Was GEC the only US maker of Lady Leg Knives in recent history?

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

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Aug 4, 2013
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I know that Chinese made Lady Leg Knives have been plentiful in recent years, (branded as Rough Rider, Colt, Kissing Crane, and others), but how about US made versions? I know GEC made their French Kate Lady Leg Knives, and they did not turn out to be the fast sellers they had hoped they'd be, (although they have become scarce now).
I have not seen any other USA made versions offered, but that is not to say that I know for a fact that no other is out there.
So, has any other USA cutlery firm made Lady Leg Knives in recent years?

Here is a pic of the only one I have, a Tidioute (GEC) French Kate in 1095 carbon steel blade and ebony handle scale materials...



 
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I stand to be corrected, but, in recent history, I believe GEC has cornered the domestic market in Lady Leg knives. ;)

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Glancing at different sites online, the Rough Rider seems to have the market well saturated with their many lady leg knife variants.
The GEC specimens were still pretty available not all too long ago, but they really have hit the dried up status, (and what's left has accordingly crept up in price). Other brands that were USA made do pop up too, but most are vintage or close to being antiques.
Anyhow, thanks for your responses, fellas! :)

I think I may get a few of the Rough Rider Lady Legs, since the only one of theirs I had in my collection, I gave away to someone that loved it's novelty. I kind'a kick myself for not taking advantage of getting more GEC versions. Since their lady legs were not as popular sellers as most other GEC knives, there were vendors placing them at "move out inventory" prices. The deals were out there on them, but I always seemed to move on to buying other gadgets for my collection. Now with my recently handling and re-admiring my GEC Tidioute ebony handled French Kate, (during a routine wipe down session), I kind'a got the bug for another. My search online found most GEC produced lady leg knives had been sold out by the vendors, and the ones remaining were no longer the bargains they once were. Yup, snooze, you lose.
I do love the Tidioute French Kate I have. It's fit and finish is the best out of the few GEC knives I own. The black ebony scales, the shield used, the etching of "French Kate" on it's blade, all simply seem to be a perfect blend for this novelty based knife. It certainly screams out quality, and GEC's lady legs are likely the cream of the crop in the genre, (no matter the vintage).

Btw... I love that GEC Ivory scaled one above! That was one I feel I should have picked up when they were brought out by GEC :)
No ivory in my collection of do-dads, and it would have displayed so well alongside my Tidioute French Kate... That whole Ebony & Ivory thing ;)
 
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Rough Rider has made several different versions.

Edit - might help if I read the whole post :) Sorry!
 
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I poorly worded my reply, e.g. "I believe GEC has cornered the domestic market in Lady Leg knives"

Should read: GEC has cornered the market in domestically-made (USA) Lady Leg knives.

The original question was about USA-made knives. There are lots of off-shore ones.

As for Case producing these knives here in the USA, the only ones I'm aware of are from the Tested era (i.e. a long time ago).
 
MerryMadMonk said:
I poorly worded my reply, e.g. "I believe GEC has cornered the domestic market in Lady Leg knives"

Should read: GEC has cornered the market in domestically-made (USA) Lady Leg knives.

The original question was about USA-made knives. There are lots of off-shore ones.

As for Case producing these knives here in the USA, the only ones I'm aware of are from the Tested era (i.e. a long time ago).
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I saw a couple of the Case ones a week ago at the Badger Blade Show in Janesville , Wisconsin . And since my wife has 4 GECs , I thought that she may be interested . They looked very nice but we did not think they were were worth $350 each . I know that we could have dickered some but not that much .

Harry
 
Old Engineer said:
I saw a couple of the Case ones a week ago at the Badger Blade Show in Janesville , Wisconsin . And since my wife has 4 GECs , I thought that she may be interested . They looked very nice but we did not think they were were worth $350 each . I know that we could have dickered some but not that much .

Harry
Click to expand...
I would have asked him why he left out the decimal point, lol.
 
I ordered a Rough Rider lady leg knife a couple days ago, receiving it today.
All I can say is... WOW! Tight blade, (no wobble), and perfectly centered to boot. The inlays are nicely enough done, and it's a really nice looking knife overall.
The Mother of Pearl and Abalone inlays are supposedly real/natural, but the red and blue inlays are said to be non natural/artificial. It does all look good, though :)
I recently got the bug to get another lady leg folder to add into my collection, my only having one French Kate by Gec's Tidioute brand.
This will make a nice addition, and I certainty was not expecting to be this happy with a knife I paid just under $12 for, shipped! I imagine if this knife was made in Europe or USA, and to the exact same quality level, (no worse or better), it would likely have cost me a bare minimum of $50.
I really like it :)

 
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I love the lady legs and the figural shoes, so long as the shoes arent plastic. My collection consists of Remington, Winchester, Colt, Rough Ryder, and Kabar plus some others. After reading this post I know I need A GEC Kate, also haven't peeled off the cash for a Case. I have some original old ones you cant read the tangs anymore but they are carved legs MOPs from late 1800's early 1900's. It was that beauty of a Kabar lady leg that got the collection started. Also Columbia Sporting goods has a lady leg that I have, NCCO (Novelty Cut), and A China made switchblade lady leg
 
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