Lets talk GEC!

[Boxer .45]

Yes it does smell like machining oil. I’m not that close to it but our camp is kinda close so I took a day off of hunting and made the drive. Well worth it. Few years ago my daughter and I stopped in and took a tour with the owner. Which was very nice as we just popped in and didn’t expect that. That was very cool. It’s nothing fancy honestly. Just a small building that smells of machining oil and a bunch of good men and women doing there craft with great attention to detail.

Cool you guys got to share that together. Memories are great.

I know its just a piece of the collection, but it shows how many models and variations there are per year.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ramrodmb]

It has a brass liner. Gold color. Look at the grits and butter 29s. Personally I'd much prefer my handle scales be bonded to the liner, not foil.

I like quite a few of the tortoise shell acrylics and they look great.

One problem U run into, particularly with a phone or a camera set on auto is, the polished bolsters and even satin blades, light backgrounds produce glare and mess with the white balance in the picture. It makes the character and natural color of the wood hard to capture. With acrylic, it reflects glare too, so I'm sure that doesn't help.

Bet a good camera, set on manual, adjusted correctly, and with the right light angle and background and you'd see a lot better pictures across the board.

Yeah, I bet if we had better equipment, knew how to set and adjust it, got the perfect lighting and had different background materials, we would see a lot better photos across the board.

I just try to work with what I have and call it good. These look much better in person.

 

[Boxer .45]

Yeah, I bet if we had better equipment, knew how to set and adjust it, got the perfect lighting and had different background materials, we would see a lot better photos across the board.

I just try to work with what I have and call it good. These look much better in person.

Those look great.

I only use a cell phone, because thats what I've got. I was just mentioning to him (or anyone) that if you aren't happy with your pictures there are things that can be done differently or considered to get better photos. I'm no pro, but have had several people ask how to take better pictures, some of them don't even realize you can focus your shot.

 

[Ramrodmb]

Those look great.

I only use a cell phone, because thats what I've got. I was just mentioning to him (or anyone) that if you aren't happy with your pictures there are things that can be done differently or considered to get better photos. I'm no pro, but have had several people ask how to take better pictures, some of them don't even realize you can focus your shot.

Thanks!
I hear ya, I was just joking and you are right. I just showed my wife how to tap the screen where she wanted the focus. Her words- "I had no idea"

 

[AZCoyote]

That gec forum knife looks great. I'm a pretty new member so I missed out on it this year but when it's time for the next forum knife is it announced in here? I know a new thread is started for each forum knife but if I don't know to look for the new thread I can easily miss out again next round. Need to grow the GEC collection.

 

[Pàdruig]

That gec forum knife looks great. I'm a pretty new member so I missed out on it this year but when it's time for the next forum knife is it announced in here? I know a new thread is started for each forum knife but if I don't know to look for the new thread I can easily miss out again next round. Need to grow the GEC collection.

It doesn't usually take very long for a new Forum Knife thread to get started after the conclusion of the previous one. Though I do have some doubts regarding the possibilities of future forum knives, I would still keep an eye out in the next couple of months, that is usually when the discussions tend to begin.

I should also add that if we do continue this tradition, there are no guarantees that it will be a GEC.

 

[AZCoyote]

It doesn't usually take very long for a new Forum Knife thread to get started after the conclusion of the previous one. Though I do have some doubts regarding the possibilities of future forum knives, I would still keep an eye out in the next couple of months, that is usually when the discussions tend to begin.

I should also add that if we do continue this tradition, there are no guarantees that it will be a GEC.

Thanks for the tips, I hope I didn't miss out on the last GEC forum knife or last forum knife in general!! I'll have to keep an eye out, there is so much patience involved in collecting GECs!

 

[B.F.U]

Thanks for the tips, I hope I didn't miss out on the last GEC forum knife or last forum knife in general!! I'll have to keep an eye out, there is so much patience involved in collecting GECs!

I don't know who else would do it. No one would want a Bear and Sons, to be frank. Canal Street is basically still out of business. Any overseas outfits would have logistics issues. And Case flat out won't do a run the size we need.

 

[mbkr]

I don't know who else would do it. No one would want a Bear and Sons, to be frank. Canal Street is basically still out of business. Any overseas outfits would have logistics issues. And Case flat out won't do a run the size we need.

I believe Buck, through SK Blades, did the 2018 knife.

 

[B.F.U]

I believe Buck, through SK Blades, did the 2018 knife.

Don't know how I forgot that, jeez!

 

[EngrSorenson]

Yeah that forum knife is a beauty. If you ask me I like that package better than the standard production 86. Something about it just feels right; as if it’s chunky in the way a useful pry bar feels. Everything about it’s scales screams gentleman’s knife, but the shape and grid of that blade looks like it’ll take a lot of abuse.

 

[Shurke]

I'd like to see more smalls from GEC in the coming year. I was just looking through the mugshots of all their patterns on their website, and it looks like they've only produced three frames measuring between 3" and 3 1/2". The 28 comes in at 3 1/4", and the 33 and 83 both come in at 3 3/8".

So... how about something similar to this from the 1917 Keen Kutter catalogue (which is posted in this forum).

I like the sheepsfoot / pen combo. But it'd also be excellent as a solo sheepsfoot. I'd prefer it at 3 1/4", but 3 3/8 would also wonderful as well.

Barring a new pattern like this, I'd really love to see a return of the 33 frame.

 

[JTB_5]

The pembertons made this year are 3 inches, or about that

 

[Shurke]

True. I've carried nothing but a Pemberton since February. But I'd still like something a bit bigger (the Pemberton frame is 2 3/4"). Grow that by a half an inch, and at 3 1/4" the above sheepsfoot would really hit a sweet spot for me.

 

[JTB_5]

True. I've carried nothing but a Pemberton since February. But I'd still like something a bit bigger (the Pemberton frame is 2 3/4"). Grow that by a half an inch, and at 3 1/4" the above sheepsfoot would really hit a sweet spot for me.

What is the length of the #14s?

 

[r8shell]

True. I've carried nothing but a Pemberton since February. But I'd still like something a bit bigger (the Pemberton frame is 2 3/4"). Grow that by a half an inch, and at 3 1/4" the above sheepsfoot would really hit a sweet spot for me.

The #14s are 3 inches.
In 2016, were spear blades, 2018 were clips, I wouldn't be surprised if 2020 brings sheepsfoots.

 

[Will Power]

I'd like a Sheepfoot on the 14 frame, certainly Must be Barehead though.....

I also would like to see some smaller patterns and I feel that GEC has yet to master the small knife, CASE do them better. Something to do with proportions, the GECs feel contrived, toy like: 06, 14,18,22 even the 25 I've gone off rather, too bloated 33 is a fine pattern but would look even better with smaller or slant bolsters. Look at CASE's Swayback Jack or Gent, small but no toy there, similarly with their Half Whittler or Mini Copperhead. A small knife works a lot better with thick scales, the GEC 14 would be enhanced with thicker slabs for instance.

Looking forward to the 62 re-issue but would really like a good sized Norfolk, not that foolish Northwoods shrimp they put out some years back, after all, GEC do very good Wharncliffes so time to make their version of the CASE/Bose Collab but with a longer blade

Years back I mused about a Tip Bolster pattern, I think they're beyond elegant but some nay sayers shot it down saying it would be too tricky to make or is not strong enough bla bla Got a Remington Tip Bolster Sleeveboard that's nearly a century old and that's held up nicely, obviously it's not a hard work pattern and I think the GEC 14 could be reversed to make a fine Sleeveboard 2 blades one spring.

CASE have been making patterns with sunk joints for years, time GEC put their hand to this as well

 

[JustinR]

We are long overdue for a new 33 run. I'd love to see them with slant or even tip bolsters. Bare ends with Birdseye pins would be cool too.

I think a 14 would make a fine pen knife but I'm also quite partial to the 68 white oaks....mighty fine as a single spring knife.

 

[btb01]

I don't know who else would do it. No one would want a Bear and Sons, to be frank. Canal Street is basically still out of business. Any overseas outfits would have logistics issues. And Case flat out won't do a run the size we need.

I'm happy to do next year's forum knife, y'all just let me know.

 

[Travman]

I'd like to see more smalls from GEC in the coming year. I was just looking through the mugshots of all their patterns on their website, and it looks like they've only produced three frames measuring between 3" and 3 1/2". The 28 comes in at 3 1/4", and the 33 and 83 both come in at 3 3/8".

So... how about something similar to this from the 1917 Keen Kutter catalogue (which is posted in this forum). View attachment 1249207

I like the sheepsfoot / pen combo. But it'd also be excellent as a solo sheepsfoot. I'd prefer it at 3 1/4", but 3 3/8 would also wonderful as well.

Barring a new pattern like this, I'd really love to see a return of the 33 frame.

I too have noticed the lack of knives in the 3” and 3 1/2”. A pattern similar to that 1917 Keen Kutter would be potential niche which GEC hasn’t produced before. Case, of course, has the Swayback Jack & Gent which are similar in size and shape. I’m pretty sure the Case Swaybacks are 3 1/4”.

I never really warmed up to my Swayback Gent. It has beautiful deep red color and I love the pocket worn jigged bone. However, I can’t stand looking at the shield, it looks cheap, like a 2-cent shield on a $60 knife. Also, the blade feels slightly pinched which makes the action weak. It is hard to open, but also barely closes unless it is pushed closed. So yes, we could use a GEC version.