Northfield White Owl with a Bail / Lanyard
I received the first of the Northfield #68 White Owl's today. The Northfields will all have the bail. In the last couple of days I've heard from several of you saying you wished they would have left the bail off. I tended to agree until I got the knife in my hand (and pocket).
The first thing I did was compare #68 (bottom/left) to one of the #33 Conductors (top/right) with a bail.
What struck me was the similarity in size of the 33 and the 68.
The Conductor (at the top) leaves more of the bail exposed making it feel more bulky. While it doesn't look like much, it's noticeable.
I was really surprised that in your pocket, you don't notice the bail at all. It doesn't extend that far above the bolster which was my primary concern.
It still leaves plenty of room to attach a lanyard if you want making it handy to 'find' without too much digging around whether it's in a pocket, pack or glove box. All in all, I'm a lot happier with the bail then I thought I'd be. Great size for someone that doesn't want to carry a bigger knife all the time.
The first thing I did was compare #68 (bottom/left) to one of the #33 Conductors (top/right) with a bail.
What struck me was the similarity in size of the 33 and the 68.
The Conductor (at the top) leaves more of the bail exposed making it feel more bulky. While it doesn't look like much, it's noticeable.
I was really surprised that in your pocket, you don't notice the bail at all. It doesn't extend that far above the bolster which was my primary concern.
It still leaves plenty of room to attach a lanyard if you want making it handy to 'find' without too much digging around whether it's in a pocket, pack or glove box. All in all, I'm a lot happier with the bail then I thought I'd be. Great size for someone that doesn't want to carry a bigger knife all the time.
Thanks for the comparison photos,Greg !!! I had wondered if there was much difference in the size of the "#68 White Owl"" vrs, the " #66 Bullwinkle J.Moose"" ??? and as I can see,from your comparison to the Conductor,there is not enough to notice,nor for me to get to excited ?? Seems to be just another blade combo,on the #66 pattern,so why re-name it #68 ???____JMHO,----Monk**
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Monk, I'll try to remember to shoot a couple of pix next to the 66 tomorrow, but I think you're probably right.
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Couldn't wait until tomorrow. The profiles of the 66 Mink (top) and the 68 White Owl (bottom) are obviously closely related.
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Greg,___WOW !!!again and thanks,for the comparison photos !!!! It's something similar to the #53 and #54 patterns_extra backspring ??__not much difference,until you have your hands on one ??? The #68 pattern being the smaller of the two** and ""equal end,vrs. serpentine,and the blades ride one backspring ??__again,thanks for sharin' !!!!!_______Monk**
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Always glad to help out. Until you brought it up, I never thought about a side by side with the 66. Thank YOU!
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Thank you for the excellent pictures Greg. I am a big fan of bails, so I will definitely be ordering one from you soon. I think I am going to wait for a clip point version though. Maybe snakewood or cocobolo.
Regarding comparisons to the 66, the single spring is a big difference, and so is the handle shape since the 68 is not serpentine. Similar knives for sure, but sufficiently different.
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The single spring makes a BIG difference when you have both knives in hand.
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Do you think that you will get any of these northfields with the clip blades?
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Sure will.
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OK, I know that you veteran collectors are aware of this. It sure looks like that this is going to be the last pattern issued by GEC this year. Just like a 1964 GTO is worth a lot of money, guess what, so is a 1972 GTO. Just my opinion!!
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Hey Charlie____the last GEC knife patterns, issued in 2010,were ""labeled as 2011 "" ( Western Trapper,Dec.2,2010---Trapper Jack,Dec.3,2010 ) they are listed as"481211"____that should make that 1964 GTO,worth a whole lot more !!!! but I really like the 1972 also !!!!!! have a great day,my friend*** Monk !!!
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