What Knife Would You Like GEC To Make ?

[edge213]

I respectfully disagree - t'ain't nothin' dull about 'em IMO.

Great knives!

[m0nk]

I only have one wish left that GEC hasn't fulfilled - the granddaddy Barlow.

I've been thinking more and more about a Barlow, and I couldn't get ahold of a new GEC Barlow. Looking at old ones, regretting not getting a S&M barlow while I could, even considered an Italian Lion steel... So Colonial recently put up some of their new/old stock knives that they closed out back in the '80s, and I bought myself a Colonial Barlow 392 for Christmas. I just checked the other day and the 392s are all gone, but they still have the Old Cutler bone handled Barlows, and they're probably very nice. Anyway, that 392 Barlow is absolutely the worst fit and finish of any knife I've seen. Almost garbage. But I wanted it to be a user, and it was only $30 with shipping so I'm keeping it. I can see why the old Colonial company went out of business, and I'm happy to report that the new US-made knives from Colonial are much much nicer.

I'm going to unwrap that 392 on Christmas and carry it often. I hope that every time I take it out and cringe at it's poor quality, Mr. Howard gets a vibe to make a big run of GEC Barlows. Not an SFO that you have to be a member of a secret society to get, but a real big run for us Average Joes, like the 78 run a year ago. You can still get 78s today, which is how it should be IMO.

- Lee

[biglmbass]

I want this, in coal black ebony with the same shield as shown. Put a bolster on their 47 frame & they'd have it. Wouldn't hurt my feelings if the blade stock was heavier than usual. Would probably take the same knife in jigged bone too. Ebony to start though.

[kootenay joe]

Good idea ! The swayback frame feels good in hand and it would have 2 full sized blades and is not a Trapper. Maybe send this picture to GEC ? As you say they already have the 47 frame so it would not take an all new set up.
kj

[rangerbluedog]

More 85 patterns and 33 conductor's whittlers

[robbobus]

That is a nice knife, but I prefer a full size blade and a pen size blade. 47 frame, plus another in 3/4 size.

[tongueriver]

I would like to see a full-length (4 1/2 inches?) classic English jack in all sorts of variations. It would break my bank. Meanwhile I have been enjoying my little group of 65s. I do carry one of them in ebony in case I run into a sandwich to be dressed. I need to learn to use a camera; this scan makes the knives look horrible; they are all lovely and mint except my pb&j knife.

[RalphAlsip]

should a whittler in that configuration be created as well I would certainly be a buyer.

Greg, is this what you are talking about? Please note this is a mock up based on the blades in the GEC 79 workhorse whittler combined with a 79 Northwoods Fremont giraffe frame. The whittler blades are taken from an internet picture.
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/pat ... -whittler/

[gsmith7158]

Jerry I'm going to nominate you as consultant extraordinaire to GEC! I would buy that.

[kootenay joe]

Jerry, you could do design work for GEC. Send them some of your mock-ups. Even if you don't get on the payroll maybe you will get a first choice gift knife in return.
kj

[RalphAlsip]

Greg and Roland, thank you for the encouragement. I'm sure GEC has actual knife designers who have creative talent and knife construction knowledge and experience. There is not much creativity or inspiration involved in the photo editing that I'm doing which is cropping the blades of off one 79 pattern and pasting them on another.

[Lansky1]

remake of the acrylic 2 blade congress #61 - super little knife

[kootenay joe]

I agree. The 61 is very fine pattern, especially in the 2 blade Half Congress.
kj

[m0nk]

KJ, please consider my earlier post in this thread regarding barlows to be barlow musing only. What I really want GEC to make would have to be broken into three categories: work knife, EDC, and collectible. My wishes are as follows:

For a work knife, I would like to see a #35 F&F Calf Pen variant, but with a straight clip and large sheepsfoot, and no liner lock. The middle separator flat head screwdriver can stay. Without the liner lock this would be a little thinner than the original Calf Pen, and the substitution of the straight clip for one-arm blade would increase pocketability and marketability. For covers I'd like to see black, maroon, and red linen micarta options.

For EDC, I really need two knives: a #77 single straight clip, and a #09 Esquire with a sheepsfoot main and pen secondary. Why not just carry a stockman? Well, because to get the size clip blade I'm looking for I would need a larger stockman, which would not be as thin as I would like. Thinness has become more important to me lately, and a #77 clip single would be the sweet spot for blade size and overall thinness. A #09 with a sheepsfoot main would give the perfect size utility knife and the ideal size pen blade, IMO. Of course I'd want matching cover materials, and GEC has done lots of nice candidates in the past: sawcut caramel bone, or perhaps blue giraffe bone would be awesome. Antique ivory paper micarta would also be a very classy option for these two matching knives.

For the collectible category, my one wish would be a duplicate of the famous Northwoods Fremont Jack in blue mammoth ivory. (KSF pic, not mine)

- Lee

[kootenay joe]

Good post Lee. Well thought out. Thanks.
kj