Gec, 1095 steel... But wonder if other steel is planned...

Queen can offer knives for a competitive price using ATS-34 and D2. Im sure that GEC can do so as well even if its a little more in cost. I would absolutely love to see some of my favorite patterns using those two steels! I would pay more, and everyone that loves GEC knives would pay more without blinking I believe!
 
In addition to heat treatment, grinding difficulty and other idiosyncrasies of super steel there is tool (die) wear to consider. Dies and other blanking tools are made of D2 or something similar, hence the name tool steel. I don't think any more force is required to blank super steels but the tool wear is really something to consider.
 
akadave2 said:
Queen can offer knives for a competitive price using ATS-34 and D2. Im sure that GEC can do so as well even if its a little more in cost. I would absolutely love to see some of my favorite patterns using those two steels! I would pay more, and everyone that loves GEC knives would pay more without blinking I believe!
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For GEC it's not about cost.
 
I like how gec just sticks to tradition. I like it when companies listen to customers but sometimes sticking to your guns is the right thing to go :)
 
okbohn said:
...I would love to make a line of pocket knives with super steels.... marrying old and new.
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So would I. In fact, it might even bring a few more converts to the traditional side of things.

That said - I am quite happy with 1095. I like the steel and think it very fitting for the patterns. But a select few in super steel, even if it cost more to compensate, would be nice. :)
 
GEC is about Traditional old patterns done very Well. They have been Very successful.

The new super steels (and stainless for that matter) just don't fit the package.

1095 is pretty good when heat treated right... But if I were in charge at GEC, I'd get a batch of super carbon steel made and offer it only. Might call it W2, or 95V, or ? :cool:

Edit to add; In reality GEC just needs to keep doing what they are doing! Good stuff they do!
 
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If one wants super stainless steel in a traditional, get ya a Bose knife with 440V, 154cm, etc...

Or a T.Bose/Case in 154cm.
 
I've said it in a previous thread, that i'd wish GEC would make a line in 13c26/AEB-L steel, as it's basically a stainless 1095. It sharpens like 1095, and according to those who knows such things, blanks as 1095.
Infact, they could substitute 440C with AEB-L in my view.
 
rma100 said:
You just don't get it?
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Enlighten me o master of everything GEC!

And for those throwing around the word "Super Steels" ATS-34 has been around decades and is not considered a "super steel" . Is it better than 440c ..yes but has been far outpaced by other common steels today. My favorite steel period is 1095 but if GEC continues to make SS knives then ATS-34 would be my choice. Also there are lot of forumites here that would love more SS GEC offerings.
 
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AEB-L was even patented in 1928. With a good heattreat, it'd be marvelous! (And historic to boot.) :)
 
MarkPinTx said:
In addition to heat treatment, grinding difficulty and other idiosyncrasies of super steel there is tool (die) wear to consider. Dies and other blanking tools are made of D2 or something similar, hence the name tool steel. I don't think any more force is required to blank super steels but the tool wear is really something to consider.
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The super-steels have to be waterjet cut. It is significantly more expensive, but I think, worth the money.
 
akadave2 said:
I cant believe that is 100% true. They have to make a profit. Im sure its a factor. If cost wasnt an issue they would do one better than 440 for their stainless
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The issue is that Bill doesn't want to. That is the main reason.

The secondary reason is that the equipment he uses is all set up for the 1095 and 440c.

Bill is like many knife makers--he likes to do what he likes to do. I like to let him. :)
 
aarya said:
I've said it in a previous thread, that i'd wish GEC would make a line in 13c26/AEB-L steel, as it's basically a stainless 1095. It sharpens like 1095, and according to those who knows such things, blanks as 1095.
Infact, they could substitute 440C with AEB-L in my view.
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Oh Please do not. I much prefer 440C to 13C26.


okbohn said:
The issue is that Bill doesn't want to. That is the main reason.

The secondary reason is that the equipment he uses is all set up for the 1095 and 440c.

Bill is like many knife makers--he likes to do what he likes to do. I like to let him. :)
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Best post in the thread.

GEC sells pretty much every knife they make. Sounds to me like they have no reason to change what they do. Their system ain't broke. They have no reason to try to fix it.
 
I love the 1095 GEC uses, and the O1 on the Bullnose I have. Both are great steels. That said, I would welcome other traditional, carbon steels on GEC knives just so I could try them out without paying custom prices. W2, L-6, D2, and 52100 would be wonderful to try.
 
Because GEC makes so many beautiful knives, I have really come to appreciate 1095 through using them. I am also happy to have a few of the 440C offerings which I really enjoy. I guess I have come to accept that what they do is what they do, and it does seem to working pretty well for them. Now when I look at one of their knives, steel type is really not a forethought on whether I want it or not...
 
If it ain't broke, don't fix it:)

The blade geometry plays as big a part in the success of Traditionals like GEC's offerings as the steel in my opinion. I visited a friend in Spain for two weeks recently. Took my Tidioute Toothpick with me and it served me well, working every day with only a bit of a strop against my jeans from time to time. Admittedly it wasn't especially sharp by the time I got home but the geometry made up for it.

Personally I've got a soft spot for modern steels but I'd be wary on a GEC knife as anything like S30-V with GEC's geometry could prove problematic. I think they've got it right.

Their 440C's nice too mind....;)

Sam
 
I just want to see a lot more offerings in 440c. D2 would be pretty cool too.
 
rma100 said:
Getting Bill to just make a few 440C is like pullin teeth. 1095, some O1 and a few 440C, IMHO, will be about it for steel variety.
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Yeah he shot down even 420HC for the STR-EK that is coming in about 4 weeks. I wanted 1095 for the main and figured that is what I'd do which fortunately he was right on board with. We were talking price tho and at one point I just told him if it was cheaper for the saw/flat head/pry blade that he could use 420 for there but he used 1095 for all of it. He seemed to want to work with that only to me at least right now. Working with them is easy over there at GEC if you stay within the parameters of what they're about.

For me no matter the blade it is always sharp. It could be the cheapest steel and I'll have it popping hairs or I won't use it. More than this being a typical knife nut rarely do I let it get much duller than that so its touched up when it dulls. Now its not like this for some. The tool box knife and that one in the drawer they get beat up and used like a few others of that ilk but the pocket carry? No sir. Its always sharp. So my opinion on steel snobbery is there really is no need to fuss over it. I could be carrying something S90V but no matter its going to be the level of sharp my anal retentiveness demands or I won't have it on me long. Its just how it is so the idea that by carrying a super steel vs 1095 to me is a vague proof any real benefit exists by carrying a 'super steel'. At least that is how I see it. With that said I've found the overall character of each piece dictates my feelings for it. Some of the super steel knives I have see very little use because while 110V or ZDP189 or whatever it XYZ brand of steel it is in many of my knives the steel was not really used optimum. Why is that? I mean you have this great steel but its so obtuse it slices for crap? I think its because these new steels come around and people then want it but no one knows enough about it to grind it to optimize it so they play it safe by leaving it thick in case it is brittle or its stone tumbled because it won't polish and other such things but overall even though 1095 on paper is far inferior to the super steel in real use its optimized when the guys familiar with it after years of grinding put it to work and that is because they know how to work with that one. That is why so many of the simple Scandinavian knives of simple steels outperform so many others I think even when the others are much higher price point knives with supposed superior steels.
 
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