Product Details
Blade Length 3.75
Overall Length 8
Closed Length 4.5
Weight (oz) 5.6
Source Previously owned
Additional Specs
Knife Type Tip Up Clip
Blade Details Clip Point
Handle Material Metallic
Other Details Tactical
About the Maker
GTC Custom Knives
The GTC logo and the man behind it, Brazilian Gustavo Thome Cecchini - that's Gus to us - is well known to everyone in the knife world and has been working on knives since roughly 2004. Born 1974 in Brazil from Italian descendants, Gus had a balance of country and city life, which later led to his main field of study and profession, Agronomic engineering. Gus took this newfound knowledge and moved to the family's farm where he worked with agriculture and cattle. During Brazil's long and dry winters, Gus took up knife making as a hobby, learning along the way. Gus made use of the limited tools and steels available on the farm, having little more than a drill press and making his own belt grinder out of spare farming equipment and parts. Self-taught and eager to learn, Gus scoured the Internet as well as available books for literature on knife making. Soon after, Gus was awarded Best New Maker at the 2006 Sao Paulo Knife Show. Gus took the next logical step and began making folders. With the same learning-by-doing philosophy, Gus engineered his own custom pivot-bearings which he patented and shared with the community. Gus applies this innovative practice constantly and has added many firsts to his folders. Unique assisted-opening (2008), Front Framelock with straight-cut lock-bar (2009), a lock-bar limiter screw, a hidden-clip design that won him Best Innovative Design at the 2012 USN Gathering. In 2014 Gus added a Flush Clip design to his bag of tricks. This spirit of technical innovation is only part of the GTC formula. A look at the designs from the aesthetics reveals another level of Gus's creativity. It's no surprise that his work has graced the cover of Blade Magazine with the caption of "Dress Tactical Folder". Gus uses numerous, varied materials, shaping them into works of modern art. Not only do his creative combinations please the eye, they all come together to function as a single, seamless entity with mechanical tolerances that boggles the mind. Gus is always striving to improve his knives, never afraid to test new theories, always working with the latest available materials, technology and techniques. Gus achieves subtle two-tone surfaces simply by varying bead-blast material from glass to ceramic. Gus takes advantage of the best materials in the community and at the same time, is trying his hand at forge-welding his own steel. The final element to the GTC formula can be found in the minutest details. Screw heads, thumb-studs are custom-cut; clips are harmonized with the blade material, coarse jigging or fine filework satisfy both the aesthetic and functional requirements. Innovation, design, attention to detail and accuracy are the cornerstones of the GTC formula.
Ochs, Eric
"When I was six years old I received my first knife from my Dad and learned how to use it. A year or so later I got a small Swiss Army knife and have rarely gone a day without carrying and using a knife since. Having grown up primarily in the country with family that was active in the great outdoors there was frequent opportunities to find uses for a knife. Over the years I have collected both fixed and folding knives and put them to use in favorite activities like hunting, hiking, fishing, kayaking or working outdoors. In early 2007 I started designing and making knives and am a fulltime knifemaker. Much of my work now is with folding knives but since the beginning I have used the stock removal method. I cut and grind out all of my own blades, handles and frames by hand using only the highest grades of knife/tool steel and titanium for folding knives. Primarily I use CPM S30V, Elmax, CPM S35VN, CPM 154, and CPM3V. I also work with Damascus steels. I send all of my knife blades to Paul Bos to be heat treated and get a cryogenic double or triple temper to insure the very best edge holding and blade toughness. I believe this is the best, most consistent way, to heat treat the stainless and tool steels I work with in order to maximize the potential of the steel. In 2010 I made my first folding tactical knife and have been enthusiastically developing more models since. I find great inspiration from the work of Bob Lum with his exacting fit and finish and clean simple ergonomic designs. There has also been influence in my work from the books and work of Bob Loveless and Bob Terzuola. Also, it has been a great privilege to work with and call Wayne Goddard a personal friend and mentor.In my designs I strive for simplicity and balance that incorporates functional use and quality materials and craftsmanship. I believe the best knives can be achieved by pulling together the elements of form and function while creating works for enduring use."