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

[texmex03]

Now that you mention it, that Micarta looks a whole lot like mine in the photo Jake posted with dark line to the right of the shield. HMMM Anyone got a better high res pic of that one =)

Jake, Congrats on the score. I would head over to staples or some other photo place and print a copy of that and hang it in my shop.

I like to tell myself that I got the micarta cover model, everyone else is just holding a copy!

Lol, good score.
-------
My micarta was able to shave hair with the belly, not the flat or the tip so much. Much thinner behind the edge than my other GECs, a definite plus!

Great job Mike!
Any idea if there will be any future runs, or if this will be picked back up by GEC?
Just trying to get a feel for the volume in the works. If this is it, I am going to keep my bloodwood as a spare.

 

[Jsega51]

Oh you dog - I wanted that GEC cover stag so bad lol. Congratulations!

You don't like your jigged bone so much you didn't even do a group shot?

I laughed when I opened the stag because I knew right away it was the one from the cover.

I like the jigged bone, don't get me wrong! I didn't mean to leave it out of the picture lol

 

[HST]

They look great! Curious - expedited shipping?

Nope. PO lady called my assistant to get packages and these were there.

I like how the bolsters seem to have a worn/user look to them.
I was hoping that they wouldn't be overly polished and showy for the workman nature/look of the canvas micarta.

Thanks for sharing!

Has to be my favorite feature. Love the bolsters. You're welcome and thanks.

HST - which one is sharper?

I sadly still have not played with them yet. I know they need to be cleaned though.

Wow, I have an assortment of 9 in the natural handle materials coming. Looks like it may be a bit of a disappointment. I am not at all a fan of the satin finish on the blades or bolsters. It does suit the micarta very well though.

I really like the satin finish, it really separates these knives from others. I do agree it suits the Micarta well, it almost has a natural look and feel.

So, I am pretty happy with mine but im kinda bummed out that there is a crack in the bone leading into the bolster.

Send it to GEC, they will fix it.

The flat grind is a bit wider and easier to pinch open . The sabre is a bit narrower when closed which some might like . I prefer the flat grind by a long shot.

I love the Saber over the Spear, but it's also my first Saber from GEC.

This thread blew up!

 

[cbr1000]

I laughed when I opened the stag because I knew right away it was the one from the cover.

I like the jigged bone, don't get me wrong! I didn't mean to leave it out of the picture lol

When I popped my tube yesterday I was saying over and over... please be the cover stag, please be the cover stag.. I'm happy with what I got - I just wanted that one lol.

 

[draggat]

Surprisingly I see many forum folks asking for a "pinchable" blade, so I suppose I'm blessed with good fingernails.

I'm a huge fan of the #85 & other makers teardrop frame styles, be it an EZ opener or not. These turned out great IMO.

To the best of my knowledge Mike's SFOs have always been satin finished w' no blade etches.

I know, I've seen a lot of people requesting pinchable blades. I have EO versions of #36 & #47. Those patterns are so large that the notch feels natural to me. At least GEC and Mike are responding to what their customers are asking for.

I'm not sure when Mike started requesting the satin blades. I had one of his older SFO's that was mirror finish.

Although this isn't my favorite knife, I still like it very much and I'm not planning on parting with it.

Great pictures here everyone! Hopefully I'll have a chance to add to the parade of pictures here soon. I barely had time to look mine over yesterday.

 

[MerryMadMonk]

I have to say I'm surprised, if not disappointed... ALL of mine have an EO notch and satin polished blades. And that corset shield...really? Not to mention one of my stag 85s seems to have been polished or something??? Additionally, the blades are so sharp that I was denied the pleasure of sharpening them right out of the tube. And lastly, they were shipped far too quickly. Lacking assistants to fetch my knives, I prefer slower shipping as it gives me a more leisurely trek through the swamps to the post office 20 miles removed.

But they are beautiful knives so I reckon they are keepers.

Thanks, Mike! Thanks, GEC!

 

[donutsrule]

So is that one corset shield for every day of the week, or one spear blade for every day of the week?

 

[Jsega51]

Very nice Al!!!

 

[jrawk]

The bloodwood on my 1 blade ffg is spectacular. The warmth and depth of the grain is fantastic. Can't grab any photos until after work.

This being my first #85, I'm shocked how thin the primary grind is ground. Is that normal? Holy smokes it looks so very delicate, I am almost afraid to use it. Where as the scabre grind looks in photos to be more sturdy (as it should, I guess). Fairly sharp from the factory, but not as sharp as the recent run of 47's. The secondary bevel is a bit uneven at about 1/4 inch long starting from the tip and the pivot is a bit gritty. No biggy, as I can easily remedy both.

 

[swaybacksteve]

It is great to see all of them together Al:thumbup:

Got in the single saber micarta and smooth autumn bone. Like the saber blades alot, although a fatty spear is my favorite among the spears. The saber has the top part of the blade thicken out, which makes for a nice pinchable grab ( just grab deeper), and helps compensate from a fat spear...even with the smooth bone having a slightly harder pull than the micarta one, I can pinch it open.

picture showing the new micarta , with some micarta after some use...and a 2011 85 with the fat spear/two blade black horn. As a user the satin blades are fine. I like the feel of the two blade better, but I wanted the single blades on this run. It has a nice feel more to a "gent's" use...but as a gent knife some polish would have looked better. Love the scandi. The corset and the matchstrike really make this run appealing.

 

[knifeswapper]

I have to say I'm surprised, if not disappointed... ALL of mine have an EO notch and satin polished blades. And that corset shield...really? Not to mention one of my stag 85s seems to have been polished or something??? Additionally, the blades are so sharp that I was denied the pleasure of sharpening them right out of the tube. And lastly, they were shipped far too quickly. Lacking assistants to fetch my knives, I prefer slower shipping as it gives me a more leisurely trek through the swamps to the post office 20 miles removed.

But they are beautiful knives so I reckon they are keepers.

You have no idea how funny and ironic this is to me!!

 

[cbr1000]

I have to say I'm surprised, if not disappointed... ALL of mine have an EO notch and satin polished blades. And that corset shield...really? Not to mention one of my stag 85s seems to have been polished or something??? Additionally, the blades are so sharp that I was denied the pleasure of sharpening them right out of the tube. And lastly, they were shipped far too quickly. Lacking assistants to fetch my knives, I prefer slower shipping as it gives me a more leisurely trek through the swamps to the post office 20 miles removed.

But they are beautiful knives so I reckon they are keepers.



Thanks, Mike! Thanks, GEC!

Great pic Al, but.... now I feel really disappointed I didn't get some of these

 

[Mingecutter]

No issues with either of mine. I dig 'em!!

 

[Half/Stop]

AL - Dang! You done good my friend!

 

[redeagle66]

Man, this thread is killing me with anticipation. Since our house is on a dead end road, I hear the mailman do the other side of the street before looping back for our side. He says I'm the only one in the neighborhood waiting for him at the mailbox each day. Despite the USPS info "Expected Delivery Day: Wed, March 9, 2016", I'm an optimist and stalked him this afternoon just in case....sigh....

 

[HST]

And lastly, they were shipped far too quickly. Lacking assistants to fetch my knives, I prefer slower shipping as it gives me a more leisurely trek through the swamps to the post office 20 miles removed.

But they are beautiful knives so I reckon they are keepers.

That's one heck of a selection of #85s! I have an assistant, but I'd bet you have a swamp buggy and an air-boat.

I cannot stop laughing. Well played.

 

[redsparrow]

Thank you Mike at Collector Knives and all at GEC for bringing this one about!
Heirloom quality design and manufacturing from the match strike nail nic to the razor edge. Pins, shield, bolsters, springs and covers all very well done. Thanks once again!

 

[Old Engineer]

Congrats on the Cover Stag Jake !!!!!! Looks very nice .

Harry

 

[MerryMadMonk]

So is that one corset shield for every day of the week, or one spear blade for every day of the week?

Yes

Very nice Al!!!

Thanks, Jake!

It is great to see all of them together Al:thumbup:

Thanks, Steve!

You have no idea how funny and ironic this is to me!!

Great pic Al, but.... now I feel really disappointed I didn't get some of these

Reading previous posts, there should be some on the exchange any day now.

AL - Dang! You done good my friend!

Thank you, sir!

That's one heck of a selection of #85s! I have an assistant, but I'd bet you have a swamp buggy and an air-boat.

I cannot stop laughing. Well played.

Thanks, HST

 

[Old Engineer]

I have to say I'm surprised, if not disappointed... ALL of mine have an EO notch and satin polished blades. And that corset shield...really? Not to mention one of my stag 85s seems to have been polished or something??? Additionally, the blades are so sharp that I was denied the pleasure of sharpening them right out of the tube. And lastly, they were shipped far too quickly. Lacking assistants to fetch my knives, I prefer slower shipping as it gives me a more leisurely trek through the swamps to the post office 20 miles removed.

But they are beautiful knives so I reckon they are keepers.

Thanks, Mike! Thanks, GEC!

Wow !!!!!!

Harry