- Joined
- Dec 2, 2005
- Messages
- 71,407
Way, way back in April, I received a 2-blade spear/pen GEC #15 Boys Knife from GECs UK dealer in antique red jigged bone. Immediately, I was struck by its classic form and beauty, a simply lovely knife, which I knew was going to see a lot of pocket time. Then I tried to open the main blade, and...
Oh no!
I couldnt believe it. I immediately rang the UK dealer, who said hed also noticed the problem. I took some pics and sent them to him, so he could e-mail GEC. I also PMed Charlie (Waynorth) to see if he could shed any light on the problem. As always, Charlie was extremely helpful, and we had a long chat. I sent Charlie more pics, and what he guessed had happened is that a metal filing had been sat underneath the kick in the frame when the knife was being put together, and that this had caused the cutler to over-grind the kick of the main blade. So that when the finished knife was blown out, and the crumb with it, the kick then sank too low in the frame, with the pull being completely obscured by the pen. This photo (below) shows how low the point of the main blade is in the frame.
The nick of the pen blade was too low to grind something off the kick there, and so sadly and reluctantly, since it was otherwise such a beauty, I returned the knife to the UK dealer. Then it turned out that he didnt have a replacement, and couldnt get one from GEC. I was absolutely gutted
A knight in shining armour
D) then stepped forward in the form of Dan (SilentHunterStudios), who very generously sent me a knife of the same pattern The lady in Dans local post office said his parcel would take a couple of weeks to reach me. We both waited, and waited, and waited...
More than two months later, I was starting to get worried, and felt bad for poor Dan, who I knew must be equally concerned. Then the knife turned up...back on Dans doorstep! A Royal Mail sticker on the package said that it had not been collected from the post office! The matter is now the subject of both a complaint and an investigation
I was very frustrated, more so because of the inconvenience to Dan in the face of such a kind gesture. However, our hero was not to be foiled, and the #15 Boys Knife again went in the post :thumbup:
Yesterday it finally arrived here in Leeds, England. After quickly e-mailing Dan to let him know, having waited so long, I wanted to savour the moment of opening the package. As I had been about to go out for a walk with my girlfriend, I took the package with me into the local Leeds countryside. When we stopped for a snack, I took out my Charlow, received from the great man himself just last week, to do the honours, Charlie had come to my assistance again :thumbup: Theres also a symmetry to this, because it was during our PM chat about my problems with my original Boys Knife that Charlie mentioned he was getting some Barlows made up with the pen BEHIND the main blade, as in the knife he subsequently gifted me, shown below
This is the view from the spot where Dans package was opened.
And this is the long-awaited opening!
Inside the tube lay the object of my desire!
At long last I had it in my hand!
More pics!
Sharing our first pint together!
With cousin Charlow
Unlike my first knife, the one Dan sent me could be opened easily enough, and it was just as beautiful. I think GEC has really struck gold with this design, like the Charlow it is a timeless classic, where form and function meet in perfect harmony. The size of the #15 frame is just right for me, and I love the red jigged bone. What a fantastic knife, and what a fantastic gesture from Dan.
Dan, thanks again, for your generosity and thoughtfulness, and for your patience. Its certainly been an experience hasnt it?! Ill be carrying this knife for a long time with your friendship in mind.
Jack
Oh no!
I couldnt believe it. I immediately rang the UK dealer, who said hed also noticed the problem. I took some pics and sent them to him, so he could e-mail GEC. I also PMed Charlie (Waynorth) to see if he could shed any light on the problem. As always, Charlie was extremely helpful, and we had a long chat. I sent Charlie more pics, and what he guessed had happened is that a metal filing had been sat underneath the kick in the frame when the knife was being put together, and that this had caused the cutler to over-grind the kick of the main blade. So that when the finished knife was blown out, and the crumb with it, the kick then sank too low in the frame, with the pull being completely obscured by the pen. This photo (below) shows how low the point of the main blade is in the frame.
The nick of the pen blade was too low to grind something off the kick there, and so sadly and reluctantly, since it was otherwise such a beauty, I returned the knife to the UK dealer. Then it turned out that he didnt have a replacement, and couldnt get one from GEC. I was absolutely gutted
A knight in shining armour
D) then stepped forward in the form of Dan (SilentHunterStudios), who very generously sent me a knife of the same pattern The lady in Dans local post office said his parcel would take a couple of weeks to reach me. We both waited, and waited, and waited...More than two months later, I was starting to get worried, and felt bad for poor Dan, who I knew must be equally concerned. Then the knife turned up...back on Dans doorstep! A Royal Mail sticker on the package said that it had not been collected from the post office! The matter is now the subject of both a complaint and an investigation
I was very frustrated, more so because of the inconvenience to Dan in the face of such a kind gesture. However, our hero was not to be foiled, and the #15 Boys Knife again went in the post :thumbup:
Yesterday it finally arrived here in Leeds, England. After quickly e-mailing Dan to let him know, having waited so long, I wanted to savour the moment of opening the package. As I had been about to go out for a walk with my girlfriend, I took the package with me into the local Leeds countryside. When we stopped for a snack, I took out my Charlow, received from the great man himself just last week, to do the honours, Charlie had come to my assistance again :thumbup: Theres also a symmetry to this, because it was during our PM chat about my problems with my original Boys Knife that Charlie mentioned he was getting some Barlows made up with the pen BEHIND the main blade, as in the knife he subsequently gifted me, shown below
This is the view from the spot where Dans package was opened.
And this is the long-awaited opening!
Inside the tube lay the object of my desire!
At long last I had it in my hand!
More pics!
Sharing our first pint together!
With cousin Charlow
Unlike my first knife, the one Dan sent me could be opened easily enough, and it was just as beautiful. I think GEC has really struck gold with this design, like the Charlow it is a timeless classic, where form and function meet in perfect harmony. The size of the #15 frame is just right for me, and I love the red jigged bone. What a fantastic knife, and what a fantastic gesture from Dan.
Dan, thanks again, for your generosity and thoughtfulness, and for your patience. Its certainly been an experience hasnt it?! Ill be carrying this knife for a long time with your friendship in mind.
Jack
