My first GEC, a Tidioute 73 two blade trapper, was absolutely a bear trap. I put it on the shelf and forgot about it. I could tell it was well made, but it was not what I was after in a using knife. The knife that got me interested in GEC, was a Tidioute 73 shadow pattern 2 blade trapper, that a knife maker had. Maybe he just picked a good one, the pull was tight, but not a steel trap. Over time, I bought and traded for a few blades. One that I really liked, but had to get rid of, was a 5 blade stockman. I couldn't open it sometimes to save my life. Now, I have some Ben Hogans, Toms Choice barlows, 73 trappers, and two 23s. The 23s were sent in to get the tension eased down a bit, but the current knives I have possess not only great F & F, they are not nail breakers.
Many of the earlier patterns to me are big and bulky, I call them the steroid patterns. Terminator knives. Big, bulky and they might bite you if you're not careful. They did not have that elegance of the old knives that GEC claims to make, or GEC made a pattern that I felt should have a little more flare and curves, and a little less bulk.
I wish that Great Eastern kept their popular patterns in current production, but I have seen quite a few come up from time to time on the Exchange and other spots. We must be a fickle bunch, or else someone is hoarding them somewhere.
I really like the path that GEC is going down. If they can make such a great knife as the TC #15 barlow, then they can make the premium stockman (301/8OT size) I'm looking for. I would also like to see a scout/camp knife from them.
As far as variations go, I have been fine with whatever model I can get my paws on, as long as it's not yellow bone, or plastic (one of the -lons). However, I've got more #15 barlows than I can remember. Ebony, soup bone, antique yellow bone (fickle?
), antique bone. Clip and spear.
