The upcoming, anticipated, way-too-excited GEC 85's Thread!

Just received my very first #85. A single blade flat grind in Antique Yellow Bone. Just beautiful!
Only issue is the blade has a small dent on the sharpened edge. I looked inside the blade well and the dent is exactly above a raised
Hump on the back spring. I won't let the blade snap shut or else that dent is going to get worse.
Anyone else notice this problem with their new 85?
 
The micarta that I received feels like it has a media/bead blasted finish, it is almost chalk like. A rather unexpected bonus.

More updates when I get back home.
 
Well, here are my three!
Screenshot_20160307-154527_zpsnrxctsvb.png

Screenshot_20160307-154534_zpspdmu7siy.png

Having a bit of weather related picture difficulties, so I decided to take some quick indoor shots. The stag is the natural, not polished variant. I like it!
Screenshot_20160307-154614_zpsm8qu4z7e.png

I didn't do the best job of capturing the thickness of the stag covers in the picture, but the covers feel more symmetrical and well matched than the image may lead one to believe.
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Fit and finish are very good on all three of these. The difference of bolster finish between the micarta and the others is pretty significant in person, but is a little difficult to represent in photos. The bloodwood is outstanding. Fantastic run of 85s, in my opinion. Thanks Mike!
Brian
 
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AJ in PA said:
Just received my very first #85. A single blade flat grind in Antique Yellow Bone. Just beautiful!
Only issue is the blade has a small dent on the sharpened edge. I looked inside the blade well and the dent is exactly above a raised
Hump on the back spring. I won't let the blade snap shut or else that dent is going to get worse.
Anyone else notice this problem with their new 85?
Click to expand...

I've not received my 2016 #85 yet. But I have one or two form earlier runs that experience this problem. It's actually not uncommon for this particular pattern (based on numerous comments through BF threads over the years). Opinions vary on the matter. Some will say "unacceptable--send it back to GEC for repair," others say "just baby it when closing." But I think the majority of collectors baby it and the majority of users simply sharpen it a very little bit and the small dent disappears, usually never to return. This is just my understanding of what I've read here in BF. Hope that helps.
 
MCar said:
I've not received my 2016 #85 yet. But I have one or two form earlier runs that experience this problem. It's actually not uncommon for this particular pattern (based on numerous comments through BF threads over the years). Opinions vary on the matter. Some will say "unacceptable--send it back to GEC for repair," others say "just baby it when closing." But I think the majority of collectors baby it and the majority of users simply sharpen it a very little bit and the very small dent disappears, usually never to return. This is just my understanding of what I've read here in BF. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks MCar, that does help. I'm going to overlook this little issue and just enjoy my new knife
 
redsparrow said:
Peter, the 85 did not come with a slip as far as I know, but they can be added to an order.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it was a $10 add-on. I am still waging an internal battle over actually carrying this beauty, but I knew that I wanted a slip to use with all of my users of similar size.
 
Baldy McBalders said:
Well, here are my three!

Having a bit of weather related picture difficulties, so I decided to take some quick indoor shots. The stag is the natural, not polished variant. I like it!

Fit and finish are very good on all three of these. The difference of bolster finish between the micarta and the others is pretty significant in person, but is a little difficult to represent in photos. The bloodwood is outstanding. Fantastic run of 85s, in my opinion. Thanks Mike!
Brian
Click to expand...

I like it, too. I was getting nervous that I should have gotten the (so far, Very nice) polished stag, but that "unpolished" looks just fine. I'll be happy if it's close to that. "Unpolished" looks to be a relative term with this run.
 
Kitten Party said:
Yeah, I planned on carrying it and everything but I thought that I might see if there was another cover I would like more if I could trade it (micarta I was thinking) but this defect may have an effect on that plan. I'll get in touch with GEC and see, I have another knife I need to send there anyway because the rocker pins stick out considerably.
Click to expand...

Good luck, Chris is good to talk to and work with. If it was me personally I'd stabilise it using super glue and buff it out.
 
AJ in PA said:
Just received my very first #85. A single blade flat grind in Antique Yellow Bone. Just beautiful!
Only issue is the blade has a small dent on the sharpened edge. I looked inside the blade well and the dent is exactly above a raised
Hump on the back spring. I won't let the blade snap shut or else that dent is going to get worse.
Anyone else notice this problem with their new 85?
Click to expand...

It's been an issue with the older #85's as well. I recommend not snapping it until enough blade is sharpened away that it doesn't contact the pin any more. It won't take too much sharpening.
 
The factory tries to leave as much blade as possible on these and some slip by still rapping. Their fix is to hone it until it no longer raps. Many don't like that answer, but it has been a common occurrence in past versions of the #85.
 
My first #85 was a Clip Point Northfield with burnt stag covers that feels perfect. My new #85 with bloodwood covers feels odd in comparison. Thinner, lighter covers with the EO notch makes it much lighter than the clip. Main blade on open on the new one seems to make the knife more blade heavy than I expected. I feel no difference with the blade open on the clip. I was also a little surprised the blades were not as highly polished as I'm used to seeing in the Northfields. Additionally I can see striations in the pinched part of the bolster on the pile side from grinding that wasn't completely polished out. A little disappointing but not a deal breaker. Blades are dead center and are sharper than any GEC I've seen before.

Overall, it's a beautiful knife. And though it feels a little odd and has some "character" I wasn't expecting, I can confidently say it's a keeper.

 
Just wanted to say thanks. Been wanting one of these for quite a while. It went straight into my pocket.
 
Just got mine in the mail, and I'm really happy with it! The jigged bone is beautiful, and the F&F is top notch! This is my first #85, and I have to admit I was always a little unsure about the somewhat bulbous looking spear point - and in person, it certainly is rather bulbous - but I really do like it. The swedge is great, I love the long pull, and the blade is nice and thin behind the edge (much more so than other GEC spear points I have). It's quite a looker!

6905BCD8-A8AF-42FE-AA30-8D7C0D7A2BB5.jpg


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Knifeswapper : Thank you for pulling this off Mike . Never had an 85 before , but do now and I like it a lot . The Scabre is something differant and it is very nice IMHO . There is absolutely nothing about my knife to complain about . You asked us to reply on the Sharpness of this run : My Scabre is very sharp , but then again , I have never received a Dull Northfield.
Thanks again Mike and please give GEC my thanks too.

Harry
 
Here are mine. I reall like all of them, but on first impression the bloodwood is my favorite. The scales have a depth and iridescence that is beautiful. Like others, I'd like to thank Mike. I've been chasing #85s for awhile and am thrilled to finally have some in my collection.
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D46DC5CF-5F81-456B-AF4B-5601B39AF7AB_zpssinwugpv.jpg
 
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