Are they worth it?

I only own one, it was gifted to me inside this awesome family of traditionalists... I have a few knives...this G.E.C is just bloody beautifull, a very nicely finished knife with a excellent choice of Stag...I personally think its wow factor ( depends how knives affect you :o ) - get one...choose carefully your style of knife and its hardware...these are fantastic knives...check out this one.... my serpentine jack...

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^^ thats a purty one! :D I think I am going to get one of the yellow "texas rose" ones. I forget the name, i think thats correct. Anyway, they are yellow. I would really like to get in a 2 blade trapper style/variant
 
checkout the new western trapper, not a super heavy duty folder but what trapper knife is made for anything but cutting & slicing. if you prefer a big heavy duty gec look at the pioneers mdl23.
dennis
 
I love GEC's stag--some of the best out there.

My favorite, if only because of the uniqueness, is their primitive bone. It is getting harder and harder to find.

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Definitely get one. 4 months ago I didn't own one but now I have 13 (including my order yesterday). Of these, only 2 broke $100 and just barely. They have very nice models that go higher but it isn't necessary to spend a lot to get a great knife. You can also get unserialized versions which usually run $5 - 15 cheaper. I prefer these because I don't feel like I'm messing up a collector's piece but I've used them all so far.
 
Yes, they are an excellent small production maker that bridges the gap between large production, and often off-shore, knife makers and custom. I expect my GEC's to outlive me. They, and a few others, really fill a needed niche and offer us the ability to purchase a quality knife at an affordable price that will be either be your knife of a lifetime or the introduction to knife collecting.

- David
 
Worth is a subjective question. Are the few antique books I have worth it? To me they are, because I worked hard to find them and to build my modest six book antique book library on one subject. Are GEC knives worth it....well, do they cut any better than a Case, Schrade, Buck, or Rough Rider (for that matter)....probably not. Yes, the steel heat treat is likely better, but most people probably wouldn't notice the difference. What about fit and finish. There, GEC is much better in my mind. At the beginning of this year I didn't own any GECs (or traditional knives for that matter). Now I own eight. I will own more. To me I they are worth it. I appreciate them. Will others...I don't know.
 
thesouthernguitarist said:
I have been interested in knives ever since my dad showed me his collection when i was 8. Over the years, i to, accumulated a decent size of different pocket knives. Lately, I have been hearing a lot of good things about GEC Knives. I really would like to try one out, but really can't justify dropping $100 on a knife. I know that may sound "cheap", but my collection is more of a accumulation of users. To me, Its hard to drop that much money on a pocket knife. My question is, are they really worth it?
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"but my collection is more of a accumulation of users." That's about like me. I'm always interested in properties that make for a good user, rather than in collecting.

The fit and finish of GECs is a goodly step beyond that of the knives you can get for 1/3 the cost. I'm sure you knew that. But, while they are beautiful, GECs are also excellent cutlery that make great users. I've carried a lot of knives. I'd put the field performance of these as a noticeable notch above what you can get from lesser priced knives. To get better performance, you'd have to go custom.
Here are the salient points:
  • excellent fit and finish.
  • 1095 carbon steel blades or in some models, 440C.
  • excellent blade geometry that makes the most of the alloy.
I'd guess that you could get a knife that costs a third of one of these that gives you 80% of the field performance of these. Whether it's worth it for you to pay for the superior fit and finish and superior field performance is a call only you can make.

Here's some edge retention testing I did with GEC 440C. Part of the discussion also covers the geometry of the blades.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=730419
 
I don't own a GEC (yet), but here's how I look at it: You can get a stockman from GEC, Queen, Schatt & Morgan, or Canal Street for $100 or even less. Many of us own "modern" pocketknives that cost that much or even more. Myself, I alternate between a $150 Spyderco and a $200+ Benchmade. Compared to a $100 stockman, that seems like a waste of money for what you actually get. One blade and some synthetic handles. With the GEC or Queen or whatever stockman you get 3 blades and natural handle materials. That's like $30/blade, and you get bone or stag or exotic hardwood. How many modern folders out there can give you 440C or D2 steel, bone or cocobolo handles? Not many. And made in America? Even less. If any at all. I wouldn't just say that it's "worth it", I'd say it's a freakin' bargin!
 
You do not pay for usablity
You pay for the beauty of the knife

Almost all knives are useable

A $10 Rough Rider is very useable
A Queen with a D2 blade is much more useable

GEC make lovely knives in batches of 50
Carl discribed them as a boutique maker
That is what you are paying for

If you want a workman knife at a workman price, then not GEC
 
I'd start with their 4" toothpick pattern. Only one blade, but it's a beautiful clip that will do just about anything you could want from a pocket knife.

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Here is one compared to a Schatt & Morgan. The GECs are a little deeper and shorter than most, which actually makes them feel terrific in hand.
You should be able to find one in bone or acrylic for around $65, or one in stag for $20 more. They are a real joy to carry and use.
 
Put it this way, if you buy one it will NOT be the only one you buy, or want-that's guaranteed. That should take care of your question!

Check Great Eastern Cutlery's website for model up-dates and links to authorized dealers.
 
Some thoughts on high-end (i.e. $100 GEC and the like):

If you have to use a credit card, they're not with it.

If you're going to set it on a shelf, it's not worth it.

If you want to try one, commit to saving X number of dollars per week, and or working a little extra over-time or whatever. You can make $100 in no time by brown-bagging your lunch, not eating out, mowing a few lawns, cleaning out a few garages and so forth.

If you decide you don't like the knife, you can unload it on eBay or here on the forums very easily, recouping at least half what you paid if not more.

I'd rather have one GEC than ten Rough Riders or Steel Warriors.

YMMV,

-- Mark
 
$100 bux for something that you will use and enjoy isn't very much money any more. Compare that with how much you spend on clothing, shoes, cars, other tools that sit around mostly, Dining out, etc.

See...we can easily justify buying a lil ole $100 knife. :D Do it...it'll make you feel good ;)
 
neeman said:
You do not pay for usablity
You pay for the beauty of the knife

Almost all knives are useable

A $10 Rough Rider is very useable
A Queen with a D2 blade is much more useable

GEC make lovely knives in batches of 50
Carl discribed them as a boutique maker
That is what you are paying for

If you want a workman knife at a workman price, then not GEC
Click to expand...

Very well said!:thumbup:

It all comnes down to what you personally want in a knife. If you just want a cutting tool that is a no frills knife, then a 10 dollar Opinel will do just fine. Or maybe a sub-20 dollar Gerber LST.

But on the other hand, if you are the kind of person who puts a value on the beauty of an object, then the 100 dollar knife may be whgat you are looking for. The nice knarled stag with good popcorn won't make it cut any better, nor will the better fit and finish, but you'll have something that pleases a particular spot in you soul every time you pull it out. Something that for a short moment everytime you take a little bit to admire the object, will please you in a way that is a gut level experiance, and has to be felt, because you can't really describe it.

It's like this; I used to work in a shop where a pocket knife was a real need. A few of my fellow co-workers were not knife people, but they knew they needed a knife. So they bought the Gerber LST's that the sporting goods store down the road sold. They abuse and used these little knives in a terrible fashion, but they stood up to it well. I was impressed. Maybe the Gerber LST is the American Opinel. One day, a non knife person saw me fondle my beautiful stag handle Eye Brand stockman. He asked what does it do that his 14.95 black zytel and tumbled bladed LST do. I looked at the patined stag and carbon steel, and I told him "It pleases me."

Sometimes it's that simple.
 
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You're not the first one jackknife has convinced to spend money! ;-) Use it in great health.

-- Mark
 
Well...there you go southernguitarist...you asked you got it :D
The reply was overwhelmingly "go for it"
Go to their site and have a look at all their range..its awesome, ask then to check your knife for whatever your concerns are before they ship it to you...
I am waiting for a little time to pass...then I am going to go in there and come out with yet another beaut :)
Please..if you get one...post your thoughts and photos!
 
I love my GEC #25, and carry it most days. Think of a GEC as a "lifetime" knife to be cherished as well as used.
 
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