Lets talk GEC!

I really like my 23s but they are a bit large for regular everyday carry. A 73 would be pretty perfect.
I’d be happy with either option, but it sure would be fun to add another bullet to the mix.


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chuckgp said:
guitar shield beats the hell out of beard comb/sausage fork kitsch, imo
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mcc850 said:
Beer and sausage is a great knife. It’s my go-to party knife. Kitsch can be fun.
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I agree. It's my "Picnic Knife" and served me well yesterday: opening beers, slicing BBQ, and fishing pickles out of the jar. I confess that I didn't get around to using the comb, but what's life without whimsy?
 
I like my 73. Haven’t carried it regularly for a while now but I did every day for a year or two. It’s definitely a more pocketable pattern than the 23, which, even in single blade, is a handful.
 
GaiusJulius said:
I like my 73. Haven’t carried it regularly for a while now but I did every day for a year or two. It’s definitely a more pocketable pattern than the 23, which, even in single blade, is a handful.
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I’m looking forward to getting the 73, and I agree the 23 is a handful. Plus mine is a real nail breaker!
 
Crappie71 said:
I’m looking forward to getting the 73, and I agree the 23 is a handful. Plus mine is a real nail breaker!
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My 73 and my 23 were both nail breakers when received. You know that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach? “This knife is so nice, but the pull is just insanely hard and I don’t think I’ll be carrying it, lest it be too stout one day and I can’t open my knife.” I tried everything to lighten the pull on my 73, up to and including letting it sit untouched for 3 months partway between closed and the half stop. Flushed with oil and water and worked the knife dozens or hundreds of times. Nada. Still as stout as the day it came from the tube. Then one day I decided I didn’t care, I was just going to start carrying it anyway. It was stiff, at first. But somehow, the act of carrying it and opening it an average of once a day, did the trick. Now it’s a pleasant pull that you’ll never open by accident but hardly a bear trap. So, just saying… the ‘73 may be disappointing at first but stick with it and I think you’ll be pleased.
 
GaiusJulius said:
My 73 and my 23 were both nail breakers when received. You know that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach? “This knife is so nice, but the pull is just insanely hard and I don’t think I’ll be carrying it, lest it be too stout one day and I can’t open my knife.” I tried everything to lighten the pull on my 73, up to and including letting it sit untouched for 3 months partway between closed and the half stop. Flushed with oil and water and worked the knife dozens or hundreds of times. Nada. Still as stout as the day it came from the tube. Then one day I decided I didn’t care, I was just going to start carrying it anyway. It was stiff, at first. But somehow, the act of carrying it and opening it an average of once a day, did the trick. Now it’s a pleasant pull that you’ll never open by accident but hardly a bear trap. So, just saying… the ‘73 may be disappointing at first but stick with it and I think you’ll be pleased.
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I got rid of my 1st 73 because the pull was too stiff, but missed it enough I had to get another. Now I've got 2 and both have sweet pulls.
 
I just had a new thought regarding the two "Covid era" whittlers (#62 and #38).
I'm guessing most of us would agree there are better picks for general purpose, and I'd personally suggest the #35 Churchill or a #92 Eureka Jack.
As you might recall, I'm leaving for a week long Maine lake vacation Friday, so I've been thinking about what I'm going to bring with me.

if I'm going into "the woods" it always feels like it's most appropriate to have a fixed blade, in my case either an Izula or ESEE 3.
For general cutting tasks then, there's a lot of redundancy between a fixed blade and what most pocket folders offer.
This is where I think the GEC whittlers are brilliant, because they offer 3 blades which most folks would consider of a secondary size.

So by carrying a fixed blade and one of the two whittlers, I get a primary and then a knife full of secondaries in my pocket.
I know lots of folks get hung up on the "whittler" pattern name, but I think these knives have much more functionality than carving.
(Of course, my 38 has been my daily companion since I received it, so perhaps I'm biased?)
 
I think I've bought, sold, traded and given away more #73 pattern knives than any other pattern besides my beloved #53s. While it is a quintessential GEC pattern, I find several others to give similar blade lengths and utility in much lighter packages. Most of the ones I still have are in 440C, which I'm saving for posterity!
 
EngrSorenson said:
I just had a new thought regarding the two "Covid era" whittlers (#62 and #38).
I'm guessing most of us would agree there are better picks for general purpose, and I'd personally suggest the #35 Churchill or a #92 Eureka Jack.
As you might recall, I'm leaving for a week long Maine lake vacation Friday, so I've been thinking about what I'm going to bring with me.

if I'm going into "the woods" it always feels like it's most appropriate to have a fixed blade, in my case either an Izula or ESEE 3.
For general cutting tasks then, there's a lot of redundancy between a fixed blade and what most pocket folders offer.
This is where I think the GEC whittlers are brilliant, because they offer 3 blades which most folks would consider of a secondary size.

So by carrying a fixed blade and one of the two whittlers, I get a primary and then a knife full of secondaries in my pocket.
I know lots of folks get hung up on the "whittler" pattern name, but I think these knives have much more functionality than carving.
(Of course, my 38 has been my daily companion since I received it, so perhaps I'm biased?)
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My 38 Whittler has been a pretty frequent companion in the last couple of weeks - I am no whittler but it is a fantastic knife. Comfortable, useful, and easy on the pocket. I am very happy that I could land a couple.
 
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