GEC Popularity Question

Slice-and-dice

Slice-and-dice

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Jun 20, 2023
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Among the very popular GEC knives, is there an order of prestige within their brands? Or is popularity simply pattern & materials driven??

Is there an order among these, in terms of desirability: GEC, Northfield/UN-X-LD, Tidioute, Farm and Field?
 
Some patterns are definitely more sought after (15/38/77 for example). Trim levels maybe more of a personal preference with KSF Northwoods at the top due to unique materials and blade shapes and then Northfield and so on. Stainless is another catagory to consider. The production totals with the SFOs also drive the “prestige” so to speak. The quality of the product, limited availability, and the way the company revisits patterns makes them challenging (and sometimes fun) to. Collect.
 
I was always under the impression that Northfield was their more premium line using more quality materials and finishing touches, then Tidioute and GEC are their standard versions, with farm and field being more unique everymans working type of knives in their own category. As for prestige/desirability among the people who collect them, I would definitely have to agree with the above comments.
 
Sometimes the most sought after aren't what you'd expect but, for the most part, the less made the more folks want one. That is just from a collector's point of view though. For those that actually carry and use their GECs, it really just comes down to personal preference. In most cases, a Tidioute or F&F is more than sufficient. I only carry a NF when I want to feel fancy :)

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For some people, FOMA is the number one point o_O Then there's RONGO Reality Of Never Getting One:D

However, quality is a very reliable constant with all 3 marques- they are differentiated by types of finish/steel not level of finish or quality .

For me as a prospective buyer it's the pattern, size and materials/shield used but RONGO could loom large..;)
 
Will Power said:
For some people, FOMA is the number one point o_O Then there's RONGO Reality Of Never Getting One:D

However, quality is a very reliable constant with all 3 marques- they are differentiated by types of finish/steel not level of finish or quality .

For me as a prospective buyer it's the pattern, size and materials/shield used but RONGO could loom large..;)
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Thanks I was wondering if one brand was more premium or of a higher quality. Sounds like they are all equally nice In terms of finish. Thanks Will.
 
it depends i suppose. if you really liked the knives, then the patterns themselves matter, then the trim. the trim itself dictates the cost level. some folks these days are only in it for the money which sadly has ruined this hobby. its has led to the needless inflation of costs. I myself generally care only about maybe 5 or 6 patterns, 4 of which are considered derivatives. Although my collection is fairly repetitive, i have been slowly exploring multiblade patterns which is outside the norm. Quite often these days, i consider finishing one last project and just enjoying what I have.
 
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Like folks said above, it's everything. Maybe even except the prestige for many people. For me it is their design and quality. I just love their lines and shapes. They seem to satisfy all my traditional cutlery (actually, cutlery in general) desires perfectly. At the end of the day, all's matter of taste, but the actual quality, and they do got the latter most definitely.

Speaking about any specific order of their brands, I believe there's none. While Northfield has more details than Tidioute, GEC is a mix with NF handles and Tiddy blades plus stainless, and F&F are being positioned as simple working knives, they are all made with the same high standards by the same craftsmen and craftswomen. Their brand division is more of a homage to the past times' practices, it doesn't demark product quality.
 
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The Tidioute and Farm & Field models are certainly just as well made as the “fancier” Northfields. I like ’em all, but tend to gravitate more towards the Tidioutes and F&F. I prefer satin finished blades over high polished, and I normally like the more subtle drawn swedge compared to the cut swedges usually seen on the Northfield knives. (The GEC branded knives are nice, too, and I have a few, but I much prefer their non-stainless offerings.)
 
In terms of simplicity, the Farm & Field range are aimed at work-use so they have tough scales such as Micarta (generally) and all steel construction and they certainly do live up to expectations but finish is the equal of the others' no rough n' ready there :D very sturdy and satisfying.

If we consider scarcity, that can lead to appreciation by the more driven collector and there are some ultra minuscule releases in single figures. It's rewarding to look at the recent thread initiated by Charlie waynorth waynorth on GEC early years 2006-11 many scarce knives here. In connexion with scarcity, it can be argued that the Great Eastern marque for stainless pocket knives is itself pretty rare as releases are few & far between. Fans of the stainless have few to choose from and here's an example: I got hold of this 2012 release of a 68 pattern White Owl Light Tan jigged bone one of just 5- so only 4 left in the USA now. Not the usual 'tyre-tread' jigging here either....

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waynorth waynorth Much appreciated Charlie :cool: The knife is much appreciated too, one of m'favourites- great snap and that's always welcome. May your day be bright:thumbsup:
 
I just think that with very few companies making traditional slipjoints that i just appreciate so many of gec offerings and patterns, but I find that with my health limitations that my preference is for pocket carry and not bush stomping knives lol.i do prefer one blade over 2,and on two bladed I prefer an awl or beer opener.but man there are so many patterns to appreciate so bring em on.now if I could get a 35 hj I'm smiling.
 
Slice-and-dice said:
Is there an order among these, in terms of desirability: GEC, Northfield/UN-X-LD, Tidioute, Farm and Field?
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Depends on what you are into in terms of "desirability."

When originally planned and designed, they weren't expecting to end up being scarce highly-sought after Veblen goods.

Northfield was the premium brand with extra design elements, so maybe expected to cater to the collector market.
Tidioute (carbon steel) and GEC (stainless) were the "daily carry and use" brands. Same patterns, but generally a bit plainer with the less premium handle materials.
The original 'Red Neck' which became Farm and Field was the "no-nonsense working person's knife" - tool steel, synthetic handles, similar to Case's basic Sod Buster knives.

Originally, the pricing bands were in line with this - Northfield patterns up near $100 or a little over, Tidioute down in the $65 to $85 range, Farm and Field down around $50-60, and GEC stainless, when you could find them, generally similar to Tidioute but the elk stag up there with Northfield.

That was back in the glorious days of the Great Recession and its immediate aftermath, when GEC releases actually made it to dealer inventory, and would sit there for a while waiting to be sold. They had not yet established their reputation for quality to the point where people would be willing to pre-pay for knives that had not yet been produced.

Today is is all about excess demand and limited supply, so the original pricing and market segment targeting no longer applies. But it was originally like I laid out here.
 
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