Lets talk GEC!

I feel like a forums old timer saying this (I’m not) but a year or two ago we started asking GEC to make some more stainless, and to stop eccentric patterns and produce some of their most popular choices for those who missed out. We got some stainless 15s, the 48s, 73s, another run of beerscouts and a massive run of TC barlows (other popular stuff as well). Useful to keep in mind that GEC takes notice, but also that the big runs were due to customer requests.
 
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Camillus said:
I feel like a forums old timer saying this (I’m not) but a year or two ago we starting asking GEC to make some more stainless, and to stop eccentric patterns and produce some of their most popular choices for those who missed out. We got some stainless 15s, the 48s, 73s, another run of beerscouts and a massive run of TC barlows (other popular stuff as well). Useful to keep in mind that GEC takes notice, but also that the big runs were due to customer requests.
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LOL. That run of stainless 15's was absurdly small, other than the wildly unpopular navy knives. They definitely have made good on some of the more popular patterns, and continue to do so, but they totally failed on the stainless requests.
 
Camillus said:
... the big runs were due to customer requests.
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I guess we should be careful what we wish for. A 3.5" knife has to be pretty special before I get interested as I like 4" +/- 0.25". The Geppetto Whittler qualifies. The 38 frame whittler would be my first choice, though.
 
gaj999 said:
I guess we should be careful what we wish for. A 3.5" knife has to be pretty special before I get interested as I like 4" +/- 0.25". The Geppetto Whittler qualifies. The 38 frame whittler would be my first choice, though.
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The Geppetto Whittler is a great knife! That’s the split back spring setup. Then there was the Wrangler, which didn’t fare quite so well. Seems most people aren’t a great big fan of the spey/punch combo. That’s on a two spring. Then the Halfwhitt, which was oddly my favorite. It’s a single spring and I usually prefer the thickness of two springs. Special pattern indeed! I agree, 3.5” knives need to be something special, but the 55/56/57 frame definitely qualifies.

57 Geppetto Whittler:
30kszzn.jpg

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57 Wrangler:
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57 Halfwhitt, with its cousin 55 wearing the same covers:
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I don’t have any photos of the Northwoods 38 Willamette Whittler, but it’s also a single spring 2 blade, basically an elongated version of the 57 Halfwhitt.
 
It's interesting to see how so many people don't care for a 3.5" knife. That length is my sweet spot, and one of the reasons I'm excited for the 44s later this year.

I'd love to see a White Owl with the same blade options at the Churchill. Make it in stainless, and it would almost certainly take the top spot on my list of all time favorites.
 
I think the general consensus is STAINLESS PLEASE!!!! In a good combination also. I’ve seen this repeated over and over like broken record. IMHO the Navy knife is good for the collection but it’s a shelf warmer indeed!

I would like any of the knives mentioned in the past few pages in stainless. Preferably also available as single or two blade options. I guess we can always dream.
 
Well for those of us who haven't been hoarding/collecting GEC's for 12 years, the runs of 15's and 71's is GREAT news and very appreciated.

I hear some say the 15's will be bare ended and with no longpull, that's a bit of a drag but we'll see. Looking forward to the pictures.
 
353 said:
Well for those of us who haven't been hoarding/collecting GEC's for 12 years, the runs of 15's and 71's is GREAT news and very appreciated.

I hear some say the 15's will be bare ended and with no longpull, that's a bit of a drag but we'll see. Looking forward to the pictures.
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I know there’s a lot of folks who caught on to the GEC greatness in very recent times and for good reason! I truly am glad that you’ll finally get a good one also. Truth is, I just like to complain and ramble on about the glory days when I could pluck a snakewood 92 off of a dealer shelf after hemming and hawing over it for 2 weeks. :eek:

Trust me, there are whole collections of these knives that are sold off at reasonable prices occasionally. That’s actually how I came into several of the rarer ones. In fact, some day all of us hoarders (and I am a hoarder :oops:) will be thanked by younger generations. Hey, I gotta at least pretend I’m doing the world some kind of good! ;) But seriously, keep your eyes peeled and never stop hunting.... you will find the ones you seek eventually.

Unfortunately, me thinks that the upcoming 15’s will be nail nick bareheads. Trust me, I really hope I’m wrong on both counts, but judging by at least one SFO, that appears to be the way it’s going.

I just wish maybe they’d slip in a few of these, with end caps and a pen blade added!

4ql39.jpg

pyb94.jpg
 
I have a few 15s with long pulls and end caps already so I don't necessarily find myself needing more unless it were to occur in a blade/cover configuration that really speaks to me. I only have one barehead 15 jack (not counting the TCs) and it has a nail nick. I find that one to be my most used and carried 15 so far, it is simply a no nonsense, no frills, robust working knife. Especially with it being a 2-blade variant.

The SFO that I am really excited about (other than Charlie's Ancient TC) is the Maher & Grosh. Cocobolo covers with a Federal Shield, 2 blades, sounds absolutely perfect. It very well might become my first Maher & Grosh. I almost got their last one, the 78, but I wasn't sure that I would pocket it much.
 
As a relative newcomer to GEC knives, I welcome more of the 15's in spear and clip Boy's Knife configurations...or even more so - a chance to get a TC Barlow.

But I do wish they'd do a run of 92 Eurekas someday soon. :thumbsup::cool:
 
If it gives any comfort to those that missed out - I culled the three stainless 15 clips from my collection (bone, chestnut and elk). They were just too light and small for my taste. The obsession with the 15 pattern doesn't make it the top dog. My view is that the pattern benefits a lot from the extra weight of an end cap or longer bolster or second blade. Add any of those and its a winner.
 
Camillus said:
My view is that the pattern benefits a lot from the extra weight of an end cap or longer bolster or second blade. Add any of those and its a winner.
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I couldn’t agree more. I have a Navy Knife that just isn’t substantial enough for me to take seriously. But my Beer Scouts, Crown Lifters and end capped 15 are all awesome.
 
Camillus said:
If it gives any comfort to those that missed out - I culled the three stainless 15 clips from my collection (bone, chestnut and elk). They were just too light and small for my taste. The obsession with the 15 pattern doesn't make it the top dog. My view is that the pattern benefits a lot from the extra weight of an end cap or longer bolster or second blade. Add any of those and its a winner.
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I agree with you. The #15 acrylic is super light. But I enjoy having that option. I carry a knife with more bulk for an EDC, but sometimes I put on my Sunday go a meeting clothes, and want a lightweight knife. At those times my knife duties might go as far as cutting a danish, and I have that sweet tortoise acrylic, that always gets compliments.
 
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