-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
You old Sod (GEC content)
- Thread starter Rick
- Start date
I continue to be more and more impressed with this knife and I don't even have mine yet!
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2008
- Messages
- 1,686
Oh these photos are killing me! I absolutely love the orange. Hope these make it into production.
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2002
- Messages
- 9,375
I realize these are all gone and understand there may be more made. I also know postings links to selling sites is somewhat frowned on. I would appreciate if someone would email me the link where these knives were available. My email address is in my profile. Thanks
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2006
- Messages
- 44,495
Hiya Rob,
Yabut THIS dealer is a BladeForums dealer. So posting the link is cool.
Knifeswapper is
Mike Latham
CollectorKnives.Net
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
- Messages
- 1,050
Okay, photos are finally loaded. I'm guessing that the liners are probably SS. I'm not sure whether or not GEC uses carbon steel liners in any of their other lines, but am pretty sure they use SS. I can't think of any benefit in using carbon steel liners.
What is there to say about this knife that hasn't already been said? Some might question whether, at ~$62, is this knife worth $45 more than a standard Case Sodbuster Jr. IMHO, the answer is most definitely YES! I've disassembled said $17 knife and can tell by handling this one that it is of much sturdier construction. Although the pivot could use some refinement, aesthetically speaking, I like it better as-is than a press-fit rivet. To me, the handle shape is leaps and bounds better than the traditional Sodbuster shape and reminiscent of Kerry Hampton's KHNutbuster. I think the fit and finish is befitting of a $62 work knife, bordering on better than expected. I've only handled a few GECs, but I'm beginning to realize that this is one of their hallmarks.
There are only two things that I can nitpick about this otherwise fantastic little knife. Not negatives per se, but things that I think could potentially be improved (at a cost). First, the edge wasn't hair-popping sharp. I wouldn't really expect a production knife to be any sharper, but I had to try to come up with something to be improved upon
Second, I'd prefer the lanyard tube to be hidden. Note how the lanyard tube is visible in the following photo.
I realize that the rear pin on a typical Sodbuster isn't hidden and can rationalize how this helps save cost (a notch in the spring profile versus another punched/drilled hole). I know a lot of knives use this type of construction. Although I don't prefer an exposed pin/tube it doesn't preclude me from purchasing a knife with it. I have a Queen Mountain Man of the same construction. I think a knife looks cleaner when the rear pin/tube is hidden. This could be done rather easily; however, I have no idea what type of cost impact this would have on the finished knife.
Altogether, I'm very pleased with this purchase. As others have said, it immediately went into my pocket. I'm very optimistic about the future of this pattern. If it came down to producing subsequent runs of this pattern as-is or drop it due to added cost of hiding the lanyard tube, I'd leave the design alone. I'd definitely buy more at a similar price point.
What is there to say about this knife that hasn't already been said? Some might question whether, at ~$62, is this knife worth $45 more than a standard Case Sodbuster Jr. IMHO, the answer is most definitely YES! I've disassembled said $17 knife and can tell by handling this one that it is of much sturdier construction. Although the pivot could use some refinement, aesthetically speaking, I like it better as-is than a press-fit rivet. To me, the handle shape is leaps and bounds better than the traditional Sodbuster shape and reminiscent of Kerry Hampton's KHNutbuster. I think the fit and finish is befitting of a $62 work knife, bordering on better than expected. I've only handled a few GECs, but I'm beginning to realize that this is one of their hallmarks.
There are only two things that I can nitpick about this otherwise fantastic little knife. Not negatives per se, but things that I think could potentially be improved (at a cost). First, the edge wasn't hair-popping sharp. I wouldn't really expect a production knife to be any sharper, but I had to try to come up with something to be improved upon
Second, I'd prefer the lanyard tube to be hidden. Note how the lanyard tube is visible in the following photo.
I realize that the rear pin on a typical Sodbuster isn't hidden and can rationalize how this helps save cost (a notch in the spring profile versus another punched/drilled hole). I know a lot of knives use this type of construction. Although I don't prefer an exposed pin/tube it doesn't preclude me from purchasing a knife with it. I have a Queen Mountain Man of the same construction. I think a knife looks cleaner when the rear pin/tube is hidden. This could be done rather easily; however, I have no idea what type of cost impact this would have on the finished knife.
Altogether, I'm very pleased with this purchase. As others have said, it immediately went into my pocket. I'm very optimistic about the future of this pattern. If it came down to producing subsequent runs of this pattern as-is or drop it due to added cost of hiding the lanyard tube, I'd leave the design alone. I'd definitely buy more at a similar price point.
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2007
- Messages
- 9,008
Great pics and write up. Mine wasn't very sharp either. Some of my GEC's have come hair popping. Mine did have nice even grinds though, and that's all I worry about, and sometimes not even so much.
If it makes you feel any better my 200$ genuine stag 73 does not have a hidden lanyard tube. I think this is just how GEC does it.
I was just curious about the liners cuz I had read in other threads about a seemles look to the steel linered GEC's due to even patina.
Congrats on yours and I am glad you got a great one!
If it makes you feel any better my 200$ genuine stag 73 does not have a hidden lanyard tube. I think this is just how GEC does it.
I was just curious about the liners cuz I had read in other threads about a seemles look to the steel linered GEC's due to even patina.
Congrats on yours and I am glad you got a great one!
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
- Messages
- 1,050
Thanks Kevin. From the sound of it, we all got great ones! The grinds on mine are nice and even as well.
I was honestly just nitpicking about the edge and the lanyard tube. Although I'd prefer sharper and a hidden tube, it is still a fantastic little knife for the price. This is truly the first production knife (besides Case/Bose collabs) I've gotten excited about for some time.
I really have no idea about the steel. It very well could be carbon instead of stainless. I guess time will tell unless someone in the know happens along beforehand.
I was honestly just nitpicking about the edge and the lanyard tube. Although I'd prefer sharper and a hidden tube, it is still a fantastic little knife for the price. This is truly the first production knife (besides Case/Bose collabs) I've gotten excited about for some time.
I really have no idea about the steel. It very well could be carbon instead of stainless. I guess time will tell unless someone in the know happens along beforehand.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,534
I'd think if there's some question about whether the liners are stainless or not, a 'patina test' might be an easy way to know. Use some vinegar, mustard, fruit juice or whatever on a paper towel or a Q-tip, and apply it to the liner (or the blade spine AND the liner). See where the patina forms. If I remember correctly, from reading posts in the Maint forum, O-1 steel darkens/patinas easily. And assuming the liners are stainless, they won't darken at all. Should be quite a contrast. If you don't want the patina to remain, wherever it forms, some Flitz or Simichrome will clean it up again.
on_the_edge
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2006
- Messages
- 11,756
For you folks that have these and feel that the knives are not coming exceptionally sharp, is that because they are not being sharpened to their potential by GEC or is it because the knives are really thick behind the edges? Also, and excuse me if it is mentioned elsewhere here and I have overlooked it, but what is the grind on these? Convex?
Thanks!
Thanks!
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2007
- Messages
- 9,008
Chris, it looks flat to me. The edges just look like they were done on a belt and buffed off the burr and kept going a little too much. I have no idea how they actually sharpen, but thats what it looks like to me.
This knife can get very sharp. Let me see if I can get some pics to show the grind better for you.
This knife can get very sharp. Let me see if I can get some pics to show the grind better for you.
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2009
- Messages
- 4,809
Great pics guys.
Josh, sorry for not getting back to you earlier but it's a V edge on mine too. I don't believe any of the GEC's come convexed directly from them. They have a "What's Happening" page that gets updated weekly with pics (usually with subtitles) of whats going on in the shop and they sometimes show themselves sharpening knives.
Josh, sorry for not getting back to you earlier but it's a V edge on mine too. I don't believe any of the GEC's come convexed directly from them. They have a "What's Happening" page that gets updated weekly with pics (usually with subtitles) of whats going on in the shop and they sometimes show themselves sharpening knives.
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
- Messages
- 1,050
Yeah definitely not a thick edge on mine, just not sharpened to full potential. As Trand said, a V edge as opposed to convex. I need to check the bevels with a flat edge, but it is either a flat grind or a hollow on a big wheel.
Again, I can't say enough about this knife. The more I handle it, the more I like it.
Again, I can't say enough about this knife. The more I handle it, the more I like it.