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GEC "Hayn' Helper"
A knife arrived in the mail today. A, ‘Hayn’ Helper”. Via Gary Norton, <northwestknifecompany>.
It is a Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC), a strictly utilitarian knife.
First impressions, very well made. (Not made in China, Made in USA). Blades are hard solid snap, and both ½ snap.
Blades were sharp enough from the factory, (However they will get sharper)
Because I had some errands to do, after I picked it up from the PO. I played with it in the car. (Not at all like TEXTING) Could easily open the big blade with one hand. And easily close both, with one hand. (This is where the solid, ½ snap comes in. Closing a pocket knife, with one hand, without nicking the back of your fingers). When I got home, first thing, (needed to anyway) used this cutting Golden Rod stalks, and taking the ‘mousy’ out. (Actually a Gall Fly larva, out of the GR’s that have a, ‘bump’ in the stalk). This is the only work I have done with it so far. And it worked Very Well for that purpose.
One thing I would do a bit differently is, (Everybody that uses a knife has their own ideas on how to make it better, ‘for their use’), is on the large blade, a ‘L” or little ‘lip’ , or maybe even a “ T “. on the back side of the blade, for easier one handed opening. Not the knob on the blade, like some have, just a lip or L, so it is a little better purchase when one hand opening. Also the Lanyard hole, a bit larger in diameter. (A lanyard doe not come with the knife !)
Overall, if this is the quality, of a ‘cheep’ version of the GEC, would not hesitate to get a, better one.
This knife reminds me lot of the 3.00 Imperials, I bought 2 - 3 times a year at the local hardware store, because I ether broke, lost or wore them out. If the 3.00 Imperials were of this quality, wouldn’t have had to worry about breaking or wearing out. Losing, that a different story !
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on
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That looks like a pretty substantial blade. Is it wide enough to rest your thumb on for cutting chores or peeling?
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Permalink Reply by Le Coutographe on
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Nice looking knife. What happened with the pivot pin ?
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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on
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We have one of these Tom but have never used it (yet). Maybe this will inspire one of us to get it out and use it LOL
Nice to know t is a good one hand opener :)
Thanks for the review
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Permalink Reply by Tom Radde on
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Just got back in, (Piled up a little wood, just in case I need it LOL)
Steve: It looks wide enough, It feels wide enough. Don't know yet, Haven't pealed any apples or beats with it. But it does work well on Deer Liver skinning, and on Deer Tongue removal/skinning. So far, it looks like a quality, utilitarian knife.
LE: This is a "F&F" GEC knife. (Farm & Field), As so stamped on the, 'hinge'. It looks like a pin was driven through, and a washer, ('Rivet") then peaned over, then polished flush. If I don't drop a drop of, Ballistol, of the hinge, could be a potential problem, as I don't see a way to, 'tighten' it. BUT, if I do, 'take care of it', And if, after taking care of it, it does loosen, I think the GEC Company will fix it.
Their may me someone who comments on more 'teck' 'Talk about that.
(Tech, not to be confused with Trek as is, "Beam Us Up Scotty' LOLO)
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Thanks Tom it good to know if its a comfortable blade top for pushing through something or as you say just peeling apples. I find a little broader blade really works well.
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Jan: Yea, (Right handed), Thumb/ First finger, grasp big blade. Heal of your hand against one side of butt of knife, Other side of butt of knife against your leg, and pull.
When you have a bale in one hand, and realize, the strings are too tight, and you can't just shake them off, you need to cut them, the one handed comes in real handy. (Haven't had the need to to that for a number of years, but old habits die hard)Thus the, 'idea' to have a lip or ''T ", on the back side of the blade, to have a better purchase.
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Steve: The back of the blades are 1/16", Enough to, 'push through something", (If the blade is sharp).
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A-Yep, the GEC “Hayn’ Helper” sure ain’t gonna win no beauty contests. But if you use a knife, this one works. (So Far).
Only had it for a couple of days, and it has cut the, (Plastic) ‘twine’, strings on a tarp, covering a wood pile Cut some bows off a Colorado Spruce, for a grave marker. Shaved some wood off a, ‘door’ for a deer stand. Cut a 1-½” black plastic pipe off, (Other end is a funnel for the deer stand, for ‘you know what for’). Cut a cardboard box to size to ship something, (Although cutting cardboard, is NOT REALLY a hard task, any old cheep knife that has a edge will do). And took some Basswood, (Aprox 2x2”) and cut/shaved, some, ‘curls’ in the end for starting fires in the stove.
Have to say, being ‘cheep’ for a GEC, it is much better than the, ‘Cheaper’ ones not made in the USA.
Now before you all get your panties in a bunch, I, DO Understand, a, ‘good looking’, AND functioning knife. So the same as a Savage 67 plain bbl, rusted pump, vs a shiny Win 21. However one cost $50.00 and one cost $5,000.00. Yep, BOTH will, (if the barrel is pointed in the right direction), will bring down a goose. Which one is better ? (Eye of the Beholder) . When ya pull up to the duck blind parking area, and pull out a 5,000.00 gun from a rusted out 500.00 Jeep, Some eyes will, ‘raise’, some others will say: “Heck, I got 3 shots, you only got 2”. So the same with knives.
If, you are in need, of a, ‘working’ knife, (That has all the indications of really lasting for hard work), So Far, the GEC, ‘Hayn’ Helper’ seems to be the one.
Don’t worry, if it falls apart, I’ll let you know !
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OK, last post for a, ‘tribute’ to the utilitarian’ knife, (Hayn’ Helper by GEC).
It snowed out a bit here in Central MN on Sunday.
So out, ‘playing’ with the snowblower today.
3 times, had to ‘cut’ off, Golden rod, Prickly Ash, and some brome grass, off the snowblower shaft to make it throw more efficiently. (Yes Mom, I DID, shut off the machine, before reaching into the auger).
Used the GEC Hayn’ Helper. It worked, and worked well.
Would another knife also worked, sure. Would my Rem Trapper worked, sure, BUT, because the GEC H,H, knife, also has a lanyard hole, and I slip in into my pocket, it was SO easy to pull out with my insulated bibs on. And yea, I hit the steel shaft, and yea, I will have to sharpen it tonight, But putting a working edge on 1096 steel, is SO much easier than SS. So …, I have more time for a ‘Amber Fluid’.
Got mine from: Gary, (a member here ) a href="http://www.northwestknifecompany.com/>" target="_blank">http://www.northwestknifecompany.com/>;
Just a couple of photos, showing why, I like a Lanyard hole in a, utilitarian, pocket knife.
Oh, on another note, when I get a ‘rountuit’, I will post here, a photo , and comments, of a #8 of 25, of a ‘GEC Maverick’.
White River Knives
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