GEC and Do You Really Like Them?

knarfeng said:
Perhaps I can speak from a slightly different perspective.

Gary and I have discussed the proliferation of GEC threads. Our opinion is that, as long as the topic is within the Traditional Forum guidelines, the BF membership decides what they want to talk about. If there are a bunch of threads about GEC knives and there are a bunch of posts in the threads, well then apparently GEC is what folks want to talk about. The only limitation is that threads which are plainly about another brand not be hijacked to talk about GEC. In such a thread, we will attempt an on-course correction.

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Frank, I believe you have nailed it. I assume you have guessed my undertones. Correct, I am a bit baffled and not exactly happy, with the proliferation of GEC threads in the Traditional Forum. I am of the belief that there are many other topics and makers we could be discussing that would enrich all of us beyond the bootlegging of patterns, and dare I say, quite in-accurately, by GEC. Granted, they make an acceptable product for many, but being portrayed as the end-all-be-all, hardly.
 
Brad, I fully expect the Daniels to make meaningful strides with Queen, and in a year or two we may be talking a lot about them as well. As the majority of members in Traditionals are primarily users, I think Case would have to greatly expand their use of CV steel with better patterns and covers to become a major player here. 420 Tru-Sharp just isn't sexy anymore.
 
Gec has made my list of top three brands of currently made American traditional folders. That list includes Queen, Gec, Case. I find a little something special is offered by each of these firms... and together they offer more fun in my collecting. My recent incoming order of a fixed blade GEC/Tidioute knife, is only my attempt to keep that diversity going. My previous, but recent fixed blade knife purchases, were a Utica, a Queen, and a Buck. So, yes, I like Gec.. but I like others too... so I like to read all your dislikes, likes, and opinions... all good in my book ;-)
 
I know some have brought out the fact that Gec patterns may be based on traditional designs, manufactured using many traditional methods, and using mostly very traditional materials... but that they are sometimes off from the original patterns. In that sense, they may be right, but I am glad that is the case. I prefer them to make a traditional product, while putting their own Gec twist on it. To me, that only makes it more authentic, not just a reproduction of some sort. With Case or Queen, they can remake a pattern that their firms may have made 75 years ago... and that is what it would be, a remake or reissue of one of their existing patterns. If Gec remakes some pattern EXACTLY like it was made 75 years ago, it would be a repro... since gec did not exist back then. So, a little spin on a traditional pattern to make it exclusively gec, that is fine in my book.
 
I'm a fan of many brands of knives, traditional and otherwise. But the one thing they all have in common is quality.

GEC is a great blend of form and function. Although not inexpensive, I consider them to be a value based on the quality of their knives.

But the popularity is beyond just those factors I believe. They update their website 'what's happening' daily, keeping their customers interested and engaged. Also, listing 'what's coming up next?' including interesting photos of the next knives to be made and photos of the manufacturing process. I find it all pretty interesting. One last factor I'll mention that adds to the popularity of the brand is that one can easily go to their website find just about any information a 'collector' could ask for including productions schedules and totals.

In short, they make being a customer very easy, interesting and even fun (for me anyway). But it deserves repeating that none of that would mean anything if the production quality of the knives were not held to high standards of quality by GEC.

.
 
Loved them all,

miss them all,

looking forward to new :)

G2
 
ptradeco said:
...I am of the belief that there are many other topics and makers we could be discussing that would enrich all of us beyond ... GEC.
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This is not an attack of your statement that I edited a bit, but true curiosity. So what are some of the other topics and makers that you'd like to see discussed? I admit that one some days this does seem like the GEC manufacturer's forum but on other days there's not a lot of discussion of them, so it evens out.

So what do you want to see more of?
 
When you produce a First Class product that people want and appreciate, coupled with good marketing strategies, then you're going to sell alot of them. Word gets around and folks who thirst for quality at a decent price will flock to it.

GEC's folders are well made and make for great users as well as being collectible. Right now they're thoroughly spanking the competition by giving people what they want - high quality at a moderate price. Other companies are free to do the same. If they do then GEC will have some competition. Right now GEC simply dominates in it's market share. Kudos to them.
 
OK folks. Let's not go on the defensive, or the offensive either.

I take Brad's questions as honest questions.
 
kdstrick said:
I'm a fan of many brands of knives, traditional and otherwise. But the one thing they all have in common is quality.

GEC is a great blend of form and function. Although not inexpensive, I consider them to be a value based on the quality of their knives.

But the popularity is beyond just those factors I believe. They update their website 'what's happening' daily, keeping their customers interested and engaged. Also, listing 'what's coming up next?' including interesting photos of the next knives to be made and photos of the manufacturing process. I find it all pretty interesting. One last factor I'll mention that adds to the popularity of the brand is that one can easily go to their website find just about any information a 'collector' could ask for including productions schedules and totals.

In short, they make being a customer very easy, interesting and even fun (for me anyway). But it deserves repeating that none of that would mean anything if the production quality of the knives were not held to high standards of quality by GEC.

.
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I think this hits the nail on the head. I think the reason that GEC is so popular is that they provide the exact product that many collectors have been clamoring for.
 
I have no special allegiance to GEC, although I do own several of their knives. My particular interest/hobby is finding new and different knives, whether that be make, model, design or handle material. I love 1095 so that bodes well for GEC, but more than anything, my interest in GEC is fueled by the fact that they routinely come out with new/different variations that continue to peak my interest. It's possible that I'm wrong, but in my opinion, GEC simply seems more active than other production manufacturers when it comes to releasing new knives and different variations of their knives. There are lots of other very good makers that I'm interested in, but GEC's variety, overall quality, and attainable price points keep me interested in their products as well.
 
I only have 5 GEC's and 2 are 73 variants. I'm slowing down because I carry and not collect.

If there is a better knife for dollar spent, let me know and I will buy one. GEC is my minimum
standard for F&F.
 
ptradeco said:
Frank, I believe you have nailed it. I assume you have guessed my undertones. Correct, I am a bit baffled and not exactly happy, with the proliferation of GEC threads in the Traditional Forum. I am of the belief that there are many other topics and makers we could be discussing that would enrich all of us beyond the bootlegging of patterns, and dare I say, quite in-accurately, by GEC. Granted, they make an acceptable product for many, but being portrayed as the end-all-be-all, hardly.
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I think this is a point well taken. Perhaps GEC should have their own subforum like many other popular makers on Bladeforums.

This would help alleviate the issue of GEC threads 'taking over' the traditional forum (if it's an issue). For Great Eastern it would centralize all the threads and include a wealth of information about their models. It would also likely help in their marketing efforts, new product launches, etc and help them interact with their customers. As well as giving forumites that are fans of the brand a place to talk amongst themselves.

Of course, it may also have the affect of reducing the popularity of the traditional forum in general as an unintended consequence.

.
 
GEC makes sturdy and aesthtically pleasing knives in a wide variety of patterns and handle scales. If I sell one, it is to buy another. The only way I am let down is in their lack of stainless steel options. Still, their brand is a pleasure to use, collect, and follow. What is not to like?
 
Remember the camaraderie here is what makes this place the way it is.

GEC puts out a great product and is recognized for it. They are definitely the hot lick right now but they have earned their place. I truly hope other companies can produce knives as nice as theirs. I truly believe there has been some complacency by companies in this genre of knives. GEC still has a ways to go. Yes I believe it may seem as if there is a clique in regards to them. This forum is called Traditional and not GEC for a reason though.
 
It is an issue with some. I'm not certain that it's actually a problem.

Gary and I are a pretty good match. If we didn't live on opposite sides of the continent, I'd probably hang out with him a lot. We talk on the phone every once in a while when we need to discuss a problem. Why am I telling you this, you ask?
  • Gary loves and uses custom knives, but enjoys reading folks' posts about production knives they use every day.
  • I only buy users, but I like to drool over pretty customs.
  • We count each other as friends.

Moral: It's all good.

If you want to talk about something else than GEC, start a thread about it and have at it. If you like talking about GEC, post in one of the GEC threads.

Above all, remember the third rule and Post Friendly.
 
jujigatame said:
I think it's as simple as this...

1) There are lots of GEC's being made.
2) Lots of folks here are buying them.
3) Folks sell off knives they no longer need or want, often to fund more knives.
4) If GEC is the company currently making the biggest splash in the pond that is the BF Traditional community then their knives will tend to predominate the resale market here.

If all those GECs were going on the block because they had legitimate quality problems then GEC would be suffering for it and there would a groundswell of feedback from the community about it. I don't see either of those things happening.
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I like this post. I would only change:
1) There are very few GEC's being made compared to a companies like Case, Buck, Victorinox.
2) Most of the knives they make are bought by the people who visit this forum.

I would add:
5) GEC has an expanding library and ever increasing build quality/value (IMO). There is always something new.
6) GEC's competition has either folded, or builds the same old knives with very few exceptions, and almost everyone who knows agrees that they don't make them like they used to (except for Victorinox, but nothing new there).
7) GEC makes really cool SFO's, like the last 3 BFC Traditional knives.
8) Regardless of the fact I think they are taking advantage of us, I seems like GEC is just about the only company that will give us the time of day when we shop for a forum knife builder.

ptradeco said:
Frank, I believe you have nailed it. I assume you have guessed my undertones. Correct, I am a bit baffled and not exactly happy, with the proliferation of GEC threads in the Traditional Forum. I am of the belief that there are many other topics and makers we could be discussing that would enrich all of us beyond the bootlegging of patterns, and dare I say, quite in-accurately, by GEC. Granted, they make an acceptable product for many, but being portrayed as the end-all-be-all, hardly.
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The fault lies almost entirely with the now either non existent makers, or the inept marketing of the remaining ones. I think Rough Rider knives probably gets (and has earned) about as much "play" in the forum as Case has in recent years. That's almost unimaginable, but it's happening.

It's true that GEC is enjoying being the "it" company right now here on this internet forum, but the internet is the only place they exist. I wouldn't know where to look anywhere in this state to find a GEC knife "on the shelf", but I am no more than a few miles from, and know of more than one place to find, a Case knife, or a Buck, or a Victorinox.

If you don't shop for knives on the internet I don't know how you would even know GEC exists. It seems to me an internet knife forum is about the only place that one would find talk about GEC at all. And when we do talk about GEC on this forum you get responses from a large portion of their dealer network in addition to the enthusiasts.

This thread is barely 6 hours old. How many GEC dealers have already posted in this thread? How many other brand dealers?
 
Well, I am pretty new on here, so the GEC threads are not an issue with me, instead they have helped me to get a jump start on educating myself on Great Eastern Products. I now own 3 GEC's and have a 4th on order, because I have been so thoroughly impressed with their quality, and I love 1095 steel, also, along with the many great handle materials offered by Great Eastern. I would have never known about the company if I had not seen them discussed on here, or I wouldn't have trusted them, without seeing all of the positive talk on here about them, as the only GEC's I have ever got to handle, were the ones I bought myself online, as no one stocks them in my area, I have never even seen one at a gun and knife show.

However, I love to learn anything new or useful in the way of knives that are practical for everyday use. Thanks to everyone who has posted pictures, etc on your favorite knives.
 
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