Lets talk GEC!

[B.F.U]

I like brass liners and pins but I"m with several others.....Don't care for the brass bolsters.
Rick

Oh man, I wasn't sure I was going to get one of the #44s until I saw the all brass hardware and bullet shield. That's my stuff right there. Wish I still had my GEC made Bradford Single Shot #23 frame with the same hardware and blood red Jigged bone.

Here are some GEC tang stamps - not all just a selection.

Any thoughts on which is best? I know what I don't like, but am less clear on what I do.

In my view, the CARBON and CKC are much inferior to what GEC has used before. They've even had script tang-stamps, very nice!

The scroll tang stamp like on the #82 Dixie Stock Knife is my favorite so far:

I have never handled a 46 whaler? Are these more for collectors or users? I personally enjoy carrying my 35 Churchill, any #85, and the 57 whittler.

Would I like a 46? Thanks.

I know B B.F.U carries one... He uses it as a spatula when he cooks breakfast.

I think for the overwhelming majority, probably moreso than even almost any other GEC, it is a collector. I use mine though. I use the secondary (can't rightly call it "small") clip blade for opening packages and cutting mat tape and that kind of stuff at work. The big blade is a great slicer for food and cardboard.

It also is a great mixer for my girlfriend's coffee:

I wanna see someone on instagram use the 46 for its original purpose; cutting thick rope, using a soft mallet to drive the blade down for a clean, straight cut.

I think that that's more of a story than anything to be honest. Not to burst any bubbles. But I'll definitely try it if I encounter any rope.

One of my favorite things about the 45 is the absolutely preposterous size of the backsprings

 

[B.F.U]

edited

 

[HFinn]

Just did the deed and ordered #78 American Jack with stag covers. Man, I'm exited what I will get. It will take some time though.

 

[black mamba]

So the action on these knives is not constant, there are variations? Interesting. If I look at another knife brand, Victorinox, the action in any knife they make is incredibly similar. There are some variations according to model, but every knife of certain model is the same.

Your experience varies a great deal from mine. I own about two dozen SAKS, about half of them the same pattern Cadet. There is most definitely variance in the pulls and snap of these knives. I have some that literally have to be pushed closed the last 30°, and some that have a firm pull, 6½-7 on a 1-10 scale. The majority of them fall between 5 and 6, but they are not the same, even within the Cadets only.

The pulls are lighter on the #81 Moose, because the buying public wanted it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Some objected to the firm 7-8 pulls on many of their patterns, and GEC made a concerted effort to lighten the spring tension. Some feel now that they have gone too far in the opposite direction, which is only natural. Of my recent GEC purchases, the #81 Moose, the #66 Calf Roper and the #35 Churchill have significantly lighter pulls, from 4-5, with the occasional lazy blade. Some will appreciate this, others will not. 5-6 seems to be the range that satisfies the majority, but seems to be difficult to ensure. Hopefull GEC is constantly learning and will focus in on this range for future releases.

 

[Buzzbait]

Your experience varies a great deal from mine. I own about two dozen SAKS, about half of them the same pattern Cadet. There is most definitely variance in the pulls and snap of these knives. I have some that literally have to be pushed closed the last 30°, and some that have a firm pull, 6½-7 on a 1-10 scale. The majority of them fall between 5 and 6, but they are not the same, even within the Cadets only.

The pulls are lighter on the #81 Moose, because the buying public wanted it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Some objected to the firm 7-8 pulls on many of their patterns, and GEC made a concerted effort to lighten the spring tension. Some feel now that they have gone too far in the opposite direction, which is only natural. Of my recent GEC purchases, the #81 Moose, the #66 Calf Roper and the #35 Churchill have significantly lighter pulls, from 4-5, with the occasional lazy blade. Some will appreciate this, others will not. 5-6 seems to be the range that satisfies the majority, but seems to be difficult to ensure. Hopefull GEC is constantly learning and will focus in on this range for future releases.

5-6 is definitely the sweet spot for me, which I'm now having a great deal of trouble finding on newer GEC's. Previously, I bought a lot of GEC's with pulls that were far too heavy for my taste, with knives like the Esky Zulu and even the 77's and 74 Mustangs. Now all I can seem to find are pulls that are too light for my taste, with knives like the 66 Calf Roper, 54 Big Moose and the 81 Bull Moose. GEC went way too far overboard in lightening their pulls.

 

[black mamba]

Buzz, it just goes to show that great (or at least equally deteriorated) minds think alike!

 

[Burnt Stag]

Some of my big ole #23's have strong pulls , some not so bad. Most all of them snap shut like a gators jaw.
I seem to be o.k. with a heavier pull. I have a 38 that is far too soft for my taste though(maybe a 3).

 

[knifeswapper]

Regarding pulls, it is definitely a personal preference, and for the most part a personal gauge. For example, the #43 in Jigged Cherry comes in at 1.2lbs; and I call it a 5 (although I wouldn't argue with a 4). The nearest knife to me that I feel is near perfect action (for selfish reasons), but could stand a little tighter pull; I rated a 5 as well - does not show up on my pull pressure gauge with a minimum reading of 1lb. FYI, a #77 Barlow that was within arms reach is a 2.4lb pull and I recall calling it a 6. A #23 single blade, which is crazy tight, is a 4.2lb pull.

But I definitely feel the location / accessibility of the nail nick plays a large part; as does the perception regarding a large versus small knife.

 

[Will Power]

Mike, the nail nick most certainly plays a key role. Longpulls tplaced towards the knife's tang can be tough to get hold of, as it were. I have some French and English knives that have a tough spring but
their forward placed nick facilitates a smooth opening. Also, the depth and width of a nick is important. I have a custom with a very shallow narrow nick and it can be tricky to open despite a moderate spring.

 

[Stropping Young Lad]

knifeswapper Yep, the nick location is huge. As much as I love double pulls, that long pull is just there for window dressing.

 

[Buzzbait]

But I definitely feel the location / accessibility of the nail nick plays a large part; as does the perception regarding a large versus small knife.

Yep. The last run of 77 Clips weren't any issue for me at all. Mostly because they were pinchable. But my two-blade 77 Barlow, with spear and coping blade, is a bit hard for me to open.

 

[black mamba]

I prefer firm pulls, 6-7 on my scale, if the average 93 mm SAK is a 5. I agree that forward nicks make the pull feel lighter, but if they're too close to the tip, they feel very awkward when opening, to me. For that reason, I prefer long pulls and dislike double pulls.

 

[Kiteman72]

I feel ya, I find myself torn sometimes between wanting some GECs to be easier to get, and wanting my own collection to be composed of hard-to-get knives.

I think there will be a lot of great 14s in the future, clip blades will probably happen next year, that's my official Prediction. I would love to see some 14s with bails and traditional "overall chains" to keep those knives secured!

Just had to quote myself from page 286 of this thread!

So I was wrong about getting 14s in 2017, but they are putting chains on some 15s finally! Hope we get some Chained up 14s eventually as well.

 

[Camillus]

So what does a knife chain look like I wonder?

 

[btb01]

I'm still not sure about this chain business. Might have to be a see-it-before-I-buy-one sort of deal for me. I did reserve a couple from the regular non-bail-and-chain run, and I'm looking forward to those. I've got a bunch of #15's, but no spear blades.

I wonder why they aren't doing Nifebrite on this run of #15 Boys Knives?

 

[mrknife]

cant wait to see, as a big watch and pocketwatch collector it could be interesting. only tagged one tho, as I was a bit iffy about it.

 

[Goose 7279]

Nothing ruins a knife for me more than light pulls and lazy action i like firm pulls like a 7 especially on large mains. But secondaries can be a 6. As far as 77 barlows go i have yet to find one that was hard to open. I agree that the 2016 run was amazing those have the best walk and talk of any knife in my opinion and i have owned probably 12 different ones from 2016. The consistency was amazing.

 

[t.willy]

"

Buzz, it just goes to show that great (or at least equally deteriorated) minds think alike!

Lol That sounds alot like a saying my mother would often use. Someone would say Grate minds think alike and she'd say " Or fools seldom differ"

 

[mrknife]

curiously, i have always wondered about this, if any one saw the CK reserves for the 15s, it says #152118 Tidioute Single Spear Blade Boys Knife, All Steel. The part Ive always missed with the STL or in this case all steel, does this mean the all of it is in 1095 (bolsters,liners, spring, blade) or is it a different steel, not 1095? I don't have too many 15s with the STL on the label, but just curious.

 

[Txjohn]

^^^ I'm pretty sure it's 1095 but I wonder if the bolsters remain Nickel silver? I know the tc barlows are all steel including bolsters