All About Pocket Knives

Micarta at Gunstock Jack's now. Go get em.

313 Mike wrote:Soooo....I was on standby for a micarta 82 stockman at CK, and never got any sort of notice that they were in, or they had one for me, or not. I saw them up briefly on KSF, but didn't pull the trigger because I was waiting to see if my standby at CK was going to come through.
Did anybody here get one today through the CK early reserve system? Or hear anything from them?
In the past when I have missed out on a standby from CK they have sent an email or text to let me know, then I could pursue other options...

I certainly wouldn't wait if all I had was a standby. If you want one and you see one, grab it! I'd only wait if I had a sure reservation. The price I saw today at DLT was a little lower than I had expected, around $115. I'm sure the copperhead bone will be a few dollars more. The notification I got from Traditionalpocketknives said they don't have blade rub. Can't wait to hear the assessments of our real buyers here.

- Lee

m0nk wrote:

313 Mike wrote:Soooo....I was on standby for a micarta 82 stockman at CK, and never got any sort of notice that they were in, or they had one for me, or not. I saw them up briefly on KSF, but didn't pull the trigger because I was waiting to see if my standby at CK was going to come through.
Did anybody here get one today through the CK early reserve system? Or hear anything from them?
In the past when I have missed out on a standby from CK they have sent an email or text to let me know, then I could pursue other options...

I certainly wouldn't wait if all I had was a standby. If you want one and you see one, grab it! I'd only wait if I had a sure reservation. The price I saw today at DLT was a little lower than I had expected, around $115. I'm sure the copperhead bone will be a few dollars more. The notification I got from Traditionalpocketknives said they don't have blade rub. Can't wait to hear the assessments of our real buyers here.

- Lee

Lee, I have one from an earlier run and it does not have blade rub unless you push the blade over as you are opening it, have to pull straight up.

True story guys... I had a possum in my garage, for the past week or so. My wife saw it one night last week when we had the door open a little to let in the cats on a cold night, and she shut the door on it, for reasons known only to her. Lots of clutter so I couldn't find it, and leaving the garage door open during the day didn't help either. Today I found out why... there was a metal trash can in the corner, and today I looked in it, and guess what I found inside? The possum. He had somehow gotten inside but couldn't get out. The trash can was up against some shelves, all I can think of is that he climbed up the shelves and fell into the can. So I took the trash can out back and released it tonight.

Lucky for him I don't have a #82 Possum Skinner (or a .22 pistol), otherwise the story could have had a different ending! Also today I saw the first #82 PS production pics, and it does appear to be a single backspring knife.

- Lee

m0nk wrote:True story guys... I had a possum in my garage, for the past week or so. My wife saw it one night last week when we had the door open a little to let in the cats on a cold night, and she shut the door on it, for reasons known only to her. Lots of clutter so I couldn't find it, and leaving the garage door open during the day didn't help either. Today I found out why... there was a metal trash can in the corner, and today I looked in it, and guess what I found inside? The possum. He had somehow gotten inside but couldn't get out. The trash can was up against some shelves, all I can think of is that he climbed up the shelves and fell into the can. So I took the trash can out back and released it tonight.

Lucky for him I don't have a #82 Possum Skinner (or a .22 pistol), otherwise the story could have had a different ending! Also today I saw the first #82 PS production pics, and it does appear to be a single backspring knife.

- Lee

Nice tie in there Lee!

I see tonight that KSF has more of the 82’s in stock. It’s been two and 1/2 hours and they still have stock. Looks like this is a handle material that is not as desirable, it’s canvas Micarta. Wish they had this many in bone.
SSk

I've been starting to suspect that the increase in micarta knives is reflective of GEC's desire to bring the costs down for handle materials. It would also explain why the stag offerings are almost always short runs these days, and the fact that we haven't seen any sort of ivory or exotic bone (minus the NW camel bones of recent vintage) in a fairly long time (short of the #18 which has, frankly, TINY slabs of bone on it).

I hope I'm wrong about that. I almost always favor organic handles over laminates/composition.

I do not like the micarta handles . Will not buy these.

gsmith7158 wrote:I do not like the micarta handles . Will not buy these.

CK just informed me that the bone 82’s are in. Glad I didn’t jump on the Micarta. Hope you get one too.
Mark

Gone by the time I got home.

The micarta 82s are still in stock with no signs of disappearing.

Let this be a lesson to GEC and Bill Howard.

O.K., so Micarta is not that desired by us GEC fanatics. This allows the casual knife buyer a chance to buy a GEC knife and this increases their customer base. Some of the 'casual buyers' will be impressed enough to seek out another GEC knife.
If there were no Micarta GEC or only a few, then all of the new GEC knives would be immediately sucked up by us Fanatics and nobody else could ever get one.
Making a bunch with Micarta is a good idea even though i don't want one.
kj

kootenay joe wrote:O.K., so Micarta is not that desired by us GEC fanatics. This allows the casual knife buyer a chance to buy a GEC knife and this increases their customer base. Some of the 'casual buyers' will be impressed enough to seek out another GEC knife.
If there were no Micarta GEC or only a few, then all of the new GEC knives would be immediately sucked up by us Fanatics and nobody else could ever get one.
Making a bunch with Micarta is a good idea even though i don't want one.
kj

That makes sense. When I was a buyer for a Christian bookstore back in the 80’s for many years. I received some very good advice. Buy 1/3 of what you like, 1/3 of what you aren’t certain about, and 1/3 of what you don’t like and you will cover everyone’s tastes. I think GEC is following that advice when it comes to offerings.
I am not opposed to Micarta. I just didn’t care for this Micarta. Smooth black Micarta is one of my favorites.
SSk

Old Towne Cutlery Has 4 Bone 82 Pattern on there site

kennedy knives wrote:Old Towne Cutlery Has 4 Bone 82 Pattern on there site

as of 5pm cst (and most certainly much sooner) Old Towne was sold out of the jigged bone 82 but I was lucky enough to score the last one JSR Sports had in stock....

Cletus Awreetus wrote:

kennedy knives wrote:Old Towne Cutlery Has 4 Bone 82 Pattern on there site

as of 5pm cst (and most certainly much sooner) Old Towne was sold out of the jigged bone 82 but I was lucky enough to score the last one JSR Sports had in stock....

Nice going Steve.
SSk

Bone 82 Just hit KSF also The Knife Connections.net Has them in to. The Knife Connection is about $8.00 cheaper

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: I am not opposed to Micarta. I just didn’t care for this Micarta. Smooth black Micarta is one of my favorites.
SSk

+1 for smooth, shiny, black linen micarta! I like micarta: black, red, muslin, and especially maroon! My maroon Mudbug is really classy, and I briefly had a maroon #35 Churchill that was very very nice. My red micarta NW Fremont Jack is still my favoritest knife. Even canvas OD micarta has its place on certain knives, and I'm sure that a natural canvas micarta would have its place on the right frame. But that frame is definitely not the 82! The 82 in natural canvas micarta is ghastly. The pics of the knife with the spey and muskrat clip blades both all the way open make the whole thing look like a parasite worm, maybe a fluke or a leech. Just nasty. It would look better in Mardi Gras acrylic, which is the worst cover ever. The copperhead bone looks very nice, and the pics make the jigging look more buffed out and smoother than the recent cheese grater jigged bone we've been seeing. But I'm still not getting one. I just can't do a muskrat clip. I hate it. I have a #48 Improved Trapper, but the slimline blade is an whole different look.

What happened to the "natural micarta" they put on a #15 Beer Scout a few years ago? It was almost orange, and very unique. Where are the black *linen* micarta covers? Why do only Northwoods get black linen micarta? Why all the natural canvas micarta?? And while I'm on this rant, why doesn't GEC ever use G-10? Micarta certainly isn't an old-time handle cover, so why not put on some G-10 covers?

[Edit: it was a natural paper micarta Soda Scout. All this is enough to make a guy want to go out and spend $700 on a custom.]
- Lee

I think Monks makes perfect sense on the Micarta . Reminds me of a plain Jane . I do like the wharncliff blade . Here is a comparison of the GEC 82's And a Case 6347 HP SSP USA which is a little smaller but will grab your heart strings (Classy) . The Bolsters on the Micarta are brush finish & the Bone 82 is polished . I guess the Micarta my get better with age .

Guys, I got a little carried away with my post last night. I was going to edit it and tone it down this morning but I couldn't edit it. Hopefully nobody takes offense, my apologies.

- Lee

offense? preach Brother Monk!
and uh, I'm all the way with you on the Crawdad!...

m0nk wrote:Guys, I got a little carried away with my post last night. I was going to edit it and tone it down this morning but I couldn't edit it. Hopefully nobody takes offense, my apologies.

- Lee

Lee, don’t apologize. One thing that is lacking in this day and age is passion. We can tell you are passionate about this. I like this kind of enthusiasm.
I do disagree about the muskrat clip, I do like the muskrat clip on just about any knife. California clips are right up there too. It might not have been the best choice for this pattern, I will let you know when I get my bone 82, should be here any day now.
SSk

Thanks for the kind words. I want to keep this light and not put a damper on anyone's enjoyment of their knives.

- Lee

m0nk, it is a GREAT post. Don't change it even if you could. You said things that helped me, like how nice the maroon Micarta is on the #35, and other things too.
Good information, well said, keep on truckin' man and post more.
kj

m0nk wrote:Guys, I got a little carried away with my post last night. I was going to edit it and tone it down this morning but I couldn't edit it. Hopefully nobody takes offense, my apologies.

- Lee

I also enjoyed your post, Lee and I really like your idea about some G10.

It’s all a matter of preference. I like micarta because I think it’s a great durable natural looking handle material. I ordered a Dixie stockman it natural canvas micarta. I think it looks absolutely great. I would suggest to great eastern that they continue putting out pattens and various flavors of micarta. I also have an OD green Buffalo Jack that I also think is exceptionally nice.

I also have GECs In bone and wood, but I’m not interested in stag.

But, each to his or her own.

(I’m really tempted by a red micarta Bull Moose.)