French Kate

GEC specializes in highly collectable and premium quality usable pocket knives. The company's USA manufactured knives have quickly proven to be a big hit with both collectors and users who seek quality American craftsmanship.
Cooter Brown
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Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2010 12:53 am

Re: French Kate

Post by Cooter Brown »

I kinda like it. It's an old timey looking pattern to me and should be a real conversation starter when you pull it out of your pocket.

You have to give GEC credit on some of their patterns. They are not afraid of "going outside the box."

That boot bolster would be a complicated thing to make.
PigSticker
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Location: Burton,Michigan

Re: French Kate

Post by PigSticker »

I've always thought Leg knives were the ultimat novultiy knife of all time-might have to have one of those-link didn't work for me but i'd like one with a smooth set of scales
NEVER DOUBT YOUR DAWG
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IMBand
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Re: French Kate

Post by IMBand »

I recieved my French Kate and it is really very nice. I do have 2 comments on the one I
recieved. First there are no half stops, wish it had em. Second, the knife has pretty weak
snap, does not open or close like the other GEC's I have. Almost like an older knife that
is rounded over at the spring ??? Any other Kate owners experiencing this ?

IM
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kootenay joe
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Re: French Kate

Post by kootenay joe »

In 2011 the #28 Leg knife came out with "Pink Awabi Shell" handles. Is Awabi the same as Abalone ? Although this reads as if a natural material, in this case a piece of marine shell, is it really this ? or is it a synthetic or reconstituted bits of real shell ?
kj
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Tsar Bomba
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Re: French Kate

Post by Tsar Bomba »

It appears to be one of the species of abalone, perhaps one commonly known as the "Japanese abalone". There seem to be whole shells available online: http://orders.mopsupplies.com/p/9060442 ... tural.html
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There is also a kind of sushi that uses abalone meat named "awabi sushi" so this could be a regional term that just took off in the MOP business.

The examples I see online aren't remarkably pink in and of themselves, but I did find a species of abalone commonly called "pink abalone" and there are a lot of blurred lines in the taxonomic classification of the abalone family. GEC could also have found a way to dye those lady legs.
Tony
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kootenay joe
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Re: French Kate

Post by kootenay joe »

Tony, thank you for posting this awabi information. Seems it is reasonably common and not considered high end.
In 2011 GEC offered "Pink Awabi" handles on a few patterns but they have not continued to offer it. Maybe hard to work with ? or cracks too easily ? or just not popular ?
I bought one of the 2011 #28 pattern with Pink Awabi so soon i will see for myself how attractive & functional it might be for a knife handle.
kj
kootenay joe
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Re: French Kate

Post by kootenay joe »

I just posted these pictures in another GEC thread but they i believe should be here as well. Here is the 281111 with "Pink Awabi" and a 281112 with elephant ivory that i bought when it came out. The Awabi looks like a man made acrylic the colors are so bright and distinct from each other. Both are very attractive.
kj
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