Need some help deciding

C

cgreenaliens

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Aug 13, 2014
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Hi everyone I'm new to the forums.. So bare with me.. I have been looking at buying a new slipjoint for my collection/edc but need some input on these knives, one of the patterns is a Case seahorse whittler, and the other is a GEC conductor whittler.

My research on the two shows that the Case is a great buy, but the GEC looks more elegant and compact and a little easier to edc?

I don't know which one to pick up.. Help is appreciated. ☺

BTW I own several Case knives and have never felt a GEC.
 
When I first came here, all the traditionals I owned were Case's and this fine group of folks turned me on to GEC. Great knives and worth trying out.
 
Which conductor are you after? Actually it doesn't matter. Get the conductor. :)
 
Hello and welcome to Bladeforums first of all. :) I don't own and have never held a Case seahorse whittler but I do own a couple GEC 33 Conductor whittlers. They pretty much disappear in my pocket and out of the Cases and GEC's I own they are really in a different league from each other. Case makes some great knives at their price point but do tend to have more quality control issues as they are a more mass produced knife. GEC on the other hand is about as close to a custom knife that production knife can get. One thing to note with the GEC 33 Whittler is make sure you guide the main blade into place and don't just let it snap closed. On the examples I have and many others have said the same the tolerances are extremely tight and if you let it snap closed there is a high chance of the main blade edge contacting one of the secondary blades and chipping the edge of your main blade. Other than that they are an excellent knife.

IMG_20140701_163008200_zpsberzexwt.jpg
 
I have both, and both are nice patterns, but the #33 conductor is one of my very favorite patterns, and I'd probably recommend it over the seahorse.

The conductor is very pocketable. You really don't notice it in your pocket, and it is, IMO, a beautiful knife, particularly in the Northfield version. The whittler has some very useful secondary blades as does the seahorse.

Both are nice knives, but I think you'd be happier with the conductor.
 
jkulysses said:
Hello and welcome to Bladeforums first of all. :) I don't own and have never held a Case seahorse whittler but I do own a couple GEC 33 Conductor whittlers. They pretty much disappear in my pocket and out of the Cases and GEC's I own they are really in a different league from each other. Case makes some great knives at their price point but do tend to have more quality control issues as they are a more mass produced knife. GEC on the other hand is about as close to a custom knife that production knife can get. One thing to note with the GEC 33 Whittler is make sure you guide the main blade into place and don't just let it snap closed. On the examples I have and many others have said the same the tolerances are extremely tight and if you let it snap closed there is a high chance of the main blade edge contacting one of the secondary blades and chipping the edge of your main blade. Other than that they are an excellent knife.

IMG_20140701_163008200_zpsberzexwt.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks..😊 that's good to know about the main blade and the close tolerances.. But I couldn't help but wonder if there so close do they rub when they open? Aka like some stockman.
 
The Seahorse is a much heavier knife than the conductor. It comes in a satin as ground finish, the Master is a very nice blade, a full 1/8th inch thick at the tang and just the right length for a wharncliffe blade IMO. Coping and pen secondaries. Here are a few pics.

Best regards

Robin


 
Yes on every one I have seen there is some minor rubbing but with a pattern like this it's inevitable and not a flaw. Actually in that picture I posted if you look right above the nail nick of that secondary blade and to the left of the main blades nail nick you can see the marks from the blades touching while opening and closing. You can't feel the rub marks but can see them. With some patina those marks become much less noticeable. I had blade rub but on a pattern like this it's just something you have to accept and it doesn't bother me at all especially if it's going to be a user. If you lift straight up with your nail then you can lessen or even completely prevent the rub but I get lazy and don't really care on this one and end up pushing to the side a little as I'm opening which is what caused those marks.

If you haven't already found this thread here, http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1051133-GEC-33-Conductor-Whittler, I think you will enjoy it and there is a lot of good info in there.
 
Pipeman said:
The Seahorse is a much heavier knife than the conductor. It comes in a satin as ground finish, the Master is a very nice blade, a full 1/8th inch thick at the tang and just the right length for a wharncliffe blade IMO. Coping and pen secondaries. Here are a few pics.

Best regards

Robin


Click to expand...
Yes the main blades thickness is something I noticed too, one of the things I like about it. Thanks for your input. I really do like the seahorse. 😊
 
Pipeman said:
The Seahorse is a much heavier knife than the conductor. It comes in a satin as ground finish, the Master is a very nice blade, a full 1/8th inch thick at the tang and just the right length for a wharncliffe blade IMO. Coping and pen secondaries. Here are a few pics.

Best regards

Robin


Click to expand...
Thanks for your input.. I like the seahorses looks and the thick main blade is very nice. ☺
 
Welcome to the board. I don't own a seahorse whittler, but am a fan of the conductor. I own two, including the spring green bone you mentioned. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this GEC pattern. Here's a couple pictures of my 33's.

photo-13_zps7af9c2b4.jpg


image_zps6cca9dd4.jpg


Whatever you decide, please post pictures when you update.
 
those unpolished blades on the Case look great, I would imagine if you are after something for whittling, then the Case would do best. I would add my vote for the Conductor though, the production quality is of a higher calibre. another alternative would be the #57 gepetto whittler from GEC, same pattern as the Case,
 
I don't have a Conductor but I would pick it over the Seahorse in a heartbeat as the Seahorse is only available in stainless and with GEC you get a higher level of fit & finish and walk & talk. If you like the style of the Case Seahorse, which is my buddy's favorite whittling patterns, check out the GEC #57 Geppeto & Halfwhitt which have similar styling. I have sharpened some of my buddy's Seahorses a few times and like the pattern so have been considering a Halfwhitt myself. The the only thing holding back on the Halfwhitt is the 2nd run of the Northwoods Freemont Jack which is one of my favorite patterns. I do have a Bulldog Brand Thor Whittler which is a similar pattern, shown below, and it has a nice feel in the hand but suffers from the same shortfalls as the Seahorse.

P1010382_zps2a9893ce.jpg
 
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