2012 Forum Knife - Fate of the Knife Poll

[Nixelplix]

It's only $25 more dollars, I don't really see what the big deal is about the extra cost. I'm not even questioning where the money's going. I'd pay up to $200 for this years forum knife- to show support for the forum and for the effort of all the parties involved. I say if you don't want to pay the price asked, then don't get one.

 

[C Ben Susrool]

I voted other - The Government in post #55 sums up my thoughts. The blades in the pictures (Bose custom) are more what I am interested in - narrower, lower profile, sunk more. The blades in the drawing are definitely wider, higher, etc.

Is it possible for GEC to make this knife with the narrower, lower profile blades, similar to most of the Bose custom WTs that are out there? Would the frame have to be smaller (3.5"?) for this to work? For me, the low profile blades are key this particular pattern.

I haven't kept up with all the particulars, I am only in if the blade steel is stainless.
And I agree with the above.

 

[The Government]

neeman,

Im not 100% sure about your company products, but they may be customized by necessity. Taking in those costs might be a necessary part of the nature of your business. GEC, on the other hand started off as an independent production knife company -needing no direct input from the public for them to be successful in making their products and selling them. Asking them to do something custom is more of a favor, as they have to stretch the capabilities and procedures of how they do things -they may have never intended to do any custom knife projects when they started the company, and they could probably survive just fine without doing them. This project might put other projects they have on hold -which could be just as successful. They are not dependent on making customized products to survive.

 

[FLymon]

I see it as the cost of putting ourselves in the GEC product development team.

GEC has good product "mobility" in that they often create new patterns and handle scales, but to be directly in charge of that development is a privilege.

Sure, there will be many people who benefit from us taking on this cost (when they buy this pattern after GEC releases public versions), but those people who benefit will have never had the chance to actually make the decision -like we are. That is what we are paying for.

(All the more reason to make sure we get exactly what we want, collectively.)

With respect, I think you are 180 degrees out of phase with reality.

You realize that companies who sell their products for profit pay people to design those products right? I mean Tony Bose isn't paying Case every time they sell a knife with his name on it I assure you. And while we are not professional knife designers, nor did we actually design the knife (more like picked out the drapes and the carpet), our last effort seems to have served GEC well enough.

The building of 200 knives for a group of people who make up the "regulars" in the Bladeforums Traditional Forum (whom I have to believe collectively represent the biggest customer GEC has), is their privilege, not ours.

While our knives will be unique, they will not be substantially different from the subsequent runs that GEC will build, and we will buy.

If we in fact are being saddled with all the initial tooling costs for a knife that they intend to continue producing, shame on them!

 

[Nixelplix]

I really don't see anything wrong with it.

 

[supratentorial]

There's a lot of talk about $. Is anyone else wondering about whether it is OK with Tony that we copy his pattern? I've seen posts in other parts of the forum that are very concerned with manufacturer rights to produce a custom maker's pattern... or similarity between the patterns of different manufacturers. What's the difference here? Is this homage to Tony Bose? Or is it unauthorized reproduction? I would be happier if we had Tony's blessing or the knife was based on a vintage pattern.

 

[ndeezl]

I have to say this is quite an interesting debate (while derailing the intended purpose of this thread). At first I didn't see the big deal in paying an "extra" $25, we're getting something unique so I'd expect to pay a bit more. Then hearing that the money would be to pay for "tooling" I thought oh, ok, that makes sense, no big deal.

But I think neeman and Stu have good points. If GEC is going to produce other versions of this knife and make a profit (I don't know this to be the case, only hypothesising) then the initial investment shouldn't be on us.

But if we don't pay for it then what motivation would GEC have to make this special knife for us? Why bother if they're already profiting?



This is interesting, but above my pay grade. Alls I knows is I wants one

ETA: Maybe it's not derailing the intended purpose of the thread. One of the poll options did refer to cost...

Nathan

 

[Peruna1998]

I seem to recall that last years Bladeforum knife was a new pattern for GEC, too. Seems to me they have made a lot off of it. A fair question is did we pay for tooling then. I really don't care either way. But, if we did then, we have no reason to howl about it now.

 

[The Government]

Jake, that is definitely something we should get settled. I would not want a single payment to be made without that happening.

 

[ndeezl]

I keep hearing Tony Bose pattern, but doesn't T. Bose do mill relieved liners, pivot bushings and hollow ground blades??

If Kevin is correct (and I'll assume he is ) then maybe that explains why it's ok. Plus Case has a wharncliffe trapper and it's not a Tony Bose pattern (at least TB isn't in the model number) so I think GEC should be safe in that regard.

Nathan

 

[Boggs]

Jake and Gov.....


And I think that's why we don't see this knife looking like a Bose so as not to be confused as a Homage or reproduction...it's more of a Trapper with a clip and wharnie blade ala GEC which is what we wanted. Because we all know we don't infringe on a makers work.

 

[LKJW]

In for whatever!

 

[Pug-butter]

Just curious. Do GEC consistently offer a trapper model with clip and wharncliffe blades? Or is this exclusively for the forum?

 

[Tripton]

I actually like the drawing better than the photo.

 

[zippofan]

Just curious. Do GEC consistently offer a trapper model with clip and wharncliffe blades? Or is this exclusively for the forum?

AFAIK they make a cigar frame wharncliffe trapper at 4 1/4, they did make a single blade wharncliffe based on their 48 dogleg frame for Northwoods/Scagel.

 

[WvHiker]

I'm afraid I'm out. $125 is too much for a knife I wouldn't carry just now. It was fun though.

 

[waynorth]

To clear up a couple of rumors and misconceptions; Tony Bose gives us his blessing (I talked to him today). He said that copying him is the sincerest form of flattery, and he thanks us for the compliment!!!!!:thumbup:

If Spark orders 200 knives and they are as the drawing indicates, then there is no extra tooling charge, because, like last year, GEC will use the tooling for further models of their own. I think this is a HUGE accommodation by GEC, and I say Thanks to them for it!! They designed a knife that we and they can both use!!:thumbup: Let's commit to buying those 200 knives!!

The price has gone up from last year, but when has anything gone down??

 

[waynorth]

I seem to recall that last years Bladeforum knife was a new pattern for GEC, too. Seems to me they have made a lot off of it. A fair question is did we pay for tooling then. I really don't care either way. But, if we did then, we have no reason to howl about it now.

We did not pay for tooling!!

 

[WA Martin]

I said I was in for one and I'm still in for one. I would prefer different blades altogether but I'm good with the current design. I will also still be in if a blade is dropped.

I too would like to thank the team for their work and Spark's willingness to explore this new avenue of distribution and payment.

 

[RevDevil]

I'm in for one. I voted as well.
Thanks to the folks organizing this.