Attention Pick a Color! Any Color!!

[Pàdruig]

Wish folks would quit posting the red camel bone NF 77 as an example of GEC’s typical red bone. Camel bone doesn’t take dye as readily as cow bone and I was under impression cow would be used on the BF knife. As others have shown, GEC does a great job with sawcut red. My wish would be they would just make it dark red like my rendezvous BSK.View attachment 1583838

Excellent selection! Out of curiosity - could you give me more info on the top two TCs, the clip and the spear? I have the Cranberry Sawcut TC on my list but not the other two.

Yes the fluorescent pink 77’s posted are Camel bone. This is not the only bone that ends up pink, just the worst one. In fact, the “Sodascout” posted above is a good example of pink around the edges. The Tc’s are all older ones when they seemed to be better at it. I don’t care for the color of the Cranberry sheepfoot but at least it’s consistent throughout.
The last 2 85s I received were horribly pink around the edges. A jigged bone and the recent caplifter. Jigged bone I traded and the caplifter is hidden away so I don’t have to look at it.

Someone suggested Charlie would make sure we get a nice dark red but I don't think it's reasonable to expect him to have any control over that whatsoever.



This one is NOT Camel bone and is more representative of what I expect Red to be judging from the last 3-4 years of Reds.
It's hard to capture in a photo how pink they actually are. They are more pink in person.

To be fair, I think this is citing another extreme example. I am just as critical of GEC's red bone as others where it is warranted - the 2018 85s were a good example and my first brush with disappointment. The recent Crown Lifters were done in a new (or rarely used) dye and the dyeing is consistent with how they have treated their Natural Smooth Bone in other cases.

To be honest, I think if folks want to make a case against choosing Red Bone, they should be using examples that demonstrate the actual lack of consistency (i.e. Red or Blood Red that turns out pink) - not these curious outliers that are not at all representative of what is to be expected.

For example:

Here is my old 85 in Blood Red Jigged. It is a strawberry and I could never warm to it so it went off to a better home. Though I still contend that GEC does right by their Sawcut, this is more of what to expect should they not give the bone a proper bath.

 

[JohnDF]

I think that would mean blue!

Aha... you are correct, I hadn't thought that through.

 

[hhmoore]

But GEC's original rendering still looks good to me in a kinda reddish brownish way.

Looks too much like natural/tan micarta, of which I am not a fan. (I bought the natural micarta TC Bladeforums knife against my better judgement... Reached out to two craftsmen about getting new covers; both said yes; and both let me down - so it's kind of a sore subject)

 

[Snoopy1]

posting up some of my current sawcut collection for reference. these i believe are rust red sawcut.

not sure if these will be an option but
Antique Yellow TC.
Old Tan Northfield

 

[Leslie Tomville]

This color would be perfect! Markeologist , does the tube state the name GEC chose for this shade of beautiful RED? Looks to have a slight bit of purple added to it. No pink at all. Couldn’t be better.

 

[Mass1632]

I like how all the examples of aged white/ivory are antiques. Really is a classy option. Even when they arent cared for especially well or maintained they have something about them. I doubt there would be any of the forum knives that someone will let go to the point of that keen cutter.

All the red examples are pictures of these knives kept in pristine condition. Too bad theres not more examples of white sawcut. We can change that though… and you can help.

 

[Kiteman72]

White is the only safe option at this point!

Red? It might be pink, it might be black (because Black Cherry is Black, and lots of folks want that), who knows?!

Brown? Here's some possible names. Mud Hole. Dirty Floor. Baby's Diaper. Yikes!

Choose Classy, and Classic, WHITE!

 

[Leslie Tomville]

I wouldn’t call plain undyed bone safe or classy, unless you like yellowed.... ”Yeah Baby!”

All kidding aside, Mass1632 , K Kiteman72 , the yellowing is not caused by a lack of care or improper maintenance, (as is the case concerning Mr. Powers' teeth). Plain undyed bone just yellows with age. In fact, handling and oiling will speed up the process. It will become noticeable within months and cannot be prevented. Brass liners and pins only make it worse. Either you like this look or you don't, but the knife will not look new and clean for very long.

 

[Ramrodmb]

Excellent selection! Out of curiosity - could you give me more info on the top two TCs, the clip and the spear? I have the Cranberry Sawcut TC on my list but not the other two.



To be fair, I think this is citing another extreme example. I am just as critical of GEC's red bone as others where it is warranted - the 2018 85s were a good example and my first brush with disappointment. The recent Crown Lifters were done in a new (or rarely used) dye and the dyeing is consistent with how they have treated their Natural Smooth Bone in other cases.

To be honest, I think if folks want to make a case against choosing Red Bone, they should be using examples that demonstrate the actual lack of consistency (i.e. Red or Blood Red that turns out pink) - not these curious outliers that are not at all representative of what is to be expected.

For example:

Here is my old 85 in Blood Red Jigged. It is a strawberry and I could never warm to it so it went off to a better home. Though I still contend that GEC does right by their Sawcut, this is more of what to expect should they not give the bone a proper bath.

Curious outliers? I think not. These are random examples of Red that I have received. Just like yours above. Pink.
They happen to be the only ones I haven't already sent down the road to someone who didn't mind pink.

 

[Pàdruig]

I like how all the examples of aged white/ivory are antiques. Really is a classy option. Even when they arent cared for especially well or maintained they have something about them. I doubt there would be any of the forum knives that someone will let go to the point of that keen cutter.

All the red examples are pictures of these knives kept in pristine condition. Too bad theres not more examples of white sawcut. We can change that though… and you can help.

I very much like how white bone evolves with use and time - I am not opposed to that option at all. In fact, it would be my second choice.

With regards to red sawcut examples and seeing one that has been loved, used, and cared for (not at all mint or pristine), I offer up my 2018 NF Barlow. I don't think the coloring has changed a whole lot, other than mellowing out some with time and use but I also included a pic from when I received it new below. ( tmd_87 also has an excellent example of one that he has most definitely put to use)

 

[Pàdruig]

Curious outliers? I think not. These are random examples of Red that I have received. They happen to be the only ones I haven't already sent down the road to someone who didn't mind pink.

I don't think it really a point worth quibbling over but yes, they are curious (and/or extreme) outliers. Elderberry Camel Bone? (turned out pink for obvious reasons - Elderberry dye isn't even the sort of red we are discussing anyway, all other examples of Elderberry have had great saturation). Cherry Natural Smooth Bone? (The dyeing on these was consistent with how dyes turn out on that sort of bone - a good comparison would be the Teal 19s in Natural Smooth Bone)

The point I am trying to make is that you want to deter folks from voting for red by telling them that their red knives are going to look like a.) Elderberry Camel Bone or b.) Cherry Natural Smooth Bone. It's simply not true because those were outliers for the reasons I stated. The argument would be better suited if you were to produce examples of an actual red or blood red covered knife that turned out pink - like I did above with my old 85.

That is all I am trying to say - I apologize if I am not coming across clear enough.

 

[akaMatt]

All the red examples are pictures of these knives kept in pristine condition.

I thought the same thing. Does anyone have any pics of GEC blood red that has been well used, pocketed, used as a worry stone, etc…? Curious how the dye wears. I seem to wear through the outer dye layer fairly quickly, must be my sweat cause my fingers usually look like the knife after a short period. I intend to use this knife, as I don’t keep any pristine knives in my collection.

Edited to say I just saw Dylan’s post above.

 

[Cory Hess]

I strongly prefer covers that show wear. White has the potential to age nicely, as do any of the colors that are dyed darker to start with. I'd be fine with any of them as long as they're dark enough that the sawcut portion starts out looking black. For my part I voted green, because I think that would stand out in a lineup as a special knife. We've already seen plenty of brown, white, and red examples, which just tells me that they're more common. I'd prefer a forum knife to be less common.

Here's an example of the wear I'm talking about on a 77. I didn't find a picture of it brand new, but you can imagine it almost black where the sawcut portion is.
Edited to add: This knife started out similar to Dylan's above knife. Between the three you can see how my barlow aged with wear.

 

[JohnDF]

I think this one started out as Dark Red...

 

[Jack Black]

I think this is my only example of GEC-made red saw-cut. I've carried it very little, so can't really speak to how it ages with pocket carry

 

[tmd_87]

Pristine pocket worn red saw cut bone.

 

[mrknife]

im glad glitter gold wasnt an option. Almost had me worried there for a moment

 

[EngrSorenson]

D Danke42 pointed out in the previous poll...
How it started... How it ended...

lets see how long this wise prediction can last.
Red is soundly in the lead with 236/364 votes counted (65%, compared to previous poll total).

 

[MililaniGrown]

As much as I like blood red sawcut bone. I think I'm going to vote for brown sawcut just because I do like the original rendering.

 

[Jiki]

Rhodophobia? Say no more, come to team brown and all your fears will go away.