GEC Northfield #72 Lockback Wharncliffe. Nail nick question.

sogflash

sogflash

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Aug 28, 2011
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On GEC's front page I've seen a few #72LB. I think all the Northfield #72LB I've seen doesn't have a regular nail nick but a long pull (correct term?). That is except the #72LB with a Wharncliffe blade, that one has a regular nail nick like a Victorinox.

This picture of one made a few ears ago has the long pull.
720110-lb-ebony-wood.png


And here is one of the new one with the small nail nick. Borrowed from knivesshipfree.
gec082713_27__92183.1377644052.1280.1280.jpg


I though Northfield almost always used the long pull.
Does someone have some insight to this.
 
They changed the swedge cut on the blade that prohibited the use of a long pull on the wharncliffe model. Thus they went with the crescent pull on that model.
 
With slipjoints I'm not a huge fan of a crescent nick on a swedge like that as it can be tricky to open but being a lockback it shouldn't pose a problem. Especially as there'll probably be enough to pinch on the wharncliffe version.
 
I have many Northfields with crescent nicks instead of long pulls. With GEC, nothing is written in stone.
Off the top of my head, the only thing they have stuck to is there has never been a Tidioute in stag.
 
As mentioned above, GEC colors outside their own lines at times. This is a good thing sometimes, as I recall a few N'fields in ebony (typicaly Tidioute) trim. In this case, I think the nick placement is much better on that wharncliffe.

there has never been a Tidioute in stag
Click to expand...

Just the 2nd cut jigged burnt stag Tidioute #48 slim trappers & #12 toothpicks, unless I'm terribly mistaken. :)
 
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Good catch, bass, just another example of their fickleness.

In many older Case patterns, second cut stag is the most valuable example, so few were made.
 
In the early days of GEC, I didn't see any rhyme or reason to what they called Northfield or Tidioute. In the past few years, they have refined that to make two fairly distinct lines. Like others have said, there is often a feature or two that cross over. I don't see that as a problem as long as the general feel of the lines remains distinct.
 
Well, I feel all Wharncliffes look much better with a crescent nick anyway (could be more authentic as well). Somehow to my eye the longpull just doesn't suit the swooping lines of a Wharncliffe. Looks fantastic on a Spear and most Clips for that matter. Placement and depth of strike is important with crescents, but as Sam pointed out, with a lockback it's not such an issue.
 
avoidspam said:
With slipjoints I'm not a huge fan of a crescent nick on a swedge like that as it can be tricky to open but being a lockback it shouldn't pose a problem. Especially as there'll probably be enough to pinch on the wharncliffe version.
Click to expand...

There certainly is, I never use the longpull on my old wharnie 72. Can't see the new, deeper swedge changing that any.
 
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