Lets talk GEC!

[Tx308]

Feels like it's been a little slower on here so I thought I'd pose a question. Who out there on the porch has found their GEC grail knife? Also if you have not found your grail knife if you could customize any GEC pattern what would your grail knife be?

I've only been collecting GEC for a little over a year so I haven't found it yet although my 93 rams foot is pretty near perfect. From the GECs I've handled I'm thinking my GEC grail knife might be a 29 with 2 blades which each ride on their own spring. The blades would be a clip point with long pull and a sheepsfoot on the opposite side. It's possible that the 35 churchill would hit all the right points but I havent handled one yet so not sure.

I have one of the 2 GEC grails I wanted. Got lucky and won an auction for an ebony 81 Abilene but paid dearly for it. The one I haven't found and probably won't be able to afford is the Yellow Rose bone 81 Abilene.

 

[JohnDF]

My grail is a GEC #76 Krack-a-Jack.
There was a time I'd pay anything to own that knife, but those feelings are fading.
I'd still love to own one, but I'm no longer willing to pay what I would have payed in the past.

 

[GaiusJulius]

A spey blade is used for speying (neutering / rendering an animal incapable of reproduction) an animal. A truly archaic blade that for reasons I fail to understand, continues to be over used by several prominent knife manufactures. I find the spey blade completely useless and wish that a sheepsfoot or a wharncliffe would be used much more often in place of it.

I almost could agree... if you are talking about a single-blade knife. If there’s only one blade, it is slightly handicapped without a point of some type.

On the other hand, in a two-blade knife, the Spey can slice and cut just as well as any other blade, and possesses two great virtues. First, its lack of a point makes it unlikely to put holes in a place where you don’t want them, which makes it good for skinning small fur-bearers (as well as cutting the gonads off a calf). Second, it’s an unparalleled shape for dipping and spreading butter, jelly, vegemite, or whatever concoction you prefer on your toast. Try it with a clip and let us know how that goes.

 

[gaj999]

I like a spey blade because they are usually hollow ground and thin at the edge..... They can be very slicy....... The nose radius is sometimes preferred for scoring verses using a sharp pointed nose.....

I keep mine howling sharp and only cut soft materials, or shave hair, or calluses, or trim nails, or anything where a very thin sharp blade without a sharp point is useful. I like having one so long as I have the other two blades for general use. My kinda sorta grail is the old Cattle Baron pattern: clip, sheepsfoot, spey, and punch in a nice 4 1/8 cigar frame without half stops ... make me one of those in a high-quality stainless and I might lose bladder control.

 

[Jiki]

This discussion leads me to the beauty of the Dixie Stockman with the drop point in place of the spey. Being a suburbanite myself I do not have the traditional need for the spey blade. Don't get me wrong I still like to carry my traditional stockmans however the 82 for me really adds layers of usefulness. Now if we could convince Mr Howard to build one on the 35 frame with either the spey or the drop point.

 

[SnackPack]

Feels like it's been a little slower on here so I thought I'd pose a question. Who out there on the porch has found their GEC grail knife? Also if you have not found your grail knife if you could customize any GEC pattern what would your grail knife be?

I've only been collecting GEC for a little over a year so I haven't found it yet although my 93 rams foot is pretty near perfect. From the GECs I've handled I'm thinking my GEC grail knife might be a 29 with 2 blades which each ride on their own spring. The blades would be a clip point with long pull and a sheepsfoot on the opposite side. It's possible that the 35 churchill would hit all the right points but I havent handled one yet so not sure.

For me it was the Waynorth Lambsfoot. Finally found a jigged bone NIT last week. Amazing knife and everything that I could ask for. Slim profile, great reach, single blade, the best F&F I’ve ever seen. Add to that the historicity of an iconic English knife made to the highest standards of any production traditional today and you’ve got a knife that’ll last a lifetime.

 

[Matt Bernier]

Feels like it's been a little slower on here so I thought I'd pose a question. Who out there on the porch has found their GEC grail knife? Also if you have not found your grail knife if you could customize any GEC pattern what would your grail knife be?

I've only been collecting GEC for a little over a year so I haven't found it yet although my 93 rams foot is pretty near perfect. From the GECs I've handled I'm thinking my GEC grail knife might be a 29 with 2 blades which each ride on their own spring. The blades would be a clip point with long pull and a sheepsfoot on the opposite side. It's possible that the 35 churchill would hit all the right points but I havent handled one yet so not sure.

A 35 as a boy scout camp knife.

 

[Matt Bernier]

A spey blade is used for speying (neutering / rendering an animal incapable of reproduction) an animal. A truly archaic blade that for reasons I fail to understand, continues to be over used by several prominent knife manufactures. I find the spey blade completely useless and wish that a sheepsfoot or a wharncliffe would be used much more often in place of it.

I suppose this is why there are so many blade shapes for different people, because it's my most used blade shape by far, and I find it totally irreplacable. The shape allows for unparalelled control of depth of cut, is able to pierce while preventing accidental poking, and can cut one layer of material while leaving an underlying surface unharmed. I use it for hangnails, first aid, and calluses. There is no better tool for working with skin.

Days may go by without me using my main blade, but my spey gets used many times a day.

 

[EngrSorenson]

Most blades are probably not used for their original intent. And few can be used when working in the blind without concern of "poking" a hole in an unintended area. Cowboys around here are still castrating a kicking, bawling calf with a spey blade because they don't want to be doctoring inadvertent cuts after the stress of castration. What is the difference in the cutting edge of a sheepsfoot and wharncliffe? They are used at least their fair amount of time in my opinion; as we are on a decade long run where they are utilized more than previously. And I don't know what cutting tasks have changed in the same amount of time.

the interesting thing about sheepsfoot versus wharnecliffe is that it’s what’s behind the edge that matters. Wharnecliffe blades are unparalleled whittlers because of the pointed tip, but the sheepsfoot is sturdier with the aggressive tip- in can use it as a marking knife band not worry about the tip breaking off. I can also ride the angled portion of the sheepsfoot blade on my work piece and plane into corners without damaging the adjacent surface.

I think you’re right; the types of cutting tasks haven’t changed. I’d gamble that we’re doing more point-oriented cutting lately, which might make the straight edged blades more desirable.

related note, spey blades are more preferable to me than skinner blades because it provides a more accessible tip. That grind might remove some of the piercing effectiveness, but it adds a usable point.

...If there’s only one blade, it is slightly handicapped without a point of some type.

...Second, it’s an unparalleled shape for dipping and spreading butter, jelly, vegemite, or whatever concoction you prefer on your toast. Try it with a clip and let us know how that goes.

I like your point about the single blades knife needing some kind of point.

... then you had to go bring peanut butter into this...

 

[dantzk8]

I'm surprised nobody points out how useful a speyblade can be at whittling. For some tasks like working inside the cage of a "ball in cage". I somehow use the speyblade like a wood chisel with the help of my free thumb as a fulcrum.

Dan.

 

[EngrSorenson]

I'm surprised nobody points out how useful a speyblade can be at whittling. For some tasks like working inside the cage of a "ball in cage". I somehow use the speyblade like a wood chisel with the help of my free thumb as a fulcrum.

Dan.

huh... it’s interesting- I’ve done the same thing on the same project. Ultimately I focus on making slicing cuts because I think that’s the best way to go, but that’s a great point.

i also like the tight slicing motion I can make with the long edge on the tight radius belly on a smaller Spey, though honestly it’s not my go-to choice.

 

[dantzk8]

huh... it’s interesting- I’ve done the same thing on the same project. Ultimately I focus on making slicing cuts because I think that’s the best way to go, but that’s a great point.

i also like the tight slicing motion I can make with the long edge on the tight radius belly on a smaller Spey, though honestly it’s not my go-to choice.

I hear you, it depends of the wood grain, slicing cuts work well when i cut with the grain but when, it happens, i have to cut through the grain, then i do like the belly shape of the spey. I also like it for dealing with wood knots. The ones i hit on ash wood, a wood i like, are tough ones. I often use different blade shapes for a project but if i had to only use a one it would be a sheep foot thought i like the spear one also. I plan to get the F&F 62 carver, i'm not too anxious at using it, for what i've seen the tip doesn't seem that acute. Anyway a good file can solve this kind of problem.

Dan.

 

[N8Frog]

Finally completed my set of Waynorth Lambsfoots! White bone, Ebony, and Jigged bone. Very fortunate

 

[Markeologist]

As all of here do, I like knives so I will never be simply happy with just one.

That said, ever since the Waynorth 93 arrived, I have been very hard pressed to find a knife that is its compare. I've bought several GECs since then and will buy many more but this particular 93 is the one that gets the most time around the house and in the pocket. Is it a grail? Well, I suppose it depends on how you define a "grail". In my mind a grail is something nigh on unobtainable, something that you set your sights on in hopes that one day good fortunes might smile on you favorably, however unlikely it may be.

I don't know that I ever have really had a "grail" as I've found that knives usually speak to me more once I get them in hand. The Waynorth 93 is a real gem and it would likely be the pocket knife that would serve me well in the hypothetical "There can only be one" scenario.

Well said! I too think a grail must be so rare and so sought by others that the chance of ever obtaining one is slim to none.

 

[Ajd3530]

I reckon its good for my wallet, but the combination of rising secondary market prices and the fact that they're on pace to produce, maybe, 8 different patterns this year, the excitement for GEC just isn't what it used to be for me. And that really bums me out.

In terms of a "grail," I missed the opportunity for mine a few weeks ago by about 10 minutes. I'm not sure I'll ever see a turquoise NF #16 at a decent price ever again.

 

[JohnDF]

I'm not sure I'll ever see a turquoise NF #16 at a decent price ever again.

Yes, the secondary market pricing is driving me away from the brand unless I can buy retail.
Used to be a "grail" might cost you double the retail price. Now, it's just not even worth it for me to even look at them.

 

[tmd_87]

As all of here do, I like knives so I will never be simply happy with just one.

That said, ever since the Waynorth 93 arrived, I have been very hard pressed to find a knife that is its compare. I've bought several GECs since then and will buy many more but this particular 93 is the one that gets the most time around the house and in the pocket. Is it a grail? Well, I suppose it depends on how you define a "grail". In my mind a grail is something nigh on unobtainable, something that you set your sights on in hopes that one day good fortunes might smile on you favorably, however unlikely it may be.

I don't know that I ever have really had a "grail" as I've found that knives usually speak to me more once I get them in hand. The Waynorth 93 is a real gem and it would likely be the pocket knife that would serve me well in the hypothetical "There can only be one" scenario.

Agree with all of it!

 

[Will Power]

GRAIL? They haven't made it yet

Shadow or Tip-Bolster, 3 3/8" or 3.5" like a scaled down 38, Spear master Clip secondary. Or Drop-Point /Pen or Spear/small Sheepfoot or Pruner Grooved Stag, interesting Jigged bone, Micarta oh and I want it all steel and one version carbon the other stainless 154 Not a big ask

In the meantime, the 62s have turned out with impressive build-quality, nobody comes close to GEC at the moment.

 

[N8Frog]

My grail is an ebony Beer Scout

 

[Snodgrass]

My grail is an ebony Beer Scout

An ebony beer scout is second on my list after an 85 bloodwood 2 blade to complete my 85 bloodwood set.
I've knocked out a few grails recently: Michigan Jack in denim and I've got a Fremont in denim and a tiger maple 85 in the mail. The tiger maple has been at the top of my list for over two years, since they were released, I guess. A couple months back I decided to stop hunting because I find the harder I look for something the less likely they are pop up. So I put it in the knife gods hands. I try to keep good 'karma' (positive dealings with others and never making money on sales) in hopes that it'll come around to me in the long run. This time it worked out and I got it for, what was to me, a reasonable price. It should be here tomorrow!
I'm think that I'm going to try to get the jigged and bone 93s next to go with my ebony. I know it's a long shot on the bone but I got some good trade fodder built up.
Cheers all, thanks for sharing!