Any GEC But Only 1, Forever

[m0nk]

My taste is similar to Rick Railsplitter's in that I like the equal end patterns and have several Churchill examples as well. This picture is a 2 blade #79 Montana Workhorse. The 79 is beefier than the 35. I like the combination of the big spear blade and the small sheepsfoot. It is a sleeve board frame so the bolsters are round but not equal. I believe the #79 frame is used on the Northwoods Fremont Jack.

Indeed, the famous Fremont Jack is made on the GEC #79 frame. I also like the looks of the 35 Churchill, but I have a sad tale to tell. I'm relatively new to the GEC knife scene, and the 35 Churchill was my first GEC knife. Unfortunately I couldn't get over the thinness of the sheepsfoot blade; it was the same size, shape, thickness, and flexibility of a cheap Stanley utility blade that I keep in a wooden tool tote on my workbench. I ended up sending the Churchill back to the distributor because in my mind I couldn't justify spending $97 on a knife with a blade that thin. That was probably 9 months ago and sometimes I still find myself looking at 35 Churchills, thinking, "maybe that blade wasn't too thin after all..." The size, equal end frame, maroon micarta handle covers, and perfect clip/sheepsfoot blade configuration would otherwise make this the perfect pocketknife. However, it's just not meant to be for me...

But I do know that the perfect forever GEC is this one, which sadly, I don't own, and this is not even my picture:

What I like: The plain clip blade, sleeveboard handle shape, the perfectly straight clip blade that doesn't droop downward, the elusively rare sawcut bone handles, the just-right medium size frame if you can only have one knife, and did I mention how perfect the clip blade is?

Lee

[m0nk]

I've carried some version of the Stockman pattern for most of my life. I prefer rounded bolsters, I'm a real sucker for Equal End frames, and I feel naked if I don't have a Sheepsfoot blade in my pocket. I never had much use for a Spey blade or a Punch blade but a Stockman was the most practical option because it had the Sheepsfoot blade that I needed.

Railsplitter, I also love a sheepsfoot blade. I carried a Case medium stockman for a while, and I found myself using the sheepsfoot blade most of all. However, the thin blades, two-spring crinking, and blade rub made me give that stockman to my wife. She loves that knife and its jigged amber bone handles, and she still carries it in a leather knife slip in her purse. She doesn't care about the blade crinking and rub. So since then I've gravitated to double spring, single pivot jackknives, which tend to have thicker blades. And to remedy my sheepsfoot withdrawal, I got a single blade I-XL British Army Knife, which I carry in a little nylon belt pouch. It's so thin I don't even know it's there, and I love the simple indestructable feel of it.

With so many I have never seen or had the pleasure to own mine would be a 78 American jack. But a close second would be my 43. I picked the 78 over the 43 for two blades and being slightly smaller but still large enough to handle most cutting jobs.
Looking forward to seeing what you choose Kootenay Joe

My Tidioute elderberry 78 would be a second choice to my dream 77 posted above, and I actually own the 78 so that's a more realistic choice for me. Every time I carry that knife I think how much I like it, so much so that I ended up buying the NF golden brown version as well. I know there's not a whole lot of practical difference between the 77 clip and the 78 fat spear blades, but for me it's an aesthetics thing. I also only carry and use my 78's when I know I'm going to stay clean and dry. Yes, those knives are build like tanks and they would most certainly stand up to a lifetime of daily carry and hard use for a one-knife kind of guy. But if I had a Cadillac Escalade, I wouldn't use it for a work truck either, though it could perform just fine in that role.

Lee

[kootenay joe]

Lee, i think the thin sheepsfoot blade on the Chuchill is correct. The Churchill is a pen knife, and even though it is a big pen knife it is not a Jack knife which would have a thicker sheepsfoot.
The pen knife is mostly for the gent's pocket and a gent did not do the rough work. The thin secondary is for gent's type situations, like a super slicer of ripe tomatoes at a picnic, or a quick tracheostomy, thin sharp blade, like a scalpel.
We need to have different expectations of a pen knife from a jack knife.
kj

[kootenay joe]

My choice for one GEC knife to use from now until my expiry date is dictated by something i did 39 years ago: buy a piece of mountainside bush with the idea of making it into a modern day version of a homestead. I am still working on it which means lots of outdoor jobs with gardens, fences, landscaping and out buildings that now need some upkeep. I also hunt (with crossbow) on my property and therefore need a blade that can field dress a whitetail and possibly an elk if very lucky.
I have chosen what i think is THE BEST knife GEC has made to date: the 4 7/8" Texas Camp Knife" made in 2016. Mine is the Charlie Campagna SFO with "Burnt Orange Jigged Bone". Four well designed and perfectly made blades/tools are closely tucked in when closed but nary a blade rub.
Have a look at the dramatic swage on both sides of the 3 3/4" master clip blade, the most impressive clip blade GEC has made.
I like an awl and this one is long and razor sharp. It cuts through leather with ease: just a poke and twist. I have never seen an awl with an edge that is razor sharp. I don't often need to cut holes in leather but i do at times want to poke into or at 'things' and without an awl the temptation to use the very pointy clip tip can be unresistable and the result can be a tipped blade. Lots of tipped blades 'out there'.
There is a 2 1/2" Sheepsfoot blade, razor sharp and reasonably stout. I will keep this as my "surgical blade" for when i need a truly sharp, fresh edge. Tracheostomy comes to mind and i hope i never have to, but at least i have a blade that could.
The 4th blade is a can opener again with a sharp edge that easily cuts through a tin can. I don't eat much tinned food when outside and would have preferred this to be a screwdriver type tool. But i might find other uses for this blade and then be able to appreciate it better.
In addition to all this utilitarian stuff, this knife is extremely attractive and has some of the best jigged bone ever seen on a modern knife.
Alright, enough text, although i could go on with more praise, the pictures will do it for me.
Thank you GEC and Charlie C. for this GREAT knife.
kj

[FarSide]

My choice for one GEC knife to use from now until my expiry date is dictated by something i did 39 years ago: buy a piece of mountainside bush with the idea of making it into a modern day version of a homestead. I am still working on it which means lots of outdoor jobs with gardens, fences, landscaping and out buildings that now need some upkeep. I also hunt (with crossbow) on my property and therefore need a blade that can field dress a whitetail and possibly an elk if very lucky.
I have chosen what i think is THE BEST knife GEC has made to date: the 4 7/8" Texas Camp Knife" made in 2016. Mine is the Charlie Campagna SFO with "Burnt Orange Jigged Bone". Four well designed and perfectly made blades/tools are closely tucked in when closed but nary a blade rub.
Have a look at the dramatic swage on both sides of the 3 3/4" master clip blade, the most impressive clip blade GEC has made.
I like an awl and this one is long and razor sharp. It cuts through leather with ease: just a poke and twist. I have never seen an awl with an edge that is razor sharp. I don't often need to cut holes in leather but i do at times want to poke into or at 'things' and without an awl the temptation to use the very pointy clip tip can be unresistable and the result can be a tipped blade. Lots of tipped blades 'out there'.
There is a 2 1/2" Sheepsfoot blade, razor sharp and reasonably stout. I will keep this as my "surgical blade" for when i need a truly sharp, fresh edge. Tracheostomy comes to mind and i hope i never have to, but at least i have a blade that could.
The 4th blade is a can opener again with a sharp edge that easily cuts through a tin can. I don't eat much tinned food when outside and would have preferred this to be a screwdriver type tool. But i might find other uses for this blade and then be able to appreciate it better.
In addition to all this utilitarian stuff, this knife is extremely attractive and has some of the best jigged bone ever seen on a modern knife.
Alright, enough text, although i could go on with more praise, the pictures will do it for me.
Thank you GEC and Charlie C. for this GREAT knife.
kj

That is a great choice. A truly great knife by GEC. We might not never see those made again. Glad to see it used well as it should, and not tucked away in a safe.

[biglmbass]

Gonna be a 79 2-blade, or a 35 Churchill, or a 61 congress, or an 85 2-blade jack. So, really I can't pick just one.

[kootenay joe]

Big, you don't mind if blades at one end or both ends, as long as they cut well ? Pens & Jacks, love 'em all.
kj

[Sharpcutsbest]

Wow, Roland, I've not seen an awl like that. That clip blade is impressive as well. This knife is a camping knife to me.

Where should I look to find me one of these to play with?

Thanks for this thread!

Steve

[gsmith7158]

Wow, Roland, I've not seen an awl like that. That clip blade is impressive as well. This knife is a camping knife to me.

Where should I look to find me one of these to play with?

Thanks for this thread!

Steve

I saw one listed on Ebay recently for the paltry sum of $795.

[Sharpcutsbest]

I like that knife but not quite THAT much. I'll look elsewhere, thanks, Greg.

[kootenay joe]

There is a Whittler & a "Texas Stock Knife" also made on this 4 7/8" frame at the same time in 2016. All 3 patterns sat around on dealer's shelves for at least 6 months. I think prices were about $130-$180 ?? Now if you see one of the Camp knives like mine the owner is either keeping it or wants too much $$ for it. It took over a year for these to catch on with collectors.
There is a Camillus Bullet repro that is almost as large and is also a very good knife and you can pick up one of these for as low as $50 for the Delrin one. Spend a bit more and get the "Silver Bullet" with jigged bone and you have close to the GEC Texas Camp Knife for a fraction of the cost.
kj

[RalphAlsip]

The 98 Texas Camp knife came in several handle and shield configurations. Here is a smooth white bone example. It is more of an off-white and seems to be mellowing more toward light yellow as it ages.

For reference, pictures of the 3 blade Cattle and Whittler patterns are included. There were several other handles available on these, too. The red linen micarta is in my EDC rotation.

I have not paid attention to any recent eBay auctions for these, however my recollection is that approximately $200 for the 3 blade versions was top of the market. My recollection is that approximately $300 was approximately top of market for the Camp knives. So a listing for $700 or more seems unrealistic (until it happens ).

[kootenay joe]

Those are all OUTSTANDING ! Thank you for posting these beauties. The Camp Knife with smooth bone has me wanting it ! I am now on the lookout.
kj

[m0nk]

I'm a little late, but I had been thinking of a 98 just a day or so before KJ revealed his choice. True story. Too bad I passed on the chance to get a 98 cattle knife at a fairly reasonable price. Early in the year I told myself that if it was still available by my birthday in March, I was going to get it. Well, I didn't get it and now it's gone. But it didn't have the bail like KJ's camp knife version, and the jigged bone is truly classic.

Ralph, as always, nice pics! At least one of us gets to EDC that red micarta 98!

Lee

[Railsplitter]

Here's a Texas Cattle Knife in Kingwood for a more reasonable price. I suspect it won't last long.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/gec ... 5.1602950/