Beer Scout or Soda Scout in Stainless?

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NickelOak

Joined
Jul 23, 2015
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103
Hi all,

I'm wondering how much interest there would be in a stainless Beer or Soda Scout. I personally like carbon and stainless knives, but I'd like to give a few Beer Scout knives to friends who are beer enthusiasts but aren't really into knives. The lower the maintenance the better. That said, I think these friends of mine would really dig and actually use a Beer Scout Knife.

I also think everyone should own at least one nice US-made knife, and I'm happy to help enable others via gifts. I don't know what it would take to have a stainless version made or who would facilitate the process, but checking interest seems like a logical first step.

Andy
 
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And, just to clarify, 440C. As that is the only SS GEC has showed any interest in producing.

I have said it before and many don't agree. But as one that pays close attention to where "live" money goes and where "dead" money goes; 440C versions don't have near the demand up front and much less as it sits on the shelves longer. I personally wish GEC would offer a couple small runs of SS variants with each NF/Tidioute run. And there are many requests for SS GEC's; but they market has little support as they are produced.
 
Mike definitely has his finger on the pulse of the GEC market.

For me, the GEC patterns that are of interest have never been offered in 440C so I never really had a choice. I'd be interested in 440C "scout"...preferably with the shorter "scout" shield.

The recent poll for the 2015 forum knife made me wonder if there's a growing interest in SS among traditional knife collectors. GEC does do a great job with 440C. There was a time when there wasn't a large variety of quality knives available in 1095 or other carbon steels. There were the black box Winchesters and a few basic patterns from Case but a lot of knives were SS. As collectors of GEC accumulate more and more knives with 1095 blade steel, I think the demand for 440C could increase.
 
The carbon steel if used, develops a patina which adds to the esthetic and nostalgia of the traditional knife, I wish Case offered more CV's the SS's
 
Much as I prefer 440C over 1095, I don't see it happening.

My dream is that GEC will make a run of 66 Calf Ropers in 440C including some with ebony covers. But I don't see that happening real soon either.
 
Your friends will be okay if you explain how to properly care for them. As long as they're properly educated it's on them... If you're still overly concerned, don't make it hard on them with too much instruction, and offer basic maintenance advice with canola/salad or mineral oil as their save-all lubricant. As long as the beer they're opening doesn't burst open and get all over the knife with them putting it away soaked in beer, they should be okay.

I've been gifted some great well-patina'd knives from people who had no idea what they had in their pockets. The wonderful patina that developed is what most likely protected the knife.

I've gifted knives and even expensive watches to great friends... Those not in the know I'll causally ask to see them over a drink... I've been plesantly surprised by the condition of the knives on their person but have had to adjust the time on a watch more than once with a particular pal. ;)
 
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Knifeswapper touched on a very important point, where does the live money go? Take me for example, I would love to buy a 440 Beer Scout, but I can't afford it right now, or probably at all this year. I'm pretty well tapped out on significant knife purchases for the near future, so as much as I would like an SS Beer Scout, I am not live money.

That said, if the Blade Forums knife next year turned out to be a Beer Scout I would certainly buy it...
 
Thanks for the great responses. I figured there wouldn't be enough market demand, especially since a lot of folks have splashed out on one or more of the existing Scouts. All the arguments against the likelihood of a SS Scout make plenty of sense to me.
 
Personally, as recent GEC collector (bought my first 3 months ago now I am up to 13!) I would love more GEC knives in Stainless, for the simple fact that I can't bear to touch the ones I have sitting in my knife case for fear of tarnishing them.

I only have one GEC in stainless, a beautiful chestnut #42, but if there were more options I would definitely buy them.

I have recently even been looking at the #48 woodcock patter, even though I have no use for the guthook, simply on the basis that they are knives that I could carry with me.
 
abbydaddy said:
Knifeswapper touched on a very important point, where does the live money go? Take me for example, I would love to buy a 440 Beer Scout, but I can't afford it right now, or probably at all this year. I'm pretty well tapped out on significant knife purchases for the near future, so as much as I would like an SS Beer Scout, I am not live money.
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In my case, dead money is money I put in a knife and then it sets in the vault for a long time. Live money is money that I can put in a knife feeling fairly comfortable it will turn over soon. My entire philosophy is a little different than many. I would rather make a small margin 4-5 times a year on the same money as opposed to a high margin once or twice. Sort of a volume over margin model.
 
If GEC made one, I'd buy at least one. But I understand why the don't. Not only does there not seem to be as much interest in them as the 1095 ones, which always come first, but when they are release, the selection is limited (in comparison to the 1095 ones) and is usually higher priced.

Camillus said:
Personally, as recent GEC collector (bought my first 3 months ago now I am up to 13!) I would love more GEC knives in Stainless, for the simple fact that I can't bear to touch the ones I have sitting in my knife case for fear of tarnishing them.

I only have one GEC in stainless, a beautiful chestnut #42, but if there were more options I would definitely buy them.

I have recently even been looking at the #48 woodcock patter, even though I have no use for the guthook, simply on the basis that they are knives that I could carry with me.
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Because GEC makes so few in stainless, it's kind of been a get'em while you can type deal. Like Mike said, the 440C GECs tend to stay on the shelves a long time but there were ones made that were sold out and might not be made again. I'm assuming you're looking for a single blade #48 in 440C? GEC made them in 2012. I didn't see any in stock with dealers but here's the production list so you know what to look/ask for. Only 168 of them were made and it still took a couple of years to sell out. Some of the 2 blade trapper versions are still available. That said, you could always get a Woodcock and ask one of our craftsmen to remove the bird hook for you.

488112EC
Smooth American Cherry Wood 25 pcs. serialized 27 pcs. no serial numbers
Amber Jig Bone 25 pcs. serialized 28 pcs. no serial numbers
American Elk 25 pcs. serialized 26 pcs. no serial numbers
Brown Dyed Curly Maple Wood 2 pcs. no serial numbers
Amber Grizzly Jig Bone 3 pcs. no serial numbers
Cherry Jig Bone 2 pcs. no serial numbers
Sunset Yellow Jig Bone 1 pc. no serial number
Amber Fine Jig Bone 1 pc. no serial number
Tractor Red Jig Bone 3 pcs. no serial numbers
 
supratentorial said:
Mike definitely has his finger on the pulse of the GEC market.

For me, the GEC patterns that are of interest have never been offered in 440C so I never really had a choice.
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This is my case as well.
I like GEC's 1095 but I prefer their 440C, it's a very personal thing.
Yet, I don't think you would see many stainless #66 or #15 jacks unsold, if they had produced them.
There is indeed a market for stainless GEC's...assuming the pattern is right. Some patterns remain unsold even if they're 1095.
Anyway, aside from some SFO's or similar, I don't think GEC are going to produce more knives in 440C, and I'm quite disappointed they're dropping O1 as well.
Obviously they have their reasons, and I'm a very tiny share of their market.
I'd sure get a stainless soda scout though ;)

Fausto
:cool:
 
I'm in the same boat as the OP. Bought one to give to a buddy for a wedding present, but am afraid he won't take care of the carbon steel. Thinking I may send him a tuf-cloth and some instructions with the knife. I wish it were stainless though. I would prefer the stainless personally too. Not a big patina fan.
 
Coming over from modern folders, I would gladly purchase a Scout in stainless steel. While I tolerate patina, I prefer shiny things.
 
I've had a Beer Scout in my cart a couple of times, and I drool over the lovely pictures of them posted here, but I don't pull the trigger because it's not stainless. I would love a stainless Beer Scout -- it would be my first GEC.

More stainless GECs in general would also make me happy. I've had no luck finding a pattern I like so far, and the runs are so short that I'm not overly optimistic about my chances.
 
I love a patina. I get my Cases in CV when they are available. But I do like stainless on a traditional as well, especially for cutting up an apple for instance, to avoid that iron taste. And customs in steels like CPM154 are the cat's meow. I've never been attracted to 440C, but I have heard mentioned on the forum many times that people are generally impressed with GEC's 440C, so I'd pull the trigger on one in the right pattern.
 
I'm only speculating, but maybe GEC has noticed greater carbon steel appeal among collectors that buy GEC. With Case and many others producing so many SS knives, they may just not want to compete in the SS market.

Still, it's nice to see I'm not alone in desiring a SS Scout/Soda Scout/Beer Scout.
 
I'm not a collector, but I will be buying a Beer Scout eventually when I get back to work. With that said, if you came out with a 420c or Buck's 420hc, I'd make the sacrifice tomorrow. Save the 1095 for the collectors, I'll actually be carrying my Beer Scout and using it, and I prefer stainless for that. I have a lifelong mission of being irresponsible and 1095 just doesn't fit that goal.
 
NickelOak said:
I'm only speculating, but maybe GEC has noticed greater carbon steel appeal among collectors that buy GEC. With Case and many others producing so many SS knives, they may just not want to compete in the SS market.

Still, it's nice to see I'm not alone in desiring a SS Scout/Soda Scout/Beer Scout.
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I'd be in on a SS beer scout depending on steel choice and scale material. Not because I'm a huge fan of stainless in traditional folders, but because as a chef, I can see the argument for a pattern potentially susceptible to moisture. Then again I own 4 beer scouts in carbon and am a fan of carbon in the kitchen so long as they're properly cared for.
 
Anymore, I really don't buy a new slippie in anything but some flavor of stainless. I just prefer it over 1095. I'd love it if GEC offered more stainless options. Most of their offerings hold little interest for me due to this. Like the patterns, but not 1095.

The only carbon steel blades that I pick up on occasion are just meant for my collection of certain patterns, or one that's caught my eye.
 
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