too have this exact puppy..
As with opening the blades-exactly the same, and I don't have strong nails dammit, but I persevered...and now the main blade is a lot better, I am extremely happy with this knife,the bone is great, the blades are just bang on with the main clip point blade being a stout blade, and I enjoy it not being a half stop with this knife.
The pen blade is a lot easier to open than the main blade, when I carry this one, I love "thumbing" the bone ...lovely knife.
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The blades as we know patina up quite quickly on the 1095, and it does look a tad different now :thumbup:
I too asked the question on the 3 p's as mine has the same-as above, it hasnt stopped me using it.
 
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That's a nice one Eric. The smooth bone looks great. I think all the spear point #56s were bareheaded.
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When I was bitten by the traditional bug a month or so ago, I had zero interest in secondary pen-bladed jacks. After reading up, I've slowly come around to their usefuleness, and I've already used the pen more in the first hour of owning the knife than the master blade!
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I have to admit that I wasn't too interested in multibladed knives at first either. Most of my collection were single bladed and I would carry 2 or 3 of them daily. After a while, I also tried the jacks and found that they work great. I now have more multi-bladed traditional knives than single bladed ones. I still carry 2 or 3 of them daily but with a jack it really isn't necessary.
 
Trand....wow, thats a mean colour going on that blade of yours my friend...looks great!
 
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Here's the 2 GEC Northfield Dogleg Jacks I've got...
I really like this pattern from GEC..




Jason
 

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Those are two lovely looking knives there Jason..awesome. Man...what a great place this is....I liked your write up Eric, thanks for taking the time to show us your 3 great knives, and welcome to the Traditional world, I dont think you know this yet....but you can feel it inside you...the Traditional bug bite has infected you in a way that you are pretty much now gone my friend :D
 
Jason,

The patina on those looks like Birchwood Casey's cold blue treatment, or something similar. Did you use a cold blueing product to get the blades that way? I had done that on a couple Case knives a few years back. Seems to help ward off the rust.
 
Jug Johnson said:
PPP is Pattern Production Premier, I believe.
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Yeah, GEC puts this on the first batch of knives for a new pattern. According to the production totals on their website they made 71 of these with 25 being serialized. It wouldn't stop me from using it either.

I was informed by another member here that this #56 in Coconut Palm was one of less than 10 and I didn't even think twice about dropping it in my pocket.
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This is a wonderful pattern that feels great in the hand and GEC deserves some kudos for bringing it back.:thumbup:
 
That natural bone 56 is a looker. I think I like it the best of the Tidioute versions. On the clip version, is it possible to pinch open?
 
biglmbass said:
That natural bone 56 is a looker. I think I like it the best of the Tidioute versions. On the clip version, is it possible to pinch open?
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Not so far. I bent my thumbnail back on it again this morning!

I plan on giving this one a mineral oil bath soon. Hopefully, that will help.
 
dannyp said:
Yeah, GEC puts this on the first batch of knives for a new pattern. According to the production totals on their website they made 71 of these with 25 being serialized. It wouldn't stop me from using it either.

I was informed by another member here that this #56 in Coconut Palm was one of less than 10 and I didn't even think twice about dropping it in my pocket.
dscf0275.jpg


This is a wonderful pattern that feels great in the hand and GEC deserves some kudos for bringing it back.:thumbup:
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Most certainly true :thumbup: The rare edition wood Dog you show has such nice grain to it, this is a MUST use pattern in my view.

I don't believe GEC has yet issued Spear Dogs in double bolster, I actually prefer Barehead myself. Both the ones I have show a moderate pull, certainly no nail benders these but then, the Spears were produced later, they may have tamed the springs somewhat due to criticism. They're far from wimpish mind, I wouldn't care for that on any knife.

As for Pen blades, they really are useful,being sturdy narrow small cutters. Only this afternoon I was zipping open seed packets and compost sacks, trimming some vines where a bigger blade would be clumsy. GEC have produced a fine knife with this frame.

Eric H You like those Longpulls?:D Try the Northfield version in jigged green bone, the bone is somewhat heavier feeling than the Ebony (which surprised me)
 
Campbellclanman said:
Trand....wow, thats a mean colour going on that blade of yours my friend...looks great!
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Thanks Duncan. Lots of cut up citrus fruit to get it that way. The juices tend to go towards the front and the edges while fruit bits gets stuck further back leaving the nail nick area with a lighter patina.

biglmbass said:
That natural bone 56 is a looker. I think I like it the best of the Tidioute versions. On the clip version, is it possible to pinch open?
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I tend to agree. I like that smooth bone a lot. I can't pinch open mine. Its pretty tight and the pen kinda gets in the way too.
 
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