GEC Edges OOTT

[Jack Black]

That's because nowadays they utilize a CNC sharpening. That was the info from someone trustworthy, if I recall correctly, and I think I remember that Randy Bell confirmed it. It explains the incredibly narrow bevels on the later models, which is very unlikely to be done by hand.

I have asked if it is the only use of CNC by GEC in their manufacturing process and people say yes.

Right I remember being shocked when I saw a video of their previous double wheel sharpening system - Swipe! Swipe!

 

[osoverride]

I think GEC's edges have got better over the last 5 years or so, they used to be terrible at one time, and when you saw how they were sharpened, it was easy to see why. In the past, I've had to sharpen them OOTT, otherwise they wouldn't have cut butter. I think the last really blunt, and uneven, edge I had was on the 2014 forum knife, but there might have been others. I generally find them serviceable now, and more even. I often strop them when they're new, but will usually carry them a while before I sharpen them. I'm pretty lazy these days!

Funny enough, I'm sharpening my 2014 BFK right now lol

 

[Tyson A Wright]

My 97 Allegheny wouldn't cut anything out of the tube, but close inspection showed that it still had the wire edge, so stropping cleaned that up. The others have generally been pretty decent from the get-go.

 

[CVamberbonehead]

Yeah, I have never really had a sharp one out of the box. Always dull, possibly unsharpened sometimes?

 

[brownshoe]

My GEC was dull OOTT. It took some real work to get an edge on the inch closest to the tip. If they use CNC to put on the edge, it doesn’t say much for them being a “traditional hand made knife company.”

 

[ZHoovie]

Out of the couple I have they've all needed at least a touch up, some worse than others. One needed a total edge reset to get it where I like it. Which is no big deal, they're all users for me. They'll all get dull & need sharpening down the line at some point anyway

 

[EngrSorenson]

If they use CNC to put on the edge, it doesn’t say much for them being a “traditional hand made knife company.”

Bad news… they send their blades off for heat treatment in a state of the art facility. So much for “traditional hand made knife company”.

 

[EngrSorenson]

CNC-ing the edge just isn’t worth it. Would it make a more reliable edge? Absolutely. Would it meet my personal desirable level of sharpness? Probably not.

I sharpen all the ones I use straight out of the tube. I’m too persnickety about edges to use factory edges from anyone- ESEE, Case, or even Victorinox which are usually acceptable. Life’s too short to waste time settling for an inferior edge.

 

[paulhilborn]

Every single one...

 

[Elgatodeacero]

My new 130124 whip is razor sharp out of the tube. Most of my GECs have been very good out of the tube, but they always benefit from a quick touch up and stropping.

 

[321Bandaid]

Tube.. KME.. pocket. In that order.

 

[brownshoe]

Bad news… they send their blades off for heat treatment in a state of the art facility. So much for “traditional hand made knife company”.

Thanks. Good to know their heat treat is subcontracted. Queen did their own heat treatment except for D2 which was done by Peters and they were given credit with a P on the tang.

 

[calm]

For those that I use, I never had to sharpen one before using it. They were always sharp enough to use.
I am OK with the factory edges of the large majority of knife brands.
The only knife brand that regularly needed sharpening from new were Queen.

 

[Will Power]

They seem a good deal better than in the early years....not had one from 2024 yet though.

If I'm certain I like the knife for use, then I will sharpen on arrival and strop. If I like it but it's not going to be used then I'll leave it as it is for sale or trades should something tempting come up.

Have to say that most American Traditionals not just GEC do arrive with less than thrilling edges European (excepting English which often have no edge to speak of...) & Asian knives are almost always sharp on arrival whatever their price tag. There are always exceptions, lot of people are fond of griping about CASE knives, this one's Sheepfoot savaged me after less than a week and had only been stropped Just when I had to leave the house on an appt. too

 

[black mamba]

The most recent GEC I have is a #13 Clerk, and the blades are nice and thin and sharp, OOTT. I still stropped, just to put the final touch on them.

 

[bbfish]

Yep I usually sharpen them, and then just strop them pretty frequently if theyre gonna be heavier users.

 

[gunstockjack]

I have a 1 inch belt sander that I use with a worn out 400 grit belt to freehand sharpen all my GEC's if they are to be used. I use the same set-up to touch up all my users because it takes only about 30 seconds to put a razor edge on the blade; sharp enough that I usually skip the strop. I also have a Work Sharp, but prefer the larger belt on the 1x42. This method does not work with straight razors as they all require a dead flat stone, strop, and patience.

 

[HEMI 49]

It is funny that so little attention is given to the cutting edge on a cutting tool... Most people will accept and use a mediocre edge, but lose their mind over a backspring gap or a lazy walk-n-talk.....

I don't use GEC'S, but if I did, I'd sharpen them..... I find that most of the GEC'S I receive are 90% - 95% sharp... I'd prefer to have them better than that if I were to use them...

The best slipjoint cutting edge from a factory is made by Rosecraft... They run consistently near perfect edges OOTB...

 

[Travman]

The only time I did was because the pen blade lacked a point, so technically it wasn't a full sharpening, just near the tip.


Ditto!


That's because nowadays they utilize a CNC sharpening. That was the info from someone trustworthy, if I recall correctly, and I think I remember that Randy Bell confirmed it. It explains the incredibly narrow bevels on the later models, which is very unlikely to be done by hand.

I have asked if it is the only use of CNC by GEC in their manufacturing process and people say yes.

This does not sound right. GEC has been using a CNC machine to grind the blades for the past few years. The edges are still sharpened by hand.

 

[Alex.Y.]

This does not sound right. GEC has been using a CNC machine to grind the blades for the past few years. The edges are still sharpened by hand.

Oh, maybe I misunderstood then. Do you know which years exactly? Genuinely curious if I got any hand-ground blades. I think the earliest GEC I have is from ~2018.