Lets talk GEC!

[B.F.U]

That's a Big Knife in all ways!

That is a very special one there. I've been waiting to see one. Thanks for unveiling that beauty.

I really like the LVS Abalone. I would enjoy a splitback whittler with that covering. They may have made one already, but I might as well try to find a hen’s teeth. Lol

That is very special. Would love to see it in person

Here's my 1 Minute Overview

Knife Talk video coming up

 

[Elgatodeacero]

I have a couple custom abalone covered knives being made as gifts, but the maker is using genuine abalone.

Is LVS like a slice of abalone sealed in resin?

 

[gusnuts]

I have a couple custom abalone covered knives being made as gifts, but the maker is using genuine abalone.

Is LVS like a slice of abalone sealed in resin?

Yes, the LVS Abalone that GEC uses consists of a green acrylic, a layer of real abalone in the middle and then a clear resin on top.

 

[braket]

So does the already-sold-out reserves for the Gunstock Jack 14s account for the full run of 100, or will more be available when they are released later this month?

 

[gusnuts]

So does the already-sold-out reserves for the Gunstock Jack 14s account for the full run of 100, or will more be available when they are released later this month?

That is probably all of them from past experiences with his reserves.

 

[Railsplitter]

Yes, the LVS Abalone that GEC uses consists of a green acrylic, a layer of real abalone in the middle and then a clear resin on top.

So LVS is what GEC calls "Looking Glass" and ALVS is Genuine Abalone? I thought it was the other way around but the tube for Logan's Whaler does say ALVS and the covers on his knife do appear to be Genuine Abalone.

 

[Rusty1]

In the words of knifeswapper. ALVS (LG was GEC's previous name for it) is Acrylic Laminated Veneer Sheet; LVS is Laminated Veneer Sheet. No acrylic in LVS; just many layers of abalone.

Russell

 

[Railsplitter]

In the words of knifeswapper. ALVS (LG was GEC's previous name for it) is Acrylic Laminated Veneer Sheet; LVS is Laminated Veneer Sheet. No acrylic in LVS; just many layers of abalone.

Russell

That was my train of thought as well. I used the "A stands for Acrylic" concept to remember which is which.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

Im a little confused, but it sounds like Abalone LVS is thin sheets of abalone bonded together like micarta? Is that about right?

My customs are just slices of abalone shell, so maybe they wont be very durable? Anyone have experience with abalone covered knives they can share?

 

[B.F.U]

This is my Knife Talk video on the ALVS Abalone #46 Whaler, with some comparison to the ALVS #38 Special

I have a couple custom abalone covered knives being made as gifts, but the maker is using genuine abalone.

Is LVS like a slice of abalone sealed in resin?

I would be interested to see the material the maker is using for these! I'm sure it's great looking.

Yes, the LVS Abalone that GEC uses consists of a green acrylic, a layer of real abalone in the middle and then a clear resin on top.

This is true, but different from ALVS Abalone

So LVS is what GEC calls "Looking Glass" and ALVS is Genuine Abalone? I thought it was the other way around but the tube for Logan's Whaler does say ALVS and the covers on his knife do appear to be Genuine Abalone.

Both are "genuine" Abalone. One is a very thin sheet with green or red (I think they did some blue also) Acrylic under neath and a clear covering over top. The other is individual pieces of Abalone, thicker than on the above Style to show more color and chattoyance, layered under a clear Acrylic.

I don't believe either are like Micarta in the sense that the Abalone is mixed throughout the binding agent, but is held in one layer on both styles. I show this in the above video.

I would really like to see Abalone handles without any kind of covering / overlay / protection. Sounds really nice!

In the words of knifeswapper. ALVS (LG was GEC's previous name for it) is Acrylic Laminated Veneer Sheet; LVS is Laminated Veneer Sheet. No acrylic in LVS; just many layers of abalone.

Russell

Russell, I'm no expert but how could the many layers of Abalone create a cover material that doesn't fall apart without some sort of binding medium?

 

[Elgatodeacero]

I will post my "pure" abalone customs when they arrive - it will be a month or two more.

 

[Rusty1]

Russell, I'm no expert but how could the many layers of Abalone create a cover material that doesn't fall apart without some sort of binding medium?

Me either, but I assume they must be glued somehow otherwise how would the pieces/slivers hold together. I’m sure someone knows the answer.

Russell

 

[Camillus]

A natural abalone shell holds itself together just fine - however the inside of the shell is concave whereas a knife cover is convex. I don’t know if it is possible to straighten it, or find enough flat areas of shell to craft a knife cover of non-acrylic coated abalone that wasn’t simply a mosaic of smaller pieces.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

My knives will be Case CV peanuts recovered in abalone.

I sent a whole abalone shell to the maker, and he seemed to feel it would be no problem to get covers for peanuts from this shell.

I am excited, but getting impatient...... Its been a long wait.

A GEC 44 with abalone covers would be pretty awesome.

I havent sent any GECs off for new covers, but if these peanuts turn out well then I may go nuts with more abalone.

 

[Jiki]

On a completely different subject, I just got a red rust bone 43. How will these scales age with use? Will they stay shiny and new or will they develop their own character?

 

[Elgatodeacero]

They will look like this if you use your knife a lot.

First pick was when new in March of ‘18.

 

[Jiki]

Nice, I like a knife with character.

 

[Railsplitter]

On a completely different subject, I just got a red rust bone 43. How will these scales age with use? Will they stay shiny and new or will they develop their own character?

I suppose it would be entirely dependent on how you use and carry the knife but Jigged Bone is one of the best handle materials for taking on a "pocket worn" look.

Many of the members here have already seen the thread in the link below but I like to link it sometimes when this subject comes up. It's a good real world example of how a knife can age over the years. Probably nothing you didn't already know but it's an interesting thread just the same.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/sad-old-worn-out-knife-replaced-with-new-old-knife.889159/

 

[rdave]

So

 

[knifeswapper]

Me either, but I assume they must be glued somehow otherwise how would the pieces/slivers hold together. I’m sure someone knows the answer.

At one time I bought a large abalone shell; actually a couple because I have part of one around here somewhere. But even the very large are so convex you couldn't find a straight enough spot for maybe a couple peanuts. So, for knives, they have always cut veneers. ALVS is one layer of this veneer, thus the patchwork is very obvious most of the time. LVS is many layers of veneer with only a brush of epoxy between each to hold them together. You can still see the patchwork sometimes, but not nearly like ALVS. LVS is $200-300 per 5x9" sheet; whereas ALVS is $50-75 (in a thickness sufficient to make handles). LVS is as resilient as you would expect it to be. There are many quality levels; Case used some outstanding LVS in the 1990's and labelled it "Genuine Abalone".