Quintessential GEC?

[redsparrow]

Quintessential GEC? The Esteemed 73!

sparerow​

 

[tmd_87]

15 Boys Knife or a 73 Trapper.

 

[meako]

35 B&S

I'm hearing DrEvil laughter...reaching that crescendo of mirth then fading down to an embarrassed chuckling.

It’s tough to choose between the #73 and the #15. The beer scout and the #15 barlow are hard to separate. Those are the knives that spring to mind for GEC as a manufacturer.

Behind 1st and 2nd it gets hard to pick a pattern but the #25 should get a mention and last year’s forum knife was a great success.

[/QUOTE
Whatever happened to 25s...mia PMew..Paul had a full on collection...I swapped him a couple way back.
And is that 2019 bf knife? Amazing scales.

Im gunna have to go the #72....which is like a #73 and #74...but different....or #12....I love the #12.
Cheers

 

[meako]

#23 as well
Plus the #43....same shape different sizes.
For me they seem the most traditional go anywhere do anything blades with the astounding array of togs just andding to the functional art of GEC.
cheers hyn.

 

[willard0341]

The barlows with the TC stamp... what a brilliant idea. Tom had his adventures. We wouldn't be able to enjoy the peaks near as much without the valleys. Happy new year

 

[SnailOffTheTrail]

The people have spoken!
I am just going to supply some pictures.

My first GEC - #73

My oldest GEC - #15

I am, however, going to second @Misplaced Hillbilly on #71, as I believe it is the one that is most spread among the people and is often the one that they're not afraid to use. In many cases it is the gateway drug and it would be shame not to own one.

 

[Will Power]

I'd say it's either the #73 Scout or Charlie's #15 Barlows. Both of these models have been issued over and over again with many different iterations.

Very true Jeff But they could certainly do another 73 full run, been a while since it was seen.

 

[Will Power]

Of course, quintessential can mean a lot of things

I certainly don't disagree that the 73 and 15 are core patterns and the latter has produced a lot of variants and very satisfyingly so. These could be looked on as 'iconic' but that's a rather debased word like 'legend'

Quintessential GEC for me means doing differently, the revival of long vanished patterns which prior to the GEC version were really difficult to find. For instance the 92 Eureka Jack and the Farmer's Jack (one of the excellent 38 types) The Eureka appeared in very sleek unadorned Tidioute form, all steel, wraparound spring - nice detail- and the beautiful Galvanic SFO with Gimp shield which I don't have, few do This quality of reviving lost or obscure patterns set GEC apart and is thus quintessential to me, it's a quality that has been diluted over the years-but that could change.

 

[abcdef]

White Owl

 

[5K Qs]

I'm not really a GEC fan in the sense of owning lots of them, but I certainly enjoy admiring most of the GECs I see others posting. So just based on my "second-hand knowledge", I'd nominate the #35 Churchill (nice ebony or stag).
But some of the models suggested by others here are certainly not far behind (#15, #73, #71, #38 Grinling).

- GT

 

[Onebigbill]

Because I'm a relative newcomer to the world of knife collecting my opinion is probably going to differ from others as to what defines
"Quintessential GEC".

 

[mrknife]

Gotta be the single blade 15, preferably clip for me. The model in that configuration dominates my collection. That or single blade clip 48 or 77.

 

[Airborne 1]

To me its the 57, 74, 15
There are still 15's on the dealers shelves for under a c-note!

 

[sf fanatic]

When I looked up the definition of “quintessential”, it is something that is typical or a pure example. I pondered on this and I think you could reasonably argue it applies to GECs as a whole. What other factory production cutlery company has and still makes such a wide variety of traditional folders? Therefore I humbly submit the #89. The split back springs are a thing of beauty.
View attachment 1483102

 

[Frailer]

Another vote for the 15.

 

[hhmoore]

It’s tough to choose between the #73 and the #15.

Between the 15 and the 73 is the 77.
I've sold off most of my 15s, the two that I've kept have some sentimental value. I much prefer my 77 over a 15...but, admittedly, I like the size of the 73. Since nobody else (that I've noticed) has had the good sense to do so, I'll also add the 92 to the discussion (Talon for me, please)

 

[Camillus]

Well, its true that the 15 is a bit small, but its just so recognisable as a GEC pattern.

 

[Will Power]

I wouldn't say it's small really, it's certainly versatile, and it IS recognisable because of this and being a revival of the Boy's Knife Now its cousin the 14, THAT'S small, too much so

 

[Groundhogsniper]

Quintessential GEC? The Esteemed 73!

sparerow​

What handle material is that on the bottom knife? Smooth ivory bone? Very nice whatever it is!

 

[Planterz]

Quintessential GEC for me means doing differently, the revival of long vanished patterns which prior to the GEC version were really difficult to find. For instance the 92 Eureka Jack and the Farmer's Jack (one of the excellent 38 types) The Eureka appeared in very sleek unadorned Tidioute form, all steel, wraparound spring - nice detail- and the beautiful Galvanic SFO with Gimp shield which I don't have, few do This quality of reviving lost or obscure patterns set GEC apart and is thus quintessential to me, it's a quality that has been diluted over the years-but that could change.

I had that exact thought about the 92. Probably because my ebony Talon (well, all of my Talons) is my favorite GEC, but it's also a representation of the obscure, "lost" patterns that they've brought back into popularity.

But, my vote for the "quintessential" GEC goes to the 15.

I can understand arguments for 23 or 73 or another of the larger ones, but I don't own one, so I don't have an opinion on them.