My new GEC Barlow!

[dalee100]

Hi,

Just want to show off my new GEC #25 Barlow. I got a numbered one with red horn scales, (#07 of 50). I did have a very hard time justifying the order, (tight-wad old geezer), but now I see why everyone here has at least one!

The only fault I found was the very corners of the stops on the back of the tangs were a bit too sharp for me. But a minutes' work with a small oil stone eased the sharp corners. Though I do wish that I had been smart enough to ask about the location of the numbering. I'm not really fond of it being numbered on that beautiful obverse bolster. But I'm just niggling, it's not going back!

I don't think this is going to be my one and only GEC!

dalee

 

[rmfnla]

I've been resisting ordering one because they are a bit small for my tastes, but that is one beautiful knife.

Enjoy it!

 

[texasflyfisher]

Congrats Dale! That is a beauty!

I too wish they offered more non serialized versions. I am not a collector so I don't see the need and the non serialized ones (which are basically identical to the serialized ones) are slightly less expensive.

Yep! Gotta get more GECs! I am still waiting for GEC to come out with a nice teardrop jack of about 3 5/8" or maybe a sowbelly stockman of around the same size. That would be sweet!

 

[Blues]

I too wish they offered more non serialized versions.

No serial numbers and no etches would go a long way toward upping my interest in adding one of their knives. I have seen some that otherwise would.

 

[YayILikePie]

Ooh, that red horn is nice. Looks like it'd take nicely under some warm lighting. Been pretty curious about those GECs, especially after hearing so many nice things about them from everyone around here. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[markksr]

Beautiful!

I've had my eye on that red horn for a while now.

 

[salty141]

That one looks great! Just waiting on a run of 53 stockman myself

 

[kamagong]

No serial numbers and no etches would go a long way toward upping my interest in adding one of their knives. I have seen some that otherwise would.

I think they only put serial numbers on the original run of a knife. Later runs have do not have SNs, at least that's the way it was on my Big Jack.

Unfortunately it seems that the etches are non-negotiable.

 

[dalee100]

Hi,

Thanks Guys, I wish I had a better camera. I tried mightily to capture the subtle red and white streaks that show in the scales. But I lack the camera skills and a good enough camera.

I know how you guys feel about the numbered vs. unnumbered. I had kind of a disappointment at first. The knife felt like it should be a safe queen because that number. The thread on collectibles or users was a timely read for me. Thanks to Jackknife and others, I was able to convince myself to put it in my pocket. At least for the evening. As I went to bed, I placed the knife on the small shelf with my other normal users. Just after midnight, my pager went off for a car accident. As I dress, I grab my pager and a knife for my pocket as I go out the door. This is done in the dark because I don't want to wake my Wife. Some how the GEC ended up in my pocket rather than the usual Canoe or Vic Soldier. The next morning, I took it as a sign that irregardless of the markings, it's meant to be used and not coddled!

Since then, I've used it to score several cuts in plexi-glass, whittle some stakes for the garden, and other general cutting jobs. It's a heck of a good user!

dalee

 

[smitty0331]

That's a great looking Barlow.

 

[texasflyfisher]

No serial numbers and no etches would go a long way toward upping my interest in adding one of their knives. I have seen some that otherwise would.

It's interesting because I have heard more folks dislike etches than like them (actually I have yet to read a post where someone has said, "Gimme etches!") so I wonder why GEC doesn't take heed.

Anyways, they don't bother me all that much as eventually they scratch off and with the patina you can barely seem them unless you hold the blade at the correct angle to look for where they were.

On the newer version of the #73 I have, they toned down the big "1 of 50" etch to something smaller so GEC may be listening but making compromises.

 

[Foilist]

I've had my GEC #25 in regular smooth buffalo since January or so, and I love it! It's a regular edc. The buffalo material's grain seems to become more pronounced with time, and the overboard blade etching all but disappears once you get a patina going.

 

[wildmike]

I have an unserialized #73 jack in arrowhead bone, It gets lots of pocket time. The numbers don't matter to me since I sharpen and use all mine anyway.

 

[dalee100]

It's interesting because I have heard more folks dislike etches than like them (actually I have yet to read a post where someone has said, "Gimme etches!") so I wonder why GEC doesn't take heed.

Anyways, they don't bother me all that much as eventually they scratch off and with the patina you can barely seem them unless you hold the blade at the correct angle to look for where they were.

On the newer version of the #73 I have, they toned down the big "1 of 50" etch to something smaller so GEC may be listening but making compromises.

Hi,

I could live very nicely without etchings on the blades too. But I don't worry about them. Like you say, they do go away with use. Or they can be removed with malice. What I don't like on my knife is the electro-penciled engraved 07 on the bolster. While neatly done, it does detract from the otherwise lovely workmanship.

dalee

 

[Thomason]

A little rubbing with Simichrome polish followed by a hint of (dare I say it ) induced patina and the blade etch almost vanishes. I really like these little GECs but wish they were sharper out of the box. Every one I have needed a good deal of work.

 

[neeman]

A little rubbing with Simichrome polish followed by a hint of (dare I say it ) induced patina and the blade etch almost vanishes. I really like these little GECs but wish they were sharper out of the box. Every one I have needed a good deal of work.

I ran my #25 Sheepsfoot Jack thru the DMT Aligner, just like I do with my Queens.
Now it is sharp!

I let it build up a patina, then took it all off with brasso.
It reduces the blade etch to a mere shadow.

After I use brasso it takes the bright shine off the blade, and the patina that returns goes deeper and darker.

Then you cannot see the shadow of the etch

 

[smitty0331]

I'm not a fan of etches either. Now that I know how to remove them, GEC's are a little more appealing to me. To me, they look like thick, chunky knives. Is this really the case, or is it just me?

 

[dalee100]

Hi,

The barlow pattern is a chunkier pattern no matter who makes them. They are a good solid knife that is supposed to fill your hand. The thing I like about my barlow, is that GEC makes them more rounded with a softer feel in your hand. And it's only 3" long. Other makers produce a flatter knife that the edges are noticeable in the hand and are a bit longer. In the 3 1/2" range.

And from what I've seen, GEC tends to make bigger patterns anyway. At least from what I've seen.

dalee

 

[knarfeng]

Sure is a looker. Congrats on that one.

 

[hlee]

I'm not a fan of etches either. Now that I know how to remove them, GEC's are a little more appealing to me. To me, they look like thick, chunky knives. Is this really the case, or is it just me?

I guess some of them can be chunkier than others. I am particularly partial to the middle one in the pics below. All are Northfield #73 trapper patterns.

I like the etches, but I didn't to begin with. In the case of Northfield knives, it says right on the tube that they are "Reproductions of Great Old Eastern American Cutlery." Loking through Bernard Levines forum I've come to discover that blade etches were fairly common on older knives. That GEC is being faithful to how they were made, I'll take the etches, thanks.

Oh, and I guess I am also in the minority in that I like the shield in the stag scales as well. The obverse/reverse/backs of these knife look drab by comparison, even though two of the three have the better stag on that side. Sorry for the thread drift.

I've been mulling over a GEC barlow ever since these three came home to roost. I'm going to have to start selling plasma.