What "Traditional Knife" are ya totin' today?

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Two pics for the price of one today. The Camillus is sharing pocket time with the GEC #43 Oregon Trapper in natural canvas micarta.

This #43 is truly one of the most useful knives I've ever had the pleasure of owning. It's not too big or too heavy for pocket carry, but generously sized. Fits great in a Northwoods leather slip. The ergonomics are flat out perfect for my hand. The heat treatment on my blade is just a tad on the hard side, which I love, and it never develops a pesky wire edge when sharpening. This knife cuts forever and ever, and works amazingly well for vegetable cutting in the kitchen on taco night.

My only regret is not immediately purchasing a second one from @gunstockjack, after the first one arrived. I'd never planned on buying a #43, already owning a #42 lockback, but gave in on impulse. I've heard that the #43's ran a little light on the pull, but mine is mysteriously around a 6 or 6.5. The action is amazing and perfect for a knife of this size. I honestly can't find a single flaw on it. If I'd found this knife 19 years ago, when I first joined Bladeforums, I would have happily used it for the rest of my life and never showed my face here again. It's that good.

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Buzzbait said:
Two pics for the price of one today. The Camillus is sharing pocket time with the GEC #43 Oregon Trapper in natural canvas micarta.

This #43 is truly one of the most useful knives I've ever had the pleasure of owning. It's not too big or too heavy for pocket carry, but generously sized. Fits great in a Northwoods leather slip. The ergonomics are flat out perfect for my hand. The heat treatment on my blade is just a tad on the hard side, which I love, and it never develops a pesky wire edge when sharpening. This knife cuts forever and ever, and works amazingly well for vegetable cutting in the kitchen on taco night.

My only regret is not immediately purchasing a second one from @gunstockjack, after the first one arrived. I'd never planned on buying a #43, already owning a #42 lockback, but gave in on impulse. I've heard that the #43's ran a little light on the pull, but mine is mysteriously around a 6 or 6.5. The action is amazing and perfect for a knife of this size. I honestly can't find a single flaw on it. If I'd found this knife 19 years ago, when I first joined Bladeforums, I would have happily used it for the rest of my life and never showed my face here again. It's that good.

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I agree with everything you said about the #43, it's a fantastic knife.
 
Buzzbait said:
Today finally pushed me over the edge. I ordered a second #43, this time in cocobolo. I can't believe these knives are still on dealers shelves.
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I’ve got a Madison in Cocobolo. It a great knife, the only flaw being some blade rap but a small piece of rubber in the blade well has remedied that. No fault of the knife, but it’s a bit too big for my taste. Perfect in use but too big in my pocket so I rarely carry it.
I find it odd which knives end up sitting in stock sometimes. It usually seems to be the ones ppl beg for on here. Perhaps that’s why GEC just puts out what they feel like rather than what ppl ask for on here? Their idea of what we want/need seems to be more accurate than ours, lol! A couple examples that come to mind are the 43, guys were asking for something bigger yet still on shelves. They ask for stainless yet Dogpaw knives had stainless 33’s from 2010 that only sold out as they shut down. And you can still find beerscouts if you look around.
Oh, and got my Gec#13 whittler in pocket right now.
 
MBeckett said:
I was looking at getting one of these. How do you like it?
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I like it well enough, but with the understanding that, it's an eleven dollar knife. Essentially, it's a folding utility knife, for people who don't like folding utility knives: fit and finish is lackluster, and there's a ton of blade play, when it's folded. They even included brass dust around the pivot, as an extra bonus.

After some pressurized air and some Liquid Wrench (the Millwright's libation of choice), it smoothed out, quite a bit. There's no play or wobble when it's open, and the detent is plenty strong. It even has a half-stop.

It's small enough to carry loose in my pocket, and the coping blade is very easy to control. It's far from an heirloom piece, but it does it's job well, and it looks a lot better than those folding boxcutters.
 
Shorttime said:
I like it well enough, but with the understanding that, it's an eleven dollar knife. Essentially, it's a folding utility knife, for people who don't like folding utility knives: fit and finish is lackluster, and there's a ton of blade play, when it's folded. They even included brass dust around the pivot, as an extra bonus.

After some pressurized air and some Liquid Wrench (the Millwright's libation of choice), it smoothed out, quite a bit. There's no play or wobble when it's open, and the detent is plenty strong. It even has a half-stop.

It's small enough to carry loose in my pocket, and the coping blade is very easy to control. It's far from an heirloom piece, but it does it's job well, and it looks a lot better than those folding boxcutters.
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Thanks for the review! Sounds about like what I expected. I can handle the downsides (and perhaps fix them) for the low price point. I love the look of it. Reminds me of WWI era Navy knives. Got one ordered.
 
Buzzbait said:
Two pics for the price of one today. The Camillus is sharing pocket time with the GEC #43 Oregon Trapper in natural canvas micarta.

This #43 is truly one of the most useful knives I've ever had the pleasure of owning. It's not too big or too heavy for pocket carry, but generously sized. Fits great in a Northwoods leather slip. The ergonomics are flat out perfect for my hand. The heat treatment on my blade is just a tad on the hard side, which I love, and it never develops a pesky wire edge when sharpening. This knife cuts forever and ever, and works amazingly well for vegetable cutting in the kitchen on taco night.

My only regret is not immediately purchasing a second one from @gunstockjack, after the first one arrived. I'd never planned on buying a #43, already owning a #42 lockback, but gave in on impulse. I've heard that the #43's ran a little light on the pull, but mine is mysteriously around a 6 or 6.5. The action is amazing and perfect for a knife of this size. I honestly can't find a single flaw on it. If I'd found this knife 19 years ago, when I first joined Bladeforums, I would have happily used it for the rest of my life and never showed my face here again. It's that good.

QmuKzYNh.jpg

9H9GS60h.jpg
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I concur. Faced with airflight and it’s necessary hard choices on which knives to bring, there’s no way I was not taking my Oregon Trapper.

Half/Stop said:
Thanks for the photos Jeff! I hope you and your family are having a great time! :)

These two for me today. :)

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Thank you, Ron! Great time indeed.

Just back from snowshoeing. At around 9000 ft, I am feeling my age! But I feel alive at the same time.
Elk were here...View attachment 1077685A bear took it out on this aspen... 43 for scale.View attachment 1077687Dark and myterious, and without snowshoes, yer a goner. It’s deceptively deep ~ 4’plus...View attachment 1077686View attachment 1077689
 
Amir Fleschwund said:
I concur. Faced with airflight and it’s necessary hard choices on which knives to bring, there’s no way I was not taking my Oregon Trapper.


Thank you, Ron! Great time indeed.

Just back from snowshoeing. At around 9000 ft, I am feeling my age! But I feel alive at the same time.
Elk were here...View attachment 1077685A bear took it out on this aspen... 43 for scale.View attachment 1077687Dark and myterious, and without snowshoes, yer a goner. It’s deceptively deep ~ 4’plus...View attachment 1077686View attachment 1077689
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Looks like a wonderful trip, and an excellent choice in knives. I'm heading into the Adirondacks tonight, for a long weekend of snowshoeing.
 
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