- Joined
- Dec 29, 2021
- Messages
- 4,115
First, I would like to make some disclaimers. The bulk of my collection is OHOs, from classy backlocks to waved compression locks, mostly Spyderco and Cold Steel with the odd Ontario fixed/folder, Moras, and while I do EDC some SAK always (probably the same Explorer for the past month but sometimes 74mms and other 91s), my other trads include a few Opinel, a gifted MoP Winchester 2005, Douk Douks, an MAM, and a K55, (and things like Buck, but not the slipjoints (greatly want to try the larger Buck multi-blade) so this is not my first quality traditional. It is my second American slipjoints, my first of quality, though. It is is my first GEC. Spyderco drops are the top stress I can take. No chance of playing the GEC game unless a reasonable offer in a pattern I like is on the exchanges when I have cash, so... Oh, I also am not a Chinese knife buyer as a rule. In a fit of insanity I bought the Rough Ryders, and another time some Kizers. I have spent many multiples of money more on 'Merican messers.
I just got my first $200 slipjoint today, nicest by far, the beautiful 2023 #34. Love me a wharnie. I was kind of not sure what to expect. The nicest slipjoint I have to compare is the RR Reserve in yellow Delrin.
The walk/talk or action of the GEC are very similar to all three of my Rough Riders,. The GEC is sort of like a nicer SAK action relating to smoothness - not a bad thing. Nice half stop. think it could be more polished on the GEC but am unsure if that lends to longevity or not. The edge was more developed on all three RRs. A knife should come shaving sharp. And with.. a little more of an edge? Think SAK for my edge expectation. The blade quality of the GEC however, is much better, the mirror polish and swedges being amazing. The steel is supposedly of similar quality. I have seen T17 used interchangeably with 1095 and RR does do a good job treating the knives, but the T17 carbon steel is clearly a bit.. better than the stainless, it is also the "Reserve" line, but not a lot else differs between the quality of real world material and action (Use is missing for lack of exp with GEC).
The handle is undoubtedly superior on the GEC, but only because it is extra-refined with the slight hump being a subtle but comfortable and pleasing difference. The horn, while a bit more geometrically jigged than I would love with the symmetrical lines, but is of beautiful color and is still not a big knock on the knife. It is nice and stiff but not overly so, the "nail-breaker pull" was exaggerated. Am sure it will loosen with use but also this is a factor as when a slipjoints becomes loose it loses a lot of the solid carving ability it can have. I speculate the GEC could have more longevity than the RR but the RR seems very solid and like it could last and do the job. It's almost like... An Ontario RAT 2 vs a Spyderco Paramilitary 2. The Para has extra detail and is a finer, quality feeling knife though there is not a thing wrong with the RAT.
So, it seems that both are very solid brands, who, in real reality, do not differ a lot in how they are used or sharpened in real life. The GEC has more "soul" being of natural material and more cared for with the polish and grinds. But none of this is a knock on RR. The RR action is great. Blade is great. The GEC is just another level of nice all around, on a luxury level. It is that, and that I am a knife nut, and is just made in a country I can get behind more, or at least not be horrified of every penny paid to their tax, that made me pay $200 for this knife rather than the $27 on the RR Wharnie, $20 for the other two.
If the RR was made in Taiwan... Whoo. I would feel no guilt pursuing those styles and doing Rough Ryder mostly. I did buy my GEC as a nice user, though. I would not be shocked if the use of the GEC is only marginally better but not badly as I know of diminishing returns, etc. I am very happy with the GEC and just am giving an interesting first impression. With this, you get a real, quality pattern that pays Americans who do a fine job here. You will pay American prices.
This makes me wonder... My first and only Case was a Texas Toothpick, small, worse action, bad grind and edge, didn't take to honing (was the stainless however) but the pink and blue Corleon was pretty. Wobbly. None of these are. If RR does it in China for this price 3x, and GEC aes it, what is wrong with Case? I am not nearly as worried over whether my Buck 303 I will eventually get will serve me well. Am not looking for another Case unless I personally inspect a good model. Gave that knife as an extra to a dude I had to send a knife to two days late.
I will update when I use the GEC a bit but like I said, expect marginally better than the RRs with more pleasure from quality. What a mirror the blades are... Also, for specificity, there are three badges on the Rough Ryders. They were purchased between 22-23. The, I imagine faux-horn Cotton Sampler is much more similar to the RRR in Yellow, with quality grinds and half stop, as opposed to the one in red that has no half stop and a comparitively poor grind. Cotton and red are stainless.
What do you think? Did I get a bad Case and am writing em off prematurely (just all the stories
.. about them and Buck and Buck has been great to me with warranty, above and beyond) or is Buck the highest-quality slipjoint in sub-$100 in the USA? What do you think of RR and GEC?
Uh, thanks for reading my YouTube tabletop review.
I just got my first $200 slipjoint today, nicest by far, the beautiful 2023 #34. Love me a wharnie. I was kind of not sure what to expect. The nicest slipjoint I have to compare is the RR Reserve in yellow Delrin.
The walk/talk or action of the GEC are very similar to all three of my Rough Riders,. The GEC is sort of like a nicer SAK action relating to smoothness - not a bad thing. Nice half stop. think it could be more polished on the GEC but am unsure if that lends to longevity or not. The edge was more developed on all three RRs. A knife should come shaving sharp. And with.. a little more of an edge? Think SAK for my edge expectation. The blade quality of the GEC however, is much better, the mirror polish and swedges being amazing. The steel is supposedly of similar quality. I have seen T17 used interchangeably with 1095 and RR does do a good job treating the knives, but the T17 carbon steel is clearly a bit.. better than the stainless, it is also the "Reserve" line, but not a lot else differs between the quality of real world material and action (Use is missing for lack of exp with GEC).
The handle is undoubtedly superior on the GEC, but only because it is extra-refined with the slight hump being a subtle but comfortable and pleasing difference. The horn, while a bit more geometrically jigged than I would love with the symmetrical lines, but is of beautiful color and is still not a big knock on the knife. It is nice and stiff but not overly so, the "nail-breaker pull" was exaggerated. Am sure it will loosen with use but also this is a factor as when a slipjoints becomes loose it loses a lot of the solid carving ability it can have. I speculate the GEC could have more longevity than the RR but the RR seems very solid and like it could last and do the job. It's almost like... An Ontario RAT 2 vs a Spyderco Paramilitary 2. The Para has extra detail and is a finer, quality feeling knife though there is not a thing wrong with the RAT.
So, it seems that both are very solid brands, who, in real reality, do not differ a lot in how they are used or sharpened in real life. The GEC has more "soul" being of natural material and more cared for with the polish and grinds. But none of this is a knock on RR. The RR action is great. Blade is great. The GEC is just another level of nice all around, on a luxury level. It is that, and that I am a knife nut, and is just made in a country I can get behind more, or at least not be horrified of every penny paid to their tax, that made me pay $200 for this knife rather than the $27 on the RR Wharnie, $20 for the other two.
If the RR was made in Taiwan... Whoo. I would feel no guilt pursuing those styles and doing Rough Ryder mostly. I did buy my GEC as a nice user, though. I would not be shocked if the use of the GEC is only marginally better but not badly as I know of diminishing returns, etc. I am very happy with the GEC and just am giving an interesting first impression. With this, you get a real, quality pattern that pays Americans who do a fine job here. You will pay American prices.
This makes me wonder... My first and only Case was a Texas Toothpick, small, worse action, bad grind and edge, didn't take to honing (was the stainless however) but the pink and blue Corleon was pretty. Wobbly. None of these are. If RR does it in China for this price 3x, and GEC aes it, what is wrong with Case? I am not nearly as worried over whether my Buck 303 I will eventually get will serve me well. Am not looking for another Case unless I personally inspect a good model. Gave that knife as an extra to a dude I had to send a knife to two days late.
I will update when I use the GEC a bit but like I said, expect marginally better than the RRs with more pleasure from quality. What a mirror the blades are... Also, for specificity, there are three badges on the Rough Ryders. They were purchased between 22-23. The, I imagine faux-horn Cotton Sampler is much more similar to the RRR in Yellow, with quality grinds and half stop, as opposed to the one in red that has no half stop and a comparitively poor grind. Cotton and red are stainless.
What do you think? Did I get a bad Case and am writing em off prematurely (just all the stories
.. about them and Buck and Buck has been great to me with warranty, above and beyond) or is Buck the highest-quality slipjoint in sub-$100 in the USA? What do you think of RR and GEC?
Uh, thanks for reading my YouTube tabletop review.
Last edited:
)
