First GEC (720111 Mini-Lockback) Mixed Impressions
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:25 am
New member here.
Yesterday the postman delivered my first GEC knife, a Ruby Red jigged bone mini-lockback. After examining (playing) with the knife for the past 24 hours, my impressions are somewhat mixed, but mostly good.
First, let me say that I am a longtime collector of pocket jewelry and have at one time or another owned nearly every brand imaginable over the last 45-50 years. I am by no means an expert, but just consider myself a reasonably knowledgeable individual. I bought this knife to be a user and deliberately chose a stainless blade because my knives spend most of their time in my pockets rather than being used. Although I love me some good 'ol carbon steel, the stainless just suited my needs better. I am a typical suburbanite, so my knives are used for typical lightweight duties around the house/office. I also chose this particular knife due to my penchant for the color red/wine/purple, etc. I'm sorry that I don't have a picture of it, but it looks like any other model of this designation. The knife was eighty-one dollars and some change from one of our fine AAPK member stores.
This knife is beautiful to look at and I really like the Wharncliffe blade. For the most part the fit and finish is excellent with a few minor exceptions. For example, the first inch or so of the blade near the tip is barely below the surface of the liners when closed. The tip doesn't sit "proud" and I can't feel the tip by running my finger over it when closed, but I just wonder why the blade doesn't sit just a little deeper. There is plenty of room between the blade's edge and the bottom inside of the backspring and I'm a little concerned that there is so little margin for error as it were. If the tip of the blade was a few thousandths of an inch higher, it would be problematic. The blade came reasonably sharp and will cut hair with some pressure, but it isn't what I consider "scary sharp". But I can fix that.
The knife is very easy to open; maybe too easy. It opens a little if I give it a deliberate downward snap from the closed position. It takes very little effort to open it and when the lock is depressed, the blade falls easily into a position perpendicular to the ground. There is also a very minor cosmetic flaw near the backspring and the lock. It apparently wasn't ground evenly. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that the backspring was also stainless.
The scales on this knife are gorgeous, with several subtle shades of wine, red, purple and a little pink-to-white area. The jigging is perfectly executed and the acorn shield sits completely flat.
All in all I am very pleased with this purchase and certainly will consider buying more GEC's. When you realize that some A.G. Russell knives that are made in China come very close to this knife in price, it's very satisfying to own a piece of American steel.
Thanks for reading my long-winded review.
Yesterday the postman delivered my first GEC knife, a Ruby Red jigged bone mini-lockback. After examining (playing) with the knife for the past 24 hours, my impressions are somewhat mixed, but mostly good.
First, let me say that I am a longtime collector of pocket jewelry and have at one time or another owned nearly every brand imaginable over the last 45-50 years. I am by no means an expert, but just consider myself a reasonably knowledgeable individual. I bought this knife to be a user and deliberately chose a stainless blade because my knives spend most of their time in my pockets rather than being used. Although I love me some good 'ol carbon steel, the stainless just suited my needs better. I am a typical suburbanite, so my knives are used for typical lightweight duties around the house/office. I also chose this particular knife due to my penchant for the color red/wine/purple, etc. I'm sorry that I don't have a picture of it, but it looks like any other model of this designation. The knife was eighty-one dollars and some change from one of our fine AAPK member stores.
This knife is beautiful to look at and I really like the Wharncliffe blade. For the most part the fit and finish is excellent with a few minor exceptions. For example, the first inch or so of the blade near the tip is barely below the surface of the liners when closed. The tip doesn't sit "proud" and I can't feel the tip by running my finger over it when closed, but I just wonder why the blade doesn't sit just a little deeper. There is plenty of room between the blade's edge and the bottom inside of the backspring and I'm a little concerned that there is so little margin for error as it were. If the tip of the blade was a few thousandths of an inch higher, it would be problematic. The blade came reasonably sharp and will cut hair with some pressure, but it isn't what I consider "scary sharp". But I can fix that.
The knife is very easy to open; maybe too easy. It opens a little if I give it a deliberate downward snap from the closed position. It takes very little effort to open it and when the lock is depressed, the blade falls easily into a position perpendicular to the ground. There is also a very minor cosmetic flaw near the backspring and the lock. It apparently wasn't ground evenly. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that the backspring was also stainless.
The scales on this knife are gorgeous, with several subtle shades of wine, red, purple and a little pink-to-white area. The jigging is perfectly executed and the acorn shield sits completely flat.
All in all I am very pleased with this purchase and certainly will consider buying more GEC's. When you realize that some A.G. Russell knives that are made in China come very close to this knife in price, it's very satisfying to own a piece of American steel.
Thanks for reading my long-winded review.
________I'm sure,you'll enjoy your first GEC___Monk 
