Mail Call, Post Your New GECs.

[Quick Steel]

Ivoryman, That is a powerfully beautiful knife. Congratulations.

[kootenay joe]

Ivoryman, WOW ! that is better than Mammoth. I am rather jealous and annoyed that us slower internet guys do not stand a chance to get one.
Your Giraffe Big Bay must be one of the most attractive of all the Big Bays. I cannot imagine a better looking knife.
kj

[Ivoryman]

That's pretty high praise KJ, thanks a bunch. Wow, comparing it to Mammoth says something. Thanks. Right there with you on slow computer skills, that's why I've missed out on some Northwoods before. And you too Quick Steel, and gsmith. Appreciate it men. Thanks again and glad you like looking, as do I.

[m0nk]

Ivoryman, WOW ! that is better than Mammoth.

I agree and here's why: giraffe usually has those fine fissures that take dye more and become those nice looking veins running down the piece. Not to mention that giraffe is tougher, cheaper, and more plentiful than mammoth. Mammoth comes in many varieties of color, and giraffe can be found that matches most of those, which is why I'm thinking about getting a custom made with giraffe covers.

Ivoryman, your giraffe bone in that light looks almost like liquid or gel, like you could stick your finger through it. Beautiful shine.

Here's my new NF UN-X-LD 78 2-blade, and a comparison to the NF 78 SMKW SFO single, showing that they're nearly the same color. The UN-X-LD has a mirror shine; it's my first knife with mirror finish, and it came with some kind of waxy residue on it that doesn't come off with mineral oil. You can see the residue in the first pic. I haven't yet experimented with other cleaners but I'm sure it will come off with the right solvent. If anybody knows what that residue is and a good way to get it off, please reply. Overall I think I like the satin blade finish better, and the mirror finish blades seem to have more of a wire edge, not as sharp as all my other satin blades. Has anyone else noticed a wire edge on mirror finish blades, or does anyone know if the mirror polishing process causes a dull edge? So far my sharpest GEC out of the tube is my 48 Improved Trapper.

The UN-X-LD 78 is definitely in my daily carry rotation, along with my Tidioute elderberry 78 2-blade, and my Tidioute 48 Improved Trapper.

Lee

[Ivoryman]

Thanks monk, looks even better in person. I really like those 78 covers too, not the same, but reminds me of the old Rogers bone look. Great color and pattern.

[kootenay joe]

Here is my #43, a Northfield with cocobolo handles. It is a good basic knife, nothing fancy and will last longer than one human lifetime. Got a good deal too, from Barry aka "Gunstock Jack's". He is one of the smaller GEC dealers and he does a lot for AAPK so i feel he deserves a few purchases from me.
kj

[gsmith7158]

Very nice Roland! I think the ringed bolsters and the fancy clip blade on the Northfield turn that basic knife into a very classy piece.

[kootenay joe]

Thanks Greg. The cocobolo looks very good, similar to that on a few vintage knives i have. I am not a wood expert at all but i think the cocobolo GEC has been using is top notch. This contrasts with the Stag handled knives, which lately have not had top notch Stag.
kj

[hivoltage777]

Natural Canvas 56 is lookin real good with a little Ballistol and pocket time.

[Ivoryman]

Nice Canvas hivoltage, I grabbed the single blade version, love it. The color on yours is deep, very nice. Welcome to the club, noticed today is your AAPK birthday, good to have new blood, congrats on that Bird Dog. Does that handle mean you're an AC/DC fan too?

[hivoltage777]

Hey thanks. I tried to join a couple months ago but I never would receive the authorization through email. It worked this time and I’m glad to be here, might have been my email. I was obsessed with AC/DC and guitar as a teen and have been using that ever since, cb handle, email, tons of user names, you name it. I’m 29 and probably one of the youngest GEC nuts around. I’ve literally had over 100 and can’t wait to see what they come up with next. I’ll post when ever I can and hope y’all like what you see. I’m constantly buying and selling, not for profit, just to feed the habit. If I make a buck on eBay it’s all for entertainment. As many GECs I can pass through my hands the happier I am. I’ll break a few gems out of the safety deposit box soon and get em up here. Thanks for the welcome.

Bryan

[jerryd6818]

Hey thanks. I tried to join a couple months ago but I never would receive the authorization through email. It worked this time and I’m glad to be here, might have been my email. I was obsessed with AC/DC and guitar as a teen and have been using that ever since, cb handle, email, tons of user names, you name it. I’m 29 and probably one of the youngest GEC nuts around. I’ve literally had over 100 and can’t wait to see what they come up with next. I’ll post when ever I can and hope y’all like what you see. I’m constantly buying and selling, not for profit, just to feed the habit. If I make a buck on eBay it’s all for entertainment. As many GECs I can pass through my hands the happier I am. I’ll break a few gems out of the safety deposit box soon and get em up here. Thanks for the welcome.

Bryan

Welcome to AAPK. You have a PM.

[kootenay joe]

The #13 frame, 3 5/8" came out in early 2017. It includes pen knives, jack knives and a whittler. It was quite popular when released with dealers selling out within a few days. I like the 3 5/8" size and although i also like a few of the #13's i did not buy one until this evening. I saw a Stag whittler #133317 on ebay which i won for $92.
Can someone comment about their #13, preferably, whittler, what you like or don't like about it and if you see $92 as a 'deal' or not ?
thanks, kj

[m0nk]

I’ve literally had over 100 and can’t wait to see what they come up with next. I’ll post when ever I can and hope y’all like what you see.

Bryan, Welcome to AAPK! Good to seen another GEC enthusiast here. With a collection like that, you're making me feel better about my GEC habit!

Can someone comment about their #13, preferably, whittler, what you like or don't like about it and if you see $92 as a 'deal' or not?

KJ, I'd say you got a phenomenal deal! Whittlers are in high demand, and a NF stag to boot. It probably cost more that that new. Good score. I don't have a #13 although I came close to buying a 13 jack in rust red bone a few months ago. Seems like a real nice pattern. With the inflated secondary prices that we've been seeing you can't go wrong with a score like your #13.

Lee

[FarSide]

The #13 frame, 3 5/8" came out in early 2017. It includes pen knives, jack knives and a whittler. It was quite popular when released with dealers selling out within a few days. I like the 3 5/8" size and although i also like a few of the #13's i did not buy one until this evening. I saw a Stag whittler #133317 on ebay which i won for $92.
Can someone comment about their #13, preferably, whittler, what you like or don't like about it and if you see $92 as a 'deal' or not ?
thanks, kj

That's a pretty darn good deal for a stag #13. While the #38 Grinling is my favorite pattern, I had just carried my 13 last week. I like the fact that the main blade is pinchable, and a nice wharncliffe. The two pen blades are odd, but I understand were based on an older patterned knife. Would prefer a small coping blade with the pen. I had a American Whittler SFO in Chestnut, but like this one a lot more with the color & it's character.

[robbobus]

KJ, the 13 whittler is an underappreciated GEC. That looks like a nice one, I finished runner-up to yourself. Enjoy, if you don't, send me a pm.

[kootenay joe]

Thanks Robbobus. Seller did not give a picture to see how thick the handle pieces are but i think they are fairly thin. Fat stag would make for an Ugly knife. GEC does not have "Production Totals" posted for 2017 so i don't know how many of these #13 Congress Whittlers in stag are 'out there'.
I was prepared to pay quite a bit more than i did. If you really want one i think a higher bid for the next one is needed. I can see these selling around $150. 3 5/8" is a sweet size so it should be quite a desirable knife. Maybe it just needs to 'catch on' ?
kj

[m0nk]

KJ, when your new #13 arrives, please post a description of the pull. Based solely on my #47, my working theory is that swayback patterns will have a lighter pull due to the back curved backspring. Can anyone comment on their swaybacks' pull weights and either support or refute this theory?

Lee

[hivoltage777]

Couple more pics just to share. Grabbed a couple special 43’s and the camel bone orange is very nice. The proto came out almost like a grapefruit color. I like the size and heft but the pull is surprisingly light. Not sure what I think about this but overall a great pattern. Very large pocket knife. Sorry some of the photos are sideways.

[kootenay joe]

O.K. It will be about 2 weeks before i can post pics & comments.
kj

[jerryd6818]

Couple more pics just to share. Grabbed a couple special 43’s and the camel bone orange is very nice. The proto came out almost like a grapefruit color. I like the size and heft but the pull is surprisingly light. Not sure what I think about this but overall a great pattern. Very large pocket knife. Sorry some of the photos are sideways.

hivoltage777 --- You have a PM.

[DM11]

This 43 came in today.

[hivoltage777]

I like the antique green! I don’t know if I’d carry it but it’s beautiful.

[JohnR]

So far I only picked up one of the 43's,a Camel bone. Very nice knife.

[robbobus]

As kootenay joe knows, living north of the 49th parralel has a few disadvantages. The biggest being a lack of shipping options to Canada. Some retailers are quite reasonably priced, some not so much, and others not at all. (Alas, 5 years ago USPS 1st class was about !3.50 for a small box) So whats a collector to do? The cross border parcel pickup of course! I made some time this weekend to slip down and gather my goodies.

The 47 Harvester in natural stag is nice. I had one already, but this one was a good price. The pile side is a bit funky looking colourwise but matches well in terms of thickness and texture. I quite like it. The 48 blows me away the prices these sell for on the bay - truly a great knife and they are underprices on the bay at auction.

Now, the 78s. These turned out great. Wonderful fit and finish, walk and talk is outstanding on all 6 blades on these four knives. I particularly like the 2 blade models, couldn't pick a winner between the wood and stag if I had to. The criticism of the main being hard to access is not unwarranted, I have no problemb but they could have put an eo nock in the frame for the pen blade and lowered it 3mm. The stag of the single blade is a little meh, but would be great in pocket. The Risner sfo is beautiful. I have had the Northwoods a while but thought it belonged.