GEC Disappointment

C

Coyote3855

Joined
Jun 17, 2008
Messages
483
So I drank the Kool-aid. Put my Rough Riders in a drawer. Ordered a Gippetto Whittler with black buffalo horn scales. The knife arrived today. The scales had shrunk, exposing the brass liners. The main blade had excessive side to side play, more than either Rough Rider. I really wanted to like this knife and keep it. It would have been a user; I have no safe queens or collections behind glass. The $100 was probably the third largest amount I've paid for a knife. (There's that 1970's Randall hollow handle and a Benchmade Mini Ruckus.) I wanted black scales because I remember my grandpa carrying a black slippie. The vendor said he'd do a trade or a refund. I sent it back. Dang.
 
I have the same knife. It has been disappointing to me as well; I had the same issue with the exposed liners but just barely. The disappointment for me was the snap or lack there of, in the secondary blades. I plan on staying away from whittler patterns as they are harder to pull off than most. I don't have any blade play and it is a very good looking knife, I'm just used to great walk and talk from GEC.
 
Very disappointing for you, sending it back for a refund was the right move. Seller should not have been sending it out in such a state either!

I'm VERY wary of Buffalo horn on contemporary knives, I really suspect it is not prepared or cured properly in all too many cases. This leads to warp&shrink, simply because the material is not fit for the purpose.

Not had any problems with my GECs but that's no consolation or excuse for the OP's poor experience. Regret to hear this but it's essential we do get to know of failures, helps get an overall perspective.
 
willgoy said:
Very disappointing for you, sending it back for a refund was the right move. Seller should not have been sending it out in such a state either!

I'm VERY wary of Buffalo horn on contemporary knives, I really suspect it is not prepared or cured properly in all too many cases. This leads to warp&shrink, simply because the material is not fit for the purpose.

Not had any problems with my GECs but that's no consolation or excuse for the OP's poor experience. Regret to hear this but it's essential we do get to know of failures, helps get an overall perspective.
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I'd bet it was "throat poppin" sharp though.
 
I always ask the dealer to inspect the knife for defects. If something like this comes anyway, I have a bit more leverage.
 
Send it back and just wait before you say much more...... give them a chance, they still operate "hands on"....so we still so very lucky to have a old traditional way of these knives being made, and "old traditional" wasnt always right first time...but what can be is their customer service.

Now you have had your say, let them do their bit and let us know of the outcome as I think you do have to be fair and let GEC correct a wrong, and then you have to give them kudos for doing so!
 
I think the 57's have pretty week snap. Although my two samples have a pull and snap about equal to the shcrade old timer stockmans. One of mine also came with blade play on the main blade. I made a thread about sending it back twice. End result I do like mine and the one I got for my girl is perfect for her with the light pulls.
 
Buffalo horn scales often have issues and I have heard several complaints about it. Sadly it also chips pretty easy. I think gec makes a great knife but they aren't perfect. Lately a lot of people have been expecting perfection because a lot of members here speak highly of them. Lastly, I really don't feel there is much koolaid drinkers on this forum. Much too traditional for that :) more whiskey drinkers I think.
 
I haven't noticed the horn shrinking for some time now. At one time they would use it green and it would want to move a bit.

My guess is you are probably talking about seeing brass around the perimeter and not a gap between the horn/bolster. That is a sign of slight over buffing. The horn is simply softer than the brass, thus when they are buffing the backspring, etc. the horn goes away a little faster than the imperfections they are buffing out. So, you end up seeing a sliver of brass on many of their knives with softer handle materials.

I have not noticed any handles pulling away from the bolsters any worse than the others.
 
The bladeplay is bothersome, but it's hard to blame GEC for the buffalo horn shrinkage. Buffalo horn being a natural material is affected by temperature and humidity changes. It's probably the most "alive" of the natural handle materials. Many custom makers won't even work with buffalo horn for this reason, they don't think the aggravation is worth it.

- Christian
 
knifeswapper said:
I haven't noticed the horn shrinking for some time now. At one time they would use it green and it would want to move a bit.

My guess is you are probably talking about seeing brass around the perimeter and not a gap between the horn/bolster. That is a sign of slight over buffing. The horn is simply softer than the brass, thus when they are buffing the backspring, etc. the horn goes away a little faster than the imperfections they are buffing out. So, you end up seeing a sliver of brass on many of their knives with softer handle materials.

I have not noticed any handles pulling away from the bolsters any worse than the others.
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That certainly sounds like the case with mine, it fits nicely against the bolsters.

For what it's worth I have a 2007 Northfield "Bronco Charlie" #23 in buffalo horn and it is flawless and very stable.
 
I believe,to a certain extent,that some of the natural handle materials,horn being one, are known to expand and contract with changing atmospheric conditions,ie: humidity,temperature,those sort of things.
 
knifeswapper said:
My guess is you are probably talking about seeing brass around the perimeter and not a gap between the horn/bolster. That is a sign of slight over buffing. The horn is simply softer than the brass, thus when they are buffing the backspring, etc. the horn goes away a little faster than the imperfections they are buffing out. So, you end up seeing a sliver of brass on many of their knives with softer handle materials.

I have not noticed any handles pulling away from the bolsters any worse than the others.
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Yes, that's what I saw. If that had been the only issue, I would probably have kept the knife. Even though the $10 RRs with bone handles were not "overbuffed" and do not show the sliver of brass. The blade play I thought was excessive on a $100 knife. The vendor said he would do whatever I want. I wanted the knife without defects. He does not list another Gippetto with horn scales, so I expect to get a refund.
 
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