The Life of a Boys Knife (GEC #15)

Thalestin

Thalestin

Joined
Jul 20, 2006
Messages
3,808
Quite a few threads have popped up over the last year showing the development of wear over time. I have always really enjoyed following these threads so I thought I'd start one of my own. Today I received a gec #15 boys knife in ebony. So here it begins :)

Initial Impressions

First off my first reaction to this knife is that it excellent feeling in the hand. Long enough to get work done but not a burden in the pocket at all.

The fit and finish on this knife is excellent. No gaps, clean lines and blade grind is perfect. It is also shaving sharp which is always a bonus. One single flaw is the knife isn't quite perfectly centered when closed. It is not terrible and it doesn't run close to the liner. Not a deal breaker as the knife is otherwise beautiful.

The ebony scales are stunning with some lighter striations and very classical natural grooves in the wood.

The walk and talk on this knife is excellent. I'd rate this one a 5.5/10 on the bear trap scale: not super hard to open but it might be tough for a 8 year old to open. It is pinch able, so is quite functional. The long pull is also quite functional (and attractive!). The half stop is nice and solid with the spring almost perfectly flat. No gec I own is flush in its half stop with this knife be the closest yet. It is actually something I haven't seen on any of my production knives yet.

Overall, my first impression I'd give this knife a solid 9/10. And if it were perfectly centered I'd be tempted to give it a 10/10. I'll add more to my review as I put this knife through the paces. This one is going to be a user and I can't wait to put it to work!

Now for the brand spanking new pictures:
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Will be updating this thread in a week or so :) feel free to leave any comments or questions

Mark
 
I hadn't thought of buying any other knife in 2012, but I couldn't keep away from an ebony #15 (I got the two bladed version).
I agree with your impressions: the knife is very very well made. Mine is quite centered actually :p and I like the fact that the knife is clean and essential (no etches, no shield, dark ebony handles, and so on).
Aside from the strong pull, which is my only issue, this is the kind of knife that could stay in my pocket for months without one second thought.
I will see how it goes :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
Me too. And talk a out watching a knife get good looking I read the Sunday picture show yesterday from start to end and Doug's Ben Hogan... Man I got to get me one of those! It looked ok shiny but now WOW! I feel pretty confident this one is going to be just like that. Already a very good looking knife, once the patina sets in it will be a 10 for sure.
 
quattromori said:
I hadn't thought of buying any other knife in 2012, but I couldn't keep away from an ebony #15 (I got the two bladed version).
I agree with your impressions: the knife is very very well made. Mine is quite centered actually :p and I like the fact that the knife is clean and essential (no etches, no shield, dark ebony handles, and so on).
Aside from the strong pull, which is my only issue, this is the kind of knife that could stay in my pocket for months without one second thought.
I will see how it goes :)

Fausto
:cool:
Click to expand...

Glad your enjoying yours too. It is nice to see a nice released with no markings or shield. Quite unique and I must admit I like it quite a bit.

@ Paul: I agree with you with this knife becoming a 10 with time. Cantering is one of those things that really makes no difference in function but I just had to dock this knife on something.

I actually just finished prepping a stir fry with this knife and it already has the beginning of a patina. It is a pleasure to use. This guy easily finds a spot in your pocket and will only leave to cut something :)
 
I have to be honest, I'm not carrying it yet. I just gave it a "premiere" carry :D
I still have to decide what to do with it, with respect to the pull issue.
Anyway I will wait till I get back home from my holidays, and I can force a patina on it.
But, it doesn't take a month to realize that this is a fine knife :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
quattromori said:
I have to be honest, I'm not carrying it yet. I just gave it a "premiere" carry :D
I still have to decide what to do with it, with respect to the pull issue.
Anyway I will wait till I get back home from my holidays, and I can force a patina on it.
But, it doesn't take a month to realize that this is a fine knife :)

Fausto
:cool:
Click to expand...

Do both the blades have a strong pull? I wonder if the strong pulls are something that hits the two blade version. The pull on mine is quite manageable. It is easy to to pen and I have almost no nails.
 
Hi,

I have to agree, these knives are going to age beautifully. I'm looking forward to watching mine age. Mark, I have a 2 blade version. And I find both springs to be firm, (5 to 6), but no where near the nail breaker my #25 is. So I think it might be a case by case thing.

Dale
 
I too look forward to seeing how the knife serves you!
I'm carrying its brother, the barlow, and enjoy it immensely.
 
Mark, I have the exact same single blade version in ebony. Initial impressions are likewise very good. GEC managed to pack a lot of blade into the 3 1/2" frame---I get right at 2 7/16" of cutting edge.

The knife is quite light and slim---very comfortable in the pocket. I got lucky with a well centered blade. The knife was only "working sharp" out of the tube, but has taken an excellent edge with ease. It is now a very nice slicer. The pull on mine is likewise about a 5-6, just right for me.

I don't like sharp corners, and have already smoothed down the ones on the back of the swedge. I will probably round off the tang as well.

This is a simple, elegant, very functional knife that I look forward to using!

Andrew
 
this is a beautiful knife, although i have to admit the Name and only the name of this knife put me off, i though it was intended for little kids and that'd id get laughed at by all the neighborhood kids for carrying one around. But this knife is gorgeous, functional and very appealing. Looking forward to seeing yours patina!
 
Nice thread Mark. Really like this knife, and looking forward to seeing how yours ages :thumbup:
 
I ordered one as well. Hope the spring tension isn't too tough. My S&M Heritage is very light.
 
Thalestin said:
Do both the blades have a strong pull? I wonder if the strong pulls are something that hits the two blade version. The pull on mine is quite manageable. It is easy to to pen and I have almost no nails.
Click to expand...

Both pulls are strong for my taste. Of the two, the main blade is a bit more manageable, once you learn the proper technique to catch the nick behind the pen blade (which, obviously, is not an issue on single bladed versions). The pen blade, instead, is just plain stiff. Beware that my "pull scale" is probably quite different from the standard US traditionalist :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
I'll be able to provide another pull-level data point this afternoon when my two-blade ebony arrives. :)
 
quattromori said:
Both pulls are strong for my taste. Of the two, the main blade is a bit more manageable, once you learn the proper technique to catch the nick behind the pen blade (which, obviously, is not an issue on single bladed versions). The pen blade, instead, is just plain stiff. Beware that my "pull scale" is probably quite different from the standard US traditionalist :)

Fausto
:cool:
Click to expand...
I'm more of a Canadian traditionalist. I guess the pull on mine is pretty stiff, but not a bother. I can pinch it open easily enough. However if it had a pen as well it may be a bit more difficult. Perhaps they are similar after all
 
This is my first GEC product, so all Ihad to go on was other people's impressions about GEC pulls. For what it's worth, mine is easily openable, but definitely stiffer than the average of all the Cases I have. I like it, though. The pull and spring strength is reminiscent of Vic Pioneers - strong enough to be very comforting. Plus, I love the authoritative "snick" upon opening and closing.

This is my first knife with a long pull. I noticed that I need a little different technique opening the main blade, since there is no space for the blade to rotate on the thumbnail, like there is on a regular curved nail nick.

Overall, my impression is, "whoa." This is probably the nicest knife I own.

Edit to add that this is also the oiliest new knife I have ever received. It took a good wipedown and wash to get the preservative off the wood and blades. But that was a nice touch, as well. Shows they care, like the heavy wax paper.
 
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