- Joined
- Apr 27, 2014
- Messages
- 4,449
Please forgive the 2am pics.
I've been off the forums for a few months to focus on things more important than cutlery. I have kept up with a few threads over the Summer, but family has had my attention and I only now have the time to write a brief post.
To the point, the Spyderco Manix 2 and Great Eastern Cutlery 73 may possibly be the perfect pair of knives for EDC.
Backstory - I started seeking a perfect deer gutter knife for deer season a few years ago and ended up studying steel and then becoming addicted to all sorts of knives. I, having old soul, moved on to traditional slip-joint and traditional lock-back knives. Of course I got caught up in the special runs of GEC. Before that I got caught up in the super steels, M390, S90V, and this lock vs that lock, yada yada yada. I started the hunt for others deemed worthy of owning and eventually just stopped. I had thousands of dollars worth of knives sitting in a large box in a dark safe. I eventually took a step back and stopped caring about the hype of mass opinion and collectibility and sought what my hand wanted. I sought what my hand wanted to use and sold what did not meet my needs.
I tried Bark River, Esee, Bradford, ZT, Benchmade, customs, and a numerous amount of other fixed and folder blades. I tried Chris Reeve Small Insingos and small Sebenzas. I tried Benchmade ## this or that, and ZT whatever # (fills in) and pretty much every traditional style blade there is from Queen, Northwoods, GEC, Case, and others, and nothing beats the pair mentioned in the title for an EDC, in my opinion.
I refer you to the numerous amounts of threads, youtube videos, and post praising the Manix 2. I have medium to small hands and the Manix 2 still fits like a glove, locks up securely, and slices better that most. The blade came centered and razor hair popping sharp. The Manix 2 is the largest I feel comfortable carrying as an EDC, and to be honest when I hold it I think, "What is a PM2, Sebenza, ZT, Benchmade, or Strider." At $120, at the most, the knife is perfect for the price for the person who wants a knife to work hard, and not just own a brand label. Yet, the Manix 2 it is more than a church carry, office slicer, and date night gentleman's knife.
In steps the GEC 73. The GEC 73 carries on the history of cutlery, culture, and character of when knives where made by hand, one at a time, and through pride that each knife was made as well as it could be. The GEC 73 is not intimidating, tactical, or even a knife first picked by most. The GEC 73 is a knife that opens, cuts, and builds character that your grandkids will want to know the story of it. A knife that states that you have depth to you as a person. To me, the GEC 73 is the knife you build a historical timeline with.
I'm not going to be redundant and mention the steel involved, the geometry, the ergos, the lock up, the fit and finish, or the brand reputation that you can find in other threads, instead what I am posting is a simple opinion. So, before you spend, 1,000s of dollars on Rocksteads, Sebenzas, Striders, ZTs, and other sharp edges, look at why you are spending what you are spending and seeking what you are seeking.
The GEC 73 with 1095 and a Spyderco Manix 2 with G10 and CPM S30V can be had at $150 cheaper than 1 Chris Reeve Sebenza at a total of $215 at the most.
I get collecting and the mass consumption of knifes. I've owned 100s and I still have 40 other knives that sit in a box. I even still have the desire to try others. I just thought I would share my perfect pair. The ones the make me question why I have the others.
For fun, the GEC 81 is another, and close runner up to the 73. The Sage 3 is a great runner up to the Manix 2.
Of course my hand and needs are not yours and my opinion is just an opinion.
I've been off the forums for a few months to focus on things more important than cutlery. I have kept up with a few threads over the Summer, but family has had my attention and I only now have the time to write a brief post.
To the point, the Spyderco Manix 2 and Great Eastern Cutlery 73 may possibly be the perfect pair of knives for EDC.
Backstory - I started seeking a perfect deer gutter knife for deer season a few years ago and ended up studying steel and then becoming addicted to all sorts of knives. I, having old soul, moved on to traditional slip-joint and traditional lock-back knives. Of course I got caught up in the special runs of GEC. Before that I got caught up in the super steels, M390, S90V, and this lock vs that lock, yada yada yada. I started the hunt for others deemed worthy of owning and eventually just stopped. I had thousands of dollars worth of knives sitting in a large box in a dark safe. I eventually took a step back and stopped caring about the hype of mass opinion and collectibility and sought what my hand wanted. I sought what my hand wanted to use and sold what did not meet my needs.
I tried Bark River, Esee, Bradford, ZT, Benchmade, customs, and a numerous amount of other fixed and folder blades. I tried Chris Reeve Small Insingos and small Sebenzas. I tried Benchmade ## this or that, and ZT whatever # (fills in) and pretty much every traditional style blade there is from Queen, Northwoods, GEC, Case, and others, and nothing beats the pair mentioned in the title for an EDC, in my opinion.
I refer you to the numerous amounts of threads, youtube videos, and post praising the Manix 2. I have medium to small hands and the Manix 2 still fits like a glove, locks up securely, and slices better that most. The blade came centered and razor hair popping sharp. The Manix 2 is the largest I feel comfortable carrying as an EDC, and to be honest when I hold it I think, "What is a PM2, Sebenza, ZT, Benchmade, or Strider." At $120, at the most, the knife is perfect for the price for the person who wants a knife to work hard, and not just own a brand label. Yet, the Manix 2 it is more than a church carry, office slicer, and date night gentleman's knife.
In steps the GEC 73. The GEC 73 carries on the history of cutlery, culture, and character of when knives where made by hand, one at a time, and through pride that each knife was made as well as it could be. The GEC 73 is not intimidating, tactical, or even a knife first picked by most. The GEC 73 is a knife that opens, cuts, and builds character that your grandkids will want to know the story of it. A knife that states that you have depth to you as a person. To me, the GEC 73 is the knife you build a historical timeline with.
I'm not going to be redundant and mention the steel involved, the geometry, the ergos, the lock up, the fit and finish, or the brand reputation that you can find in other threads, instead what I am posting is a simple opinion. So, before you spend, 1,000s of dollars on Rocksteads, Sebenzas, Striders, ZTs, and other sharp edges, look at why you are spending what you are spending and seeking what you are seeking.
The GEC 73 with 1095 and a Spyderco Manix 2 with G10 and CPM S30V can be had at $150 cheaper than 1 Chris Reeve Sebenza at a total of $215 at the most.
I get collecting and the mass consumption of knifes. I've owned 100s and I still have 40 other knives that sit in a box. I even still have the desire to try others. I just thought I would share my perfect pair. The ones the make me question why I have the others.
For fun, the GEC 81 is another, and close runner up to the 73. The Sage 3 is a great runner up to the Manix 2.
Of course my hand and needs are not yours and my opinion is just an opinion.
