Lets talk GEC!

This #57 SFO is a split spring whittler. It is a convenient watchpocket-sized, comfortable to use, knife. But I'm curious about the jigging. The handles are called Pioneer Jigged Bone. Does the word Pioneer refer to the colour (yes, I'm Canadian) of the bone or does it refer to the jigging pattern or is it just a made up description? I have looked through all the GECs with a Pioneer label and I can't find any handles that look like my 57.

Thanks, Brian

VbLoNsD.jpg


2qB33kW.jpg
 
BrianB43 said:
This #57 SFO is a split spring whittler. It is a convenient watchpocket-sized, comfortable to use, knife. But I'm curious about the jigging. The handles are called Pioneer Jigged Bone. Does the word Pioneer refer to the colour (yes, I'm Canadian) of the bone or does it refer to the jigging pattern or is it just a made up description? I have looked through all the GECs with a Pioneer label and I can't find any handles that look like my 57.

Thanks, Brian

VbLoNsD.jpg


2qB33kW.jpg
Click to expand...
Yep, made up description. GEC can be very arbitrary with the naming of their bone colors and jigging patterns.
Take for instance the Hemlock green jigged bone. It's dark red.
 
gec-2013-tidioute-235113-grizzly-bone_1_6cd65630afb02c10e04ae72a5f73e873.jpg


This one came up when I searched on pioneer bone and I liked it so much I had to share it.

Based on similarity in color, and that GEC makes a smooth pioneer bone, I think that your knife is jigged ‘pioneer bone’, not ‘pioneer jigged’ bone, notwithstanding the label says it the other way around.

Pioneer bone seems very similar to oily creek bone. I would like to know more about it.
 
Last edited:
Thought I read way back that the pioneer bone was sourced from and old slaughterhouse from the" pioneer days" pretty sure I read it on gec's blog
 
There were knives from an old abbatoir that were called ‘primitive bone’. Not sure on the relationship between them and pioneer bone. There is also oily creek bone and beaver creek (?) bone which can look similar.

I believe the color on some of these knives is a result of natural staining while the bone is buried.

The source of the bone and its final finish and color aren’t dependent, just to add to the complexity.
 
Last edited:
BrianB43 said:
But I'm curious about the jigging. The handles are called Pioneer Jigged Bone. Does the word Pioneer refer to the colour (yes, I'm Canadian) of the bone or does it refer to the jigging pattern or is it just a made up description?

2qB33kW.jpg
Click to expand...


The color of the bone.
 
Random GEC thought for the day...
I would like to see some more jigged (second cut) stag handles.
 
Primitive Bone was allegedly the exhumation of some old boneyard, certain examples looked brilliant. I traded my sole 26 in it.

Frontier Bone was I recall an early type and a smooth burned sort, looked very good on 1st run 56s. Or am I confusing it with something else?:D The cost of decrepitude...;)
 
rockgolfer said:
I think a file is the best tool to use. It's slow and easy to adjust your angle before it's to late. Plus no heat like a power tool to mess with the heat treat integrity.
Click to expand...

This.
Jiki, get yourself a new single cut mill bastard file. It'll make the job so much easier than some sorry old, dull file that you find laying around.
A handle for the file is a good idea too.
 
knifeswapper said:
Taking a comment about a tip being too fine, without context, is a rabbit hole of discussion. Was the first person to mention saying that the tip was too fine for the work trying to be done with said tip? Were they saying it was too fine to exist on planet Earth? Whittling can be done by anyone, but anyone doing it much with a thin blade (especially wharncliffe) has probably broken a tip at one time or another when the tip catches resistance in a stroke and the whittler doesn't respond fast enough not to allow side torque to the very tip.

GEC makes blades thin the way folks like them. And they have a very consistent heat treat. They don't yet supply a sheet of what each particular blade was made to do and the exact pressure / torque limits at its current thickness, etc. So, at what point is it the buyers responsibility to make a call at what the tool is capable?

Having said that, I am sure the factory will present an acceptable solution to anyone who has broken the tip of their blade off.
Click to expand...

My absolute favorite thing about the Possum Skinner is the thinness of the blades, and they're thinner than on my stockman 82 (or at least it looks and cuts that way). I sure hope GEC doesn't go the Buck route and make all the blades ridiculously thick so they don't have to fix broken tips.

I have had discoloration at the tips on a couple recent GEC knives that I was concerned could mean the heat treat was compromised, but I called and Bill assured me it wouldn't affect the heat treat or use.

I broke a GEC pen blade once but it was my own stupidity and definitely nothing to do with the thickness or heat treat. In fact, I was impressed by the grain exposed by the broken blade!
 
GE Jr said:
Some good suggestions here...good luck @Jiki . I can remember using the front concrete walk to shape knife blades. Of course I was likely wearing my Davy Crockett hat, and the knives were made from popsicle sticks. :p:D
Click to expand...
I remember doing that. In fact we may have invented the first assisted opening knives by wrapping a rubber band around two sticks. It wasn't very efficient but it sure did snap open.
 
uhhhm those 905/906 stainless fillet knives are a surprise.

they could have been bowies if they didnt grind em so much?!
 
Kiteman72 said:
Stainless filet knives on the cover today. :confused:

Who has been asking for these? Leftover blades maybe?
Click to expand...

If there's one thing I've learned from following GEC for a few years, it's that they're going to make the knives they want to make, and (to a certain extent, at least) are indifferent to what anyone is "asking for." :D
 
Nice use of micarta on the filet knives...they look super grippy! I'll have to look into getting one of those :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top