new GEC easy open

[gcrinnion]

Here are two more plus the stag.

[singin46]

Totally forgot I have been carryin this Northfield around for about a week now
and you just can't beat the quality, the stag has really become hand smooth over time.

Singin

[chavez]

I like the look of the new knives but just a bit too small. It has a useful blade though and the orange bone looks incredible.

My GEC wish knife would be a Northfield sowbelly stockman. Maybe 3 3/4" to 4" long. Some nice swedges, a long pull and maybe available in stag or that orange bone.

Whoa! Excuse me, I feel flush. Need to go lie down now.

[TM]

Nice wish knife, chavez Maybe GEC is watching these threads and they'll make a note!

Hey GEC, if you're listening.... I'd like a 3 3/4 to 4" - 2 blade jack; large clip with long pull main blade, and a pen for the second. Swedges. Red bone will be fine. You can even use your 73 frame if you want, but a nice gunstock, teardrop or coffin would be cooler!

I saw a 4" S&M 2 blade EO jack the other day, and my first thought was 'Damn, thats what the new GEC EO should have been!'

[gcrinnion]

OK, got my GEC Easy Open in Burnt Stag today. The stag is fat and amazing! General fit and finish is great as always.

My complaint is that the blade has a long nail pull and IMO it would be better if there was a small nail pull or no nail pull at all.

Makes me think that they had some #25 blades laying around and needed a way to use them up.

[Darksev]

I have to agree. I've been working on a #25 EO with the sheepsfoot, it's a nice little package, but I think, after playing with it, I like the spear blade better. I was contemplating one of the spear EO's, but the long pull turned me off. IMO an Easy open doesn't need a pull at all. I think the more GECs I play with, the more I favor the crocus finish on the tidioute's more than then polish finish on the northfeid's. And, like most everyone it seems, the huge 1 OF 50 on the back is just...ugly. you could tone that down about 200x and I'd be much happier I'm to impatient to wait for the unserialized knives.

I'm obviously a bit of a minority, but I'd love to see a few more knives in the sub 3 1/2 range.

[okbohn]

I have to agree. I've been working on a #25 EO with the sheepsfoot, it's a nice little package, but I think, after playing with it, I like the spear blade better. I was contemplating one of the spear EO's, but the long pull turned me off. IMO an Easy open doesn't need a pull at all. I think the more GECs I play with, the more I favor the crocus finish on the tidioute's more than then polish finish on the northfeid's. And, like most everyone it seems, the huge 1 OF 50 on the back is just...ugly. you could tone that down about 200x and I'd be much happier I'm to impatient to wait for the unserialized knives.

I'm obviously a bit of a minority, but I'd love to see a few more knives in the sub 3 1/2 range.

I'm with you...I have been asking them to make some smaller knives for some time.

As to the etchings...I don't like any.

[gcrinnion]

I have to agree. I've been working on a #25 EO with the sheepsfoot, it's a nice little package, but I think, after playing with it, I like the spear blade better. I was contemplating one of the spear EO's, but the long pull turned me off. IMO an Easy open doesn't need a pull at all. I think the more GECs I play with, the more I favor the crocus finish on the tidioute's more than then polish finish on the northfeid's. And, like most everyone it seems, the huge 1 OF 50 on the back is just...ugly. you could tone that down about 200x and I'd be much happier I'm to impatient to wait for the unserialized knives.

I'm obviously a bit of a minority, but I'd love to see a few more knives in the sub 3 1/2 range.

Yup...I agree on the following:

• No nail pull is necessary on an easy open.
  
  I like the Crocus finish much better.
  
  The giant 1 OF 50 etch is ugly as sin!
  
  I will take an un-serialized version over a serialized version any day and I will save a few bucks in the process and I won't have to see that ugly 1 of 50 etch.
  
  And I like smaller knives too.

Too each his own right?

[hot tempered steel]

The long pull spear blade is what I like most about the looks of the new EO, even if one isn't needed it still looks good on the knife. The down side is the big etch on the blade and it's small size. 3 3/4 to 4 in. is the sizes I think would be nice with this pattern.
H.T.S.

[Syztems Rety]

I have 3 of the EZ open knives now and in my opinion, the spear blade needs the nail groove. The spear blade does not provide enough purchase, at least for me, to easily grab.

The combination of less blade profile and polished surface makes it hard to grip the spear blade and open it without the fingers slipping off. I think it needs a larger EZ open cutout.

The sheepsfoot works just fine.

That said, these are very nice. Good blade snap and spring tension. Not too hard to open. No blade play. Centered blades. Not too much in the way of spring gaps.

Problems: None of the three was shaving sharp. I have about 25 GEC barlow variations and some are shaving sharp and some aren't. Also they all had some gaps around the shields.

The cocobolo one had scales were not symmetrical and needed some more shaping to get looking right. One side had a smooth curve and the other was more squared off.

The stag one was nearly perfect, except for some grind marks on the blade at the end of the swedge.

The banana is just about perfect. Of course, perfection is in the eyes of the beholder.

I got the non-serialized versions, which I have been and will be sticking with int the future as I also don't like the large 1 of 50 etches. And the serial numbers don't last too long anyway as I like to adjust for blade play at times. Plus, the 1 of 50 doesn't really mean anything. Sure there are 50 serialized knives, but they are no different than the uncounted non-serialized ones, and in some ways less desirable.

My hopes for GEC. No more 1 of 50 etches. Serialized is not necessary (in my opinion, but may be needed for the collector market). Work on the gaps around the shields. Since these are pinned, it might mean it is harder to align the pin in the scale and the liner, so there needs to be some slop. I don't know.

Hmm, this may be my first post here, though I have been reading a couple of years.

Eric

[okbohn]

NICE review for a first post!

I have to tell you your experience is mine. Their stuff is really excellent--especially in light of them being production knives.

My ONLY two gripes are not enough smaller knives and too strong of springs.

Both of those things are a personal preference thing and I think they are working on both!

[jonet143]

welcome eric! lookin forward to more posts from you. i will take #51 over the 1 of 50 etch any time.

[gcrinnion]

Welcome Eric! Keep posting! I have about 40 GEC Barlows/Jacks...very addicting aren't they? :O)

[Syztems Rety]

Welcome Eric! Keep posting! I have about 40 GEC Barlows/Jacks...very addicting aren't they? :O)

Yep. My goal was to get one of each production 2008 barlow. I ended up with those, plus a couple of Open House ones, plus some jacks, a Wharncliffe SFO, etc. I just counted, I have 31 #25 pattern knives.

My goal for 2007 was to get one of each production Cuban from each of the 3 lines. I ended up with all production from 2007 and 2008, minus some of the really short runs, plus some of the harness jacks.

I also have a lot of the single blade scouts.

For 2009, I think I'm going to have to slow down and just get certain ones. Like the 3 sunfish (even though they are marked 2008), the 3 easy opens.

The problem is that while a few years ago I only liked stag, lately I have begun to like all the handle materials, so it is getting harder to choose just one.

Eric

[tomcrx]

Hi first time poster long time listener.

I was a little disappointed in the 2008 lineup. GEC seemed to have dropped the ball a little.

In 2007 they hit a home run and I thought they were starting to produce knives like the Remington of old. Solid working knives with great F&F.

In 2008 there were things I did'nt like

1. Less practical working designs - Toenail is not practical, Barlow is too small and thick, The whittler is way to heavy and has 3 backsprings. I wished so hard they would bring out a Muskrat with their Turkish clip and a spey blade.

2. Blade and grinds got thicker and more obtuse - The Big Jack I bought needed serious reprofiling and the shape on their big clip blade has a serious recurve in it. I have had fixed blade hunters with thinner blade stock then they used in that knife. The Moose was the same way

3. F&F on pins and scales seemed to decrease - I have seen pins sticking out above scales gaps between bolsters and scales etc.

4. OOB sharpness took a nosedive - some could not even cut paper, had 60 degree plus edge bevels and were as thick as a barn door behind the edge.


I understand that this may be the profitable area in todays market, but they seem to be catering more towards the collector and safe queen buyer now. Same knives, 50 with serials and repeat with 400 different scale materials.

I would love to see them succeed and produce great working knives. I carry a 2007 Snakewood 53 Cuban everyday. I have dressed numerous deer, turkey and rabbits with it this season and cut about everything else under the sun with it. The blades are as black as tar with the patina. I have knicks in the bolsters and gouges in the scales. each scar has a story, some simple and some not. I want to see more of what I see in that knife in the future from GEC

[okbohn]

Regarding the first couple issues with GEC, I understand the frustration with designs....but they are moving forward slowly.

I think their fit and finish is excellent and much better than early 2007.

As to sharpening, there are not many knives I get that don't need re-done.

[hot tempered steel]

GEC is still a young company. I'm not saying their rookies but I do think when they get things lined out they are going to be hard to beat. The F & F and pattern designs may be a little problematic at first but they have got the blade steel down pat! I've gotten brand new knifes out of the box of all different brands that were both, sharp as a razor and dull as a butter knife. The thing I like about the GEC knifes is they will take a sharp edge without a lot of fuss and they will hold it after some real work. That's all I can ask from a good knife. They can fiddle with making them pretty till the cows come home as long as they still stand up to the work task.
H.T.S.

[GECTECHMAN]

Check out the new etch on our new release page.

[Darksev]

That's about a billion times better! Looks quite nice now. I'm usually not one for the bigger knives, but that single blade flat bolster looks kinda spiffy more of a drop point than a skinner, at least to my eye (could just be the camera angle)

[muskrat man]

The flat bolster with the new etch, and that blade is just dandy. I like the drop point blade better than the skinner on the normal models, at least it looks like a drop point, is there any dfference? Also, that stag stockman with the angled bolsters is a knockout. might have to dish the cash out for one of those!

[Hukk]

I see the improvements also - a move in the right direction - I think. I'd love to see a coke bottle and a 2 blade folding hunter come out and a whittler with coping and pen blades - maybe even a small clip blade along with a Warncliffe blade. I don't mind the heft of 3 backsprings.

It would also be real nice to see some GEC boy scout knives. Start a young lad with a GEC in scouts and he will likely keep buying the brand as he gets older.

[philco]

It would also be real nice to see some GEC boy scout knives. Start a young lad with a GEC in scouts and he will likely keep buying the brand as he gets older.

I'll second that motion Hukk. And I'd be glad to buy one for this old scout as well.

Phil

[coffeecup]

As many have commented, that etch is ugly as sin. How deep is it/how hard would it be to polish off? I've been thinking about picking one up, but the graffiti has held me back. After loosing my favorite E-O* last week, I'm re-considering.

*Had to run into the courthouse, left my EDCs in the van. On return, I found someone had helped themselves to all three. At least they left the toolbox the knives were sitting on!

[justold52]

someone had helped themselves to all three. At least they left the toolbox the knives were sitting on!

This clearly tells me that they loved your knives and had no use for any tools that goes with WORKing.

Sorry this happened to you. Perhaps keep checking with the cop shop every mo. They may turn up their in the booking dept. Give them a photo of your missing girls....