Lets talk GEC!

Fanglekai said:
If you carry the knife and use it a bit you'll find out! I've found that steel liners end up with rust spots on the inner part of the liner. NS liners remain shiny inside and out. I much prefer NS. I believe GEC uses either steel bolsters & steel liners or NS liners & bolsters. I'm not aware of them using a combination of the two on the same knife.
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I wanted to return to this, I had a think about my GEC collection and realised with a surprise that my favourite Tidioute half congress might be of interest here.

It has brass liners and nickel silver bolsters, however; between the blades and the liner on the mark side is an insert or hollow liner which allows the blades to be crimped in a way which negates blade rub (I'm sure there is a specific name for it but it has vanished from my memory). I'm very fond of this #61 which is without doubt my most carried pocket knife, this extra liner is well patina'd and undoubtedly carbon steel.

I love this knife.



I tried to get a picture but it's dark here and well, I just can't be bothered to rig up lights right now so this old photo will have to do. If you look at the left hand edge of the picture you'll see what I'm referring to peeking out.

Paul
 
kootenay joe said:
Insert = "catch bit"
kj
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KJ, thank you. I had it in my head that a catch bit was just a small section added to one end of a single spring knife (for instance as discussed recently in reference to a #26 sleeveboard) but there's no reason that it - the same piece - can't run the entire length of the knife's frame. I must be having one of those days.

Catch bit - of course :)

BigBiscuit said:
Paul, the coloring of the scales on that #61 is fantastic! :thumbup:
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Isn't it just. This was aptly named Teal jigged bone. Undoubtedly it's called something else on some other pattern ;)

My second ever GEC and one that always finds it's way back into my pocket.
 
rbeggs said:
I think GEC is referring to the color of the bone as copperhead color. If you've ever seen a copperhead in the woods it has close to the same color.
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Heck.... even if you can see it!!!!! They blend in very well. If they don't move they disapear in front of your eyes!
 
LastRodeo said:
I have a feeling the folks as GEC sit around on Monday morning, drink coffee, read BF and laugh until it hurts. I would if I were them.
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I kind of gleaned that from a couple conversations with Mr. Howard and others at the factory.
rma100 said:
And you are absolutely right!!!
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Since I'm probably never going to have enough GECs to be called a "collection" by most here, I could not care less how they name things. Heck, I think it's kind of a quirky thing that fits with GEC's overall business model.

I was unaware of the lockback #65 in copperhead jigged bone. That's a great looking knife.
 
So I like Whittlers...the complexity of the split back the slimness of the knife, the various blades available in one knife, the list goes on and on.
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Ahh the #38 gets it done!
I posted several of my whittlers together for comparison, 2 #62 Courthouse, Bose Norfolk, #57 Geppetto, #33 conductor, Case Seahorse, #38 Grinling.
Notice the SeaHorse and the Grinling have the same handle shape

The tidioute #62 courthouse is what turned me on to GEC that was #1. I liked the Norfolk but could not justify the extra $$ ( at the time) Many GEC's later I found I was hooked. By the way the #62 are everybit as nice as the Norfolk and less $. I also like 1095 steel better anyways. The #38 kicks are the same design as the #62 courthouse which to me work better for whittling, than the #57 which have a sharper point, which often pokes my thumb while whittling. (see below)
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GEC You guys did an awsome job with this #38. I would love to see your version of the Seahorse whittler in the #38 pattern in 1095 steel. The shorter primary blade of the seahorse is great for whittling, but the SS leaves much to be desired as a whittling knife. This would be my vote for a future blade style in the #38...maybe the rendezous knife... Anyways. Great Job!!!
 
ditto - #38 is the best knife in a year or so...SFOs on the way - Charwitts, Charlers, WhitChars....whatever
 
I´ve just been cruising through some threads here, each one with GEC content. Ther eis a bone that caught my eye, almost since I saw it the first time. It would be so great to see it in their regular production lineup. SOUP BONE it is called and it would look amazing on a larger pattern like a #73 or even a #23 :eek:

Don´t you think the same?!
 
Humppa said:
I´ve just been cruising through some threads here, each one with GEC content. Ther eis a bone that caught my eye, almost since I saw it the first time. It would be so great to see it in their regular production lineup. SOUP BONE it is called and it would look amazing on a larger pattern like a #73 or even a #23 :eek:

Don´t you think the same?!
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I agree Andi. Problem is, they have all been SFO's by Charlie and from the sounds of things the folks at GEC work extra hard at getting sets that match/look good. Probably too much work for a regular production knife. They probably have to consider labor and material costs on something like that.
 
I really like elephant ivory knife handles. They have a visual 'warmth' to them that is very hard to capture in pictures, so i think these knives are all more attractive in person. The # 26, second from bottom is so called 'bark' ivory, meaning the outer surface of the tusk.

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The top one here a # 66 pattern is supposedly mammoth ivory but it looks just like elephant ivory so i included it here but really should be with my mammoth handled GEC knives.

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And then these are Northfields, but all made by GEC.

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And this fine # 72 pattern was custom handled in ivory, not by GEC.

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My favorite might be the # 33 Conductor shown in the first picture, beautiful Swell Center Pen with a bale, it seems just perfect to me.

kj
 
I was thinking the conductor is my favorite also. That shield and those bolsters really go well with the ivory.
 
Thanks guys but really we all owe a big Thanks to GEC. They only started 9 years ago but have managed to put USA back on top for Traditional style folding knives. Before 2006 if you bought a Traditional made in USA pocket knife without first being able to inspect it, it was somewhat hit & miss and disappointment was common. Now, GEC has given us a wide range of patterns and a lot of choice handle materials and the vast majority are home run hits, very few 'misses' that need to be returned. I think American pocket knives have not been this good since before WW II.
This is a 'Golden Era' right now, for top quality Traditional style folding knives thanks to GEC and also Canal Street Cutlery. I say 'snap 'em up while you can', because nothing lasts forever.
kj
 
That's a fine collection of ivory covered cutlery, kj. I too appreciate ivory and would love to have more of it in my line up. Tha k's for sharing those.

Chris
 
Thanks for the great pics of the ivory sharps KJ.

I didn't realize the French Kate was that big.
Fine looking group indeed.
 
Not a lot of info on future production on the GEC website.

I mean, we know the farmer jacks are next but then what?? :)
 
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