You old Sod (GEC content)

Good to hear you got in, Kevin. I just checked and saw this thread was started on 12-16; on 12-20 you posted that they were sold out. Four days! Of course we don't know how many knives were in this trial run, but ya gotta figure they're pretty happy with the response, and may think harder about a larger run.

I didn't order one of these, but I'm looking forward to hearing what you guys think of them, especially concerning the O1 steel.
 
The Sodbuster just came in and I can't wait to use it. Its a good size, comparable in length to the #73 I've been using but with a thicker handle. It's longer than the Queen Country Cousin up top but the CC's handle is even thicker. The GEC feels better in hand to me than the other two. It has a nice smooth pull, about a 5, and it does have a half stop. The knife came reasonably sharp. I'll give it a go with the factory edge before I sharpen it. This is my first knife with O1 so I'm curious how I'll like it. I'm not sure what's up with the pivot but there isn't any blade play. The backspring is a little shy at the half stop and fully open but not noticeable in hand. No backspring gaps that I can see either.

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Thanks a lot for your thoughts and the pics Trand. Can't wait to get mine and see everyone else's pics as well :)
 
Thanks for the pics Trand. I'm all the more excited to receive mine. I'll be curious to see what is up with the pivot pin as well. Almost has the look of a Loveless or Corby bolt. I have access to a realtime X-ray machine at work, so I might have to take advatage of that to get an inside peek. It also looks like there is a gap between the delrin and the pivot pin head(?). I'm excited about this knife regardless and hope the warm reception shown so far yields more options for us in the future.
 
Sometimes it works like a top and you can see great detail. Sometimes, the materials and/or construction of the item under test are such that you can't see anything. If it works, I should have a picture or two to post. I'm thinking it must be some sort of threaded fastener, which I like much better than the Case style of construction.
 
Mine just arrived and I'll echo Trand's words..much fuller feeling than a Queen or Case, substantial in hand.....a good strong 5 pull on mine...and Josh definitely appears to be a Corby bolt,but x-rays will tell....as for the pivot pin who knows what the situation was and what they were expecting to happen but no big deal.......bring on the jig bone
 
Either way I appreciate your efforts Josh.

Glad to hear you are happy with yours too Jim. I have high hopes now.
 
Picked mine up at the mailbox about 20-minutes ago.

Looks to me that the pivot is comprised of a collar on each side with a single pin pressed through the collars, handles, and liners. If that's the case, I'm hoping the pin is iron. There is no blade play and there are no gaps between the handles, liners, and spring along the spine of the knife. Fit and finish is excellent. Very sharp out of the tube.

The liners are nickle/silver with the center pin and lanyard tube being brass.

I'll take pictures tomorrow but don't see how any could be any better than Trands. Maybe a comparison picture between this GEC and a Case Sod Buster.

Over all I'm very pleased with this knife -- certainly worth the price and if Mike gets anymore, I'll order another two or more. GREAT COLOR

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Case Sod Buster (yellow) compared to GEC Bull Nose Work Knife (orange)

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I'll bet that pivot is threaded, as opposed to press-fit. Looks like a screw or threaded rod, through a threaded bushing/collar on each side, with the ends ground/cut off. That should make it tight & strong. :thumbup:
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
I'll bet that pivot is threaded, as opposed to press-fit. Looks like a screw or threaded rod, through a threaded bushing/collar on each side, with the ends ground/cut off. That should make it tight & strong. :thumbup:
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My thought exactly, which is what makes me like (what I think is) the method of construction here better than the Case version.
 
Honestly, I am not too thrilled with the finish on that pivot pin. Of course, I don't have one of these in hand, so it may be that the pics look worse than reality.

On the one hand, maybe I am being to critical. After all, it is a $60 knife. And yes, it is strong, but is it overbuilt at the expense of the finish? On the other hand, I have not heard any complaints that the AG Russell Cowboy or Rancher are too fragile, yet the pivot finish does not seem to be an issue there. Just saying...
 
I've always thought that the Loveless style of grinding into the threads left the knife look kinda unfinished or over finished? People seem to like them though. The other thing to remember here is that these are the first from a factory test run. I'm optimistic that both finish and price will improve, assuming that production moves forward beyond this run.
 
richstag said:
Ed, Trands pics are excellent but the more the Merrier IMO :)

All great news!
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Just what are you trying to say about my photographic skills???????? Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, don't answer that.:rolleyes:

on_the_edge said:
Honestly, I am not too thrilled with the finish on that pivot pin. Of course, I don't have one of these in hand, so it may be that the pics look worse than reality. Again, another knock at photographic skills.:)

On the one hand, maybe I am being to critical. After all, it is a $60 knife. And yes, it is strong, but is it overbuilt at the expense of the finish? On the other hand, I have not heard any complaints that the AG Russell Cowboy or Rancher are too fragile, yet the pivot finish does not seem to be an issue there. Just saying...
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Nice pics, thanks for getting them done tonight. I noticed the finishing marks also, but I wrote it off and was going to pass judgement on my own :)

I just like pics of knives. The more perspectives the better. Show the flaws, hide the flaws, I like them all the same.
 
Modoc ED,
There is certainly nothing wrong with your photog. skills. It's funny--some folks struggle to hide flaws, others struggle to show them in the name of full disclosure. Me? I just take the pic and it is what it is. I'm guessing you do the same.

Kevin,
Got your PM. Thank you for the info. :thumbup: I really appreciate it.
 
I think the pivot could stand some more cosmetic work myself as well. But, to be honest, it looks to me like a stick of all-thread and threaded tubing. You stick a piece of all-thread about the right length thru the frame, then screw on the threaded tubing with some locktite on the inside and epoxy on the outside (on both sides). Get it the perfect tightness for no wobble but smooth flow, then cut thru both pieces with a band saw. Clean it up a little and call it a work knife. This explains why there was some gap left on the outside of the tubing and why they all show some gap between the two layers on one side or the other (threads contact on one side at any given point in thread).

Haven't asked Bill, but this seems to be a good solution as the components would be readily available and the most economical solution. I have found two or three things that I would like improved, but each one is going to add some cost.
 
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