GEC production records

[oldtymer]

Looking at the GEC website & their production data for each year- just wondering how accurate the numbers are.
Being a small company with limited runs I would guess they are pretty accurate.
Anyone have any info?

George

 

[rma100]

I don't know where you would find anything more accurate than the Company's own records? Although it is known that some short run/parts knives might not be listed. The info is accurate for regular production runs. Pretty much.

 

[Sherman01]

No info, just my experience from a small bit of research. Not only are the production run records incomplete - error knives are not uncommon. I looked at 3 knives (#64) all different handle materials on a dealer's site that weren't listed at all. The serials would indicate at least 58 of these production knives not listed for that year (2013). The unserialized versions are listed. I have a melon tester listed on the tube label as 892309, that has a wharncliff main blade. It should have a spear main. It is not unique - I have seen others for sale. The coping blade is stamped 892, the pen 309 - they used these leftover secondary blades to make a number of knives using wharncliff main blades - no record of wharncliff 89's in 2009. There are many more instances of inconsistencies, and at least one dealer confided that errors & omissions are not uncommon after I asked them to verify an offered knife I could not find in the GEC production records. I wouldn't bet on the rarity of a GEC knife based on the production records.
*let me add that I think the special and very short run unique handled knives are probably more accurate since they would have been paying closer attention. All the problems I've seen are in the longer production runs 25 or more knives.

 

[oldtymer]

Thanks for your post Sherman01, Your knife according to their records does not exist. The rarity issue could be a problem to a collector.
I was surprised by how few knives they show made,did a rough total for 2013 & even including all the special runs for Charlie,dealers,clubs
etc. the total was less than 13,000 according to the list.
George

 

[oldtymer]

Sorry sticky key

 

[knifeswapper]

Thanks for your post Sherman01, Your knife according to their records does not exist. The rarity issue could be a problem to a collector.
I was surprised by how few knives they show made,did a rough total for 2013 & even including all the special runs for Charlie,dealers,clubs
etc. the total was less than 13,000 according to the list.
George

I am actually impressed that they could average 50 knives for every weekday all last year. I know they try to average around 70; but there are a lot of weekdays that get lost in a year. As far as records - they are great to have, but a small company cannot dedicate a full person to tracking/document every knife that goes out the door. They would be happy to write you a COA for any knife not in their records if you want to send it back to them - a lot like grading a coin. I myself have put a lot of one-offs into my kids collection.