Modified 15 Boy's Knife

I

ISKRA

Joined
Sep 19, 2016
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Hello, gentlemen!

Has any of you had a GEC 15 boy's knife modified from a two blade to a single blade or vice versa? How did it go, could you save the original covers?

I am thinking about turning mine into a two blade as that would pretty much make it my grail knife. Of course I need to find a backspring and pen blade or caplifter/punch first (it's not looking good at the moment), but if I get lucky and actually manage to aquire the parts needed, I'd like to have some insight first. I would be thankful if any of you could post some pics and comment about your experience, perhaps on another model. Is it something worth doing?

Here's the photo of mine, I wouldn't complain to see some of yours too. ;)

YdYwMUE.jpg


Cheers,
Žan
 
I've had a few boys knives modified and several gecs modified in general. Its no secret, I love single blade knives, so most of my knives go from the two blade to the single blade mainly because I missed the releases of the single blade. To be quite honest, I no longer seek it done because it usually affects the centering of the blade. GEC has a machine that can recrink the blade so I usually have to go back to Titusville to get it to my liking.

My advice? it is better to buy the one you want, than to have it made because of the additional costs and headaches involved. That being said, yes, the covers can be saved even bone. The modders split the pins with a razor blade, then the pins get replaced and reassembled. This is an oversimplification of the process, but it involves a jig to give the spring the tension back. Of the few 15s/gecs I have had modified, only one was really disappointing because the modder ended up shaving off some of the blade to make it right. I had long suspected it wasnt done properly by the modder as most of my mods by @glennbad were done fantastically. So careful who you go with if this is the route you want to choose.
 
Thanks for your reply, mrknife mrknife . I can live with a blade that's not 100 % spot on centered as long as it doesn't rub. I really like the jigging, so I'm more concerned about the covers. You gave me some good information. :thumbsup:


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you're welcome I ISKRA i think you have to be a gold member for those wtb threads to be seen in that section of the forum, but dont quote me on that.
 
The #15 is a very popular pattern for GEC. I would suggest waiting until the next run or one pops up for you. If it was a less popular pattern then I may suggest otherwise. For example, I really liked the GEC #48 jack but wanted changes. I wanted a #48 with the slimmer clip instead of the full one. I went and got these 2 knives...


and had the main blades swapped (and covers rehandled by choice) to get these.


And I was happy. GEC didn't offer what I wanted so I had it made. Then Charlie came along with his DE line... and offered a slim clip on a #48 jack about 16 months later basically giving me what I wanted in the first place. After all that, I still ended up carrying my original green bone one far more often than any of the others... Here's an old pick of my user #48 jacks.


So while it can be done, I'd suggest just holding out a bit more.
 
I actually have a spare spring and pen blade from from a cap lifter mod and at least a brass spacer, and maybe a steel one I’m not sure. It is often very difficult to preserve the original scales when taking a GEC apart as a lot of their pins are superglued in so it’s difficult to keep the punch from damaging or cracking them when hammering out the pins. I have been having increasing luck with it but it’s a crap shoot still. Maybe others have better luck or a better method than me. Hit me up if you’d like to discuss. That being said there are and will likely continue to be all manner of blade combinations available on 15’s.
 
Good old Big Biscuit. I ran across one of his posts in another thread, made me think of him. He sure liked his mods. He had a couple of 15s modded to very exquisit barlows with lovely wood covers, I think one even had stepped bolsters. Nice save from the broken saw on yours too. Makes for a practical blade.
 
Yes indeed, Bigbiscuit did like his mods and mod work. that 15 there third from the right was a gift from Bob when he had saw that I was too skittish to use the knife since they were scarce. I believe he redid the ebony on that one with much darker and beefier ebony. The tc is also a modded product from Bob's basement shop! RIP my friend, we remember you fondly.
 
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