New GEC Pen Knife with Bail

Modoc ED · Mar 25, 2011

I received this GEC Northfield Swell Center Pen Knife with Bail late yesterday. It's a small knife (3 1/8" long with the main clip blade being 2 1/2" long) -- about the length of a filtered cigarette and with a girth about the same as a filtered cigarette too. The deciding factor for me for purchasing this knife is the Bail. The burnt stag on this knife is very nice too.

SparkyMark86 · Mar 25, 2011

I like it a lot

I agree with you the bail makes the knife

jackknife · Mar 25, 2011

Very, Very nice knife Ed!!:thumbup:

I love those old style pen knives with a bail for mounting on a watch chain. That was a style from the late 1800's. Heck, If I had that knife, I'd go out and buy a pocket watch just to mount the knife on.

Carl.

coyote711 · Mar 25, 2011

Ed, I like that - a lot! I've been wondering who would be first to post one of these with the bail ..... not surprised it's you!

I've got one w/o the bail and like it quite well, but have been considering one with the bail also. I couldn't quite figure out if the bail would enhance the grip when using the clip blade (give the ring finger a better "grip" on the end), or if it's more of an uncomfortable feeling. Also wondering how it is when using the pen blade. What's your take on it? Thanks!

whetrock · Mar 25, 2011

I like that knife it looks like typical GEC quality which should be outstanding also the bail is very old school.

Knife Crazied · Mar 25, 2011

Not something I personally would ever carry but it is very nice.

Mad_Maxx · Mar 25, 2011

looks much better than on the pics of gec

T. Erdelyi · Mar 25, 2011

It would make a nice watch Fob/knife or keychain knife, although I think the keys would mark up or even chip the scales.

Still all in all a very nice knife, congratulations.

Rick · Mar 25, 2011

That's a sweet lit'l knife, Ed. I love the bail, and the stag on that one looks more like GEC's "genuine" variety than their burnt stuff. I was actually surprised to see a shield on those scales. Nice find.

PocketEdge · Mar 25, 2011

It's beautiful! I really love the bail! It looks like it is imprinted with lettering...what does it say? If you are carrying the knife, how do you plan to carry it? on your keychain or by it's self? I ask because I would definately get one but not sure the best way to carry and I can't put another thing on my keychain!

paulhilborn · Mar 25, 2011

Ed, that is very very nice:thumbup: Thats goin on my radar

Paul

Modoc ED · Mar 25, 2011

coyote711 said:
Ed, I like that - a lot! I've been wondering who would be first to post one of these with the bail ..... not surprised it's you!

I've got one w/o the bail and like it quite well, but have been considering one with the bail also. I couldn't quite figure out if the bail would enhance the grip when using the clip blade (give the ring finger a better "grip" on the end), or if it's more of an uncomfortable feeling. Also wondering how it is when using the pen blade. What's your take on it? Thanks!

Keith -- This is a small knife and as a rule, I'd say most people would use it for light to medium tasks. Therefore, not too much purchase would have to be applied to the frame when using the knife -- just rotate the bail in-line with the handle and it is un-felt and out of the way. As for the pen blade, just rotate the bail back and over the spine of the handle and it is completely out of the way and does not get in the way of the user at all. In other words, the bail will not interfere with the use of the knife at all.

Railsplitter · Mar 25, 2011

PocketEdge said:
It's beautiful! I really love the bail! It looks like it is imprinted with lettering...what does it say?

I don't own one but I read somewhere that it says "Northfield UNXLD"

DennisStrickland · Mar 25, 2011

great knife reminds me of some of the earlier henckels, these small knives take a lot of care in making.--dennis

coyote711 · Mar 25, 2011

Modoc ED said:
..... In other words, the bail will not interfere with the use of the knife at all.

Thanks for the info, Ed!

lambertiana · Mar 25, 2011

Very nice, I like this one.

jackknife · Mar 25, 2011

T. Erdelyi said:
It would make a nice watch Fob/knife or keychain knife, although I think the keys would mark up or even chip the scales.

Still all in all a very nice knife, congratulations.

Oh no, no key chain for that little beauty!

Watch chain knives were often scaled with pearl, abalone, or figured silver, as it was mounted on the end opposite the watch and tucked in a vest pocket. Nice and safe. :thumbup:

Carl.

jackknife · Mar 25, 2011

Modoc ED said:
Keith -- This is a small knife and as a rule, I'd say most people would use it for light to medium tasks.

Ain't that most of what a pocket knife is used for?

Carl.

Robert.B · Mar 25, 2011

jackknife said:
Oh no, no key chain for that little beauty!

Watch chain knives were often scaled with pearl, abalone, or figured silver, as it was mounted on the end opposite the watch and tucked in a vest pocket. Nice and safe. :thumbup:

Carl.

I would love to find me one of them, but I'm having enough trouble trying to find a nice fob charm in carnelian and bloodstone that matches my watch (an old Dennison cased Zenith caliber hunter made 1920). I am trying to keep the watch, chain, fob and eventually fob knife period appropriate, made no later than 1920.

On the original post I like that pattern very much with the bail, but the deep stag grooves just dont appeal to me as much as a finer stag or jigged bone would on something like that. But that is just my personal taste.

jackknife · Mar 25, 2011

Robert.B said:
I would love to find me one of them, but I'm having enough trouble trying to find a nice fob charm in carnelian and bloodstone that matches my watch (an old Dennison cased Zenith caliber hunter made 1920). I am trying to keep the watch, chain, fob and eventually fob knife period appropriate, made no later than 1920.

Wow, Robert, it sounds like you're going to have a heck of a classy rig by the time you're done!:thumbup:

Maybe a nice old pen knife with a hunter scene on the scales would be a nice match. It was so nice back when a watch was more than a piece of plastic with digital workings. A time piece, but also an expression of art and craftsmenship of a bygone age. Kind of folksy.

Carl.