Gayle Bradley - 5 Year review

[Vamais]

Unfortunately no pictures, but I concur, the GB1 was the best knife I have ever used or handled. It was a sad day when I lost it at work after 4 years of nearly daily carry.

I first saw a picture of this model in a Field and Stream publication, and I thought "Wow, that's an ugly knife." Probably half a year or so later (2015) I was doing a bunch of internet research on steels, as I was just not satisfied with the edge holding performance of my Kershaw Composite Leek with the CPM-D2 edge. I had carried that knife for years, and the assisted opening and slim handle with the modified wharncliffe blade made it amazing for quick edc tasks (it's still my favorite seam ripper).

Anyways, in my research I came across this steel called M4, and it looked to be what I was after. And it just so happened that one of the few knives offered in M4 was that ugly one I had seen in the Field and Stream book. I did some more extensive research and narrowed down my options to the Benchmade Contego and Spyderco Bradley Folder.

Well, I got the Spyderco. I was blown away with how well built it was and how it was put together. Best liner lock lockup I had ever witnessed, smooth, and extremely solid. And then there was the blade. Lovely blade shape (the belly at the tip I find very useful for outdoor tasks, whereas pointy tips I consider better for indoor edc type stuff). The grind was great, the hole and hump actually were there for a reason, and the M4 cut right into next week. And the handle. Now that's what I call ergonomics. Hold it any which way you like, and it works. This was my first Spyderco, and man, was that a knife.


In a less poetic tone, here are my observations about the GB1:

-The M4 had an aggressive edge. Around this time I discovered Cliff Stamp (RIP) and his sharpening methods, so I applied them and didn't go any higher than 220 grit. It still cut well even when it was dull, which I liked.

-Not a great box opener. With most other steels you can just insert the blade between the cardboard flaps and zip through the tape, but not with the M4. It would cut wherever directed, so if I directed it slightly towards the edge of the cardboard, it would happily cut through the cardboard right next to the tape instead of glancing off the cardboard and staying in the channel between the flaps where it only had to cut tape. I assume this is because of the form, type, size, concentration, and arrangement of the carbides along the edge.

-For the same reason, it was not a good seam ripper. It would just as happily cut the fabric/leather as it would the thread holding them together.

-The GB1 is the best folding knife I have used to date for making tinder/kindling. I'm not sure what made this so, but possible explanations are the bevel angle, thinness behind the edge, the downward cant of the blade, the microstructure of the steel, and the ergonomics. I would hold a piece of wood in my off hand (sometimes with it resting against the ground, and pare off large chips/splinters very quickly and easily. The size and shape of the handle allowed me to grasp the knife very firmly and comfortably. I would put my thumb on either the ramp or on top of the hump, and I think my index finger would be either in the choil or on the bump behind the choil (possible on the GB because this part is a gentle bump, not a point like on many other Spyderco models. I think the height of the handle and the torsional stiffness of the knife (and the height of the hump) made these swoopy paring type cuts possible.

-I never battoned with it, but I was able to use the GB1 to split kindling out of pieces of firewood. I would place the edge across a corner of the firewood with my dominant hand on the handle and the heel of my off hand palm on the tip end of the spine. Applying my weight and a little rocking motion allowed me to split out kindling size pieces. This was possible because of the strong and very solid lockup of the GB1 and the stiffness of the handle (thick stainless liners).

-I really liked the blade shape of the GB1. The size and curve of the belly at the tip was helpful for outdoor tasks--much better than the pointy tips of many other Spyderco models.

-The GB1 did well at normal edc-type tasks (except cutting cheese. Not the best for that). I never wished that it was ffg, and I never felt that the blade was too thick or thin or that the tip was too high or too low.

-I really liked the size and shape of the handle. Hold it any which way you want, and it works. I also liked the contour caused by the scales being smaller than the liners.

-I didn't mind the CF over G10. At times I wished it was a little more grippy, but most of the time it went unnoticed.

-I actually really liked not having a cutout for the liner lock. It was very secure when applying a twisting force to the handle, and it wasn't too difficult to close.

-However, it was difficult to close while wearing thin gloves. The loose material at the tip of the thumb would often get wedged between the liner and the scale, preventing the lock bar from disengaging completely.

-The sub-3.5" blade was nice for areas where 3.5" was the maximum permissible blade length.

-It never lived in a humid climate, and I didn't mind the patina.

-The coating on the clip was very durable, although I did gouge it when the knife slid on concrete with me on top of it :)

-I think the blade could have used a more pronounced kick to keep the index finger from sliding up onto the edge. I considered dremelling out a puzzle joint on the ricasso and epoxying in another bit of steel to accomplish this.

-Mine had drilled liners, and I didn't mind the weight.

-I seem to recall it having a stepped pivot. Maybe this helped with its super solid lockup.

-I really liked how Spyderco treated the M4 on the GB1. Not too soft and not too chippy. And very wear resistant.

Overall this was a really solid, well designed working knife from Spyderco. It's sad that the GB2 did away with many of the features that made the GB1 great (different handle shape, longer blade, thinner liners). I would buy another one if they weren't so expensive on eBay, or if Spyderco did a sprint or exclusive and I could get one for $250-275 or less.

[zenith2]

Ok. 12 years later.

Still have similar thoughts than when I posted initially. Less blade steel and a few more regrinds.

[media] Spyderco Gayle Bradley - 12 years later
[/media]

[JoviAl]

It’s a handsome knife for sure. I have been holding out hope after the GB2 got the CruWear sprint treatment recently that we might see a sprint iteration of the GB1, but so sign as yet.

[GarageBoy]

A decade plus of regular use!

[xceptnl]

Thank you for the update Zenith. I still love carrying mine, though less so recently probably because of the weight to cutting edge ratio. Would be interesting if both Bradley designs had a child together. Air & GB1.

[Brock O Lee]

It's a fantasic model. Built like a tank with those beefy liners, and enough heft to feel substantial, with a great hollow ground blade. I like it a lot more than the Bradley 2.

Could we please get another run?

[Rinzler]

I have three GB2s (including a M4 backup in the box in case I lose the other M4) because it’s such a great knife. I’ve never come across a GB1 but would love for it to come back… here’s to hoping!

[Paul Ardbeg]

@zenith2 i've enjoyed your long term review, thanks for sharing. The Gayle Bradley folders are also some of my favorite knives. I like the GB2 a bit better in the hand, but both are great in that perspective. I enjoy a good hollow ground blade, something you see less and less on Spyderco's these days. The GB2 is the only knife I have a backup for, the GB1 I carry now and then.

p.s. cool knife you made!

[zenith2]

@zenith2 i've enjoyed your long term review, thanks for sharing. The Gayle Bradley folders are also some of my favorite knives. I like the GB2 a bit better in the hand, but both are great in that perspective. I enjoy a good hollow ground blade, something you see less and less on Spyderco's these days. The GB2 is the only knife I have a backup for, the GB1 I carry now and then.

p.s. cool knife you made!

I have a GB1 still in the bag as a backup that I will break out once this one is worn down.

Agree on a nice high hollow grind.

That one GB2 of yours looks well loved.

Ps. Thank you.

[dan31]

I have a GB1 that has become my main edc. Not sure why I let it rest for so long. Exceptional cutting tool and my best folder. This includes some CRK’s, the GB1 is just made to cut.