single spring/double blade?

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foofie

Joined
Sep 25, 2011
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I am still kinda new to traditionals, but loving every minute of it!
I recently acquired a GEC 82 - and am intrigued by the design. Coming from modern folders, I really appreciate having a second blade. I have tried a wharncliffe trapper - but in that case, the second bladed added quite a bit of width to the knife. Not a great trade-off to me.

So - are there many other single spring/two blade knives? Preferably with a wharncliffe at one end?

I have considered converting a pen blade to a small wharncliffe? Or maybe getting a muskrat and converting one side to a wharncliffe?
And from what I read - the 82's were not that popular. Is there something I should know about the single spring design (like early failure)?
 
The single spring design is probably over 100 years old, and is an exquisite design, offering lightness and diversity in a slim, pocketable package!!
I have several, and love and admire them all. Some are quite old, but obviously durable!!
 
foofie said:
And from what I read - the 82's were not that popular. Is there something I should know about the single spring design (like early failure)?
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There are a lot of single blade folks around here. Until recently, a multi-blade fan could sit back a bit more, while single blade versions of knives got snatched up quickly.

Before the last run, which was pretty large, and before the current gec rush craziness, everyone was clamoring for another run of 82s. They are great knives, and great blade variety!

Two blades on one spring is a winner in my book! If you expand your search to include a coping, instead of a wharncliffe, you might be able to find some more variety.
Another favorite pattern of mine is the hawbaker muskrat, with clip and full sized wharncliffe. Definitely worth a look if you like a longer wharncliffe.
 
I think there is a substantial, existing thread on single-spring knives!?:rolleyes:
Can some IT Genius/Nerd find it, and bring it forward????:D
 
Thank you @justtom. and @natureboy. I have been reading many old threads, and must have missed these two more recent threads. I started around page 200, and have been working back to the present.
 
foofie said:
Is there something I should know about the single spring design (like early failure)?
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I’ll offer some casual advice. In rare cases the back spring can snap in half when you open both blades in a manner that stresses both ends of the back spring at the same time.

It rarely happens but when it does it’s too late to do anything about it.

It happened to me once on a knife that has great sentimental value. I had to tell the Son of the knife owner that I had just broken his late Father’s EDC.

I learned the hard way and as a precaution, I don’t do that anymore.
 
Railsplitter said:
I’ll offer some casual advice. In rare cases the back spring can snap in half when you open both blades in a manner that stresses both ends of the back spring at the same time.

It rarely happens but when it does it’s too late to do anything about it.

It happened to me once on a knife that has great sentimental value. I had to tell the Son of the knife owner that I had just broken his late Father’s EDC.

I learned the hard way and as a precaution, I don’t do that anymore.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing that.
 
I initiated a thread back in 2014 Single Spring Supporters but it got pillaged/denuded by P.Bucket's antics...:(

Single-Spring 2 blades is my particular favourite, the OP can take a look at GEC 13 (Wharncliffe), 33, 35, 57, (Wharncliffe) 62, 68 patterns. Many Muskrats are single-spring (the posher ones :)) CASE Mini Copperhead, (Wharncliffe) Penknife, the Norfolk pattern.

Winchester Black Box too but it's a small knife yet very :cool:

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I agree, the 82 Possum Skinner is a fine large knife with long blades yet slim carry. I suspect that some of the perceived lack of enthusiasm for this pattern was founded in pedestrian attitudes ;) It's never been done before so it's not Traditional :rolleyes: One of GEC's strengths is that it sails its own ship as far as knife design/naming is concerned - it has revived some great patterns: Boy's Knife, Farmer's Jack, Eureka, rope Knife and others yet it brings in its own interpretations too: Possum Skinner, Mink Skinner, Half Whitt (shown by me the Green knife)

Now of course, anything it puts out evaporates before they're even on the Postal truck such is the current frenzy for all and everything GEC ;) And their inventiveness with blades lately seems to have taken on a tedious whimsy with Combs..Forks etc but they sell like it's the last item before the apocalypse descends...:eek:
 
If a sheepfoot blade would suffice you should look at an older Case half congress as well. The newer ones are double spring but if I'm not mistaken without a liner dividing them,so still fairly slim. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. :):thumbsup:
 
Some, but not all, Canoe pattern are single spring with two blades. Usually a spear point main with a pen blade secondary.
Rough Ryder currently has a large sunfish with a spear point main and Wharncliffe secondary. I don't know if it is a single spring or double spring.

I have two RR large sunfish, both are a double spring. They are around 5/16 to 3/8 inch thick.
 
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