Lets talk GEC!

draggat said:
While everyone else seems to be busy ogling the #77 Barlows coming down the line I've been waiting for the #63 Mako Templar to finally arrive. Most people seem to either love or hate the Templar. I can't say it would typically be my first choice but they are different and interesting to me.

As usual, GEC's fit and finish is superb. No visible gaps, unless you hold it to a light and even then they are almost nonexistent. The blade is almost perfectly centered. In closed and open position, the spring is perfectly flush. At half stop, the spring sits about 1/32" proud, but for a production knife, I'm impressed. The pull is about a 6-7, a bit lighter compared to the #65 Ben Hogan it's pictured with. The liners and pins appear to be nickel silver.

I've read about quite a few people wondering if the Templar would be uncomfortable due to the covers not being rounded. The knife is actually comfortable in that aspect. However, the points on the tail of this knife are very sharp. I don't have a different version to compare it to, but this one probably won't be a user because of that.

I chose the 'kryptonite' covers for this one. The rest of the world calls this stuff 'toxic green', but I like that GEC makes up their own names. The material itself is an acrylic called kirinite, which I like quite a bit. It actually becomes grippier when it's wet and that property actually increases with a high polish like GEC has done with it.


Compared to the #65 and the #64, it is almost exactly the same pattern, but the other two are far more comfortable to use because of their rounded butts. I almost forgot to mention that I wear a size large in gloves.

Overall, it's a very fine looking knife and also came with the lowest price point of all the #63's. The price was a nice bonus for a knife I figured would probably end up just being a collection piece.

Alongside a #64 & #65:
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draggat, I really appreciate your detailed review and photo essay a couple of pages back. You took a lot of time to share your thoughts and photos, and I found it very helpful. Thanks!:):thumbup:
 
The 77 NF barlows look great. I'm very jealous at those of you who live in the US and are able to buy these.

All the blade styles look great on it.
 
The old red saw cut bone #77s look incredible!
image-74.jpg
 
Dr. Scott said:
draggat, I really appreciate your detailed review and photo essay a couple of pages back. You took a lot of time to share your thoughts and photos, and I found it very helpful. Thanks!:):thumbup:
Click to expand...
Thanks Scott! I've learned a lot from others around here so I try to contribute when I can. Collecting and talking/writing about these knives is actually a lot of fun and if I can help another interested person out, I try my best. If anything, I just like browsing photos of other people's collections and figured it doesn't hurt to add my own.

The Mako is a great knife but I wouldn't want it for a heavy user.
 
Are the Fremont and Forest Jacks about the same in overall size and feel in-hand ? Both are Sleeveboards right ?
I know i could go over to KSF and find out but i'm hoping to hear the experience of someone who owns both
kj
 
rye_a said:
The old red saw cut bone #77s look incredible!
image-74.jpg
Click to expand...
Old Red... yea baby!

I love this thread and hate it! Love it to see this sheep foot beauty that is coming my way and hate it to see another Fremont that I will be purchasing. A Love Love... Hate Hate relationship.
 
The Forest Jack is a Barehead Sleeveboard, although the taper is only about 3mm. Here is mine:

2lbyozp.jpg


5vnpet.jpg


This is why i want to know how the in-hand feel might differ between the Forest & Fremont, and whether the blades seem about equally capable ? (size, profile, stoutness all about the same ?)
kj
 
The Forest Jack uses the #54 frame, which GEC calls the Equal End Cigar. It is 4 1/8" long and is pretty heavy duty. The Fremont Jack uses the #79 frame, which tapers toward the butt of the handle. It is 3 3/4" long.

I can't attest to the strength differences of the two as I own all except the Fremont. That said, the 54/Forest is definitely heavier duty than the 79. The Forest Jack uses slightly thicker blade stock than the standard 54 so I would guess that the same is probably true of the Fremont.

One other thing..... Derrick of KSF calls the blade a modified wharncliffe I believe.... it's a cross between wharncliffe and sheepfoot. At any rate, the saber grind of these blades makes them both fairly strong.
 
Perry, that chubby squirel knows his stag! That is the nicest I've seen on that model.
 
I just looked on GEC's site, looks like we're getting camel bone, cocobolo and ???

Anybody know? :)
 
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