'Nuther rookie ? re: carbon GECs and others

VictorLouis

VictorLouis

Joined
Mar 6, 2000
Messages
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Are backsprings, liners and bolsters also carbon? I may be willing to take a leap if only the BLADE needs that extra TLC. :p
 
Just depends on the model of GEC but in general the backsprings are carbon and the liners are either carbon or brass. You will know if it carbon steel liners & bolsters as it will have an STL designation at the end of the model number. The carbon steel liners and back springs are not exactly the same steel as the blades though at least that has been my understanding.

If you want all stainless steel then Canal Street has a nice line of barlows that are 100% stainless including the liners, backsprings and even the bolsters.
 
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Backsprings are the same as the blades, whether stainless or 1095, but most liners are brass and bolsters nickel silver (mostly brass).

I have many carbon knives, and almost never do the backsprings show any color. They just get a little duller. Maybe I have low acid skin.
 
Some GECs also use carbon steel for the bolsters. Those are usually marked with "STL" in the model number.
 
most are not.

The springs are going to be carbon (if the blades are). The liners should be brass, and the bolsters nickle silver.

Certain models have carbon bolsters and liners as well. These are my favorite!
 
Modoc, thanks for the link. Medic, I can rust a blued gun finish by looking at it. I stained a friend's gun years back in just one handling, and the 90mins it took him to drive home from the range. In my pocket, sweating through the pocket, I would just turn it icky quite quickly. I was thinking aloud, I suppose, and just need to resign myself to stainless.
 
If it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work. No need to try so hard.
 
VictorLouis said:
Modoc, thanks for the link. Medic, I can rust a blued gun finish by looking at it. I stained a friend's gun years back in just one handling, and the 90mins it took him to drive home from the range. In my pocket, sweating through the pocket, I would just turn it icky quite quickly. I was thinking aloud, I suppose, and just need to resign myself to stainless.
Click to expand...

That's some seriously corrosive pespiration you got there :eek:
Well the good thing is that you're well aware of it. Better to stick to stainless than to see a cherished 1095 traditional deteriorate before your eyes.
 
I'm pretty new to traditional knives (except for Swiss Army knives) and I've enjoyed carrying several of the 1095 models from GEC. They are nicely made, sharpen easily, and usually have thin grinds that cut well. I really like the way the brass liners (most models), nickel silver bolsters, & carbon steel blades all look along with a variety of mostly natural handle materials. They are a nice change of pace from my usual EDC (SAK and/or Spyderco). I have a couple in 440C as well, but end up carrying the 1095 ones more because I like certain patterns better.

If you're thinking about it, but not sure, you should be able to buy a used one here and if you don't like it, let it go for close to what you have in it.
 
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