2018 BF Traditional Knife

[Dadpool]

I had a lengthy conversation with Bill Howard at GEC this morning.

Thanks for taking the initiative!

He is also aware of the desire for more stainless, and that is a possibility.

That is fantastic news to say the least.

I may be mistaken, but I think the main hurdle to keeping GEC in the mix this year remains the absence of a member with the ~$25,000 capital to meet the financial requirement for getting a run made with Spark's blessing.

 

[skblades]

While my opinion carries no weight, the knives could be serial numbered, with the numbers recorded as to who they went to. You could at least then be able to identify the flippers, and remember them for future projects.

While I know that the Buck lockbacks are considered Traditional, it isn't what I think of when it comes to a Traditional pattern. While I won't say that I wouldn't buy one, as I've been fortunate enough to have each one since the 2011 offering, it wouldn't be a priority for me.

This is actually a great idea for curbing the flippers. My only concern would be everyone requesting their "lucky number." That can create a headache on the back end for shipping or identical numbers chosen by members.

 

[JupiterPaladin]

Flippers ruin a lot of these kind of things. I'd be all for limiting purchases, or even prohibiting their sale on the Exchange for a year or something.

 

[oldtymer]

Flippers ruin a lot of these kind of things. I'd be all for limiting purchases, or even prohibiting their sale on the Exchange for a year or something.

They would just flip them on the big auction site. I could see a 2 limit purchase one to carry & one for the collection if someone wanted that option.

 

[Signalprick]

I put more blame on people willing to pay stupid prices than I do on the person asking the price. Just my opinion.

 

[Jack Black]

I think the large amount of flipping last year was more because the knife was a TC Barlow than because it was the BF Traditional Forum Knife

 

[Ramrodmb]

I think the large amount of flipping last year was more because the knife was a TC Barlow than because it was the BF Traditional Forum Knife

Exactly. People who have bought multiples in the past have done so to help out and get the count high enough to be viable.

on a seperate note:
As far as serial numbers and a 'flipper' database?? You gotta be kidding me.
All the talk about flippers bothers me more than the actual flipping. Ugh

 

[Signalprick]

Right. Buyers set the market, not sellers.

 

[flatblackcapo]

I had a lengthy conversation with Bill Howard at GEC this morning. First, let me say that he spoke highly of the Forum. He has met many of you at the Rendezvous, and you have represented us well. He described you as being among the very best knife people he knows. Second, it is clear to me that GEC is willing to be very accommodating to us. However, they are busier now, and their runs are larger in order to fill demand. This gives them less flexibility. Bill was aware of the interest of our members in unique and new patterns. Our ability to get something unique depends on how much time he has to work with. Their current production schedule runs into September, so there really is not much time left in 2018 from their point of view. We have in effect limited him to his last quarter.

The next pattern available to us is the #14 in either single clip or clip and secondary with end cap and a variety of handle materials in carbon steel. Bill asked me to make sure you understand that this will be a large run with several SFO's so it might be hard to design something truly unique, but they will do the best they can. There might be time left in 2018 for one more pattern which I could explore with Bill if GEC is the chosen manufacturer. He asked me to not reveal that pattern at this time.

So, there is the choice to be polled, either a GEC #14 as described above (or possibly a second pattern to de discussed later), OR a Buck 300 series, 500 series (to include the 55), or 110/112.

Please rest assured that the concerns about GEC somehow losing touch with us are not true. I am convinced that they will do anything they can to accommodate us. Going forward, the important thing for us to do is develop an organized system that would allow us to begin discussions with GEC early in the year. Bill specifically told me that he would then be able and willing to pinpoint a unique or even new pattern for us. That made perfect sense to me. Obviously, the more time we give him, the more magic he can work. He is also aware of the desire for more stainless, and that is a possibility. There is no doubt in my mind that GEC values us and our business and will work hard to please us. This year, we just have not had a good line of communication. I hope this helps.

Thank you, Leslie.

 

[rdave]

um, with no offense intended, do knife collectors flip Buck knives?

 

[supratentorial]

um, with no offense intended, do knife collectors flip Buck knives?

buck knife 301 Stockman with BG-42 blade NIB limited edition BCCI
Ended:
Apr 21, 2018 , 3:16PM
Winning bid:
US $242.45

 

[skblades]

um, with no offense intended, do knife collectors flip Buck knives?

Yes they do. I've had ours flipped. Mostly recently a Buck 110, S90V, drop point, Blue Twill Carbon Fiber inlays.

 

[rdave]

ok, there's a start - continue - what else

 

[Railsplitter]

buck knife 301 Stockman with BG-42 blade NIB limited edition BCCI
Ended:
Apr 21, 2018 , 3:16PM
Winning bid:
US $242.45

I haven't looked up the auction but that can't really be considered flipping if the bidders decided how much they wanted to pay.

 

[rdave]

I see a two birds with one stone opportunity... why don't we have Buck do the 2018 knife and then get the ball rolling for GEC to do the 2019 knife? Buck is ready and willing for 2018 and that will allow GEC to take their time in getting us worked in for the 2019 knife... may be a win-win and save us all a lot of gray hairs by not having to do this all over again next year!

EDIT: Pending we have blessing to proceed with SK / Buck

- Kevin

good thought as far as earlier communication with GEC, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to give on 2018 GEC.

Was a poll being taken to decide on the manufacturer.

 

[supratentorial]

Thank you, @Leslie Tomville and skblades

I suspect the cost of all the customizations on the 301 may be more than some are assuming. If we get to a point that we start voting, some ball park figures would be really helpful. Just don't want anyone to be surprised.

 

[supratentorial]

I haven't looked up the auction but that can't really be considered flipping if the bidders decided how much they wanted to pay.

Open bidding on a high demand item is a good strategy. Lots of examples of this from sellers who always seem to have an unlimited supply of TC barlows also. You can call it "flipping" or something else. It's an example of the aftermarket for a limited run of the Buck 301. This is off topic though.

 

[cbr1000]

It's too bad GEC is only willing to offer a #14 or a secret pattern between now and the end of the year. I know the production schedule runs to Sept 11th, but every knife on the production schedule already has in production pictures on their website. There must be quite a few secret runs not on the production schedule.

 

[Pomsbz]

There may be some vocal advocacy for stainless in this thread, but just look at the knives the people who post here carry, almost all of them are carbon

I'd assume that the percentages are in line with the percentages of produced quality stainless traditional knives to 100+ years of carbon steel, the lack of perceived collectability of stainless traditional lines outside of Victorinox specific collectors and the tiny proportion of stainless traditionals made by GEC who almost have a monopoly of modern representation on the porch.

 

[supratentorial]

Here's a 2 blade Buck 301 that was auctioned recently. I'm not sure if it is a factory error or if a tinkerer removed a blade and spring. Just thought it would be a good example. The seller really needs to vacuum his carpet--haha!