2022 GEC #59 Shaffer Farm Whittler Thread

[Alex.Y.]

Might be a Mallard Duck's head on the mark side and left side of the shield.

I love the patterns and colors in my acrylic, but, it is not even near the premium knife that I have come to expect from GEC. Flat spots all over the acrylic. It looks more hexagonal than rounded, like it should be. In all fairness, it should have been rejected for sale. Not correctable because one of the creases runs through the shield. The Ironwood quality in the same model is top notch. Maybe an employee that needs eyeglasses or better training ? Makes the second time in the last four months that I have received a GEC knife with that same problem.

I sincerely hope that this kind of quality is just a bump in the road and not a sign of what's to come from a company that I have had huge respect for, over the years. These are knives that are sold as premium pocket knives and for the prices asked for them, it is my strong opinion is that quality should be expected.

View attachment 1962437

Three strikes - and you're out.

That's interesting. But from that picture I can only see that about 2/3 of handle is flattened, nothing too bad. Even might consider that a unique piece. Maybe you could make more pics from different angles and zoomed in?

 

[HEMI 49]

Collecting, using & buying knives is a funny business..... Seems like everyone has their own set of standards for knife quality....Some of the regular stumbles include:

Blade rap, backspring gaps, sideways (axial) blade play, inletting gaps around shield, gaps at bolsters, pull too soft, lethargic closing, sunken pins, dull finish, vertical (circumferential) blade play, rounded point, centering off, pin cracks, sanding marks, schmootz in the bladewell, blades rubbing, pull too hard, mismatched stag, stag too fat, uninspired jigging, play in shield, proud pins, faint etch, etch blurred, proud tips, polishing compound in bone blood vessels, wood isn't highly figured or full of chatoyance, dyed bone improperly dyed, sanding not fluid or following a geometric profile and a straight line seam in acrylic.....

I'm sure there are other issues that I've failed to document..... But the funny part to me is that we're talking knives; tools that cut things..... And seldom does anyone comment or care whether the knife can even cut warm butter..... In fact the knife is worth more if it still has the crappy factory edge on it.... But heaven forbid if we go to the local hardware store and buy a pack of utility knife blades and find some dull ones...

See, I told you that knife buffs were a funny group.....

 

[JoKr]

Might be a Mallard Duck's head on the mark side and left side of the shield.

I love the patterns and colors in my acrylic, but, it is not even near the premium knife that I have come to expect from GEC. Flat spots all over the acrylic. It looks more hexagonal than rounded, like it should be. In all fairness, it should have been rejected for sale. Not correctable because one of the creases runs through the shield. The Ironwood quality in the same model is top notch. Maybe an employee that needs eyeglasses or better training ? Makes the second time in the last four months that I have received a GEC knife with that same problem.

I sincerely hope that this kind of quality is just a bump in the road and not a sign of what's to come from a company that I have had huge respect for, over the years. These are knives that are sold as premium pocket knives and for the prices asked for them, it is my strong opinion is that quality should be expected.

View attachment 1962437

Three strikes - and you're out.

thnx! appreciate your opinion!
we need more open words about issues and problems that arise.
i hope that this will be noticed at GEC in good time.

 

[Alex.Y.]

Blade rap

dull finish

rounded point

Those are straight flaws if present in any cutting tool. It interferes with the main purpose of any knife blade - cutting.

backspring gaps, sideways (axial) blade play, inletting gaps around shield, gaps at bolsters

vertical (circumferential) blade play

centering off

sanding marks

blades rubbing

faint etch, etch blurred

sanding not fluid or following a geometric profile

Those might be considered minor flaws and cosmetic flaws, yeah.

pin cracks

That's an actual manufacturing defect, but it doesn't affect the performance, though still a reason for marking as a second.

pull too soft, lethargic closing

Irritating but one can live with that.

sunken pins

proud pins

Not a flaws at all but a manufacturing techniques, just a matter of preference.

play in shield

That's something new. I got play in cover, but never in shield. Must be irritating.

schmootz in the bladewell

Can't one just clean it from there? If I understand the "schmootz" correctly as a small particles left from manufacturing process.

pull too hard

Well, if it is so hard that you literally can't open your knife without vise grip, then it is a flaw.

mismatched stag, stag too fat, uninspired jigging

wood isn't highly figured or full of chatoyance

dyed bone improperly dyed

That's not a bug, that's a feature. Again, only a matter of personal taste.

proud tips

That may potentially lead to cutting your fingers or insides of your pocket/purse, so that is a flaw.

polishing compound in bone blood vessels

Cosmetic issue, but quite annoying because you can't clean it out easily.

straight line seam in acrylic

Technically that's a cosmetic flaw, but man, I still can't believe they did put those on recent 85s. Should've returned that bunch to the manufacturer in my opinion. I really hope they got some refund for those from their acrylics supplier. Ugh...

 

[Jiki]

Collecting, using & buying knives is a funny business..... Seems like everyone has their own set of standards for knife quality....Some of the regular stumbles include:

Blade rap, backspring gaps, sideways (axial) blade play, inletting gaps around shield, gaps at bolsters, pull too soft, lethargic closing, sunken pins, dull finish, vertical (circumferential) blade play, rounded point, centering off, pin cracks, sanding marks, schmootz in the bladewell, blades rubbing, pull too hard, mismatched stag, stag too fat, uninspired jigging, play in shield, proud pins, faint etch, etch blurred, proud tips, polishing compound in bone blood vessels, wood isn't highly figured or full of chatoyance, dyed bone improperly dyed, sanding not fluid or following a geometric profile and a straight line seam in acrylic.....

I'm sure there are other issues that I've failed to document..... But the funny part to me is that we're talking knives; tools that cut things..... And seldom does anyone comment or care whether the knife can even cut warm butter..... In fact the knife is worth more if it still has the crappy factory edge on it.... But heaven forbid if we go to the local hardware store and buy a pack of utility knife blades and find some dull ones...

See, I told you that knife buffs were a funny group.....

The knife is not right or wrong, good or bad. The knife just is. If there is a problem it lies within each of us.

 

[Alex.Y.]

The knife is not right or wrong, good or bad.

I get what you mean here, but have to admit that if the knife (or any other tool) can't perform properly (according to it's original purpose), then it is bad.

 

[Jiki]

I get what you mean here, but have to admit that if the knife (or any other tool) can't perform properly (according to it's original purpose), then it is bad.

If you were to try and cut someone with that knife and it would not cut, well then to that person it would be a good knife. So no I don't have to admit any such thing.

 

[Primble]

That's interesting. But from that picture I can only see that about 2/3 of handle is flattened, nothing too bad. Even might consider that a unique piece. Maybe you could make more pics from different angles and zoomed in?

You found one of the five "Whoops" on this knife. I have bought a lot of GEC knives over the past ten years and I dare say that I don't think I have ever had anything to say that was negative about the craftsmanship of them. Normally, it would be the opposite, where I have had high praise for their products.

I don't believe it is a company wide problem, rather one employee being the likely culprit. The second time this has happened in the past few months or so.

The Ironwood Whittler is just the opposite, nicely rounded covers and high quality all around.

I betcha Bill could walk down the line and do some observation and figure it out rather quickly. One employee in a small business can wreck a sterling reputation rather quickly, with shoddy work.

Personally, I pay more for a GEC knife to get the quality, which should include the finishing of the covers. If all I wanted was a knife that could cut, well, my Case Sodbuster Jr. does that nicely enough, for a lot less money.

Straight line seams in a rounded cover are plentiful in this knife. I have accepted minor problems before and kept my mouth shut. I don't want to be seen as bashing the company, rather hope it might be noticed and corrected before it gets out of hand.

It really is hard to show a three dimensional knife in a two dimensional photo, to show you clearly what troubles me about this knife. Not going to try and I have already said enough about it, I reckon.

 

[Ramrodmb]

The knife is not right or wrong, good or bad. The knife just is. If there is a problem it lies within each of us.

If you were to try and cut someone with that knife and it would not cut, well then to that person it would be a good knife. So no I don't have to admit any such thing.

lol
NXIVM

 

[calm]

All this discussion on factory edges made me remember Queen cutlery, for some reason

 

[Alex.Y.]

I don't believe it is a company wide problem, rather one employee being the likely culprit.

But aren't all knives being inspected by someone before put into the tubes? Which makes it at least two employees, one who messes up and the other who allows that to leave the factory.

Joking aside, I believe many people seen this: someone who handled the acrylics before they were even fitted onto the liners, someone who assembled them, someone who assembled the whole knife, someone who buffed and finished the knife, someone who did the QC and packed them into the tubes... So I guess it is a fact that GEC considers your knife a proper one, not even a second. Kinda sad.

 

[Jiki]

NXIVM

Really? Lol

 

[dovidola]

But aren't all knives being inspected by someone before put into the tubes? Which makes it at least two employees, one who messes up and the other who allows that to leave the factory.

Joking aside, I believe many people seen this: someone who handled the acrylics before they were even fitted onto the liners, someone who assembled them, someone who assembled the whole knife, someone who buffed and finished the knife, someone who did the QC and packed them into the tubes... So I guess it is a fact that GEC considers your knife a proper one, not even a second. Kinda sad.

Quite so, and when the overwhelming majority of these knives are bought unseen via mail order, it is all the more important that QC is effective, particularly at this price level.

I stopped buying Case because I was having to return 4 out of 5 knives due to faults which should have prevented them from ever leaving the factory. I buy GEC because my return rate has been 1 in 10, and as long as they can sustain that I will continue buying (when I can!).

Sadly the DIW 59 I received had a springpin crack, so I await the possibility of a replacement. The Green JB was up to the usual excellent standard.

 

[Alex.Y.]

particularly at this price level

I must admit that GEC are not responsible for each dealer's markup. A few US dealers actually release them for a very affordable price (below hundred). I remember someone said that few years back a TC Barlow #15 was around 70 bucks. Amazing, isn't it?

 

[Ramrodmb]

I must admit that GEC are not responsible for each dealer's markup. A few US dealers actually release them for a very affordable price (below hundred). I remember someone said that few years back a TC Barlow #15 was around 70 bucks. Amazing, isn't it?

That is changing too. The "few" reasonable dealers were at 180 for these 59 whittlers.

 

[Alex.Y.]

That is changing too. The "few" reasonable dealers were at 180 for these 59 whittlers.

Wow... I wonder what flippers would ask for them, probably 500 or something.

 

[Let'er Buck]

Spoke to Ms May at the store the other day. Sounds like 500 stag were made. Surprised they’re still fetching $200+ from dealers after such a ramp up in production.

 

[Jiki]

Spoke to Ms May at the store the other day. Sounds like 500 stag were made. Surprised they’re still fetching $200+ from dealers after such a ramp up in production.

500 doesn't even scratch the surface, especially when folks buy 2. At this point price will do more to curb demand than supply curbing price. This will prove even more true with the entitled that think they deserve lower prices.

 

[Let'er Buck]

500 doesn't even scratch the surface, especially when folks buy 2. At this point price will do more to curb demand than supply curbing price. This will prove even more true with the entitled that think they deserve lower prices.

It’s hard when you consider the quality guys like Albers is producing for $10 more than TKC was selling their 59’s for. Plus, 154 cm, better fit and finish, hand finished satins, best in class materials.

Or on the other side side of the spectrum Jack Wolf being able to supply titanium, expensive carbon fiber covers, and factory perfect fit and finish for the same price in a “traditional” pattern.

Heritage is huge but it’s hard for me to pay $240 from TKC for a 1 of 500 run, 1 of 1,000 of all covers in the run and still have mismatched covers or blade rap. I mean I paid less for my mammoth NW than I would have from any non KSF or CK dealers.

These 59’s are spectacular. The engineering is world class, I’ll keep all three covers forever. Thousands of GEC guys will pay these prices and more power to the dealers, GEC, and the consumer but considering other options I can’t pretend like they don’t have healthy competition. I will be buying more but I will also be saying they’re getting pricy for 2,000 piece model runs.

 

[Jiki]

It’s hard when you consider the quality guys like Albers is producing for $10 more than TKC was selling their 59’s for. Plus, 154 cm, better fit and finish, hand finished satins, best in class materials.

Or on the other side side of the spectrum Jack Wolf being able to supply titanium, expensive carbon fiber covers, and factory perfect fit and finish for the same price in a “traditional” pattern.

Heritage is huge but it’s hard for me to pay $240 from TKC for a 1 of 500 run, 1 of 1,000 of all covers in the run and still have mismatched covers or blade rap. I mean I paid less for my mammoth NW than I would have from any non KSF or CK dealers.

These 59’s are spectacular. The engineering is world class, I’ll keep all three covers forever. Thousands of GEC guys will pay these prices and more power to the dealers, GEC, and the consumer but considering other options I can’t pretend like they don’t have healthy competition. I will be buying more but I will also be saying they’re getting pricy for 2,000 piece model runs.

The market is telling me that none of those things are changing demand. As an individual buyer they may affect your decision making process. But the price still is not high enough to keep stock on the shelf.