Mid Sized GSO Menagerie

[McVeyMac]

The mid - sized lineup of the S!K line in my opinion is the sweet spot:



What I intend to do here is show some comparison pictures of the old spec. GSO 5.1, 5 and new spec. CFV 4.7 (top to bottom in the picture above). The 5.1 has long been a favorite knife of mine, and I have carried it quite a lot. It is a beefy blade that can be thumped on all day long. Both of these old spec examples are in CPM 3V, another favorite of mine.






I have often argued that the 5.1 was my all around favorite 1 knife option, and although I have not taken either the 5 or the 4.7 for extended outings as I have the 5.1, I still think that I am of that opinion. I do think the old spec. knives have wonderful ergonomics, but I must say that the new spec. knives are off the charts in comfort. I carried the 4.7 today all day with the stock belt clip, and I must say I enjoy that the knife overall is lighter than the 5.0, and it is almost like it is not there. The new taco sheath design makes for a skinnier profile, making the knife less noticable in carry as well. I have not really tested the 4.7 in use, but I do like carrying it, and I love the way it fits my hand.



Please feel free to share your pictures and thoughts on the middies. I have a new spec. GSO 6 on order, so it will be interesting if that knife changes my opinion on the choil on the 5.1. I also got a new spec. 5.1 coming that I got off the exchange, so I will be posting mor on it here once I get it.

 

[Standard78]

I have never been a choil fan but the 5.1 is a great knife.
I pretty much agree with your thoughts, but I really like to carry the old spec 4.1 everyday because it's a bit lighter.
The 4.7 is ridiculously comfortable and capable.

 

[Hard Knocks]

I'm really digging the old spec 4.1s. They are so handy.

But man, I think I'm going to have to chase down a GSO 5. That one just won't get out of my head. Thanks for the comparison shots of it against the 4.7.

 

[McVeyMac]

The one thing that I failed to mention about the 4.7 taco sheath is the loss of a pair of slots on the 4.7 compared to the pancake style GSO 5 sheath. This may not be that big of a deal at all, but for those that utilize these for carrying extra paracord, they might find the new style not as well suited as the old GSO 5 sheath.

 

[McVeyMac]

I have never been a choil fan but the 5.1 is a great knife.
I pretty much agree with your thoughts, but I really like to carry the old spec 4.1 everyday because it's a bit lighter.
The 4.7 is ridiculously comfortable and capable.

I agree with you regarding the 4.1, and it is the GSO I carry more than any other. I did not include it here as I consider it to be at the top end of the small fixed blade category. There is no doubting the increased capabilities of the mid sized knives in my mind due mainly to their increased blade length when compared to the 4.1. But the carry ability of the the 4.1 and the weight do make it see a lot of belt time while working round the house.

I'm really digging the old spec 4.1s. They are so handy.

But man, I think I'm going to have to chase down a GSO 5. That one just won't get out of my head. Thanks for the comparison shots of it against the 4.7.

I still carry the 4.1 more than the 5 around the house, but the 5 is a very capable blade. I did not preorder the 4.7 in 3V because I had the 5. But I just could not resist the CFV 4.7 deal at the time. I think that the 4.7 is a pretty faithful replacement of the 5. The thinner blade and smaller sheath profile do make it slightly easier to carry than the 5, but the thicker blade of the 5 tips the scales for me if I am on an extended outing and my life will depend on my knife for an extended time. But when I am in the latter situation, or possibly in an extended survival situation, I most likely will have the 5.1 my belt over the 5 due to the extended reach of the blade. I do not own the GSO 6, but I do have a new spec. on order. Once in hand, the 6 might displace my thinking about the 5.1 and become my favorite. I have long thought the 5.1 was a perfect 1 knife option because of the choil. But let's face it, I never have just one knife on me.

 

[Silver Needle]

Very cool thread idea and excellent opportunity for "menagerie"

In my mind the 4.1 was a member of the mid-size, but I totally get your reasoning.

In old spec I thought of the 4.1 being the smallest mid along with the 5 and then the 5.1 and 6 being at the top end of the category.

One thing I'm REALLY looking forward to is comparing the new spec 4.1, 4.7 and 6. Those, to me, are the range of mid-sizers that interest me......... a lot. I'm sure all 3 will be amazing, but I'm excited about which of these could be THE one that stands out the most.

 

[McVeyMac]

Very cool thread idea and excellent opportunity for "menagerie"

In my mind the 4.1 was a member of the mid-size, but I totally get your reasoning.

In old spec I thought of the 4.1 being the smallest mid along with the 5 and then the 5.1 and 6 being at the top end of the category.

One thing I'm REALLY looking forward to is comparing the new spec 4.1, 4.7 and 6. Those, to me, are the range of mid-sizers that interest me......... a lot. I'm sure all 3 will be amazing, but I'm excited about which of these could be THE one that stands out the most.

Well, I guess I should get the good camera out, get some good lighting going on and re-take the pictures including the 4.1 I guess I always thought of the 4.1 as being the largest in the small knife category. I have a bunch of small medium and large Fiddlebacks, but for this reason I never thought of adding any of the GSO small knives except for the 4.1. It was the smallest Guy made when I got it (I got it before any of my Fiddlebacks), and it is actually on my belt as I type this. I have no problem placing this knife in the Mid category, and reviewing the new spec. 4.1 to old spec. once the new spec. comes.

 

[Hard Knocks]

I still carry the 4.1 more than the 5 around the house, but the 5 is a very capable blade. I did not preorder the 4.7 in 3V because I had the 5. But I just could not resist the CFV 4.7 deal at the time. I think that the 4.7 is a pretty faithful replacement of the 5. The thinner blade and smaller sheath profile do make it slightly easier to carry than the 5, but the thicker blade of the 5 tips the scales for me if I am on an extended outing and my life will depend on my knife for an extended time. But when I am in the latter situation, or possibly in an extended survival situation, I most likely will have the 5.1 my belt over the 5 due to the extended reach of the blade. I do not own the GSO 6, but I do have a new spec. on order. Once in hand, the 6 might displace my thinking about the 5.1 and become my favorite. I have long thought the 5.1 was a perfect 1 knife option because of the choil. But let's face it, I never have just one knife on me.

These are the kind of arguments I have going on in my own head all the time. Then sometimes in the field I find out that I didn't think something through as well as I had thought. Still, I like chasing down all the rabbits with each model's pros and cons. Thanks for letting us in on your thought process :thumbup:

One thing I'm REALLY looking forward to is comparing the new spec 4.1, 4.7 and 6. Those, to me, are the range of mid-sizers that interest me......... a lot. I'm sure all 3 will be amazing, but I'm excited about which of these could be THE one that stands out the most.

Yes!!!!! Finally have a 4.7 in my hand and am really looking forward to the other two. Especially the new 4.1.

 

[Silver Needle]

Well, I guess I should get the good camera out, get some good lighting going on and re-take the pictures including the 4.1 I guess I always thought of the 4.1 as being the largest in the small knife category. I have a bunch of small medium and large Fiddlebacks, but for this reason I never thought of adding any of the GSO small knives except for the 4.1. It was the smallest Guy made when I got it (I got it before any of my Fiddlebacks), and it is actually on my belt as I type this. I have no problem placing this knife in the Mid category, and reviewing the new spec. 4.1 to old spec. once the new spec. comes.

Completely personal preference. There's really no wrong answer. Now that I think back to the old spec handles, the 5, 5.1 and 6 all shared the same "mid" handle. That is rather interesting