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Lets talk GEC!

I like the Crown Lifter, it was underrated (which was good so you could get one and not at a tragic price ;)) yet I think it carries as a pocket-knife far better than the BS ,having no clumsy bail :cool:

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What do folks like about the easy open? I understand there's folks who need it who might have arthritis or something, but aside from that does it really buy you a whole lot? I've been finding out lately that most of the knives I have I open with a pinch technique subconsciously- striking because this includes the #14 clip and the #15 spear, which both have low profiles for GEC's but still have enough above the handle to pinch open.

I ask only because, whatever the gains, for me it does two things:
1) A proud tip (or edge!) will find itself in that easy open cutout sooner as the knife ages. Perhaps it's still protected from cutting people or things by the rest of the handle, but I hate the look of a proud tip.
2) it kind of ruins the aesthetic for me. In most patterns it looks like a discontinuity or after-thought.

Of course tastes are different, and I get that. I'm just wondering why some people are so wild for them.
 
I personally dont like EOs and dont generally buy knives with EOs with the exception of the 85 in african blackwood that was part of the offering as a club knife. I dont like EOs because I find they throw off the the aesthetics of the knife. Thats why I generally disliked most of the 85s, they came with EOs. Its fine if folks buy the knife and cut the EOs themselves.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Just trying to figure more names for a new run of “beer scouts”.
  • Beer Liberator
  • Seal breaker
  • Top Popper
  • Cap Buster
  • Long Neck Loosener
  • Emancipator
  • Brew buster
  • Captivator
  • Top terminator
  • Brew Buddy
  • Top Topper
  • Pint Popper
  • Brew Cruiser
  • Bottle Jockey
Click to expand...
The word "BEER" on the shield is all we need. A true artist knows when to put the paint brush down.
 
Onearmbladenut said:
The word "BEER" on the shield is all we need. A true artist knows when to put the paint brush down.
Click to expand...

Well I'm down for this Ron Swansonian school of thought. GEC should be renamed "Good Knife Company" and each pattern should have a unique number (as they do) and the name should be "Knife", and the knives with shields that must state what they are should say "KNIFE". Their slogan could be, "We make good knives. Buy one... or don't! we don't really care."

As Ron might say, A knife labeled "BEER" is a lie.

"There's only one thing I hate more than lying: skim milk, which is water that is lying about being milk" - Ron Swanson
 
mrknife said:
Alas, Ive tried, but it only resulted in sending @glennbad a bag of parts!
Click to expand...

I'd much rather cut an EO notch than try a blade delete- one is way harder than the other.

Cutting an EO notch involves:
- some masking tape
- rotory tool with your favorite grinding head
- sand paper
- dye if refinishing

A blade delete involves:
- a drill press
- a ball peen hammer
- purchase of the correct diameter pin stock (probably)
- a hack saw
- a file
- sand paper
- a buffing tool of some kind

Anyone here do their own blade deletes? Craftsmen can chime in, but I'm really interested in Joe Shmoe's garage effort.
 
EngrSorenson said:
I'd much rather cut an EO notch than try a blade delete- one is way harder than the other.

Cutting an EO notch involves:
- some masking tape
- rotory tool with your favorite grinding head
- sand paper
- dye if refinishing

A blade delete involves:
- a drill press
- a ball peen hammer
- purchase of the correct diameter pin stock (probably)
- a hack saw
- a file
- sand paper
- a buffing tool of some kind

Anyone here do their own blade deletes? Craftsmen can chime in, but I'm really interested in Joe Shmoe's garage effort.
Click to expand...
Shoot.... I'll play. I've done a couple or three.. I turned an electrician's knife into a single blade that is almost identical to a spear point #15 huckleberry. I have pics somewhere....

I also rebuilt a knife and put thicker liners on it, and now have my own crown lifter, in winterbottom bone and brass bolsters.

edit: I'm trying imgur for the first time here.... see if this works...
rlad3mJ.jpg

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Last edited:
I procrastinated with both the latest Beer Scout and Crown Lifter runs and did not acquire any - it was before I had a good understanding of how GEC does things.

I do, however, have a Radio Jack that I got in a trade with Will Power some time ago and it remains my only GEC with a caplifter. I really like the Beer Scouts with the bail - if I were to acquire one, it would replace the Boys Knife that I always carry in my watch pocket on a chain. It would likely get an enormous amount of use - unlike the #15 that currently resides there. Too often, I find myself out with buddies and no caplifter - I always have to ask for my smoker buddy's Bic, it pops the cap off a bottle quite effectively.

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I don’t mind modding a $30 case or $15 rough rider, but it’s very hard for me to justify modding a GEC that’s at another echelon of pricing. Too much risk in my mind if I mess it up. There’s been a number of them that I bought because “it’ll be perfect if it only had x covers” but I always end up selling them before sending them off to someone qualified for such work.
 
EngrSorenson said:
I'd much rather cut an EO notch than try a blade delete- one is way harder than the other.

Cutting an EO notch involves:
- some masking tape
- rotory tool with your favorite grinding head
- sand paper
- dye if refinishing

A blade delete involves:
- a drill press
- a ball peen hammer
- purchase of the correct diameter pin stock (probably)
- a hack saw
- a file
- sand paper
- a buffing tool of some kind

Anyone here do their own blade deletes? Craftsmen can chime in, but I'm really interested in Joe Shmoe's garage effort.
Click to expand...

you are mostly correct, you need something to split the knife apart.
 
hornetguy said:
Shoot.... I'll play. I've done a couple or three.. I turned an electrician's knife into a single blade that is almost identical to a spear point #15 huckleberry. I have pics somewhere....

I also rebuilt a knife and put thicker liners on it, and now have my own crown lifter, in winterbottom bone and brass bolsters.

edit: I'm trying imgur for the first time here.... see if this works...
Click to expand...

great work. Think you’d ever try it on a GEC? Looks like that one’s secondary had a mishap, which might have made that less painful to attempt. Did you reuse the pins or get new ones?


GaiusJulius said:
I don’t mind modding a $30 case or $15 rough rider, but it’s very hard for me to justify modding a GEC that’s at another echelon of pricing. Too much risk in my mind if I mess it up. There’s been a number of them that I bought because “it’ll be perfect if it only had x covers” but I always end up selling them before sending them off to someone qualified for such work.
Click to expand...

if it was a knife I loved enough, I might consider sending a GEC to someone for some custom work. The problem is I don’t know if I’d ever use it after!!

I’m with you on modified cheap knives. It’s the only way to learn, I think.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Did you reuse the pins or get new ones?
Click to expand...

I used new pins.... I was a little rough on the originals, trying to get them out.
I used wenge wood for the scales... the old walnut ones are still laying around somewhere on my bench. And, yes, it was easier to justify tearing it apart, because of the broken screwdriver blade.

I think I would try a GEC, if I felt the need to modify something..... it's only money, right? I was thinking of re-covering my 92 micarta, but haven't decided yet. I think it would look really nice in ebony..
 
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