Gayle Bradley 1- We need more

P2P

P2P

Joined
Jul 24, 2010
Messages
1,765
For what it’s worth, I know Sal watches this forum from time to time. I took a nap today, woke up, and realized I need a GB 1 in my life. So many things about the blade shape I would love to have in a work knife.

Sure I can find one at double the price if I keep an eye out, but there was something about that model that created a following. I bet it would do well if they ran another batch.

I’m even thinking of trading some sprint run spydies to find one.

Cheers!
-Dalton
 
I've never handled either of them.

What is better with the GB vs the GB2?
 
+, I totally agree with you OP.
As a happy owner of the GB2 I am 100% sure I will buy the original GB in a heartbeat if Spyderco release it again.
 
353 said:
I've never handled either of them.

What is better with the GB vs the GB2?
Click to expand...

I've got them both. Similiar but not identical. Which is "better" depends on personal choice.

FWIW, I like the GB1 better because it has thicker liners w/a thicker/shorter blade & handle that feels heftier & fits better in my hand.

The shape of the GB1 blade resembles the Stretch but it's bigger. The blade on the GB2 is unique to itself (doesn't match any other Spyderco in my collection) and can best be descirbed as a "stretched" out/sleeker version of the GB1 blade.

Here are a few pics to illustrate the differences. The GB1 is on top or on the left in the pics.

BMwCJyk.jpg


EfE34Ac.jpg


cjmXiqS.jpg
 
Last edited:
Almost had the chance to buy a very nice specimen of a GB1 but it didn't pan out. Although I've come to appreciate K390 more than M4 I still wish to own a GB1 someday.
 
Gb1 and 2 are fantastic. I have a 2 that’s in my daily carry rotation. I have two 1s in the safe. I guess I’m saving them for a trade or till I retire the two. Bradley is an awesome knife designer. I have an air I carry too. That’s a way under appreciated knife.
 
I have two of each (backups), and carry both. They are both very good EDC knives, but I consider them completely different designs.

The GB1 I like just a bit more, as I like being able to have my finger close to the cutting edge. I also like the blade shape a bit more.

The CPM-M4, hollow ground blade cuts, and cuts, and cuts. Mr. Bradley knows a thing or two on crafting a high performance blade.

However, when left in a sweaty pocket, or left wet for any period of time it rusts pretty readily. Not an issue for me, but the blade will not stay shiny long. I love the character it builds.
 
MolokaiRider said:
I have two of each (backups), and carry both. They are both very good EDC knives, but I consider them completely different designs.

The GB1 I like just a bit more, as I like being able to have my finger close to the cutting edge. I also like the blade shape a bit more.

The CPM-M4, hollow ground blade cuts, and cuts, and cuts. Mr. Bradley knows a thing or two on crafting a high performance blade.
Click to expand...

Me too, and couldn’t say it better. Did need to modify the GB2 due to my fat thumb though.
 
Used mine for a week recently .
About as good as you can get in my opinion .
A bit heavy compared to my usual carries , but not a problem in the real world .
Will never sell it , just use it occasionally to remind myself what a proper knife feels , acts , cuts ,behaves and should be like .

AeJS5Eg.jpg
 
If it wasn't for the proud liners I might not have given mine away. When cutting hard material that handle was one big hotspot.
 
It's one of my all time favorites not in small part because it was my first experience with M4 which has become one of my favorite blade steels up there with Cru-wear. If Spyderco were to do a sprint it would need to keep M4 and change the scales or get a GB approved blade steel. 4V, Vanadis 4E, Vanadis 8, REX 45 or 10V maybe? Magnacut will sell like crazy and I'd love it in a GB1.
 
I did a quick search and it looks like GB has used PSF27, which is a sprayform of D2, quite a bit. So that might work for a GB1 sprint run. I don't have any PSF27 knives and several D2 knives as it was a favorite once upon a time with several Dozier fixed blades and Paramilitary 1 in D2 that was my favorite knife before retiring it. I still carry one of the Dozier's every year during hunting season. Someone just needs to pony up the ~$100,000 to get this sprint going and then we can wait a year and a half for it to land.
 
I wish there had been more custom scale makers around when the GB1 was out. I've always wanted a liner delete scale for the show side, but no custom makers have done anything like that.

If anyone knows of scale makers that will do GB1 scales/liner delete, please let us know in this post!
 
MolokaiRider said:
I wish I woulda bought 10 of these things back when they were available and at around 120 bucks.

Looking back, I don't think we knew how lucky we were to have these available.
Click to expand...

Haha, I feel the same way about the GB2 from when it launched and was widely available... Checked my email receipts and a late 2015 pre-order for an early 2016 delivery was $128 shipped.

Now you're lucky to find one in stock at $171.
 
$99.99 in 2010 here. Pre MAP were good times

I never found the exposed liners to create hot spots, but the lack of lock bar exposure bothered me. It was easy enough to DIY a fix though
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top