Are GEC knives catching on as users among non knife knuts?

Status
Not open for further replies.
mnblade

mnblade

Joined
Feb 7, 2000
Messages
6,696
I've been surfing the net a bit for knife porn -- AKA looking at pics of GEC knives. :p

I know they're extremely popular here on the forum. But I'm wondering if they're developing a rep yet among non knife knuts, but guys who appreciate a good solid carbon steel knife. I mean, Moore Makers have never been cheap either, but they seem to have a dedicated following of customers who tout their solid build and good, quality carbon steel blades. And they did even before the came out with their cheaper yellow delrin line. It's not uncommon to see on that huge auction site a yellow bone-handled MM knife that's been used hard and put away wet.

Seems like that same customer base might pony up $75 or so for a knife the quality of a Great Eastern, not for its collectibility or drool factor, but simply 'cause it's a damn fine carbon steel blade to tote in the field, on the farm or on the ranch. The question is -- are they? And if not, what could/should they do to reach that customer base?

-- Mark
 
Last edited:
GEC? Great Eastern Cutlery? After looking at several threads, yes, it is Great Eastern Cutlery. I own one. It is a very solid knife.

Up until a couple of months ago, I had never heard of Great Eastern Cutlery. I don't understand all their branding, but the few that I have handled seemed to be very well made knives that rank at or slightly better than Queen knives. They remind me of the Case slippies of by gone days.

I think they might catch on if there were more dealers who stocked them. They are not "cheap" knives and hence are not everyone's cup of tea.
 
Last edited:
i think the price range is a little too high for non knife people. gec could make plastic scaled versions to cut costs.
 
I would like to see GEC reach more non knife nuts but I'm not sure if they are ready for that just yet. Their annual production totals are generally pretty low and many of us knife nuts have more than one GEC. Some of us have even had our names on them before they were even made.

Aside from these forums, I don't really have any knife nut friends but I know a whole bunch of guys that carry pocket knives. I have yet to encounter anyone that has even heard of GEC outside of these forums or a knife show.

I think it will happen but it might take some time.
 
If and when they ever carry 'em in the feed and hardware stores (or even a big box store or two) then they'd probably become more of a household name.

(Of course by then they'll be manufactured overseas. (Just kidding.)

From what I can tell here in rural NC, other than Case, Schrade and the "bigger" names from days gone by, most folks (even those who actually like knives) tend to go with the relatively inexpensive and readily available.
 
gec is generally not recognised by regular joes. all the people that i have introduced to gec speak highly of the quality. in general gec is still on the fringe. collectors like them but most pocket knife people are'nt aware of the brand.dennis
 
Given GEC's limited volume production, their craftsmanship, their choice of sales venue(s); and, their choice of steels (1095) and scales, I doubt, and hope, GEC won't change that formula.

- David
 
^ +1

They are the most responsive company to consumer demands because of their "small batch formula."

Sure, you have to pay for a service like this, but it is worth it for the variety and fast responsiveness.

It didn't take long for them to put a real edge on their knives. It didn't take long for them to come out various with sub 4" patterns.

If you ask for it, they might just make it, and it wont be too little or to late.

It just doesn't seem like the kind of business model that would work mass (low cost) markets.
 
Dornblaser said:
Given GEC's limited volume production, their craftsmanship, their choice of sales venue(s); and, their choice of steels (1095) and scales, I doubt, and hope, GEC won't change that formula.

- David
Click to expand...

I agree, right now GEC is doing everything right. I have one in a belt sheath on my belt right now. They are great users. As far as the price, they are only a few dollars more than a Case, but in a very high quality, limited production pocket knife.
 
It seems like it mostly comes down to price and availability. If someone wants to buy a quality knife and is willing to take time to do the research online, that person will more than likely find out about GEC. They simply aren't visible enough as a brand to appeal to non-knifenut people. This can be applied to many other brands as well including Queen/S&M, Northwoods, Canal Street, Moore Maker, Boker, etc. I've never seen any of these brands in a Wally World, sporting goods, or hardware store and don't expect to anytime soon. In fact, I highly doubt the average person knows about any other slip joint manufacturers besides Case or Buck, if they even know that. Unless you go to a knife store or shop online you won't find much of anything else except cheap junk.

As long as they can remain profitable and competitive using their current business model, I hope GEC keeps doing things the way they have been.
 
I really enjoy my GEC knives. They are rock solid users and I like carrying them and showing them to non-knife people. I gave one to each of my nephews and they really like them. I think it would be great for them to grow and expand their business as long as the business plan doesn't sacrifice the quality of their product.
 
Unfortunately I think the experience I had a few weeks ago is pretty typical of non-knifenuts. A couple guys were over at my house putting in a new bathtub and shower, and I pulled out my Cuban stockman to cut some plastic wrap off a new part. One of the workmen saw it and said, "That's a nice knife, what do they go for?" I said, "About a hundred." Of course, the guy who was charging me $7,000 for the new bathrooms says, "Oh my god, I didn't know they made 'em that expensive!"

To a lot of people, a $40 to $60 Case is the end-all be-all of knife Nirvana.
 
Jeff 'Mamba' gets it right.:thumbup:

I suspect the average man-in-the-street who isn't a knife-junky would go for a cheap (and sometimes none too cheerful option) knife and likely a modern style anyway. They might even be the type who would bust the tip off your knife, screwdriver style and tell you it's cheap steel:grumpy::eek:

But the thing about GEC is that they are better made than most other production knives, they are admired by collectors but they WILL do a damn good job when you want to use them (properly). Collector,Owner&User.:D
 
Lots of good points, guys. And, no, I wouldn't expect your "average Joe" would find/buy/carry a Great Eastern. But as I wrote earlier, Moore Makers are also not cheap and also not very widely available. Yet, they seem to have a loyal following of guys who appreciate the value of a solid, hardworking knife with good carbon steel blades. Same with German Eye knives. I think it's just a matter of time until those Moore Maker/German Eye fans learn about GEC knives. It might help if they created two or three basic "work" models with delrin handles priced around, say, $70. I'm thinking maybe a yella 73 lockback, plus a mini trapper, and a regular sized trapper. I still think these would sell well to guys who work on ranches and farms, etc.

-- Mark
 
I cannot imagine how a $75 knife would catch on to non-knife-nuts
How can you tell the difference between and $10 RR, a $40 Case and $75 GEC
 
matt1987 said:
i think the price range is a little too high for non knife people. gec could make plastic scaled versions to cut costs.
Click to expand...


God forbid we ever see that. The day they show up in plastic bubble packaging at Wally World is the day I take all that I own to the lake and dump them in.
 
Last edited:
I think you are all just reffering to an uneducated consumer, who is not inclined to research their purchases online. Whenever I buy something I do at least some minimal research, so if someone was planning on buying a knife, and this is the same person who spent an hour researching the best headphones, mattress, whatever, why wouldn't they come across GEC, the thing is most of those people, would decide, and correctly so, that a $100 does not give significant performance over a Buck knife, and they would go with the Buck. Unless you are "into" knives, that's why I have so many GECs.
 
neeman said:
I cannot imagine how a $75 knife would catch on to non-knife-nuts
How can you tell the difference between and $10 RR, a $40 Case and $75 GEC
Click to expand...

The Rough Rider come razor sharp out of the box ;-)))

Just kidding, sort of.

Regards

Robin
 
I can't ever imagine GEC or any other higher end knife catching on with the non knife people in our society. First off, it's just way to expensive, and second, most people don't care. We do, but we don't count in the equation because we're knife knuts. But we are only a very small, may be even single digit percent of the general populace. The people who do need a knife because of an activitiy, like camping, hunting, or such, will go to Wally world and buy a Buck or Gerber, or some other high recognition name for a lower price. If you were to point out the nice handles on the GEC, the fit and finish on the GEC, it wouldn't make any difference. They don't care. All "they" want to do is cut something. If the 29.95 Buck from Walmart does that, then that's good enough. If they go fishing, they will buy a 9.95 Rapala fillet knife and that's it.

We're afflicted, so we don't see things the way the other 99% of people do. We cult worship an inanimate object all out of proportion to it's overall use to us. The rest of the world see's us as nuts. And they are right. Even members of my own family and close friends think I'm nuts when it comes to knives. And they may be right. But even I am not convinced that a 100 dollar GEC is that better than a 40 dollar Case. Now in my 'older' age, I think back to mentors like Ira, and I wonder if any of it all was worth it. And I have had some very high end knives. I used to collect customs, and had a nice little collection of Randall's, Hendrickson, Stone, Fowler, and some other big names. Most of my friends would see one on my hip while on some outing, and ask about it. When they found out what it cost, there would be s stunned silence, then the inevitable " You paid that for a knife!? Are you nuts??!!"

They didn't under stand about fit and finish, and so called superior edge holding. All they could grasp that I paid several times the price of a Buck knife for a knife that I was using for the same thing they were. After a while, I'm not sure I understood either.

The great unwashed masses will never buy GEC's because they are not among the afflicted. When one of the masses needs a knife, they go to Walmart. look on the pegboard at all the plastic blister wrapped knives, make a choice and their done.

Carl.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top