Availibility of GEC.

It's hard for me to think of GEC as 'scarce", there are several listed every day on the exchange, and numerous active threads on the Traditional forum at all times. As for their fit and finish, they're not all that great. Anybody ever own a Bullnose that didn't have a pocket-snagging rivet? What about all the pocket knives with not only proud joints, but sharp corners?

I've got a lot of their knives, they are pretty things. But really, the only thing they've got going for them is the USA tang stamp. I'm glad to support an American manufacturer, but the GEC mystique is a little puzzling to me.

Uh oh...
 
dsutton24 wrote "What about all the pocket knives with not only proud joints, but sharp corners?" Well, I'm not a GEC fanboy but I'll say that I'll take the sharp corners over the rounded tips on many of the Case knives I've seen come down the pike. Message to Case...hit those blades with the belt AFTER the tumbling process.
 
dsutton24 said:
the GEC mystique is a little puzzling to me.
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The only time I hear anybody mention this 'GEC mystique' is from somebody like that feels the need to tell everybody that you don't see what's so special about GEC knives.

Don't buy them. Go buy from one of those other companies making quality slipjoints.
 
Norcaldude said:
The only time I hear anybody mention this 'GEC mystique' is from somebody like that feels the need to tell everybody that you don't see what's so special about GEC knives.

Don't buy them. Go buy from one of those other companies making quality slipjoints.
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Well, thanks for the advice.

The only time I hear anybody mention the superb 'GEC fit and finish' is from people who feel the need to advertise the fact that they have GEC knives, and have never handled well made knives.

See how the game is played? *That is not a statement of how I feel about anyone who is a GEC fan*, it's an illustration of the kind of shallow nonsense that gets heaped on anyone who runs afoul of the conventional wisdom. My opinion is that GEC knives suffer from some flaws that seem to be common to certain knives. How many times have you seen comments like, "Blade favors one side, but typical for this model?" Or, "blade has side play, but not out of the ordinary." Pocket ripping rivets on Farm and Fields. Scale pins that have sharp edges. Sharp knife spines. Points that don't really get sharpened. Tell me truthfully that those don't happen frequently on Great Eastern knives.

As I said in the post that you so cleverly excerpted, I own a bunch of GEC knives. I also own Buck, Case, Henckels, Queen, Canal Street, Russell, Western, Schatt & Morgan, Wolstenholme, Gerber, CRKT, SOG, and a dozen or so other makers I'm not thinking of. I've owned a lot of good to great knives. I've handled countless others.

I like knives. I don't need to dump fertilizer on somebody else's opinion to feel important.

So, I guess, lighten up, Francis.
 
In 2018, everyone has their set of "truths" when it comes to any topic; knives are not immune. But my "truth" is not your "truth" and vice-versa. Even a person who can be acknowledged an expert in a field by his peers, still has little respect applied to his/her "truths". Nothing has really changed, except that 20 years ago the first three sentences used the word "opinion" instead of "truth" and everyone was alright with the harsh reality of the fact that they didn't get to set everyone else's "opinion" for them. Also, forums and social media has become more of a place for the introverts to quietly peruse and those on the extreme other end of the scale to demand their attention by becoming overnight experts or making statements that many consider off center.

Having said that, one persons flaws are another persons desired characteristics. For example, if I have to choose between GEC's sharp angles or Case's tumbled blade, I take the the sharp angles. I do not like the look of a tumbled blade meeting a squared backspring - just looks sloppy. And the inside squared tang gives me that attentive snap that I so love. But that is an opinion.

Another viewpoint is of value. Would it be nicer if I could get a $100 knife for $50 - yes. Could Case spend another several minutes per sodbuster and make me just as happy to spend $30 on it as I am to spend $20 on the current versions - yes. But, am I going to spend my $20 and then find the nearest forum to nitpick the aspects of the sodbuster that put it in that $20 value range - no.

Knives have gotten expensive. So have Chevy trucks. The difference is that 80 year old knife equipment makes knives the same way today that it did 80 years ago. And I realize there is a difference between defects and designed imperfections. Perfect costs time, time costs money, and I don't want an $80 Case Sodbuster to throw in my toolbox.

So, you can have your opinions. You can even have expectations. But, when your opinions are not honored and your expectations not realized, you still have to decide if the product is a good value. Personally, having experienced 50 years on this earth and still having a fairly lucid memory of days gone by - nothing seems like a good value to me..... (but the Chevy dealership still doesn't want to sell me a Silverado for $12,500)
 
Great Eastern is doing such a great job, and their dealers all have earned strong reputations for fair business practices, I dont see how much more a person could ask for, other than a few different blade steel options once in a harvest moon.

Case isnt even close, though still a decent product.

One way I know GEC is making a great product is everyone I have given one to as a gift is amazed by their knife.

Since no human needs more than one or two quality pocket knives for a lifetime of cutting stuff, I do not understand why people get upset that they cant afford or cannot purchase every single variation GEC produces.

For about one hundred 2018 US Dollars you can buy a USA made, hand crafted pocket knife that will last many decades. That is a crazy bargain.

One thing the OP could do is tell us all what knife models and covers he missed and wishes he had purchased. This will be more productive than shaking fists at the sky or tying an onion to your belt.
 
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I could understand GEC wanting to grow slowly and organically. This is a hobby (market) that has bubbles. Those bubbles occasionally bust. You have to take that into account when planning your strategy.

That said, I do wish they would produce more knives in stainless steel. They seem even rarer.

You could also wonder if there is anything they could do to discourage blatant flipping and 'rushing for the drop', without being a hindrance to regular customers. While I think it is not the primary responsibilty of the manufacturer, it sure is a pain in the ass.
 
Now that I got my “feet wet” in regards to traditionals, I feel that GEC should run their business as they see fit. I also believe that flippers are not going to change. The only correction I see as viable, is for the Dealers to level the playing field by limiting the limited editions to one of each cover per customer. Too often, I see people with multiples of the same cover. This, in my mind, makes the Dealer complicit with the flipper. It is a hobby, no one needs a particular knife, but I imagine a Dealer would like to build their customer base. A buyer who has an equal chance at getting a limited edition is more likely to support the Dealer, long term.
 
cigarrodog said:
The only correction I see as viable, is for the Dealers to level the playing field by limiting the limited editions to one of each cover per customer. Too often, I see people with multiples of the same cover. This, in my mind, makes the Dealer complicit with the flipper.
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How do the dealers keep one customer from buying from each dealer? It is easy enough with sfo's - I do not allow multiples purchased until all reserves are satisfied. But I know of several customers that will get on EVERY dealer list available.
 
knifeswapper said:
How do the dealers keep one customer from buying from each dealer? It is easy enough with sfo's - I do not allow multiples purchased until all reserves are satisfied. But I know of several customers that will get on EVERY dealer list available.
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You have a good point. You can’t or shouldn’t prevent an individual from buying the same cover limited release from each dealer, but if each dealer would simply prevent(like you have) the sale of more than one cover per customer, which I have observed, then that would level the playing field. The other factor, which I have also observed, is the Dealer holding back limited pieces and selling on EBay.

Other than that, Dealers should also run their businesses as they see fit.
 
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I am really not sure here. I am wanting to buy a TC Barlow. Possibly off ebay. Is it even possible to pick one up $200 or lower? Am I wasting my time and should expect to pay 250 plus?
 
DoubleAught said:
Am I wasting my time and should expect to pay 250 plus?
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they are gorgeous knives and it’s perfectly natural to hear the siren call, but honestly if I was you I’d keep my eyes open and see if one of the straight-shooting forum members ever wants to part with one at cost (it happens!). Aside from that I’d take a look at other products. Collector Knives has a good thing going with Lionsteel- they make a similar sized more modernized barlow in a very high spec steel at a price far less than what you’d probably fine one of those #15’s at.

I understand that’s not a perfect alternative, but it would certainly scratch the itch.
 
Norcaldude said:
You might get super lucky but generally, from what I have seen, you are unlikely to get one for under 250.
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EngrSorenson said:
they are gorgeous knives and it’s perfectly natural to hear the siren call, but honestly if I was you I’d keep my eyes open and see if one of the straight-shooting forum members ever wants to part with one at cost (it happens!). Aside from that I’d take a look at other products. Collector Knives has a good thing going with Lionsteel- they make a similar sized more modernized barlow in a very high spec steel at a price far less than what you’d probably fine one of those #15’s at.

I understand that’s not a perfect alternative, but it would certainly scratch the itch.
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Thanks for the replies! Two lionsteels for the price of one #15 might not be a bad idea haha
 
Uh oh here we go...

They disappear from dealers minutes after drop (unless it's an "unpopular" one). People camp, work extra hard to get them or gobble up to resell.

To manufacturer: this is great!
To dealers: great!
To average Joe like me: wtf I just want a knife why it sell out in 5m...

AKB made a very good video about the whole GEC mystique I hear several people mention. It's like chasing crazy sprint runs (or protech Malibu it seems recently). Logically is it worth the effort and time wasted? Hell no. But if in the end you're happy doing it and happy spending time on it, dont let anyone tell you otherwise (and dont feel the need to explain yourself).

Thanks for reading. You know what, pre-orders would be nice.
 
Seems like there is a cycle everyone goes through with GEC.

You have to decide if you are a casual buyer or have some Pavlovian response at each drop to purchase every GEC you can get your hands on.

GEC is currently a collectors item. There are other brands that target collectors. What’s unusual about GEC is they don’t price based on being a collectors item so the casual or new buyer thinks they will just pick up a cool pattern or two - then reality smacks them in the face.
 
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