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GEC Caps off Summer Releases with the Angus Jack

September 10, 2021

GEC is getting ready to drop its latest model, the #86 Angus Jack. The Angus Jack is a new variant on a rugged two-blade pattern that GEC first introduced a couple years ago.

2019 marked the debut of GEC’s #86 pattern. It was a simple but sizeable two-blade jack knife, with both blades folding out of the same end. The first knife built on that pattern was the Oil Field Jack, which had a clip point main blade and a sheepsfoot secondary; the sheepsfoot was smaller and opened with an off-side nail mark. In both the Tidioute and Northfield UN-X-LD flavors, the Oil Field Jack had bolsters on both ends and a wrench-shaped shield. The Oil Field Jack was also the model chosen by BladeForums for its limited edition 2019 forum knife. The forum knife version had a single sheepsfoot main blade and African blackwood covers.

Interestingly, the Angus Jack is more reminiscent of that forum knife than the standard Oil Field Jack. It too has a sheepsfoot main blade, which is a tried-and-true shape in both traditional and modern knife genres for its all-purpose capabilities. But the Angus Jack does have a secondary blade, a by-the-book spear point penblade for when the sheepsfoot just isn’t delicate enough. Both blades are made from GEC’s nigh-universal 1095 carbon steel, and in keeping with the bovine theme, the main blade has a bull stamped on it. Both nail marks are situated for right-hand opening.

The handle is a plain teardrop shape, a pared back silhouette very much in keeping with historical slipjoint knives. The Angus Jack is a single bolster model, and comes with macassar ebony wood covers – with a bit of a twist. The covers will be available in two different finishes: a lighter “medium rare” color, and a darker “well done” option. Gone is the wrench shield too, replaced by a more conventional crest-shaped one.

Some Well Done Angust Jacks on the production line

The Angus Jack is scheduled to be available with dealers soon. As with any recent GEC release, available stock will evaporate quickly, so start watching dealer sites now. The Angus Jack is going to be followed by another riff on the #86 pattern; this one will have a single clip blade made from 440C stainless and come in several different cover options: natural bone, red and black linen Micarta, and OD green canvas micarta.

Knife in Featured Image: Great Eastern Cutlery #86 Angus Jack

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