Looking for my 1st Great Eastern Cutlery edc

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mrjefe2u

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Oct 19, 2010
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I normally carry a modern day knife with a pocket clip. (Spyderco, Benchmade)

I have recently added 3 Case traditional knives:
Case Mini Trapper, antique bone, clip and wharncliffe blades. Fun to carry and use.
Case Med Stockman w/punch instead of spey. Leather/hole punch is handy.
Case Mini Copperhead, Duck's Unlimited, wharncliffe and pen. Disappears in my pocket.

I'm 62 and and have fond memories of my Bucks, Shrade Walden, UH, OT and Puma.

I need a nice GEC Tidioute or Northfield in 1095 with 1 or 2 blades. It will be a user "pocket queen".

What GEC did you start with when you were going to get just one before you bought 47 of them?

Slice away.
 
My first was a #68. A Northfield white owl with clip main and cocobolo scales. It is strange that at the time I was convinced that it would be the only one I would need to buy, I made my selection very carefully and yet it is my least carried now. I did not realise how much I would dislike the bail. I find it gets in the way and rubs in an irritating fashion when I'm using it, especially when I'm using the pen blade. But I fell for the long pull, the beautifully grained dark wood and the size and shape.

Good hunting.

Paul
 
My first was a #12 Medium Toothpick, single blade. I edc'ed it for probably 6 or 8 months. Very comfortable in the pocket, lightwieght, and it has all the curves in the right places so it fits the hand well. I then got a 735109 in Burnt Stag. A bigger knife, but not bulky, it rides light in the pocket. And with the drop point blade, many consider this the "perfect" pocket knife. I have carried this one every day for almost 4 years. I will probably have it in my pocket the rest of my life. And I recently got a #15 Boys Knife. Single Clip Blade, Rust Red Jigged Bone. Though somewhat smaller, the 15 is a great knife and can handle most everyday chores. I wouldn't suggest it for big game hunting or skinning out a couple dozen Muskrats, but it's just fine for casual everyday stuff. And it's bare bones appearance gives it a certain Zen type charm.
 
You'll probably get a lot of answers to your query, but remember only two are correct. The #15 Charlow/boy's knife and the #73 scout, both in the single blade version. :D

The #15 is just a little honey of a knife. It is a light, trim knife that is big enough to perform pocketknife chores.

The scout, though only 1/4" longer, is a noticeably larger knife. Where the #15 excels in portability, the #73 shines during use. Few knives feel better in the hand. It doesn't disappear in the pocket like a Charlow, but assuming you are comfortable carrying it you just might find that you no longer need another slipjoint. Want is another thing entirely of course.

- Christian
 
#68 Pony Jack is a very nice knife, similar in size to the #15 Barlow/Boy's knives, just slightly different handle shapes.

They are kind of in the sweet spot, size wise, at 3 1/2" closed, about the same size as your Mini Trapper.
 
My first was #23 Pioneer. In addition to being my first GEC it was also the first of many in stag. The #23 is still regually carried in my back pocket on weekends. It's too large for edc. I quickly moved on to the #53/#54 frame which I find nearly perfect for edc.

GEC_Walden_53.jpg
 
kamagong said:
You'll probably get a lot of answers to your query, but remember only two are correct. The #15 Charlow/boy's knife and the #73 scout, both in the single blade version. :D

The #15 is just a little honey of a knife. It is a light, trim knife that is big enough to perform pocketknife chores.

The scout, though only 1/4" longer, is a noticeably larger knife. Where the #15 excels in portability, the #73 shines during use. Few knives feel better in the hand. It doesn't disappear in the pocket like a Charlow, but assuming you are comfortable carrying it you just might find that you no longer need another slipjoint. Want is another thing entirely of course.

- Christian
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Can't disagree with this. :thumbup:
 
I started with a #23 in Bocote. Then I ordered the #76 in smooth yellow bone and as an added bonus the rose shield... Texas yellow rose!
 
I also started with the #73, trapper, then single blade liner lock, you're just in time for the new run of these guys, there are all sorts of nice scale choices including stag.
The #85 is a nice small knife, as is the #92 eureka jack.
 
I'm 62. Started out buying spydies, switched to traditionals when GEC came out, bought 47 and love them. Now I scan the bay for Old Timers, but mostly carry alox pioneers and Camillus scouts.

The two most popular GEC patterns from an old poll were the White Owl and Bullet End Jack. I have both and love them. Just get a GEC. But don't sweat it, you'll be looking for something else soon enough.
 
My first GEC was the 42 Missouri Trader lockback. Northfield, stag. Great knife that I only carry sometimes. Not because of portability or anything, it's on the larger end of the scale but it's not huge at all. I just don't carry it as much. No reason. Great knife though.

Next is my #15, clip/pen, ebony wood Boys knife. My constant companion for several months now, hardly go without it for a day. When I carry another knife as I often do now, it's in addition to the 15, not in place of it. I do find I'm not getting it quite as sharp as some of my other knives, but that seems to be more my developing sharpening ability rather than the knife itself. I love this thing.

The my GEC Bullnose sodbuster in O1 steel. Great, great knife that I'm trying to carry more often. Does absolutely everything I ask of it, and could do far larger/heavier cutting tasks if the need came up. And a very nice looking knife in spite of/because of (if that makes sense) it's simple down to earth looks.

These are the GECs I currently have, and I look forward to more. I have a Northfield 73 single blade, slipjoint, burnt stag on the way, I can't wait for it to arrive and hope it does without any problems. I can already see it becoming a favourite and I've never even handled that pattern yet.

-Darryl
 
I started with a #73 in 2008 and never looked for another until a #72 a couple years later. Both are great patterns for everday carry. My main carries these days are #92, #85, #68 and #15. I'm partial to the Eureka.
 
I guess it really comes down to your personal preferences in how big of a knife you want to carry, and the type of blade(s) you like. Once you decide on those it will narrow down the pattern selection significantly.
 
It would be hard for me to pick a favorite but my favorites are 76 Outlaw Jack, 66 Serpatine Jack & Calf Roper, 68 White Owl and the 25 patterns. I really want to try out a 15 boys knife & the 6 pemberton.
 
My first GEC was a #66 Serpentine Jack - and it´s still one of my All-Time-Favorites.

It has the perfect (!!) size and a great blade configuration.

But there are many many others to try out. You can go downwards and upwards in size.

So, I would recommend you the #66 Serpentine Jack.
 
Humppa said:
My first GEC was a #66 Serpentine Jack - and it´s still one of my All-Time-Favorites.

It has the perfect (!!) size and a great blade configuration.

But there are many many others to try out. You can go downwards and upwards in size.

So, I would recommend you the #66 Serpentine Jack.
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Mine too! Though I'm getting two 15's soon!
 
My first GEC was this Tidioute Big Jack in burnt grizzly cut bone.

amberstagbones-1-1.jpg~original


I think the best first GEC of the current crop is the Eureka Jack, with both a spear and a coping blade. Good medium size, beautiful cover choices, and two different types and sizes of blades for maximum utility. If you wait until the #81 stockman comes out, I would recommend that one as well.
 
What size knife do you prefer? I like them small to medium in size and prefer single blade or two at most. I've been EDC'ing a #55 Houndstooth Northfield (3.5" closed) for nearly 3 months now and absolutely love it. It's very slim and just has that perfect feel in hand. It drops down into my right front pocket and fits like a glove, I'm never aware of it until I need it.

I received this morning another slippie that I can already tell is a winner - a #06 Pemberton by Northfield/GEC (2.75" closed). Now THIS little sweetheart is just wonderful! It's got matching bone scales to the #55 I carry so they're sort of a matched duo. I really think this is it, my personal Grail combo has been found.

If you just want a sweet little lightweight slippie that disappears in your pocket either of these is wonderful IMHO.

Let us know what you decide :)
 

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arizonaranchman said:
What size knife do you prefer?
Let us know what you decide :)
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I mostly wear jeans so I don't mind a 3 1/2 to 4" closed. #23 would be max.

I like the looks of bareheads.

I like one very sharp blade for slicing and one blade for most work.

While I'm thinking, I wouldn't mind looking like John Wayne in Big Jake

when he threw his knife to rescue the sheep herder. ;)
 
mrjefe2u said:
I have recently added 3 Case traditional knives:
Case Mini Trapper, antique bone, clip and wharncliffe blades. Fun to carry and use.
Case Med Stockman w/punch instead of spey. Leather/hole punch is handy.
Case Mini Copperhead, Duck's Unlimited, wharncliffe and pen. Disappears in my pocket.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you like the combination of a straight edge and a curved edge in the same knife (like me).

#61 half congress.
#15 sheepsfoot barlow.
#92 Eureka Jack.

You like the barehead look, so the sheepsfoot barlow and the Eureka jack both fit that bill. Depends on which type of blade you prefer to be longer.
 
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