All About Pocket Knives

Posted: **Sun May 16, 2021 10:33 pm**

The GEC #53 is a 4 1/8" Equal End pattern.
Here are 2 excellent examples of the #53 pattern. Both have a blade at either end and a single spring which makes for a large, strong yet relatively slender knife.
One is a Northwoods branded knife called "The Presidential" and with the fine rich mammoth handles and flat bolsters it has the elegance and presence of a President. It has a spear point master blade and Wharncliffe seconday.
The other is a GEC Northfield #531213 with top grade elephant ivory handles. I call this knife "Babar" who is King of the Elephants in a children's story book. This knife is fit for a King. It has a clip point master blade and a pen blade secondary.
These 2 are among my best GEC made knives.
Please feel free to show your examples of the #53 pattern.
kj

Posted: **Sun May 16, 2021 10:48 pm**

Some really beautiful knives!
I will own them and show them off vicariously through you, as I have none of my own

Posted: **Sun May 16, 2021 10:54 pm**

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Sun May 16, 2021 10:33 pm The GEC #53 is a 4 1/8" Equal End pattern.
Here are 2 excellent examples of the #53 pattern. Both have a blade at either end and a single spring which makes for a large, strong yet relatively slender knife.
One is a Northwoods branded knife called "The Presidential" and with the fine rich mammoth handles and flat bolsters it has the elegance and presence of a President. It has a spear point master blade and Wharncliffe seconday.
The other is a GEC Northfield #531213 with top grade elephant ivory handles. I call this knife "Babar" who is King of the Elephants in a children's story book. This knife is fit for a King. It has a clip point master blade and a pen blade secondary.
These 2 are among my best GEC made knives.
Please feel free to show your examples of the #53 pattern.
kj

Two stunning knives Roland

Posted: **Mon May 17, 2021 12:23 am**

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Sun May 16, 2021 10:33 pm The GEC #53 is a 4 1/8" Equal End pattern. Here are 2 excellent examples of the #53 pattern.

Gorgeous knives!! With the 53 pattern and these 2 knives in particular the term "modern classic" comes to mind for me.

Posted: **Mon May 17, 2021 12:57 am**

RalphAlsip wrote: ↑Mon May 17, 2021 12:23 am
kootenay joe wrote: ↑Sun May 16, 2021 10:33 pm The GEC #53 is a 4 1/8" Equal End pattern. Here are 2 excellent examples of the #53 pattern.
Gorgeous knives!! With the 53 pattern and these 2 knives in particular the term "modern classic" comes to mind for me.

Thank you. I do agree. I think they will be as much admired 100 years from now as they are today. The single spring with a blade at either end is a big part of why this design is "classic". Excellence in design never goes out of date.
kj

Posted: **Mon May 17, 2021 4:53 pm**

Those both are amazing. Thanks for sharing.

Posted: **Tue May 18, 2021 10:38 pm**

Roland,
Those two are beauties sure. Thank you for starting this thread. The 53’s are indeed a fine knife. Here are two I’ve been fortunate to be the caretaker of. The ebony I waved goodbye to awhile back.

Posted: **Wed May 19, 2021 4:39 am**

I too would prefer the design of the blade on each end with a single spring.

Posted: **Wed May 19, 2021 11:10 am**

Gorgeous knives Roland and Open Range.
I have one in this collection I just purchased. I’ve never been that crazy about a muskrat but this one is an exception. The stag on this one is one that I could look at all day long.

Posted: **Wed May 19, 2021 12:10 pm**

KJ, Sometimes, not often, but sometimes everything melds together producing a masterpiece: design, execution, materials. You have two such masterworks. Congratulations.

Mark, While I also am not a Muskrat fan, yours is an exception. Too beautiful to pass up.

Posted: **Wed May 19, 2021 2:15 pm**

SSK,
Swell looking stag on that one and nice photos. Every once in a while a nicely matched one comes along and they are indeed stunning. I agree that the muskrat patterns seem kinda boring to many collectors, myself included. Just not much utility for the pocket in two Turkish clips most of the time. However as a young man running a trap line I came to appreciate that purpose driven design.

Posted: **Wed May 19, 2021 11:08 pm**

Thank you Quick Steel and Open Range.
Mark, is your stag Muskrat a single spring ? I think it might be a 2 spring Muskrat ?
Schrade made the Muskrat both ways, as a single spring and with 2 springs. I much prefer the single spring version.
kj

Posted: **Sun May 30, 2021 4:58 am**

Roland, that NW Presidential is the best mammoth Pres that I’ve seen. Simply outstanding! The Barky Babar is absolutely gorgeous as well. I don’t have many 53s in my collection, but this four blade Cuban Castro version is one of my favorites.

Posted: **Sun May 30, 2021 7:52 pm**

WOW ! Your 4 blade Ivory Cuban is Outstanding !
The 3 & 4 blade GEC's are not as popular with collectors as are the single blade knives but to an old collector the 'multi' bladed knives are highly prized. I think your "Cuban" is one of the top GEC's. It will be admired and desired just as much in 100 years time.
kj

Posted: **Sun May 30, 2021 10:46 pm**

A beauty of a 4-blade.

Posted: **Mon May 31, 2021 5:23 am**

Thank you for the comments, fellas. Let’s see...I think I’ve got a NWs presidential picture here somewhere...

Posted: **Mon May 31, 2021 12:41 pm**

I’m not a huge fan of acrylic, but I did really like the uniqueness of this 53 and the guitar shield. This is “Eggs & Hot Sauce” acrylic.

Posted: **Fri Jun 04, 2021 5:43 am**

Buckibbq,
Really nifty original design by GEC on that one and good job on that photo, too. Gotta love the guitar shield and name.

Posted: **Fri Jun 04, 2021 5:43 pm**

I always thought the Northwood's Presidential was on the GEC #98 frame till later educated. Never the less a slim package that carries very well in the pocket.

Posted: **Fri Jun 04, 2021 8:56 pm**

Thanks, OR-19...ya just can’t have eggs without a little dab of hot sauce to get the blood pumping!

Tim that red Pres is looking mighty fine, glad it’s seeing some pocket time. I’m threatening that blue one with the same course of action!

Posted: **Sat Jun 05, 2021 3:13 pm**

Buckibbq wrote: ↑Fri Jun 04, 2021 8:56 pm Thanks, OR-19...ya just can’t have eggs without a little dab of hot sauce to get the blood pumping!

Tim that red Pres is looking mighty fine, glad it’s seeing some pocket time. I’m threatening that blue one with the same course of action!

That blue is amazing as I have said elsewhere I believe. It definitely deserves some pocket time

All About Pocket Knives

GEC #53 (The President Meets Babar)

GEC #53 (The President Meets Babar)

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