Who likes toothpicks, and why

coyote711

coyote711

Joined
Sep 19, 2009
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What do you like about your toothpicks, what do YOU use them for, what size do you have? How do they carry in the pocket, and fit in the hand during use?

I've never really given much thought or consideration to toothpicks, but all of a sudden I'm curious about them. I've seen some darn nice looking GEC's around here in the last few days; Case also makes a small one in CV that looks pretty sweet.

Talk to me about your 'picks, fellas! :D

Thanks!
 
With you coyote. Never had one, never thought about one until GECs. They seem a little more substantial, and I love the 4" size. I'm on the edge of my seat!
 
black mamba said:
With you coyote. Never had one, never thought about one until GECs. They seem a little more substantial, and I love the 4" size. I'm on the edge of my seat!
Click to expand...

Hey, I hear ya! Not sure if I'd spend the $ on the GEC yet, since I'm just not familiar with the toothpick pattern in general. Could get a nice Case for about half the price of a GEC, but those GEC's that got posted here lately sure do look fine!

I'm just not sure what I'd use that long, skinny blade for. Hoping to find out here how people use them!
 
coyote i ordered gec in bocote wood. my brother & i were impressed with the looks since it was a 1st in that patern for myself. but the real magic was holding it in your hand, he & i both could'nt beleive how great that knife feels in your hand. a great carry knife for levis since it's so streamlined.they are certatainly ample for small game & trout. ordered the next one in dead skunk acrylic .it looked like a carnival special at 1st, after awhile it grows on you & when it got here we were loving it. my next toothpick is probably going to be white bone. incidentally the 1095 they produce is my favorite steel. not to be taken lightly since i have knives in d2,m4,s30v & cpmd2. it gets so sharp my brother was impressed when i showed him my gec mdl23 on tissue. with the knifes weight only it bit into tissue better than his murray carter[now thats impressive]. sure they are expensive but the quality is really worth it.
 
Did someone mention toothpicks? :D

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I use mine for cleaning and filleting fish, whittling, food prep (nothing better for getting that last pickle slice out of the bottom of the jar) and anything else that calls for a long, narrow blade. They make great steak knives, too. ;)

Personally, the GEC version doesn't thrill me. I think it is too wide for a toothpick. It looks more like a folding hunter to me.
 
I use my two 5" toothpicks for everything. It's especially good for picnics and fish cleaning. However, it will handle any chore a smaller knife can do. The slim size makes the long knife very comfortable to carry. Only draw back is some sheeple are a little intimidated, but most are familiar with the pattern and ask why I carry a fishing knife to work :)

I agree about the GEC toothpicks, they just appear "wrong" to me. My favorite is the 2000 file and wire Schatt and Morgan in ATS34. A slim five inches of good cutting. The Case five incher in barnyard bone is my second favorite.
 
I have a lovely looking Queen in Amberbone in D2
I use it as my Sabbath bread knife.

Does a small Toothpick count?
S&M Stag
A little lazer cutter!

picture.php
 
I have one too. It is really a special purpose knife. The blade length is really good for food. Very similar to a Laguiole knife.

God Bless
 
Seems like a concensus that the GEC is a different critter than a standard toothpick, and I like that. But,that third from the right on yablanowitz' spread is a knockout!
 
I like the traditional shape, and that is a good knife for filleting small fish such as bass and so on. It is also a good fruit knife. The thin blade makes them great cutters.
 
I have this guy:

DSC_0007-1.jpg


It is amazingly comfortable in the hand. I am not sure why so many people do not like this pattern as I find it to be one of my favorites. Yes, I am pretty new to slip joints, but I still know what is comfortable :).

I use the blade for everyday tasks. I have also used it quite a bit for carving and does a pretty good job. It excels in food processing (especially fruit) with its long slender blade. I highly recommend it. The GEKs are a little more expensive than many other slippes but I think you will find them worth the cost :thumbup:
 
After taking a long look at this thread, I am flirting with the idea of a Toothpick as my first GEC.

They aren't quite as long as the standard toothpicks from Case and other makers.
 
It doesn't seem like there's much middle ground when it comes to the GEC toothpicks - they're either liked or disliked.

Disliked because they're maybe a little beefier than the traditional 'picks. :thumbdn:

Liked because they're maybe a little beefier than the traditional 'picks.:thumbup:

I guess the GEC's appeal to me for 2 reasons:

1) Because GEC's in general are one helluva knife.
2) Having never owned ANY toothpick before, the GEC's don't seem like quite as far of a jump from the knives I'm used to carrying.
 
coyote711 said:
It doesn't seem like there's much middle ground when it comes to the GEC toothpicks - they're either liked or disliked.

Disliked because they're maybe a little beefier than the traditional 'picks. :thumbdn:

Liked because they're maybe a little beefier than the traditional 'picks.:thumbup:

I guess the GEC's appeal to me for 2 reasons:

1) Because GEC's in general are one helluva knife.
2) Having never owned ANY toothpick before, the GEC's don't seem like quite as far of a jump from the knives I'm used to carrying.
Click to expand...

Good thoughts.

I have always found the toothpick visually appealing. They cut well.

I have an old 10 dot Case with red bone scales and cv blades that takes a razor edge, and is generally a beautiful knife.

I carry it sometimes, but it is just a tad longer than I really like, and the blade almost has a flimsy feel to it.

The GEC Toothpick may be just enough shorter and stouter to suit me, while still retaining someof the distinctive toothpick style and ergos.
 
Brought this thread back from the depths to post this image of one of the Winchester "Black Box" series Toothpicks. This is the larger of the 2 in the series measuring just a tad over 5 inches. Model #1936 and made in 1990.
Greg

orig.jpg
 
I admit I've had a sneaking admiration for toothpicks since my yella handle fishin knife days. My only problem with them is that for some odd reason some makers put the nail nick way too far back on the blade, and it makes for a hard to open knife if the spring is a strong one.

One thing I always wondered about, no way to know for certain, is if the toothpick is very distantly related to the Laguiole. Since the toothpick is of deep south origin, and the laguiole is French, I always has a thought that maybe some southern guy a very long time ago, saw or brought a Laguiole back from New Orleans to his home in Alabama or old Miss. Others saw and liked the pattern and it caught on. Became a sort of American mutation of the French knife. From a side profile they look like the could share a branch of a family tree. Some of the guys I served with in the army that were from the land of Dixie did carry a toothpick. One or two even did the matchstick in the handle thing.

I'd imagine a medium size toothpick is a versitile cutter.
 
I've got several; Case and GEC. I just think it's an interesting pattern. The GECs feel great in your hand.
 
I have a small Case Toothpick and it is too small for me. Have to keep it because I am trying to complete my cv Redbone collection.:D
 
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