Lets talk GEC!

Part of addiction is "rationalization", e.g. "o.k. so i'm doing a lot of ----(fill in drug name), but i still have my job and i don't miss many days at work"
Well we do have great rationalization for knives. Unlike drugs, once you spend your money it is not really gone. It is just in another form, in our case, knives. GEC knives can usually be sold for close to their new price, and some models for considerably more. Hence what you really are doing is "investing", not simply spending.
This is all the justification i need.
kj
 
For GEC's sizes, they do list the closed lengths for their knives although not all in one place. The closed length is how these knives were traditionally measured and advertised. What I haven't really seen is a list of blade lengths. I'm sure for most people this isn't a huge concern but it is in some locals that limit knives based on blade length. It's not something I have done as my local limit is 4" which is enough for all of the GEC folders so far, only some fixed blades are longer.

If you do make a list, I'll definitely add a link in the first post.
 
If you own both the #81 Coon Skinner and a #82 Dixie Stock Knife, can you tell me if the main blades are the same thickness? I'm thinking about picking up an #82, but if the main blade is as thin as the #81, I may have to rethink. The 81 is a good skinner but not so much a utility knife.

Thanks in advance!
 
kootenay joe said:
Part of addiction is "rationalization", e.g. "o.k. so i'm doing a lot of ----(fill in drug name), but i still have my job and i don't miss many days at work"
Well we do have great rationalization for knives. Unlike drugs, once you spend your money it is not really gone. It is just in another form, in our case, knives. GEC knives can usually be sold for close to their new price, and some models for considerably more. Hence what you really are doing is "investing", not simply spending.
This is all the justification i need.
kj
Click to expand...


I like your thinking, Joe. Bartender...another round of GEC, here.
 
draggat said:
If you own both the #81 Coon Skinner and a #82 Dixie Stock Knife, can you tell me if the main blades are the same thickness? I'm thinking about picking up an #82, but if the main blade is as thin as the #81, I may have to rethink. The 81 is a good skinner but not so much a utility knife.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I don't have a #81 anymore but here's 2 pics I took comparing a #81 Abilene stockman along with a #82 Dixie Stockman, #66 Calf Roper and a #51 Cuban Stockman. Of the 4, the #81 has the thickest blades (at the spine). The #82 is ground thin. Just from the muskrat blade grind on the #81 Coon Skinner, I would imagine it would be close to the #82.

Top to bottom is the #66, #81, #82, and #53

 
Thanks Trand. Looking at my Coon Skinner, I would guess that it is slightly thinner than the 82. The skinner has two blades on one spring that equal the thickness of the main blade of the 81. I think I might try it out after all.
 
2Dead said:
What I haven't really seen is a list of blade lengths. I'm sure for most people this isn't a huge concern but it is in some locals that limit knives based on blade length.
Click to expand...

For me it is in fact a huge concern. I am rather astounded that this basic piece of information is not part of the spec. 3" is the hard limit in my locale, and that is measured from the tip to the front of the handle. This is also the way the ABS measures blade length, not some squishy metric like sharpened edge length. I would love to see complete and accurate information from GEC on all their models, and indeed from any manufacturer. FREQUENTLY published lengths are inaccurate, and I don't like modifying a brand new knife because of mis-information. The difference between 3" and 3.125" is confiscation and citation.
 
kootenay joe said:
Part of addiction is "rationalization", e.g. "o.k. so i'm doing a lot of ----(fill in drug name), but i still have my job and i don't miss many days at work"
Well we do have great rationalization for knives. Unlike drugs, once you spend your money it is not really gone. It is just in another form, in our case, knives. GEC knives can usually be sold for close to their new price, and some models for considerably more. Hence what you really are doing is "investing", not simply spending.
This is all the justification i need.
kj
Click to expand...

"It's an INVESTMENT, dear!"

I'll give that a shot. Wish me luck.
 
draggat said:
Thanks Trand. Looking at my Coon Skinner, I would guess that it is slightly thinner than the 82. The skinner has two blades on one spring that equal the thickness of the main blade of the 81. I think I might try it out after all.
Click to expand...
:thumbup: As good an excuse for a new knife as any :D

daizee said:
For me it is in fact a huge concern. I am rather astounded that this basic piece of information is not part of the spec. 3" is the hard limit in my locale, and that is measured from the tip to the front of the handle. This is also the way the ABS measures blade length, not some squishy metric like sharpened edge length. I would love to see complete and accurate information from GEC on all their models, and indeed from any manufacturer. FREQUENTLY published lengths are inaccurate, and I don't like modifying a brand new knife because of mis-information. The difference between 3" and 3.125" is confiscation and citation.
Click to expand...

It certainly sucks. I always measure my knives tip to bolster. I don't have all my knives in front of me but I did measure a #48 and a #73's blade and both are 1/16 or so longer than 3". Closed length would put them at 3 7/8" and 3 3/4". From memory, the #12 and #53 (cuban stockman) were right at 3" for blade length even though they are 4" and 4 1/8" long. A #42, #45, #23, #65, etc (about 4 1/4"- 4 1/2" closed) would definitely be longer than 3". I know the #23 and #65's blades were 3 1/2" long. I think if you want to make sure you have a blade less than 3" long then your best bet would be to look at knives that are 3 5/8" closed and smaller. IIRC, the #85 and #15s were about 2 3/4" long. The #66, #68 and #33s were about 2 1/2" long.

I hope that helps a bit.
 
OK, folks, here it is - GEC knives and their closed lengths, sorted by size:

2.750 in. - #06 Pemberton
2.687 in. - #22 Magnum
2.875 in. - #09 Esquire
3.000 in. - #25 Ez-Open, Jack
3.000 in. - #26 Sleeveboard
3.250 in. - #28 French Kate
3.375 in. - #33 Conductor (2 blade), Whittler
3.500 in. - #15 Barlow, Boy's knife, (STR) Electrician
3.500 in. - #16 Canoe
3.500 in. - #55 Hound's Tooth
3.500 in. - #56 Dogleg Jack, Weaver Jack
3.500 in. - #57 Geppetto Whittler, Half Whittler, Wrangler
3.500 in. - #66 Serpentine Jack, Calf Roper, Moose, Calf Roper Slim
3.500 in. - #68 Pony Jack, White Owl, Buckaroo
3.500 in. - #76 Outlaw Jack, Western Outlaw
3.625 in. - #77 Bladeforums knife, Medium Barlow, Washington Jack, Yankee Jack
3.625 in. - #92 Eureka Jack, Talon
3.687 in. - #85 Bullet End Jack
3.750 in. - #61 Congress, Half Congress
3.750 in. - #62 Courthouse Whittler, Easy Pocket Congress
3.750 in. - #73 Scout, Jack, Farmer
3.750 in. - #78 American Jack
3.750 in. - #79 Workhorse
3.750 in. - #99 Wall Street
3.875 in. - #38 Farmers Jack, Grinling Whittler
3.875 in. - #47 Hayin Helper, Viper
3.875 in. - #48 Trapper, Single Bladed Trapper, Western Trapper, Jack, Improved Trapper, Woodcock
3.875 in. - #71 Bullnose
3.875 in. - #72 Cody Jack, Lockback
3.875 in. - #74 Cotton Sampler, Saddle Trapper/Wharncliffe Trapper
4.000 in. - #12 Toothpick
4.000 in. - #81 Coon Skinner, Abilene
4.000 in. - #89 Executive Whittler, Gambler, Farmer Lock
4.125 in. - #53 Cuban Stockman, Muskrat, Furtaker Trapper
4.125 in. - #82 Dixie Stock Knife
4.250 in. - #36 Sunfish
4.250 in. - #42 Missouri Trapper, Trader
4.250 in. - #54 Harness Jack, Cigar Whittler, Big Jack
4.375 in. - #45 Lumberjack
4.375 in. - #46 Whaler
4.375 in. - #64 Babylon Special
4.500 in. - #23 Pioneer
4.500 in. - #63 Mako
4.500 in. - #65 Ben Hogan
4.625 in. - #21 Bullbuster

Same list, sorted by pattern number:

2.750 in. - #06 Pemberton
2.875 in. - #09 Esquire
4.000 in. - #12 Toothpick
3.500 in. - #15 Barlow, Boy's knife, (STR) Electrician
3.500 in. - #16 Canoe
4.625 in. - #21 Bullbuster
2.687 in. - #22 Magnum
4.500 in. - #23 Pioneer
3.000 in. - #25 Ez-Open, Jack
3.000 in. - #26 Sleeveboard
3.250 in. - #28 French Kate
3.375 in. - #33 Conductor (2 blade), Whittler
4.250 in. - #36 Sunfish
3.875 in. - #38 Farmers Jack, Grinling Whittler
4.250 in. - #42 Missouri Trapper, Trader
4.375 in. - #45 Lumberjack
4.375 in. - #46 Whaler
3.875 in. - #47 Hayin Helper, Viper
3.875 in. - #48 Trapper, Single Bladed Trapper, Western Trapper, Jack, Improved Trapper, Woodcock
4.125 in. - #53 Cuban Stockman, Muskrat, Furtaker Trapper
4.250 in. - #54 Harness Jack, Cigar Whittler, Big Jack
3.500 in. - #55 Hound's Tooth
3.500 in. - #56 Dogleg Jack, Weaver Jack
3.500 in. - #57 Geppetto Whittler, Half Whittler, Wrangler
3.750 in. - #61 Congress, Half Congress
3.750 in. - #62 Courthouse Whittler, Easy Pocket Congress
4.500 in. - #63 Mako
4.375 in. - #64 Babylon Special
4.500 in. - #65 Ben Hogan
3.500 in. - #66 Serpentine Jack, Calf Roper, Moose, Calf Roper Slim
3.500 in. - #68 Pony Jack, White Owl, Buckaroo
3.875 in. - #71 Bullnose
3.875 in. - #72 Cody Jack, Lockback
3.750 in. - #73 Scout, Jack, Farmer
3.875 in. - #74 Cotton Sampler, Saddle Trapper/Wharncliffe Trapper
3.500 in. - #76 Outlaw Jack, Western Outlaw
3.625 in. - #77 Bladeforums knife, Medium Barlow, Washington Jack, Yankee Jack
3.750 in. - #78 American Jack
3.750 in. - #79 Workhorse
4.000 in. - #81 Coon Skinner, Abilene
4.125 in. - #82 Dixie Stock Knife
3.687 in. - #85 Bullet End Jack
4.000 in. - #89 Executive Whittler, Gambler, Farmer Lock
3.625 in. - #92 Eureka Jack, Talon
3.750 in. - #99 Wall Street
 
Last edited:
Again, Awesome job on putting together the list. When I came over to visit the trad forum last year looking for a small coin pocket knife, I struggled to figure out the sizes of everything since a small knife without context can look big (and vice versa). Your list tells me everything I need to know and has alerted me to a few I didn't even know were in contention for my pocket. Thanks again!
 
Great job on making that list. It will help a lot of us. You might want to add the "Talon" to the 92 pattern.
 
Thanks for the compliments. I hope it proves useful. If you see any errors, of course please let me know.

I'm indebted to the maker of the half-stops list, because that's where I got the information about what names went with what pattern numbers!
 
PythonDr, thank you for making this list! I hope that you don't mind, but I took the liberty of adding blade lengths to it. I only took measurements of the main blades. I also sorted the knives by pattern # first to make it easier to quickly find the knife in question.


A few things to note here..... These blades are hand ground so there can be slight differences in length, even with the exact same pattern and blade shape. I know because I measured multiple knives on some of the patterns that I have several of. Maybe this is why only closed length measurements are given By manufacturers.


On the double main blade knives (48, 54, 73, etc) and also on Moose variations, the lengths are the same.


For the most part, different blade shapes in the same pattern number are the same size. There are some exceptions though. One being the 38; the Farmer Jack, Grinling Whittler and Willamette Whittler (Northwoods made on the same frame) all have different blade lengths.


If anyone wants, feel free to make adjustments to the list. Hopefully it will be useful. I know that I'm often wondering about blade length on a pattern I don't have.


Although I'm sure the mods won't do it because of brand promotion, it would be great to have this list and the half stop list made into a sticky..... things tend to get buried under the avalanche here, especially on threads like this that are over 100 pages long.


Thanks again, pythonDR!


"C" stands for Closed length.
"B" stands for blade length.


#06 Pemberton.
C - 2.75" B -

#09 Esquire
C - 2.875" B -

#12 Toothpick
C - 4" B - 2.875"

#15 Barlow, Boy's knife, (STR) Electrician
C - 3.5" B - 2.6875"

#16 Canoe
C - 3.5" B - 2.5"

#21 Bullbuster
C - 4.625" B -

#22 Magnum
C - 2.687" B -

#23 Pioneer
C - 4.5" B - 3.78125"

#25 Ez-Open, Jack
C - 3" B -

#26 Sleeveboard
C - 3" B -

#28 French Kate
C - 3.25" B - 2.375"

#33 Conductor (3 blade), Whittler
C - 3.375" B - 2.5"

#36 Sunfish
C - 4.25" B - 2.9375"

#38 Farmers Jack
C - 3.875" B - 2.3125"

#38 Grinling Whittler
C - 3.875" B -

#38 Willamette Whittler
C - 3.875" B - 2.625"

#46 Missouri Trapper, Trader
C - 4.25" B -

#45 Lumberjack
C - 4.375" B -

#46 Whaler
C - 4.375" B - 3.0625"

#47 Hayin Helper, Viper
C - 3.875" B -

#48 Trapper, Single Bladed Trapper, Western Trapper, Jack, Improved Trapper, Woodcock
C - 3.875" B - 3.125"

#53 Cuban Stockman, Muskrat, Furtaker Trapper
C - 4.125" B - 2.9375"

#54 Harness Jack, Cigar Whittler, Big Jack
C - 4.25" B - 3"

#55 Hound's Tooth
C - 3.5" B - 2.625"

#56 Dogleg Jack, Weaver Jack
C - 3.5" B - 2.5625"

#57 Geppetto Whittler, Half Whittler, Wrangler
C - 3.5" B - 2.375"

#63 Congress, Half Congress
C - 3.75" B -

#62 Courthouse Whittler, Easy Pocket Congress
C - 3.75" B -

#63 Mako
C - 4.5" B - 3.5"

#64 Babylon Special
C - 4.375" B - 3.5"

#65 Ben Hogan
C - 4.5" B - 3.5"

#66 Serpentine Jack, Calf Roper, Moose, Calf Roper Slim
C - 3.5" B - 2.5"

#68 Pony Jack, White Owl, Buckaroo
C - 3.5" B - 2.5"

#71 Bullnose
C - 3.875" B -

#72 Cody Jack, Lockback
C - 3.875" B -

#73 Scout, Jack, Farmer
C - 3.75" B - 3.125"

#74 Cotton Sampler, SaddleTrapper/Wharncliffe Trapper
C - 3.875" B -

#76 Outlaw Jack, Western Outlaw
C - 3.5" B - 2.6875"

#77 Bladeforums knife, Medium Barlow, Washington Jack, Yankee Jack
C - 3.625" B - 2.875"

#78 American Jack
C - 3.75" B - 2.8125"

#79 Workhorse
C - 3.75" B - 2.625"

#81 Coon Skinner, Abilene
C - 4" B - 3.125"

#82 Dixie Stock Knife
C - 4.125" B -

#85 Bullet End Jack
C - 3.687" B - 2.6875"

#89 Executive Whittler, Gambler, Farmer Lock
C - 4" B - 3.125"

#92 Eureka Jack, Talon
C - 3.625" B - 2.875"

#99 Wall Street
C - 3.75" B - 3.125"
 
Last edited:
draggat said:
A few things to note here..... These blades are hand ground so there can be slight differences in length, even with the exact same pattern and blade shape. I know because I measured multiple knives on some of the patterns that I have several of. Maybe this is why only closed length measurements are given By manufacturers.
Click to expand...

A truer statement has not been made. Hand grinding and sharpening will vary the length of most blades.

Many jurisdictions let blade length slide a bit on slip joint, non-locking knives.

daizee said:

The difference between 3" and 3.125" is confiscation and citation.
Click to expand...

It's always been my thought not to carry a knife I can't afford to lose in just that situation.

Anyway, thanks for the lists draggat and PythonDR.
 
draggat said:
PythonDr, thank you for making this list! I hope that you don't mind, but I took the liberty of adding blade lengths to it. I only took measurements of the main blades. I also sorted the knives by pattern # first to make it easier to quickly find the knife in question.


A few things to note here..... These blades are hand ground so there can be slight differences in length, even with the exact same pattern and blade shape. I know because I measured multiple knives on some of the patterns that I have several of. Maybe this is why only closed length measurements are given By manufacturers.


On the double main blade knives (48, 54, 73, etc) and also on Moose variations, the lengths are the same.


For the most part, different blade shapes in the same pattern number are the same size. There are some exceptions though. One being the 38; the Farmer Jack, Grinling Whittler and Willamette Whittler (Northwoods made on the same frame) all have different blade lengths.


If anyone wants, feel free to make adjustments to the list. Hopefully it will be useful. I know that I'm often wondering about blade length on a pattern I don't have.


Although I'm sure the mods won't do it because of brand promotion, it would be great to have this list and the half stop list made into a sticky..... things tend to get buried under the avalanche here, especially on threads like this that are over 100 pages long.


Thanks again, pythonDR!


"C" stands for Closed length.
"B" stands for blade length.


#06 Pemberton.
C - 2.75" B -

#09 Esquire
C - 2.875" B -

#12 Toothpick
C - 4" B - 2.875"


#15 Barlow, Boy's knife, (STR) Electrician
C - 3.5" B - 2.6875"


#16 Canoe
C - 3.5" B - 2.5"

#21 Bullbuster
C - 4.625" B -

#22 Magnum
C - 2.687" B -

#23 Pioneer
C - 4.5" B -

#25 Ez-Open, Jack
C - 3" B -

#26 Sleeveboard
C - 3" B -

#28 French Kate
C - 3.25" B - 2.375"

#33 Conductor (3 blade), Whittler*
C - 3.375" B - 2.5"

#36 Sunfish
C - 4.25" B - 2.9375"

#38 Farmers Jack
C - 3.875" B - 2.3125"

#38 Grinling Whittler
C - 3.875" B -

#38 Willamette Whittler
C - 3.875" B - 2.625"

#46 Missouri Trapper, Trader
C - 4.25" B -

#45 Lumberjack
C - 4.375" B -

#46 Whaler
C - 4.375" B - 3.0625"

#47 Hayin Helper, Viper
C - 3.875" B -

#48 Trapper, Single Bladed Trapper, Western Trapper, Jack, Improved Trapper, Woodcock
C - 3.875" B - 3.125"

#51 Cuban Stockman, Muskrat, Furtaker Trapper
C - 4.125" B - 2.9375"

#54 Harness Jack, Cigar Whittler, Big Jack
C - 4.25" B - 3"

#55 Hound's Tooth
C - 3.5" B - 2.625"

#56 Dogleg Jack, Weaver Jack
C - 3.5" B - 2.5625"

#57 Geppetto Whittler, Half Whittler, Wrangler
C - 3.5" B - 2.375"

#63 Congress, Half Congress
C - 3.75" B -

#62 Courthouse Whittler, Easy Pocket Congress
C - 3.75" B -

#63 Mako
C - 4.5" B - 3.5"

#64 Babylon Special
C - 4.375" B - 3.5"

#65 Ben Hogan
C - 4.5" B - 3.5"

#66 Serpentine Jack, Calf Roper, Moose, Calf Roper Slim
C - 3.5" B - 2.5"

#68 Pony Jack, White Owl, Buckaroo
C - 3.5" B - 2.5"

#71 Bullnose
C - 3.875" B -

#72 Cody Jack, Lockback
C - 3.875" B -

#73 Scout, Jack, Farmer
C - 3.75" B - 3.125"

#74 Cotton Sampler, SaddleTrapper/Wharncliffe Trapper
C - 3.875" B -

#76 Outlaw Jack, Western Outlaw
C - 3.5" B - 2.6875"

#77 Bladeforums knife, Medium Barlow, Washington Jack, Yankee Jack
C - 3.625" B - 2.875"

#78 American Jack
C - 3.75" B - 2.8125"

#79 Workhorse
C - 3.75" B - 2.625"

#81 Coon Skinner, Abilene
C - 4" B - 3.125"

#82 Dixie Stock Knife
C - 4.125" B -

#85 Bullet End Jack
C - 3.687" B - 2.6875"

#89 Executive Whittler, Gambler, Farmer Lock
C - 4" B - 3.125"

#92 Eureka Jack, Talon
C - 3.625" B - 2.875"

#99 Wall Street
C - 3.75" B - 3.125"
Click to expand...
Awesome! That's very helpful.

I'm sure we can get it filled out with other members. I'll check my own stache.
 
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