The Route #66

[Txjohn]

Few older examples

 

[315]

I have fallen hard for stockmans lately. Another one should be arriving today.View attachment 908726

Travman, I've said it before, I really like the jigging pattern on the antique autumn. Just reminds me of carvings you'd see on stuff in Old National park type lodges.

 

[Heirphoto]

No pics yet but just traded my #66 Moose for a #66 Calf Roper in Hemlock Green (brown really) Jigged Bone. Missed my first calf roper ever since I sold it and had to get one back in my pocket. Love the looks of both the Ironwood and Oily Creek Bone but really don't need two (or three) of the same pattern since I only want users.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

One GEC dealer has a nice stock of jogged red bone 66’s and I have been wanting one.

Can someone post a pic of a red SFO 66?

It might push me over the edge.

 

[Txjohn]

I have both redbones 66's first was 2012 ( I think? ) which is posted above(3rd ) . I was surprised and a little disappointed that there was barely any difference between them . Slightly different jig pattern is all I caught. Sorry I don't have access to the 2017 example

 

[Elgatodeacero]

TXjohn, yes it’s the bright red 2017 66’s I am considering.

 

[Heirphoto]

One GEC dealer has a nice stock of jogged red bone 66’s and I have been wanting one.

Can someone post a pic of a red SFO 66?

It might push me over the edge.

I think it was their exclusive SFO

 

[A.L.]

Thank you so much for the great posts and beautiful calf roper pics!

I forgot to add this pic that I posted to ”just pics” thread:

 

[Camillus]

Is this the red one you are referring to?

More of a raspberry blue in sunlight

 

[Camillus]

My favourite of the 2017 run was the DIW

The knife on the right was one of those selected by GEC in the production photos, it has really nice figure not entirely shown in this photo. But it ended up a second it must have split after leaving the factory and before being sold.

 

[A.L.]

Absolutely love the jigging on GEC bone handles. They really know their craft!

 

[Johnny brown]

So I just read this thread and it seems that there's several complaints about lazy action on the secondary blades? Anyone that's handled several examples of these know if this problem was common to this last run of ropers? I want one with the hemlock covers but not if it has poor blade action

 

[JohnDF]

it seems that there's several complaints about lazy action on the secondary blades?

My #66 Calf Roper does have some lazy action on the secondary blades. But, I almost think I'd rather have lazy secondary blades than hard-to-open secondary blades. I tend to cut myself on hard-to-open small blades. Lol

 

[Johnny brown]

Another thing that bugs me about the hemlock covers: you see how the bolsters are deformed where they meet the covers? They're like dented into the jigging, you see that? Almost every one of these I've seen has that

 

[JohnDF]

you see how the bolsters are deformed where they meet the covers? They're like dented into the jigging

I've definitely noticed the deformation of the bolsters on mine. Seems the bolster was pushed down to meet the jigging, maybe during the polishing phase. Perhaps the jigging carries too far up. Either way I think it's better than having a rough transition. As a collector piece, I think I'd pass on this particular knife. Perhaps another cover material will have a stiffer action on the secondary blades and the bolsters won't be slightly deformed. But, as a "user knife" I think it is well worth the purchase price.

 

[Modoc ED]

When they first came out in 2011, some of them had a gaudy Calf Roper etch on the clip blade. It was too much for me so I removed the etch.

I carry it often and happen to have it in my pocket today.

 

[Will Power]

I've definitely noticed the deformation of the bolsters on mine. Seems the bolster was pushed down to meet the jigging, maybe during the polishing phase. Perhaps the jigging carries too far up. Either way I think it's better than having a rough transition. As a collector piece, I think I'd pass on this particular knife. Perhaps another cover material will have a stiffer action on the secondary blades and the bolsters won't be slightly deformed. But, as a "user knife" I think it is well worth the purchase price.

Actually, there are many people who prize the idea of the jigging running into the bolsters, same on top Stag knives.Otherwise you grind off parts of the jigging to fit, not such a wonderful prospect.

 

[Railsplitter]

So I just read this thread and it seems that there's several complaints about lazy action on the secondary blades? Anyone that's handled several examples of these know if this problem was common to this last run of ropers? I want one with the hemlock covers but not if it has poor blade action

All five of mine had lazy action on the secondary blades. Maybe about a 3 or 4 on a scale of 1-10. The blades snap closed with an audible click and none of them need to be pushed closed but yes, the action is a little lazy on the secondary blades. Very common with this run of Calf Ropers.

It should be noted that the fit & finish is otherwise outstanding on all five of my examples.

 

[JohnDF]

Actually, there are many people who prize the idea of the jigging running into the bolsters

Oh yes, I like all the jigging too. I just meant that it was probably the cause of the uneven bolsters.

 

[Camillus]

So I just read this thread and it seems that there's several complaints about lazy action on the secondary blades? Anyone that's handled several examples of these know if this problem was common to this last run of ropers? I want one with the hemlock covers but not if it has poor blade action

This uneven spring tension is an issue that is common to about 50% of the stockmans in my collection, particularly the smaller Schrade models. The secondary spring on the #66 is slimmer than the main, which is consistent with some of the small Schrades that I own. To have even spring tension between the blades in this pattern would have to be contrary to its design. The larger size stockman knives (e.g. 8OT) seem to have two equal thickness springs.

Another thing to observe is the 2017 #66 stockman (and possibly all of them) has a total of 4 brass liners, whereas a regular small stockman pattern has only three. I guess that the four liners provide more blade clearance than the three-liner design, at the cost of added overall thickness. This extra room may allow the standard clip point blade on the #66 to maintain more thickness along its length than the more common turkish clip, which gets thin quickly. It's hard to tell.