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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Lets talk GEC!
- Thread starter rockgolfer
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Wow, nice photo, and great looking jigging. There is something really aesthetically pleasing about the 74 blade near the tang, which I cant quite put my finger on...
I got my three SS 15's tonight. Just some random observations:
All three are great knives, and I enjoy the lower maintenance associated with stainless steel.
The chestnut boys knife suffers from a poorly cut inlay for the shield. There is a lot of filler visible. This is the second GEC I have had recently with this issue. I emailed GEC about the previous one but they indicated it wouldn't be fixed under warranty- they would simply add more filler. I am ok with this response, but it does make me wary of buying GEC sight-unseen, particularly if you are looking to collect.
i definitely prefer the polished bolster over the satin bolster and shield on the chestnut. I think it would look nicer if the blade and backspring were also satin finished to match the bolster.
The navy knife is as good as I had hoped - some of the nicest coloured bone I have received on a GEC knife. It is a shame that there isn't more of this deeper coloured burnt orange around. The lighter orange on the 15 isn't as interesting (noting the above photo probably reverses this perspective)
It's not my first navy knife, so I knew what to expect in terms of this pattern's limitations discussed in this thread, but I am very tempted to remove the bail and fill the hole. I think the bail is an unnecessary encumbrance, and the flat GEC bails with the sharp edges are uncomfortable ( I will have more observations on that in a separate thread). I have a suspicion that the upcoming beer boy's knives, without the bail, could be a real successful pattern for this reason. Get your reservations in.
I got my three SS 15's tonight. Just some random observations:
All three are great knives, and I enjoy the lower maintenance associated with stainless steel.
The chestnut boys knife suffers from a poorly cut inlay for the shield. There is a lot of filler visible. This is the second GEC I have had recently with this issue. I emailed GEC about the previous one but they indicated it wouldn't be fixed under warranty- they would simply add more filler. I am ok with this response, but it does make me wary of buying GEC sight-unseen, particularly if you are looking to collect.
i definitely prefer the polished bolster over the satin bolster and shield on the chestnut. I think it would look nicer if the blade and backspring were also satin finished to match the bolster.
The navy knife is as good as I had hoped - some of the nicest coloured bone I have received on a GEC knife. It is a shame that there isn't more of this deeper coloured burnt orange around. The lighter orange on the 15 isn't as interesting (noting the above photo probably reverses this perspective)
It's not my first navy knife, so I knew what to expect in terms of this pattern's limitations discussed in this thread, but I am very tempted to remove the bail and fill the hole. I think the bail is an unnecessary encumbrance, and the flat GEC bails with the sharp edges are uncomfortable ( I will have more observations on that in a separate thread). I have a suspicion that the upcoming beer boy's knives, without the bail, could be a real successful pattern for this reason. Get your reservations in.
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Good post Camillus!
Shame to see the shield cut that way on the chestnut 15. I can't think of any GEC I have had without a precise inlay. The closest would be the recent bloodwood 85's with the corset shield. The one I received had a lot of filler and, you know, that did turn me off a bunch. Ended up selling it but not for that reason (just not a fan of the blade shape).
I to would prefer a polished bolster on my chestnut 15. So I think this weekend I'm going to make it so.
Agree about the boys knifes without shield and bail. Already got my reserve in!
Shame to see the shield cut that way on the chestnut 15. I can't think of any GEC I have had without a precise inlay. The closest would be the recent bloodwood 85's with the corset shield. The one I received had a lot of filler and, you know, that did turn me off a bunch. Ended up selling it but not for that reason (just not a fan of the blade shape).
I to would prefer a polished bolster on my chestnut 15. So I think this weekend I'm going to make it so.
Agree about the boys knifes without shield and bail. Already got my reserve in!
Dadpool
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Here is the other example of the shield issue, on the topmost knife. This one is worse because some of the filler has actually come loose.
Its no biggie really, but you do notice it when you handle the knife. I didnt want to return this one, although the dealer kindly offered, because its irreplaceable - they dont have any more in stock.
Its no biggie really, but you do notice it when you handle the knife. I didnt want to return this one, although the dealer kindly offered, because its irreplaceable - they dont have any more in stock.
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The shield on my #15 Elk is sunken on one end and proud on the other. Doesn't bother me at all as I figured it had solely to do with the curvature of the stag. Worth it IMHO to get the acorn shield when all the new stag is shield less. I think going shield less was a good call as I could see the difficulties involved in perfectly setting shields in a material with constantly varying thickness and angles.
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Personally I REALLY like the satin bolsters. I satin most of my users. Blades and bolsters. Aesthetically pleasing to my eye. That's just me though, to each their own. The 14 yellow heart barlows appear to have a satin bolster as well. I'll be after one!
I agree about the shields seeming to have looser tolerances. I could be wrong, but I believe I remember when Bill wrote on the site about the stag going shieldless that the shielding used a router type jig. Looking at the beautiful oak leaf shield there are a lot of small tight round edges on the leaf that would be very tough to do unless you had a dental burr or some sort of sharpened finishing nail to get into those tight spaces. I would imagine that different materials tear out differently and might be a factor. I'm a woodworker/ wood turner as a hobby and I know that grain has some properties that one can predict, each layer of the grain may have it's own mind as to what it's gonna do. As a surgical scrub nurse I can tell you that cortical bone is very dense and quite uniform. I imagine that most most of the bovine sourced bone doesn't live long enough to develop osteoporosis. The more uniform it is the more predictable the shaping would be with the shields. The more loosely fitted shields that I have are all wood. Maybe this has something to do with it.
I agree about the shields seeming to have looser tolerances. I could be wrong, but I believe I remember when Bill wrote on the site about the stag going shieldless that the shielding used a router type jig. Looking at the beautiful oak leaf shield there are a lot of small tight round edges on the leaf that would be very tough to do unless you had a dental burr or some sort of sharpened finishing nail to get into those tight spaces. I would imagine that different materials tear out differently and might be a factor. I'm a woodworker/ wood turner as a hobby and I know that grain has some properties that one can predict, each layer of the grain may have it's own mind as to what it's gonna do. As a surgical scrub nurse I can tell you that cortical bone is very dense and quite uniform. I imagine that most most of the bovine sourced bone doesn't live long enough to develop osteoporosis. The more uniform it is the more predictable the shaping would be with the shields. The more loosely fitted shields that I have are all wood. Maybe this has something to do with it.
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Same here. I prefer satin bolsters and blades. Shiny just doesn't do it for me.
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Well, on my Navy knife, no complaints about the shield. A somewhat bigger issue is the blade that isn't straight, as it veers notably toward the left. I still like the knife but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't bother me, at least a bit. It doesn't affect the cutting performance one bit, but it's not very impressive either.
And a gap between bolster and liner as well, but that's only a minor annoyance. Fit & finish and walk & talk are otherwise really nice, no complaints.
And a gap between bolster and liner as well, but that's only a minor annoyance. Fit & finish and walk & talk are otherwise really nice, no complaints.
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Frankki, Can you post a photo of the well (top of the knife) with the blade closed? Does the blade touch the liners inside the well? They can center the blade by crinking. Would only take a few seconds.
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Since everyone is bringing out the pitch forks... I had to return a talon I got a couple weeks ago due to a problem with the cover.. huge sanding mark over 50% of the pile side. It seemed strange to me because it was so obvious I don't know how it made it to me. I've never returned a knife before. The elk I received from the recent run has liner gap. Is what it is, my experience will not be the same as yours... I have 14's and beer scouts on order. My personal plan was to see how they turned out and if there's an issue I'm going to take a time out from collecting.
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Here's what it's like, as seen from the top and down the length of the frame. No rubbing, quite decent centering. And yet the blade is clearly not straight... most confusing and frustrating.
It was probably warped in heat treat and crinked to center it as best as possible.
Here's what it's like, as seen from the top and down the length of the frame. No rubbing, quite decent centering. And yet the blade is clearly not straight... most confusing and frustrating.
I'd be interested in a pm of from whom you purchased this knife.
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Which dealer, I need to know whom to avoid. A simple and small slipjoint with a simple stainless steel at that price should have a F&F to be proud of, not excused. I have one of these on the way, if it has a blade off centre like that it will, sadly, be returned. An off centre blade is annoying to slice with and a pain to sharpen.
I'll send you a pm
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Thank you Sir.
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Just checked, not sure I can get PM's, perhaps an email?
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Barkin up the wrong tree Logan!