Smallest GEC

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drfoil

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After reading all of the positive comments about GEC I have decided I want one. Do they make any smaller patterns? I really am looking for something about 3-3 1/2" closed. It seems all I can find are larger knives from them.
 
I am loving looking at GEC also. I would be interested in a smaller one also. It's nice to see and hear about good quality slippies being made right now right here!
 
It's a little tricky for folks that make such heavy duty knives to put it in a small packages. But by golly they did it....

Some of the variants....
GEMLN252208GS.JPG

GEMLN251208GR.JPG

GEMLN251208LPSWB.JPG

GEMLN251208LPBST.JPG

GEMLT253208JRB.JPG

GEMLN251208BAB.JPG


Mike Latham
CollectorKnives.Net
 
Here's my GEC Northfield #25 Barlow Jack with a Case Peanut for scale. The GEC measures 3" closed.

Northfield3.jpg


Northfield1.jpg
 
GEC makes great knives but that "Barlow Jack" looks nothing like a Barlow ??? I wonder why they called it that.
 
KnifeHead said:
GEC makes great knives but that "Barlow Jack" looks nothing like a Barlow ??? I wonder why they called it that.
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It's based on their existing #25 Barlow only they made one bolster smaller and added the endcap bolsters. GEC lists it as a Barlow Jack, but I've seen dealers selling it as a #25 Jack. Doesn't really matter what they call it. Most would consider it a small 2-blade jack. Kind of like people arguing that Grizzly Cut Bone is nothing more than a fancy name for Bone Stag. Grizzly Cut Bone is what GEC chooses to call it and that's okay with me.
 
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The reason why it matters to me what they call it is because the Barlow "name" most definitely conjurs up an image that is a traditional pattern and has signature elements that define it as "a barlow". A Barlow is a regular jack pattern with traditional standard dimentions, standard elongated bolster, usually flat sided, usually saw cut bone, etc., etc.

In my feeble mind, I'm thinkin there is an element of responsiblity on the part of makers of traditional stuff to be accurate in the naming of their products. Otherwise it's a kin to rewriting history with a bit of a spin...just sayin. :D
 
I don't see where GEC themselves ever called it a Barlow or Barlow Jack. They call it a Jack on occasion, but mostly just a 25J.

Some, myself included, call it a Barlow Jack to give others an idea of the general size / shape of the knife as apposed to the other 325 variants of a "jack". It is definitely not a Barlow; but I guess a trapper, copperhead, etc. are also "jack's".

Since it is alright to create a "sub-name" for a pattern, let's come up with a fair one for this knife that is descriptive... Small Balloon Jack? Small Teardrop Jack?
 
The knife is what it is. I believe the only responsibility of GEC is to continue making quality knives with the actual materials they claim to use. Names for things change depending on the region and time, etc. The names for patterns, materials and blades (or anything for that mater) will evolve. There is no true "correct" name for anything. I'm sure most of the "traditional" terms tossed around this forum were once considered incorrect and non-traditional by the standards of the day. The same kind of arguments pop up in the boating and truck forums that I visit. I've seen guys get into heated debates over Crew Cab, Crew Max, Super Crew, Double Cab, Extended Cab when discussing pickup trucks. Same things happen in the boating forums with hull designs. I hope this thread doesn't continue to derail in that direction. I apologize to drfoil for adding to the derailment.

I my opinion life is too short to worry about minutia like calling a knife a Barlow Jack instead of a Jack. I've heard lots of people call the #25 that so I'm guessing it's starting to stick. Makes no difference to me because ultimately the knife is what it is.
 
Watch out for the #25s though, they'll snap your thumbnail right off. I have several, and they're all nailbusters- except for the one with the sheepfoot master blade (which you can pinch open). They're wonderfully made little knives- beautiful and sturdy. But they are no fun to carry and use at all- at least for me.

As for the name- I think folks call it a "barlow jack" because it's the GEC barlow frame. When they use two bolsters and add a shield, it's a barlow jack- not a proper barlow, but a jack on the barlow frame. Nothing tricky about it.
 
I was thinking after what pookie36(that's what I call him)wrote, it might be a good idea to start a thread titled, "Why do things have names?" but then I thought, that's dumb as hell, so I didn't.

...carry on :D
 
I agree with Kerry and think that referring to it as the #25 would be the most "accurate" name since it isn't a barlow by any means and if names are to mean anything they should be used with some degree of accuracy.

Then again, you guys are free to call it anything you want.

A dog "is what it is" but if you all start calling it a cat it may still be "what it is" but most of us are gonna have some issues with renaming it.

Traditional knives have names that are, well...traditional. I'm just sayin'...
 
The smallest GEC No.25 is a very sturdy and stout knife,it's far thicker than a Peanut for instance. The one I have in stag is extremely well executed,and yes it has some macho springs but I favour this. Eat more B-vitamins and build up your nails! It has a single bolster so it looks somewhat like a Barlow but is I think closer to a Barehead Jack as it has rounded scales rather than slab or sawn ones on most Barlows. Fine small knife though!
 
augustus88 said:
The knife is what it is. I believe the only responsibility of GEC is to continue making quality knives with the actual materials they claim to use. Names for things change depending on the region and time, etc. The names for patterns, materials and blades (or anything for that mater) will evolve. There is no true "correct" name for anything. I'm sure most of the "traditional" terms tossed around this forum were once considered incorrect and non-traditional by the standards of the day. The same kind of arguments pop up in the boating and truck forums that I visit. I've seen guys get into heated debates over Crew Cab, Crew Max, Super Crew, Double Cab, Extended Cab when discussing pickup trucks. Same things happen in the boating forums with hull designs. I hope this thread doesn't continue to derail in that direction. I apologize to drfoil for adding to the derailment.

I my opinion life is too short to worry about minutia like calling a knife a Barlow Jack instead of a Jack. I've heard lots of people call the #25 that so I'm guessing it's starting to stick. Makes no difference to me because ultimately the knife is what it is.
Click to expand...

Just so you folks will know, a barlow has a bolster that is 1/3 the length of the knife. These knives posted are not barlows, they are jack knives. They are different.
 
Mr. Bose,
With all due respect, I know what a barlow knife is. I believe there are four barlows pictured above, so there are some barlow images on this thread. I initially called my #25 GEC a jack knife on another bladeforums post only to be corrected by someone that called it a #25 Barlow Jack. I've seen it listed elsewhere as such, so I assumed it was an unusual name chosen by GEC(like the whittler that really isn't much of a whittler). Now I'm being corrected again and given a short lesson as to what a Barlow is. Sorry, but the constant corrections on many posts tends to take a little of the fun out of this knife collecting and sharing thing we do on this site. Seems like even the serious professionals can't agree on naming conventions and specifics all the time (rat tail vs. fluted). I'm not a full time knife professional, so I don't take things so seriously. I'm just trying to have a little fun casually chatting about knives. Regardless of what anybody wants to call the knife all I was attempting to do was share an image of a small knife made by GEC that wasn't pictured above my post. I understand that it's a JACK and NOT a BARLOW (I did long before this post). Does that ultimately change the original intention of me attempting share images of a small knife available by GEC compared to a peanut for scale?



joe-bob,
I agree! I'm really starting to like the look of the blue #25. I believe that's the only blue knife I've ever been attracted to. I usually like red or antique green, but blue usually doesn't do it for me. This one is different for some reason.
 
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moonwilson said:
Watch out for the #25s though, they'll snap your thumbnail right off. I have several, and they're all nailbusters- except for the one with the sheepfoot master blade (which you can pinch open). They're wonderfully made little knives- beautiful and sturdy. But they are no fun to carry and use at all- at least for me.
Click to expand...

Now this concerns me. I really, really want one; but, I want it as a regular edc and I don't want to have to fight with it whenever I try to use it.
 
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