All About Pocket Knives

313 Mike wrote:Nice pair there Cutty.
Have you put that BK7 to the test yet?
I've read some reviews that rate it quite highly as a wilderness/survival knife...

Not yet Mike. I plan to take it camping and hunting this fall/winter. It is fairly heavy and should make for a good all purpose knife. The only negative to me is the the handle is a bit too slick/smooth. Not sure how it'll grip under heavy use it may require a good lanyard

Some damn fine lookin' utility knives being shown, gentlemen!!!

This one belonged to my Grandpa. I has been one of my favorite "camp knives" for many years.

Sasquach;Thats a beauty What brand??

If that knife could talk, what tales it would tell. And, yes, what is the brand Squatch?

I believe it is an Edge Mark made in Germany. The makers mark is gone. I can remember when he got it in 1959 or '60. I remember the words Edge and Solingen Germany but by the time it came to me (many years later) the markings were worn off.

This one showed up yesterday.
I have mixed feelings about GEC's but not this one.
She's a keeper.

Great lookin' GEC, MyDogsHunt!! But mixed feelings about GEC? Why? If you don't mind my asking. I purchased a couple of their knives and am impressed with the fit, finish, and quality of materials. As a blue-collar guy I wouldn't mind seeing their prices come down a bit though. I'm thinking of buying more of their knives so I'm interested in the opinions of other users and collectors.

I haven't contributed in a while, hope it's o.k. to post these... Tim

That is a very handsome collection. Congratulations.

Sasquach wrote: But mixed feelings about GEC? Why? If you don't mind my asking.
As a blue-collar guy I wouldn't mind seeing their prices come down a bit though.

Well,,, while I also think some of their folders are over priced, it's a free market and since I consider myself a conservative I figure it would be a tich hypocritical for me to complain too much so I won't.

My gripe is with what I'd call design flaws with two of the four GEC folders that I've owned.

First is my little 25 single blade folder. It's one of my favorite knives ever for EDC but the back-spring is so ridiculously strong it's actually unsafe for someone that's not familiar with the knife. I've seen similar reports around here so that's why I'd call it a design flaw. I mean, we all like a good snap but at the same time you shouldn't have to worry about handing it to a friend (especially a youngster) IMO.
That was my first GEC and even though it's like carrying a small Alligator around, I like it so much I kept it and actually carry it daily.

I bought a couple of other GEC's over the next few years that were trouble free but I just didn't "bond" with em so I traded the two for a 72 Stag lock back. Sweet knife but the blade had some play when locked open (not side wobble). Again, I see others on here with the same problem so I'm gonna call it a "design flaw". I called GEC and the nice gal that answers the phone said they'd fix it so I sent it in. Got it back after three months of waiting and two e-mails reminding them that they had it. They had indeed fixed the play, but in doing so they made the lock VERY hard to push. I was kinda disappointed so I stuck it in the knife box for the last year. Got it out to take a pic the other day and after opening, it now takes both hands to release. In other words, it's getting worse for some reason. I'm pretty much disgusted right now but once I calm down I'll call em and see if they might trade me for the same model WITHOUT the lock or at the very least, "fix" it again although I'm pretty skeptical at this point.

After buying this 73 B&T I can however say that GEC makes an excellent knife as long as there aren't any moving parts (LOL) and the price is actually much better (IMO) than similar products.
All in all, GEC's not perfect, but I'd still rather have one of their knives at their somewhat inflated prices than a whole pick-up load of free china-land crap.

Charlie

I've posted a picture of my new Buck 124 Frontiersman in the mail call thread and in the Buck sub-forum, but it belongs here too! Got this yesterday (30th Anniversary gift from my company) and I really like it, the craftsmanship in building it is excellent. I've not got much use for it other than the sheer pleasure of owning it - but that is good enough. OH

Ps. Tim, you have a beautiful collection of Case knives there!

Charlie, nice fixed blade GEC. I really haven't been aware of their fixed blade knives - it looks like a keeper from your photo's. OH

Old Hunter, Let me congratulate you on a phrase you wrote in the previous post concerning the anniversary gift you received. You wrote, "I've not got much use for it other than the sheer pleasure of owning it-but that is good enough.", in reality I feel that way about most of my knives. Your statement gave me something to think about. My EDCs are mostly the same, depending on the work or play going on, all the rest of the knives "sit on the bench" waiting for a call!
Treefarmer

Thought I'd add these as I am re-shooting some of my collection on my new photo board.

First batch from top to bottom:
A genuine 1880's era Joseph Rodgers' 9" spear point bowie with original sheath.Dug out of an antique shop several years ago for $225.Stag has no cracks or chips and the blade is very full although it has been sharpened.Sheath doesn't appear to have ever seen a belt.
Next is a huge Outers style bowie marked F.A.Bower Germany.Whole knife was covered with what looks like varnish darkening the stag a bit.
Next is one of the onfamous Fred James faux I*XL bowies made in the 1970's.Although not marked with Fred's name,it was confirmed by Jim Taylor(RIP)who knew Fred and his wife Ivy personally.
Next is a newly made Silver Stag bowie.Made in Washington state they are very well made knives.
Last is a HUGE Colt bowie made in Pakistan.I bought it because it is one of the most outrageous knives I've ever seen.Even if it wasn't sharp(which it is)you could club somebody into submission it is so heavy! Looks to be made of cable damascus and pretty nicely built.

Old Hunter wrote:Charlie, nice fixed blade GEC. I really haven't been aware of their fixed blade knives - it looks like a keeper from your photo's. OH

Yea,,, I'm a real fan of B&T patterns. This one's my favorite so far, and that's really saying something if you knew how fond I am of my little carbon NorthWoods.
Here's a pic of both.


I'm right in the middle of making a new sheath for the GEC.
I'll post a pic when she's done.

quicksteel and oldhunter, thanks for the replies. These knives hang out in the closet most of the time, but every once in a while, I bring them out to appreciate their beauty! thanks again, Tim

My gripe is with what I'd call design flaws with two of the four GEC folders that I've owned.

MyDogsHunt: I greatly appreciate your post. I thought I was the only one with reservations about GEC. As do you, I can appreciate their quality features. Yet, like every other knife company they have their flaws. Our kinife opinions are obviously grounded in our experiences. Quite a few think that GEC is the best of the best and it must be so for them.

Yet when members itemize complaints against product or services of, say, S&M I always begin to wonder if something is wrong with me since I do not experience the negative issues related. I do look for imperfections, not often but once in a while I find one as I would with every brand.

Ultimately maybe its mostly luck. One person has bad encounters with a brand and forms their opinion of it. Another has consistently good experiences and so thinks highly of that mark. Either way the judgement is correct based on that experience.

I agree about the excessively tight springs on GECs. Certainly not on all, but a considerable few. My experience: Queen and S&M are putting out some fine quality knives at appropriatet prices. At least those are ones I am receiving at my house. Lots of soul; instant bonding. In summary, I admire my GECs. I love my Queens and S&Ms. To each his or her own.

Quick Steel wrote:MyDogsHunt: I greatly appreciate your post. I thought I was the only one with reservations about GEC. As do you, I can appreciate their quality features. Yet, like every other knife company they have their flaws. Our kinife opinions are obviously grounded in our experiences. Quite a few think that GEC is the best of the best and it must be so for them.

Yet when members itemize complaints against product or services of, say, S&M I always begin to wonder if something is wrong with me since I do not experience the negative issues related. I do look for imperfections, not often but once in a while I find one as I would with every brand.

Ultimately maybe its mostly luck. One person has bad encounters with a brand and forms their opinion of it. Another has consistently good experiences and so thinks highly of that mark. Either way the judgement is correct based on that experience.

I agree about the excessively tight springs on GECs. Certainly not on all, but a considerable few. My experience: Queen and S&M are putting out some fine quality knives at appropriatet prices. At least those are ones I am receiving at my house. Lots of soul; instant bonding. In summary, I admire my GECs. I love my Queens and S&Ms. To each his or her own.

Hear. Hear. Well said, Garry. I've never had any issues with a GEC product so I'm one of the cheerleaders for the brand. I'm a +1 on the large bolded sentence.


Charlie -- I've never used it but I'm rather fond of this little Northwoods Buttonhole?

[quote] I'm a +1 on the large bolded sentence.[/quote

I'm not sure which direction your rating scale operates. +1 could mean excellent, top of the line. On the other hand it could mean awful if +10 is the best. I am going to take it as the former unless you advise otherwise.

QSteel,,,, Very well said!
True that GEC seems to have an almost cult-like following out there and good for them because they obviously try to put out products that are based on true craftsmanship which is so rare in today's instant gratification/disposable society.
Truth is though, they're not perfect and never will be as long as there's humans involved,, period.
As for their overachiever;) back springs, the general consensus and common sense say the problem is in the shorter spring models but regardless, it's a problem.
The lock-back thing is another story and I'll reserve judgement until I see how they handle things (the second time), but for now I'll just say that with all the hype and bragging they do, you'd think they could accomplish something Buck (and others) have been doing for decades at half the price.

Jerry,,,, that NW is a beauty!
I'm a user,not a collector and far from being an authority. Just a guy that likes knives, but I gotta say my NW's are my favorite field knives to date even though they're made by others like Queen, Bark River, and even GEC.
I pretty much like any traditional knife though, long as it ain't made in chinaland.
Charlie

knife7, a couple of those bowies look like they're straight off a sandbar in Natchez. Sweet knives!

timgreene, impressive collection of Case fixed blades.

Thought I'd put the BK-2 to work this W/E. Here is a pile of little ones made from one big one.

Got the new sheath done for my GEC B&T.
Can't say it's better, but it's dang sure smaller.

MyDogsHunt wrote:Got the new sheath done for my GEC B&T.
Can't say it's better, but it's dang sure smaller.

Better is all about what works best for YOU. The new sheath certainly looks more utilitarian. You still have the factory sheath if you want to sport a fancy one. I think you have a good combination there.