New handle material by GEC

quattromori · Mar 29, 2012

Hi guys,
I was spending some time on GEC's website (always hoping to get even the weakest clue about a stainless #66...even though I admit that Charlie's HJ6 in ebony makes me stare), when I saw this picture:

Now, I don't want to discuss the knife (there's another thread for it), but I thought this could be an interesting material, and I guess it would look way better on a smaller knife.
Anyone owns one of these and can give us some feedback? Am I the only one who finds this handle material interesting?

Fausto

Modoc ED · Mar 29, 2012

GEC has offered Buffalo Horn covers for some time. Here is a picture of a Double Linerlock #23 that I used to have with Buffalo Horn covers.

The treatment (spiral cut) is new for GEC as far as I know but their use of Buffalo Horn is nothing new.

I think GEC's Buffalo Horn is pretty stable and I have seen no evidence of shrinkage in their knives I've had with this cover material.

I have to agree with you. That spiral cut horn would look good on smaller knives too.

quattromori · Mar 29, 2012

I have a couple of knives in buffalo horn (none of them American made) and, as I already wrote on other threads, I do like it alot.
But I had never seen this spiral cut, and found it an interesting shift.

Fausto

Rick · Mar 29, 2012

They did some spiral-cut scales in both black and red horn some years back ('06? '07?) on, if memory serves, the #73 Scouts.

Edit: Here's some pics. They also did a spiral Whaler.

quattromori · Mar 29, 2012

Rick said:
They did some spiral-cut scales in both black and red horn some years back ('06? '07?) on, if memory serves, the #73 Scouts.

Interesting info. I assume they didn't make many of them...I've never seen a single picture here, not even in the "rare GEC's" thread.
Hopefully someone will post some pics or some real hand opinion.

Fausto

Knife Crazied · Mar 29, 2012

I like the cuts. Maybe we can use it for the 2013 forum knife.

Sent from Ash forum mobile

Modoc ED · Mar 29, 2012

Nice looking knives Rick. I was unaware of those early, cut-horn, covers.

richstag · Mar 29, 2012

Never seen them either but I like them.

quattromori · Mar 30, 2012

Rick, thanks for sharing.
As I had guessed, these spiral cut handles look alot better on other patterns (compared to the #45 Lumberjack).
I've seen similar treatment on ram's horn here in some Sardinian traditionals (they call it "rough" or "raw" horn); even though I tend to prefer smooth handles, they don't feel uncomfy at all.
Here is an example of what I'm talking about:

Fausto

Daniel Dorn · Mar 31, 2012

Those look nice. I've yet to own a knife with buffalo or ram's horn. From the pics I've seen, I know I'd love the transluscence of the material. Does black horn allow any light to pass through? Can it be dyed different shades?