Narrowed Down my GEC Choices to 2

[Lenny]

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I'm completely undecided on these 2 Stockmen.
Give me any comments, opinions (good or bad) on these 2 knives.
Thanks,
Lenny

 

[Brasso3]

I like the darker look of the second one, but I guess it's all personal preference.

 

[jakemex]

Nice knives, IMO the 2nd one catches my eye more than the first. Rich deep red bone on that one.

 

[Doug Add]

I would definitely go for the second one, love that red bone!

 

[Stich2442]

I like the bone on the second one

 

[Thalestin]

Prefer the 2nd

 

[johnny twoshoes]

It looks like you have a blood red and a coffee bone picked out. I have a couple of different patterns in those same bone choices.
My prefer the Blood Red myself.

Great choices and good luck. :thumbup:

 

[2Dead]

I think you'd be happy with either but my thoughts:
I don't have experience with the jigging on the choffee bone while the blood red looks similar to my river valley green #66 jack and its is comfortable in hand.
As for color, in my experience, blood red bone isn't as dark as the second pic and can lighten up a bit. It should still be pretty solid red with dark red in the jigging. No experience with the choffee one. Below is another dealer's pic of the blood red bone.

The only other thing consider, imo, is availability. The blood red bone is available at a few more dealers and I believe some still have unserialized versions which I prefer (serialized comes with a COA which I don't need and an engraved number on the bolster which I prefer not be there). Unserialized is also less expensive. While if you want the choffee, you should get it before they sell out.

 

[odd]

I like the second. (IMHO) Nicer jigging, color and I like the straight bolsters (compared to the angled ones).

 

[Lenny]

Thanks for all your help gentlemen, specially 2Dead who answered endless questions from me via email.
I took all your advice and ordered the red one.
As much as I like the choffee colored bone, the jigging just doesn't do it for me.
Also, while the angled bolsters are interesting, I have a thing for symmetry, and to my eye, the
straight bolsters of the blood red one looks better.
I can't wait for it to arrive.
This will be my first GEC, and first "nice" slipjoint.
Lenny

 

[2Dead]

No problem Lenny. I feel the same way about the bolsters but I know others like them. I think you'll really like your GEC!!

 

[Bob W]

I'd of bought the second one also. The dye job is better, and I prefer it's jigging and bolsters.

 

[Lenny]

Thanks again folks.
Just as a heads up, do GEC's usually come sharp, or will I have to take it to the Sharpmaker as soon as I get it?
Lenny

 

[black mamba]

Between those two, I liked the second one better, mainly because of the jigging.

I like slant bolsters, but they look better when parallel, rather than both angled out.