When I first saw this knife in the display case at GEC it was a stand out for me, I loved the frame, I was also in a stainless mood, and the honey bone called to me, so it followed me home.... which meant it was doomed for the pocket. It’s been riding, happily I might add, very well. We have been faced with some cutting chores since our joining of forces, but I was never given a good opportunity to get a Feel. After this weekend I now have a good opinion on the knife, I’d like to share it here.

When I was just about ready to put this beauty in my pocket, I opened the blades and admired it for a second, then I noticed how short the cutting edge is. Less than two inches for both blades, that doesn’t exactly give the user a lot of wriggle room. I was a little worried that maybe it wouldn’t fit in, but I decided to give it a go anyway. It didn’t take long to realize it’s a scalpel of a knife, at 3 3/4 closed, it affords a decent grip for the user, but again it has two “short” blades, so you think before you cut. Those little scalpels will do anything you ask of them, with ease too, you just have to use them right.

I was away from home for this round of testing, but I was an a great place with lots of cutting chores. I spent the weekend at a very good friends place, he also happens to be the owner of the Ithaca Gun Company in Upper Sandusky Ohio. So I’ll have lots to share on the Firearms group as well. Anyhow, on his property is a lake, and yes the fishing was great, after meeting everyone I departed with my brothers, and our best friend to the lake. After a little bit of trying, I started catching, at first a few bluegill and pumpkin seed, but then the Bass started hitting. My brother says I was “catching while everybody else was fishing” I did’t reel a fish in on every cast, it was more like very other cast, so I did pretty good. I hooked a big beautiful pumpkin seed, and he fought as much as I let him, he really hated the thoughts of leaving the water, when I pulled him in I saw that the hook we really dug into his lip, after a few seconds of trying to pull it free I realized it was time for surgery. I pulled out the pen blade and went to work, the little pen blade was sharp enough that I needed to just barely touch around the hook before he was free, with a splash he was back in the water. I finished the fishing test by cutting line for a few different guys.

Then it was time for championship cornhole, it was a new set so some plastic needed to be removed before game time, once again the #61 went to work and completed the task with ease. After loosing miserably again, and again it was dinner time. A beautiful pig was presented right off the grill and the steaks were finished, I needed to cut my steak, so I just reached for my back pocket, and Red Wine had the steak in tasty little bites right quick. Then it was time for shrimp, these things are huge, they catch them fresh while their down in Cabo and bring them back to the states. There was a ton of shrimp to prepare, so I volunteered for duty, as did my mom. They only had two knives, so I produced my two, I handed my mom the #61, and I teamed up with Red Wine, the work was easy, and a lot of fun actually. I knew I had the edge very sharp on my knives, so they cut with ease. I asked my Mom how she like the #61 and she said it did “really well”, so now RW, and 61 have some shrimp prep under their blades.

The next day we toured the Gun factory and wow, what a blast. So much goes into these guns, and they take pride in their work for sure. It reminded me of GEC, and how many in house steps there are, and just how committed they are to producing a 100% American made product. After a really well informed tour we had the opportunity to try out some new product, I’ll save that for later though. Someone needed a knife, so I volunteered again, I opened a paint can with my 61.... I know, but don’t cringe, it was easy and no real pressure was put on 61, it’s just a tool anyhow. (I need to tell myself this so I know that I did nothing wrong.) I was standing there admiring a few of their guns when someone said “Hey, I need to borrow a knife.” then someone asked, “wheres the guy with the knife?” Honestly I was shocked that just three people had knives on them, and I had more knives on me than the other two guys. : ) I handed 61 over and watched as it sliced right through some plastic wrap, then it cut up some plastic twine, I think it really enjoyed the work too. Then someone tossed it back to me and I tested the edge, and man, GEC really has the stainless done right. I was proud to be the “guy with the knife” and I was proud that the knife was a GEC. Both of my knives have stepped in very well as my EDCs, and I’m falling in love with the combo of Red Wine and Honey. 

The #61 half congress is a worker, and it will handle more than I’ll ever throw at it, but it’s good to know that it’s ready for anything. It’s so slim that it makes an easy choice for pocket carry, and I have a feeling that it will stay in the pocket for a while. There is a late trout season here in Pa, and I think we may head up to camp for a fishing trip, so Honey and Elk will get some time together..... I think. I’ve learned that even with a couple “little” blades a lot of work can be completed easily. 

I’ll keep you guys informed on my tests.