Lets talk GEC!

Elgatodeacero said:
All GEC jigging should look like those Winchesters, I do not understand why they don’t just replicate that. It is perfect.
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GEC has certainly done some jigging that’s better than other — and they’ve had a few real duds — but it would be a bit boring if they did all their jigged bone exactly the same. Just my opinion, of course.
 
Will Power said:
Think it fair to say that GEC has been influenced by Winchester Black Box to an extent: 29, 33. 68 models have their counterparts. So what I'd like to see is them making a Medium Stockman on this BB from 1987. It has many virtues: low riding but decent sized blades, commanding snap W&T, semi-sunk joints and the Bone isn't bad.....just like GEC to make it all steel construction-which they do so well.:cool:

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I’m more than ready for a Stockman pattern from GEC like the Winchester or the Case 18 serpentine pattern. I think the 76 frame would be an excellent choice for a stockman and would be my first pick. The Winchesters by Queen are increasing in popularity and I’m happy to have a few of my favorites. Here’s a link to an old Black Box Winchester thread, but it’s a shame that many of the pics are gone.
Winchester BB Thread
Now I need to go look and see which ones of those that I have…I know I need to find a few more including that stockman and the sowbelly.
 
pmek5 said:
Amen to that. How does that compare to the Case 18 Stockman which to me is a perfect size.
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I'm a big fan of that 18 too. BB is similar, little larger, full Clip instead of Californian and the Sheepfoot rides lower in the well. Top W&T on both these Stockman, smooth & loud :cool: The 18 stainless I use as my Car Knife, the thing is GEC are far from producing Stock knives like these, maybe they don't want to? Pity as these are reference points for me at least.

Back to he Winchester influence, certainly Bill Howard's tenure at Queen played a key role but it's also that the BB knives are so varied and interesting. GEC hasn't done a Coffin Jack yet but it did a small Norfolk for Northwoods (gave my Ivory Bone one away, am I insane??? Yes...) which is very much like the BB Norfolk, time for a bigger version please. However, GEC did a unique revival with its 92 Eureka/Talon a rare old pattern, curiously enough CASE/Bose must've been impressed as they did one as a Collaboration knife some yeats later. Although the Case/Bose has newer materials etc I don't like its version of the pattern as much as the GEC one, too small and sterile in my opinion.
 
I have the Winchester black box Norfolk. It’s lovely in proportions but the workmanship on mine is not even close to GEC. Big backspring gap, rough uneven cam tang grind on the secondary that makes it unpleasant to pull out, a main that impacts the backspring no matter how much I sharpen it out or file a groove in said spring…. Shield was badly pinned and sat unevenly, even the jigged bone, while nicely patterned, is so uniform it feels more like plastic when taken with all the other details. It’s a knife I want to love but just can’t due to the construction. GEC has the workmanship but almost all their patterns are relatively chunky and rustic. They don’t have the refinement of some of the Case, Queen, or Winchester BB patterns.
 
Installing a new door lock. Had to dig out some wood from the socket so the bolt would go all the way in without resistance. The lock motor is pretty weak.

Anyway, my trusty #35 helped a lot. It cut like a light saber. Unfortunately, the edges bent right over since I have them sharpened like a razor (I shave with it, sometimes). No problem to straighten out and I learned a lesson about grind angles and intended use.

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ErikMB said:
Installing a new door lock. Had to dig out some wood from the socket so the bolt would go all the way in without resistance. The lock motor is pretty weak.

Anyway, my trusty #35 helped a lot. It cut like a light saber. Unfortunately, the edges bent right over since I have them sharpened like a razor (I shave with it, sometimes). No problem to straighten out and I learned a lesson about grind angles and intended use.

View attachment 2047311
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They are tools after all mate 👍
 
My knife turned up today, as I don't have the ability to post pictures here you'll need to take my word for it. I'll give a quick review of first impressions.

Firstly, I quite like the tube and the little back story, it doesn't make me rate the knife any differently and wouldn't induce me to buy one for that reason but it's a nice touch.

I'll start with the less great parts so I can finish positively. The knife is not what I would call sharp, I know some don't think a knife should be out of the box (or tube in this case) but for good money I kinda have that expectation. The blade when closed is also fairly off-centre, I'm not phased by that although I know some will. The biggest thing for me is the walk and talk. I don't own any other american knives so maybe it's normal but although it clicks in to open nicely, minimal pressure with my pinky releases it off the spring. I like and am used to strong springs, especially as all my knives are used for work and hunting/skinning.

For the positive, it's a beautiful knife. I was attracted to the osage orange scales and am not disappointed. From what I've seen online it is a pretty plain grained wood, which is fine, to me thr simplicity of that is part of the charm. Mine has a little knot which adds character. The fit and finish for the most part is very good. I can forgive most things but a personal gripe in knives is gap between the spring and liners which this does not have. It fits nicely in the hand and I was pleasantly surprised to find the knife bigger in the hand than expected. I wish it was carbon but still like the polished stainless.

Overall, I'm happy with my first steps into the GEC world. Would I become an avid collector? No probably not. I have an affinity for french knives and I wasn't blown away enough to grab every GEC I can get my hands on going forward. I don't understand the resale value seen online, the worst I've seen is $2,500 for one. That's more than double what I just paid for a french mammoth ivory folder. But if there is a release that piques my interest I would grab one again at retail and this 65 will hold a permanent place in my collection and pocket. In the end I suppose that speaks for itself!

And thanks again to the forum, its a great place and I'd never even heard of GEC prior to coming here so thanks for the introduction 👍
 
Hatchet_Jack said:
minimal pressure with my pinky releases it off the spring.
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Interesting detailed review. As for the spring, I guess it's juck a bit of bad luck. On mine 65 spring is decent, I'd say hard enough for such a long blade.
MrStabby7 said:
View attachment 2049005

I saw this started shipping out the other day. It's a pretty cool pattern but I have no idea how I would sharpen the thing. How would you all go about putting an edge on somthing like this?
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Touch up with a steel, sharpen with a rod shaped stones, I guess. Or grind it down to the sheep/ramfoot. 😆
 
I wrap a piece of suitably-graded wet&dry paper around my kitchen rolling pin and sharpen on that. If I had a lot of pruners I'd get a special stone, but I've only a couple.
 
MrStabby7 said:
View attachment 2049005

I saw this started shipping out the other day. It's a pretty cool pattern but I have no idea how I would sharpen the thing. How would you all go about putting an edge on somthing like this?
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I have a KME and it manages stuff like this pretty well. I think they even have special stones you can buy for a lot of these modern sharpening systems
 
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