A Few Of Our Favorite Great Eastern Cutlery Knives
Oct 24 2020 - 5:37
While many knife enthusiasts can appreciate the convenience of having a frame locking partially serrated folding knife clipped into their pocket, there is something to be said about a classic slip joint knife. For users who can appreciate the beauty and convenience that comes with carrying a high quality classic pocket knife, our Great Eastern Cutlery Knives are a great choice.
Great Eastern Cutlery is a brand dedicated to manufacturing traditional pocket knives. Based out of Titusville, PA, GEC Knives is keeping the tradition of building authentic American pocket knives alive. In order to truly honor the practice of making these knives, the team at Great Eastern Cutlery have made an effort to preserve many of the manufacturing processes that knife makers used centuries ago. They combine these practices with some modern machining, but the average Great Eastern Cutlery knife goes through over 200 manufacturing steps from start to finish.
Long before the invention of multitools and products like the Swiss Army Knife, people still needed knives that could perform a wide variety of tasks. Many classic slip joint knives feature several small blades with different blade styles so they could perform a range of jobs. One classic example of this is “congress” style pocket knives which were equipped with multiple blades that allowed statesmen to sharpen and shape the points of their quills.
While many users are used to modern folding knives with belt clips and frame locks, slip joint knives were one of the most commonly used knives for people on the go. That is because they are compact, comfortable, and often can have a wide variety of uses. Even today these knives can still make a great EDC option, just like they offered 100 years ago.
The team at Great Eastern Cutlery are constantly designing new pocket knife designs and experimenting with unique handle materials. We keep a wide range of these products in stock and today we will be looking at a few of our favorite knives from this great American manufacturer.
Great Eastern Cutlery Tidioute #62 Easy Pocket Congress - As we mentioned earlier, classic pocket knives were originally designed to make and sharpen quill pens. This knife features two small 1095 carbon steel blades. The larger Wharncliffe blade provides a strong, straight 2.1875” cutting edge while the smaller pen style blade measures 1.9375”. Both blades feature a nail nick and a half stop while opening.
At 3.75” closed, these knives are compact yet large enough to provide a four finger hold for most users, making them ideally suited for performing fine tasks. The jigged bone handle scales offer a comfortable grip, while the curved handle profile makes the knife easy to grip in several different hand positions.
Great Eastern Cutlery Tidioute #23 Trapper Pioneer - The #23 Trapper is a great option for users who love the classic pocket knife look, but want a larger blade. These knives have two 3.75” inch blades made from 1095 carbon steel, which both fold out of the same side of the knife. One blade has a wide spay blade while the other features a slimmer drop point design. The thickness of the spey blade makes it ideal for performing tougher tasks while the smaller drop point blade is ideal for performing fine tasks.
The 4.5” handles on these knives means that they can offer a secure grip. The handle design is also rounded towards the back of the knife and tapers towards the front bolster while leaving plenty of room to access the nail nicks on the blade. This shape offers a comfortable grip that makes these knives a great option for consistent comfortable use.
Great Eastern Cutlery Northfield #86 Oil Field Jack - The #86 Oil Field Jack is a medium to large pocket knife with a simple yet elegant design that tapers nicely between the bolster and the end cap. These knives feature two blades which both fold out of the same end. Each knife has a 2.75” clip point blade and a 2.25 sheepfoot blade. The clip point blade is perfect for cutting and slicing tasks while the smaller sheepfoot blade is better suited for utility tasks such as scoring.
The handle is 3.88”, allowing for a comfortable grip for most users. The smooth handle is symmetrical and comfortable to hold, with rounded edges that seamlessly meet the nickel silver bolster and end cap. The large nick on the main blade is positioned far enough from the handle scales to allow easy access to the blade whenever it is needed.
Great Eastern Cutlery Northfield #23 Trapper Bullet - The #23 Trapper Bullet is a larger pocket knife with a closed length of 4.5”. These knives were so popular that Great Eastern Cutlery Knives have released them again, a rarity from a brand that loves to produce new unique designs every year. These knives have two 3.75” blades that are designed to offer a trapper all they need. This includes a drop point skinning blade as well as a sturdy spey blade, both made from 1095 carbon steel. Both of these blades also feature half stops and comfortable blade nicks for easy opening.
In addition to having two blades capable of performing a wide range of tasks, the #23 Trapper bullet is also designed for comfort. The jigged bone handle scales are easy to grip and feature curved cutouts that make it easy to get a solid hold on the knife while working.
Great Eastern Cutlery Farm and Field #62 Pocket Carver - The #62 Pocket Carver is a congress style three blade pocket knife. The #62 pocket carver is a smaller pocket knife with small blades that are designed for detailed carving tasks. These knives feature a main 2.375” Wharncliffe blade as well as two smaller Wharncliffe blades for achieving finer details.
The handles on these knives are thin and curved, a common feature in congress style knives. The curved belly of these knives make it easy to access the blade nicks and to hold the handle in multiple palm positions. Whether you are looking for a reliable whittling knife or you just need a gorgeous little pocket knife to carry from day to day, the #62 pocket carver is a great choice.
Great Eastern Cutlery GEC #H10118 Hunter - Up until this point we have only been looking at traditional slip joint folding knives. Despite being one of Great Eastern Cutlery’s specialities, folding knives are not the only products they produce. The #H10118 Hunter is a traditional fixed blade hunting knife. These knives have a 3.5 inch clip point blade with a swedge grind to give the blade a strong spine. The blade is separated from the handle by a small carbon steel guard.
The handle itself shows a full tang and the bone handle scales offer an incredible look and feel. At 3.5 inches, the handle offers a comfortable grip and is well balanced with the knife’s blade. A silver nickel acorn shaped inlay adds a nice touch of detail to the handle scales. Each of these knives also comes with a sturdy drop loop leather sheather which features a matching embossed acorn and oak leaf pattern. The fine detailing of the sheath is a perfect accent for these classic knives.
Great Eastern Cutlery Tidioute #38 SPECIAL - If you are looking for a classic single blade pocket knife, the #38 Special is a great choice. The curved profile of these knives give them a truly unique appearance that makes these knives a great addition to any knife collection. The #38 Special features a single 2.9” clip point blade that can serve as a great general utility knife or a knife for performing fine tasks like whittling. The action when drawing the blade does not have a half stop like many slip joint Great Eastern Cutlery Knives. This gives a blade an extremely crisp action when opening and closing.
The #38 Special has a distinct handle design that tapers and curves from the large nickel silver bolster to smaller end cap. The curved micarta handle scales are comfortable and large enough to provide a strong grasp.
Great Eastern Cutlery Bunkhouse Brand K32CAR Slicing Knife - Another amazing fixed blade option from Great Eastern Cutlery is their K32CAR slicing knife. These kitchen knives are unique because they feature a 3.5” Wharncliffe blade. This blade design makes these knives a perfect choice for cutting fruits and vegetables along with other kitchen tasks. The 1095 blade takes an edge easily and holds it well enough to go some time between sharpenings while still providing great results.
To offer the fine control needed in the kitchen, these slicing knives have a comfortably rounded 4” handle scales. The full tang of the knife continues through the handle and the burlap micarta scales affixed securely with 3 brass pins. With an overall length of 7.25” and a weight of 1.7 ounces, these knives are easy to use and would make a great addition to any kitchen.
Great Eastern Cutlery Northfield #12 Toothpick - If you are looking for a distinct frame design, the #12 Texas Toothpick is a great choice. The 4.75” frame is gently curved to meet a curved and pointed nickel silver end cap. Each of these knives contains only a single 2.9375” clip point blade with an easily accessible nail nick for easy opening.
The large handle makes these knives extremely easy to handle. The curved frame and pointed end sits easily in the palm and pony cut bone scales are both comfortable and attractive. These knives would serve as a distinct addition to any knife collection or many a great EDC option for anyone who loves a classic pocket knife.
Great Eastern Cutlery Northfield #97 Allegheny - The #97 Allegheny or “Coke Bottle” Knife is a large single blade folder with a distinct handle design. The 3.8125” clip point saber ground blade serves makes this a great all purpose knife. The knife has a 3.5” cutting edge with a nice belly for slicing and a fine point for controlled cuts. These blades also feature two nail nicks to provide different opening options.
The handle on these knives are simple and look amazing. The symmetrical “Coke bottle” shape fits comfortably in the palm, with the flared portions of the handle making for a comfortable grip. The scales themselves are made with Gabon Ebony and the dark tight grain of the wood looks stunning. A “cloud” shaped shield adds an extra detail to the scales. The heft behind these knives and 8.5” open size make them perfect for anyone who is interested in a large and distinct folding knife.
All of our Great Eastern Cutlery knives feature what we find to be the ideal combination of modern premium quality and classically designed charm. These knives may look like antiques, but they can match or even outperform a lot of modern folding knives with their sturdy 1095 steel blades. These classically styled knives also make a great gift for collectors. Most knife enthusiasts were given a handed-down slip joint knife similar to these options as their first pocket knife. These knives offer the same classic style with modern material quality, making them an investment that can be handed down to the next generation.
If you need to find Great Eastern Cutlery knives or other high quality knives, our team of knife experts are here to help. You can see our entire selection of these beautiful knives by visiting the Great Eastern Cutlery section of our store’s brand page. From there you can use our product filtering options to find the perfect knife to suit your needs. If you have any questions about these knives or any of the other knives that we carry, feel free to contact us. All you have to do is give us a call at 1-(866)-336-2834 or send an email to support@theknifecollection.com. We are always happy to help our customers find the knives they need.