Tsar Bomba wrote:kootenay joe wrote:TB please be sure to post your evaluation of this knife when they arrive. One of the dealers gives 6.5 as pull strength which sounds about perfect for this knife. Hopefully all have a similar strength spring.
Similar to CK who says snap is a 6 while W&T is 4 of 5. I'll post my impressions when the first gets here (had to order from 2 dealers to get 2 knives). I turned out not to be too disappointed on the change from green camel bone to aqua blue and I think the size of the 12 is right in the wheelhouse for this pattern.
So I got my two #12s in smooth aqua camel bone. 2 different dealers, one via reserve and one via open stock.
My phone is on the fritz so no pics currently.
First, the reserved knife. Matched, deep blue-green bone with end-to-end color in various hues as commonly seen in camel bone. Perfect centering. Great W&T (4/5 might be an understatement). Run-up is great if not flawless (no visible bumps, feels smooth). Snaps well but not obscenely in both directions (I'd call it a solid 5 on both open and close). Good, GEC-quality F&F. Since I'm out of pocket on photos, I will say that this knife looks very much like the one pictured by Sharpnshinyknives today and not at all like kootenay joe's lovely "soft green" from before. BTW, the edge on mine was razor-sharp (though I have gotten GECs that required a few passes on a stone right out of the tube).
Second, the open stock knife. The mark side bone is like some of the 80s Case Appy knives that came out with very little absorbed dye except for small patches - in this case, a "stripe" down the middle of the handle in an almost perfect lien with the houndstooth shield, plus some random light dye towards the edges. This, for me, is not a problem, as this knife is intended to be a user (and as a general fan of camel bone on knives I kinda like the way it looks). But with the deep blue green color of the pile side bone, the knife could come off like a cobbled or half-rehandled knife to the unwashed. Construction is good with a couple notable exceptions. The blade veers pretty decisively to the left in the well when looking at it from above with the pivot end at the top. It doesn't rub the liner but it's nowhere near centered as some people demand from GEC. Again, not a problem for me on a user knife, but it's not as if I paid any less for this one than I did for the reserve/safe queen. Run-up is also disappointing - there is a noticeable bump between spring and blade tang, although the blade does open straight and true like the reserved knife. Finally, the action is rough. I haven't taken any quick release to it as of yet (this one just showed up today) but it's gonna require some work and I hope it doesn't have a permanent gritty condition like some of the late model Queens were famous for. Blade is also sharp although not as sharp as the first one (but not dull as KJ described his). Once I work the pivot a bit I'm putting the knife to an Arkansas stone.
Oh, and since it's become an issue for some GEC shipments lately, neither knife has any cracks in the handles.
Conclusion: With the drastic increase in output from GEC for 2019, I believe our worst fears are coming true. Consistency in QA appears to be suffering, badly in some areas, and I feel like they are treading a thin line that might stick them with the same kind of stigma Queen/Schatt & Morgan was burdened with near the end.
Really hoping the upcoming punch whittler is a shorter run than these (and that our AAPK #97 isn't rushed out to us without due diligence).