Number 15 riding along.

J

jackknife

Joined
Oct 2, 2004
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Now that grateful's experiment is over, I did my own further experiment. My peanut, my precious, has been parked and for the last week and a half the number 15 has been my sole edc pocket knife. With the exception of the Vic classic on my keyring of course.

I had always like the GEC 15, and it's been a periodic carry, but I've never kicked everything out of the pocket before. Over the past several days I've used the ever login' heck out of it, cutting everything from salad makings for dinner to breaking down old dirty cardboard boxes helping a family member clean out an attic. It's opened about a ton of plastic blister packages, my mail, UPS boxes, and even slice up some nice smoky Gouda and a hard Italian salami to go with a bottle of German Rhine wine. I've been very impressed with the 1095 blade, and it's very reminiscent of the old Schrade Old Timer 1095. Very nice edge holding, but quick and easy to touch up on the nearest coffee mug. I've rubbed a little linseed oil into the ebony scales, although I don't know if that is really needed. But it did bring out the chocolate brown nicely. Great stuff that ebony.

The slim and slightly flat profile of the handle makes for a nice unobtrusive package in the pocket but still gives a nice handful for serious work. Al in all, I find myself increasingly fond of this knife, and I can understand how one becomes a GEC fan. Will it make me desert my peanut? I honestly don't know. The peanut has a slim curvy elegance to it's compact little frame, while my number 15 is more like an old workman. Even the steel bolsters have stained a bit from some careless handling and left sitting in the cheese tray while Karen and I were engrossed in an episode of Foyle's War. Will I polish it off? I don't think so. The knife is starting to look well used, and that's how a tool should look. But I will say, it's an exceptional tool for cutting. Now I have to wonder if I will be browsing other GEC offerings. The shame of it, Grand High Muckba Of The Cult carrying a GEC. Makes me feel, for lack of a better word, slightly treasonous. :D

Carl, Grand High Muckba with torn loyalties. :eek:

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Looks like a knife should look - used, but cared for. Really wished I had picked up a single blade #15 in jigged bone, or one of the Barlows.

That said your Case Damascus Peanut is a beautiful knife.
 
Not really torn loyalties :D Look at it this way: the 15 offers a Spear whereas the Peanut gives you a Clip, wood v bone, carbon v Damascus. No contradictions no torn loyalties just Knife Harmony.

The 15 is without doubt a masterful pattern, suits most hands no too big not too small etc, well made many choices of model too. Little wonder it receives applause. Recently got a Radio in Redbone and it's fantastic. Excellent finish, fabulous Old School Redbone (not that sickly pinkish stuff!) with ace jigging, a bottle opener that is like an automaton:D I've been extremely lucky with knives these past 6 weeks or so - CASE Penknife in Maple, GEC Eureka in Ivory Bone, the Forum Knife from GEC, 15 Radio Red oh an an Ohta in Stag that's not exactly shoddy either Not torn loyalties for me, just bliss in Knife Knirvana, all different all complimentary.

Enjoy your knives Carl, they know you do!:thumbup::thumbup:

Thanks, Will
 
That 15 looks great with the shiny bolsters on both ends and the dark patina on the blade!
 
I hate to see you torn, Carl. Just send me that Peanut so it won't keep nagging at your mind like that. ;)

Regarding the #15, I have the spear + pen combo and I've carried it a few times, but haven't really warmed up to it. I'll have to give it a dedicated run like you're doing with yours to really give it a shot.
 
Carl, I carry that peanut you gave me, with a barehead 15 spear point, every day.

Toss that Resolza/Pattadese in your pocket and make their heads explode ;).
 
jc57 said:
Regarding the #15, I have the spear + pen combo and I've carried it a few times, but haven't really warmed up to it. I'll have to give it a dedicated run like you're doing with yours to really give it a shot.
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That may do it. I find if I carry the 'faithful' along with the new knife, I never really warm up well to the new guy. I get too distracted. But if I just make a point to leave the old faithful home, and just carry and use the new knife, I seem to bond with it more. After some time as my only edc, it becomes the new old faithful. This is happen with the GEC. With no peanut in the pocket, I reach in and there's just the number 15 and Fenix E01 in that pocket.

I have no experience with the two blade 15. Is the problem of the pen blade partly blocking the nail nick been solved?
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Carl, I carry that peanut you gave me, with a barehead 15 spear point, every day.

Toss that Resolza/Pattadese in your pocket and make their heads explode ;).
Click to expand...

Both of them are the old 1095, so it's a good pair of cutters ya got there. Camillus was a cutlery industry giant that lasted many decades. They knew what they were doing when they made a pocket knife. The 15 you gave me has impressed me with being as good a slicer as an Opinel, not an easy task. The blade geometry has enough width to the blade, to taper down to a very thin cutting edge. I likee! :thumbup:
 
That exact same version of the #15 has been my one and only EDC for the past few weeks. Really a nice little knife that carries very comfortably and that I never have to worry about. I keep thinking about switching to a nice custom but the #15 just keeps ending up at the bottom of my pocket each morning anyway.
 
I'm kind of the reverse, but going through the same thing. I recently bought a Cave Small Texas Jack, CV, amber bone. My only local knife shop has very few traditional knives, mostly just Case and even then a small selection, and a only a couple of those are CV, one of which was the Texas Jack. Been really into this model after seeing so many pics of it up here the last few months so I bought it and fell in love right away, yet I haven't been able to bond with it yet because my own precious, the 15 clip/pen in ebony, has been in my pocket all the time. I've been trying, not always successfully, to just carry and use the Texas Jack. I realize now that it won't truly replace my precious (maybe) but it's getting closer all the time as I carry it. But my precious is still there and I couldn't walk away from it entirely.
 
Carl,
you know, when the #15 pattern came out (both in Charlie's and GEC's version), I immediately liked it, and I'm not surprised that you like yours so much.
Mine had a flaw (at least, I consider it such): the ergonomics of the nail nicks (on the same side on my knife), combined with a strong pull, made it uncomfortable to open, and that's why I sold it. Yet, I'm sure the single bladed version works much better, and I'm glad that it's riding along so well in your pocket :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
Looking good Carl :thumbup: I love my 15's, it's a great size IMO. If you're minded towards a two-blade, Charlie does a 15 Spearpoint/Pen Barlow with the nail-nicks on opposing sides :)
 
The only think keeping me away is the steel liners I feel like that would make the inside of the knife very prone to rust.. do you have any say about what you have seen while using the #15 Carl?
 
My first two blade Charlow was tough to open, then smoothed out over time. Still need a good thumbnail to get a good purchase on it. I have one of the nail nick on both sides Charlow. Been carrying that off and on lately.
 
quattromori said:
Carl,
you know, when the #15 pattern came out (both in Charlie's and GEC's version), I immediately liked it, and I'm not surprised that you like yours so much.
Mine had a flaw (at least, I consider it such): the ergonomics of the nail nicks (on the same side on my knife), combined with a strong pull, made it uncomfortable to open, and that's why I sold it. Yet, I'm sure the single bladed version works much better, and I'm glad that it's riding along so well in your pocket :)

Fausto
:cool:
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I think I'd stay with the single blade model. I didn't like the looks of the nail nick set up, and the reports I heard didn't encourage me. I think the single blade puts it more in line with a lot of other old type traditionals like the European ones. Laguiole's, Opinels, and of course the resolza's. Yep, I'm sating with the one I have.

Carl.
 
jackknife said:
...I have no experience with the two blade 15. Is the problem of the pen blade partly blocking the nail nick been solved?
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It's partially blocked on mine, but doesn't interfere with my ability to open it. Between the part that's not blocked, and the fact that there's some room between the blade spines, I just start with the available part and slide my thumbnail down it a little and then open it up. Nothing to it, I don't notice any inconvenience. Luckily it doesn't have a terribly strong pull.

Functionally, I have no complaints with the knife. It carries a bit heavier than my typical favorites, and the edges and corners on everything are a sharper than I like. But it's a nice little knife, as I said, if I force myself to carry it I'm sure I'll like it just fine.

Right now my Case Sm Tx Jack has become my defacto 2014 knife. I started carrying it to go along with RSmith's experiment and just haven't stopped yet.
 
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jc57 said:
It's partially blocked on mine, but doesn't interfere with my ability to open it. Between the part that's not blocked, and the fact that there's some room between the blade spines, I just start with the available part and slide my thumbnail down it a little and then open it up. Nothing to it, I don't notice any inconvenience. Luckily it doesn't have a terribly strong pull.

Functionally, I have no complaints with the knife. It carries a bit heavier than my typical favorites, and the edges and corners on everything are a sharper than I like. But it's a nice little knife, as I said, if I force myself to carry it I'm sure I'll like it just fine.

Right now my Case Sm Tx Jack has become my defacto 2014 knife. I started carrying it to go along with RSmith's experiement and just haven't stopped yet.
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:eek::D:thumbup:
 
The penalty for treason or more accurately in your case Carl sedition is historically a harsh one. To be hung ,drawn and quartered.
It is my duty therefore harrumph harrumph to sentence you to hang out,draw the cork from the bottle and slice the salami into little nibbly bite sized quarters.
Proceed.
 
He should probably step down as Grand High Muckba of the cult. He can keep his membership card, but has lost the moral high ground and can no longer ascend to the pulpit to preach until he has repented.
 
jc57 said:
He should probably step down as Grand High Muckba of the cult. He can keep his membership card, but has lost the moral high ground and can no longer ascend to the pulpit to preach until he has repented.
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peanuts are unforgiving, there is no "confession" just punishment...
unfortunately Carl is due for an inquisitional visit, probably involving listening to hours upon hours of the show "The Nanny" starring Fran Drescher
*shudders*
 
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