What do you guys think about the new GEC #79 "Montana Workhorse Whittler"?

I have rockgolfer's micarta Tidioute now. Half-stops and beefy main spear blade combined with the SUPER THIN clip and wharncliffe blades= this is probably the best all-around user I can think of from GEC. Rounded and not too big to sit in your pocket too. I will get around to that calico bone one day.
 
That is a good looking pocket knife, Finedges! Sorry I missed the calico bone. If it had registered with me that this one had half stops, I'd have jumped on it long ago. Looking forward to your pics as well, Sonnemann. Thanks, fellas.
 
I had been wanting one of these, but I'd really like to see something else for the main blade. I like spears, but it just doesn't work for me on this pattern..... It really needs a pen blade to be an all needs knife.

Drop Point, Sheepsfoot, and Pen would be sweet on this pattern..... or Sheepsfoot main with a clip for a secondary with the pen.

I might still get one anyways.
 
The #79 Pattern is perfect as is. The spear blade is just fine and in this particular pattern, the clip point blade is a rather long blade as is the sheepsfoot blade. Although not a true whittler, it is very much like the older "Jumbo Whittlers". Take a look at page 251 of LVG4.

What's not to like about this?

2sp2.jpg


A drop point blade would kill these Montana Workhorse Whittlers.

I get that the spear blade doesn't work for you on this pattern but look around and more than likely you'll find what you're looking for.
 
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The long pull and fat swedge on the spear is just irresistible :thumbup: and anything else as a primary in this sleeveboardesque frame would look strange, IMHO.
 
That's a dang fine looking pattern. I'm almost sold on a second and I haven't received my first :eek:
 
You can search my name for a review I have done and tons of pics of the one Sonnemann has now :). Still really cant believe I sold my first GEC but I did it with good reason. Glad it has a good home :thumbup:

Here is a pic of my current 79. If I could only have two knives, this would be one.
 
This is a write-up I did (in another thread) on the Ebony covered knife pictured above and here again.

2sp2.jpg


"This #79 GEC Workhorse Whittler which we all know isn't really a whittler in the pure sense of the word is the hardest working traditional type knife I own. These are newish pictures of it. It no longer has the appearance of a new knife but a well used one. I mixed up some JB Weld with the sheepsfoot blade and got it all over the knife while doing so and spreading it with the sheepsfoot blade. Moved on to another project and the JB Weld nearly dried on the knife. Had to use naptha, a single edged razor blade, and a Scotch Brite Pad to get it off. The worst part was getting the JB Weld out of the nail nick and pivot joint of the sheepsfoot blade. Oh well, things happen but everything came out ok so no harm no foul. As I said in another thread a couple weeks ago; this knife isn't meant for small, easy, delicate, jobs but rather heavy commercial use or heavy home shop use. Heck of a knife!!"
 
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Modoc ED said:
This is a write-up I did (in another thread) on the Ebony covered knife pictured above and here again.

gectidiouteworkhorsewhi.jpg


"This #79 GEC Workhorse Whittler which we all know isn't really a whittler in the pure sense of the word is the hardest working traditional type knife I own. These are newish pictures of it. It no longer has the appearance of a new knife but a well used one. I mixed up some JB Weld with the sheepsfoot blade and got it all over the knife while doing so and spreading it with the sheepsfoot blade. Moved on to another project and the JB Weld nearly dried on the knife. Had to use naptha, a single edged razor blade, and a Scotch Brite Pad to get it off. The worst part was getting the JB Weld out of the nail nick and pivot joint of the sheepsfoot blade. Oh well, things happen but everything came out ok so no harm no foul. As I said in another thread a couple weeks ago; this knife isn't meant for small, easy, delicate, jobs but rather heavy commercial use or heavy home shop use. Heck of a knife!!"
Click to expand...

This is why you use the 79 to whittle up a mixing stick. ;)
 
Here's my original write-up of the knife above.

This is a heavy, heavy knife[/B]. Not kidding here. Without weighing it and just from comparing hand to hand, I'd say it is on par with a Buck 112 (maybe just a bit lighter). It feels good in the hand. I didn't notice other blades in the palm or on the fingers when using different blades.

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A later (12 October 2012) write-up on this knife:

Well, as I said when I posted the picture; "it has proven to be a capable knife". We are getting ready for winter and I've been using the knife on and off for cutting cooler lines, tractor hydraulic hoses, tow ropes, - all kinds of stuff used in a rural setting. We've also been bundling various plants, trees, etc. and a heavy bladed knife comes in handy for that sort of thing. The spear blade on this knife is very thick with no flex and the frame is very sturdy with no flex either. That means I can put the edge of the spear blade on something (say a radiator hose), grip the knife tightly, and cut through whatever is at hand without worrying about damaging the knife. I replaced a couple hydraulic lines on my old tractor the other day and rather that trying to route the old hoses through the ins and outs of the harness with the old fittings on them, I just cut the lower fittings off the hoses and pulled them through the top of the bundle. That spear blade on this knife sliced right through the hoses with no sweat and the sheepsfoot blade came in handy to scrape the flat flanges where the new hoses would sit/fit on. I also used the sheepsfoot blade to square the end of the hoses.

The knife itself is fairly heavy so I sometimes carry it in a belt sheath. Works well and keeps it out of the way when not using it.

GEC advertises/named this knife as/a whittler but I wouldn't use it as a whittler - I'd use it on a construction site, a farm/ranch, a home shop or commercial shop.""
 
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Sonnemann said:
Looks like a 2-blader in the works.

http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/gallery/79-workhorse/
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I don't think I like this one. I can see the usefulness of the smaller blade, but it just looks funny. I could see modifying and adding it to the 3 spring version.

Drop Point or Clip Main, Sheepsfoot, then a pen/coping with a punch on the other side. That would be sweet! All the knife you would ever need.

I wonder if they could maybe do this one up like a SAK farmer with the blade options?!?!??! even sweeter!!!!!!!!
 
Woodrow F Call said:
I don't think I like this one. I can see the usefulness of the smaller blade, but it just looks funny. I could see modifying and adding it to the 3 spring version.

!!
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I agree, Woodrow. The #79 is one of my favorite GEC patterns but I'm not excited about this variant. Certainly, it will be lighter and thinner than the original 3-spring model, but it just seems seriously "under-powered" now. The coping blade doesn't seem to follow the frame's lines as nicely as the sheepsfoot or clip secondaries.

-Greg
 
Following up with a picture of my #79 with king wood handles:

8860869960_5f19e77e9a_z.jpg


It is a nice, hefty piece with a comfortable pull. The half-stops on all blades are a nice touch. It went in pocket today for the first time (Charlow has been bogarting pocket space the last few weeks). Overall, I'm really digging the #79 and looking forward to getting some more time with it. :thumbup:
 
im starting to really like this pattern, could anyone please post a picture of the spine, and a picture looking down on the (closed) knife?
 
Beautiful king wood!

jazub said:
Following up with a picture of my #79 with king wood handles:

8860869960_5f19e77e9a_z.jpg


It is a nice, hefty piece with a comfortable pull. The half-stops on all blades are a nice touch. It went in pocket today for the first time (Charlow has been bogarting pocket space the last few weeks). Overall, I'm really digging the #79 and looking forward to getting some more time with it. :thumbup:
Click to expand...
 
I've just purchased one with the spear point main blade. Its going to be used hard I,m interested how its gonna look after several weeks
 
Shaggy said:
I agree, Woodrow. The #79 is one of my favorite GEC patterns but I'm not excited about this variant. Certainly, it will be lighter and thinner than the original 3-spring model, but it just seems seriously "under-powered" now. The coping blade doesn't seem to follow the frame's lines as nicely as the sheepsfoot or clip secondaries.

-Greg
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I've changed my mind. I'm liking the two blade version more and more.
 
I have a Workhorse 2 blade version and a couple of Montana Pattern Whittler 3 blade versions and both are among my favorite patterns. The 2 blade is much slimmer as it is a single spring versus the 3 spring and has no half-stops. Despite how it may look in the photo, the 3 blade surprisingly feels comfortable in the hand with any of the 3 blades deployed.

I feel both knives are real sleepers in the GEC lineup and would like to see variation of the 79 sleeveboard frame. The popularity and continued sold out runs of the Northwoods Freemont Jack is testament to the potential of this frame.

Workhorse 2 blade
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Montana Pattern Workhorse Whittler 3 blade
P1020649_zpsd7caea85.jpg
 
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