New Run of No. 15s (Beer Scout and Otherwise)

Travman said:
What do you all think of this area around one of the pins on this Beer Barrel Oak scout? What is it? It is totally smooth to the touch. Is this a weird spot in the grain of wood or is this where they put some wood putty? I can't make it out.

It doesn't look too bad from a distance, but it is noticeable.

Thanks, Travis
Click to expand...

It looks like GEC messed up the wood when putting in the pin. It's probably just an aesthetic thing but IMO they should've sold that one as a factory second.
 
gusnuts said:
It looks like GEC messed up the wood when putting in the pin. It's probably just an aesthetic thing but IMO they should've sold that one as a factory second.
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Couldn't agree more and that's totally unacceptable not being a second.

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That's a bummer about your Beer Scout pin, Travman.

As an avid bottled beer drinker, I feel the distinct need for one of these puppies. Looks very practical.
 
Not that it will deter my purchase of one, as I love the idea of the beer barrel handles on the aptly named version of the 15, I am kind of disappointed In GEC this time around. Seems almost misleading to tease with all the images of the barrel and name of "beer barrel oak" but the slabs we all jumped to preorder and scramble about for really show none of the characteristics of the source origin. that is saved for the recently unveiled "special edition" charred beer barrel. doubt I will even see one of these grace a shelf before they are gone. I kind of feel like I just got played.
 
I kind of am in the same boat. I even emailed dealer to ask for one with character. That's fine and all, that they have a special release. But how about telling us it's a separate knife!
 
I pre ordered one with the hopes of good character like the charred oak. When I saw the pics of the first run of beer barrels I was less than enthused, it's just oak (wow). Now that I see they are going to offer what I had thought the beer barrel would be as a separate run I'm ticked off. As a poster above stated I feel played. I will use great caution with GEC in the future
 
Travman said:
What do you all think of this area around one of the pins on this Beer Barrel Oak scout? What is it? It is totally smooth to the touch. Is this a weird spot in the grain of wood or is this where they put some wood putty? I can't make it out.

It doesn't look too bad from a distance, but it is noticeable.

Thanks, Travis
Click to expand...

I have seen that type of places on several; although it actually looks a lot cooler when not at a pin. I had assumed it was a pithy or natural density difference in the wood that just took the stabilization process differently. I would not jump to the conclusion that is was a patch; as GEC simply doesn't do that as firsts. You might asks them. Either way, I am sure you can swap it out.
 
odd said:
Not that it will deter my purchase of one, as I love the idea of the beer barrel handles on the aptly named version of the 15, I am kind of disappointed In GEC this time around. Seems almost misleading to tease with all the images of the barrel and name of "beer barrel oak" but the slabs we all jumped to preorder and scramble about for really show none of the characteristics of the source origin. that is saved for the recently unveiled "special edition" charred beer barrel. doubt I will even see one of these grace a shelf before they are gone. I kind of feel like I just got played.
Click to expand...

It would be nice if GEC would respond to things like this, but typically those responses are met with as much aggravation as not saying anything at all. If they knew all along that they could split the wood and use both sides, and the charred side would be able to be stabilized and buffed down to good wood; I would have expected them to list it as another option. But many times little things occur to people during the process and they decide to give something a try. Maybe the slab division figured out they could cut the pieces thin enough to get two slabs out of the thickness - then they set out to see if they could get a good charred slab. So often people immediately start to try and figure out the devious intentions of others before giving them the benefit of the doubt. Let's say for example, GEC would have announced that they were going to try and use the charred side as a fifth option - then it didn't work out. There would have been a lot of people aggravated for various reasons about that as well. I had a lot of people ask for slabs that showed the writing on the barrel. I don't even know if that existing except on the ends - which are not even oak. But they still have to buff down the slabs and people probably wouldn't have been excited to get some ink stained wood - because there is little chance any stamps would have survived intact. The charred version genuinely felt like something they took a shot at - and it worked out.
 
knifeswapper said:
I have seen that type of places on several; although it actually looks a lot cooler when not at a pin. I had assumed it was a pithy or natural density difference in the wood that just took the stabilization process differently. I would not jump to the conclusion that is was a patch; as GEC simply doesn't do that as firsts. You might asks them. Either way, I am sure you can swap it out.
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I think you're right. That picture makes it look like a patch, but in person it looks like an area that just doesn't have the same grain pattern that just happens to be at the pin.

There are a few smaller, more irregular patches on the pile side which appear to be the same thing. These spots don't look bad at all, more like minor character.
 
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knifeswapper said:
It would be nice if GEC would respond to things like this, but typically those responses are met with as much aggravation as not saying anything at all. If they knew all along that they could split the wood and use both sides, and the charred side would be able to be stabilized and buffed down to good wood; I would have expected them to list it as another option. But many times little things occur to people during the process and they decide to give something a try. Maybe the slab division figured out they could cut the pieces thin enough to get two slabs out of the thickness - then they set out to see if they could get a good charred slab. So often people immediately start to try and figure out the devious intentions of others before giving them the benefit of the doubt. Let's say for example, GEC would have announced that they were going to try and use the charred side as a fifth option - then it didn't work out. There would have been a lot of people aggravated for various reasons about that as well. I had a lot of people ask for slabs that showed the writing on the barrel. I don't even know if that existing except on the ends - which are not even oak. But they still have to buff down the slabs and people probably wouldn't have been excited to get some ink stained wood - because there is little chance any stamps would have survived intact. The charred version genuinely felt like something they took a shot at - and it worked out.
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I understand the frustration with ordering the regular Beer Barrel Oak and then learning (after having paid for that one) that they were coming out with the Charred Barrel Oak, but I think Mike makes a good point. I doubt that there was any malicious intent behind this decision from GEC. I was thinking that maybe GEC wanted to do something unannounced and surprising because they thought people would be excited about it, but Mike could have the right idea, too -- maybe they just didn't want to over-promise and under-deliver. I've only dealt directly with anyone at GEC a handful of times, but my experience has been extremely positive, and I've never seen anything from them that would indicate that they would do something like this as a way to mislead customers, get them to buy two knives instead of one, etc.
 
Travman said:
What do you all think of this area around one of the pins on this Beer Barrel Oak scout? What is it? It is totally smooth to the touch. Is this a weird spot in the grain of wood or is this where they put some wood putty? I can't make it out.

IMG_4472_zpsv8krm9vz.jpg



It doesn't look too bad from a distance, but it is noticeable.
IMG_4471_zpshoitxmip.jpg


Thanks, Travis
Click to expand...

I have to say that whatever the 'reason' for this irregularity around the pin, I would not like it at all. It might also be very problematic to sell in the future so I'd ask now for an exchange. I don't think anybody would find this an appealing feature or 'character' of the wood either! Oak looks fine regular grained wood with high polish so yes, this sticks out like a sore thumb. It just looks like when the pin hole was drilled, something went wrong (minor split??) and somebody sanded across the grain and forgot to finish it, or when the pins were being put in? Speculation certainly, but it does nothing for the looks of the knife......:confused:
 
Here are two more pics. The first one shows the additional smaller wood grain-free spots on the pile side.

IMG_3103_zpsli1mirlf.jpg

IMG_3104_zpsfuqqlpo6.jpg
 
I totally expected all of the Beer Barrel Oak knives to look like the charred when I preordered; like the Boker beer barrel knives you see in pictures. The basic oak run is nice and all, but definitely not what I thought they would be.
 
Will Power said:
I have to say that whatever the 'reason' for this irregularity around the pin, I would not like it at all. It might also be very problematic to sell in the future so I'd ask now for an exchange. I don't think anybody would find this an appealing feature or 'character' of the wood either! Oak looks fine regular grained wood with high polish so yes, this sticks out like a sore thumb. It just looks like when the pin hole was drilled, something went wrong (minor split??) and somebody sanded across the grain and forgot to finish it, or when the pins were being put in? Speculation certainly, but it does nothing for the looks of the knife......:confused:
Click to expand...

Maybe it's an artifact of where the steel barrel bands squish the wood down?
 
Travman said:
What do you all think of this area around one of the pins on this Beer Barrel Oak scout? What is it? It is totally smooth to the touch. Is this a weird spot in the grain of wood or is this where they put some wood putty? I can't make it out.


It doesn't look too bad from a distance, but it is noticeable.

Thanks, Travis
Click to expand...

I don't think that's at all acceptable. Somebody goofed on that one.
 
Travman said:
Here are two more pics. The first one shows the additional smaller wood grain-free spots on the pile side.

IMG_3103_zpsli1mirlf.jpg

IMG_3104_zpsfuqqlpo6.jpg
Click to expand...

Now that you show the other side, it looks like it might be just part of the grain. Character, if you will! It just looks odd because it's almost a circle and happens to be around the pin.
It sure is great looking wood. I like it more every time I see it!
 
The grain appearance in wood just does not narrow down like that in width and then start up up again on the other side of a circle.
It appears that the nose end of the drill chuck came down against the wood . When this happened in the normal process , I can not guess . I would expect that it was a Reworked Slab at some point. What ever the reason , it should not have been shipped out of their facility as any thing other than an EDC or Second. I personally would not want that in my collection , but I would not have a problem having it as a user.

Harry
 
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