Remington R-1123 & Great Eastern 23

Fort Henry Custom Knives

Fort Henry Custom Knives

Joined
Nov 17, 1999
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I was recently given the opportunity to visit with a distinguished old Remington R-1123. Made approx 1925 and still in wonderful near mint Condition.

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As a Great Eastern fan I felt a kinship to this knife though I had never even held one. Much as a young man resembles his Grandfather, I am sure GEC followers recognize the current Model 23 in this old patriarch.

While visiting with this old chap I decided I had a rare opportunity to actually compare apples to apples and I felt other GEC fans might appreciate seeing a direct comparision. So I took the time to snap a couple of family photos of these two gents together and also do some side by side comparison. Here are the results;

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Great Eastern 23 / REMINGTON R-1123

  • Height 1 1/8 / 1 1/8
  • From top of main blade to bottom of front scale
  • Length 4 7/16 / 4 1/2
  • Weight 6.1 oz / 6.3 oz
  • Thickness @ Front Bolster 0.6375 / 0.6900
  • Thickness @ Butt 0.680 / 0.7250
  • Length Main Blade 3 3/4 +32nd / 3 3/4 -32nd
  • Length Secondary Blade 3 11/16 +32nd / 3 11/16
  • Blade Thickness
  • Measured at Tang area Primary .112 / .130
  • Measured at Tang area Secondary .111 / .1285
  • Brass Liner Thickness .0285 / .0285
  • Backspring Spacer Thickness .1225 / .140
  • Shield Pinned / Pinned
  • Shield Length 1.305 / 1.257
  • Bolster Width .612 / .612

Sorry the Format isn't better on the stats but you get the idea.

If you have any particular questions don't hesitate to ask.
 
Nice. You don't see the bone in that condition often. Many times the blades are in great shape, but the scales are very pocket-worn. Great knives!
 
Very nice comparison. It's interesting that the Remington has blades that much thicker.

I love that old Remington bone.
 
thanks hillbillengima for the comparison. remington bullets have been copied by many companies in yrs.hence but gec is 1st to really make a knife close to the original quality.knowing some big time collectors i've been priviledged to handle the legends.saw a mint baby bullet about 8 yrs. back.had to really check myself 2 yrs. back to keep from buying the single blade stag pattern. those 3000$ knives make even the most rabid collector give pause.
 
Nice work H_B_E :thumbup: That took some time and effort to put that information together. Thanks!;)

Manufacturer reproductions of the R-1123 fall short of the original because it's not an easy knife to copy. it appears that the goal was not facsimile of the R-1123 but was to make something very similar, due to the lack of lanyard tube, bullet shield, and different bone color/jigging. Not bad things, just different.

Did they make a flush joint on the GEC? Also, I know you may not have access to the Remington now, but on the GEC, what is the blade thickness of the edge(just above the bevel)? I have handled a few of GEC's knives. On the ones that I have seen, they do a good job on the grinds and overall mechanics of their knives.
 
Thanks very much Gentlemen.

I know this type of post goes beyond what most find interesting but I just "had to know" on the comparison so I took the time to post the results.

KnifeHead said:
Did they make a flush joint on the GEC? Also, I know you may not have access to the Remington now, but on the GEC, what is the blade thickness of the edge(just above the bevel)?.
Click to expand...

Knifehead - I took a picture of the two together of the area that I think you are asking about. Let me know if this is what you were looking for;

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Also, The Main Blades thicknesses, approx 1/8" up from the cutting edge are;
Remington .032
GEC .0335

One thing I was asked about that I will add;

Spring Tension - Greater on the Remington (wish I had an easy way to quantify that but it is enough to feel)

The stories that ol Remington could tell....Amazing.
Click to expand...

You are certainly correct. That era opened with Prohibition and the Flappers. Women were granted the right to vote. Life expectancy of a Male was 53, Female 54. Average Annual income was $1,236. The Gangs of Chicago and New York were in their Prime. John T. Scopes was charged for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution.

Bread $.09 lb
Coffee $.50 lb
Suger $.35 5 lbs
Corn Meal $.06 lb
Oranges $.57 doz
Remington R-1123 $2.25

Times have certainly changed.
 
Nice pix guys ;)

The GEC and Bose Dogshead pictured both have flush joints that don't include the spring. The Remington includes the spring. From a makers standpoint, that is a 9.5 sphincter phactor. :D That is impressive that GEC takes the knife that far. It's an advanced feature on slip joints. They do it because they can...the only real advantage being that it minimizes lint catches.

Thanks for the extra info. I have some more pix of a R-1123 around here somewhere...
 
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