Get out the tar and feathers...

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CVamberbonehead

CVamberbonehead

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Sorry folks, but I have to say it. Great Eastern Cutlery is the most overrated thing since the Mona Lisa. :eek:

Before you start screaming at your computer, let me say one thing. I really like GEC knives! Sometimes. I have had a few, and they have been pretty nice overall. Some were not a good fit for me, but that was not their fault. In my experience, GEC knives have mostly had really nice fit and finish, good steel, and they are (theoretically) built to use. :) But....

1: They are just not as good as they are cracked up to be and the knives are sold as shelf queens, not to be used. I have seen plenty of issues with them on here and in person (ugly acrylic with ugly seams recently for instance). I had a 48 improved trapper that had really sharp jigging, almost splintery to the touch, and the secondary blade had an obnoxious and painfully sharp swedge that dug into your hand when you tried to actually use the knife (not just a problem on this one either, but pretty much any multi bladed Northfield). Recently, I got a Remington knife from them that the jigging actually did splinter! I reached in my pocket for it and a splinter of bone cracked off from around one of their lackluster pins and was stuck in my thumb! It was kind of painful and I had to use the knife to dig out the splinter of bone from the knife (oh the irony). Plus the shield is not fit perfectly either, with a gap beside it. They have non flush pins on every single knife that I know of. They have a lot of ugly, geometric type jigging (this is subjective though). Their blade tangs are so sharp that they are awful on your fingers in use, and on your pockets/leg when carrying. A lot of their knives have nail breaker pulls. Their warranty sucks, just give it a read. They won't even warranty a natural material handle (almost all of their knives) after use. People, knives are tools believe it or not. They are supposed to get used. That is not a warranty, it is worthless. That warranty is telling you to keep your knife a tube dwelling collectible.

2: They make so few knives! I know that they are a small operation and they do a lot of hand work, but dang. People crap on Case all the time for everything under the sun, but at least you can actually buy a Case! GEC makes so few knives that it is just silly, and it gives you no choice of what you want to buy. They sell knives more like they are art than tools. You will get what they make, and you had better like it. They could make the Farm and Field knives en masse so that people could actually get one to use, but they don't. Instead, they have raised prices and made it impossible to get a knife. They are tools. Imagine if wrenches were sold like boutique art like these are and how stupid that would be.

3: Fanboys and flippers. I have been looking at a bunch of GEC threads lately and it blows my mind what people will excuse if a knife has GEC stamped on it. It is like people are afraid that if they say something negative about the sacred cow that Bill Howard will personally ban them from flipping GEC's on Ebay or something. There is so much GEC butt kissing on Blade Forums it is crazy. I have seen people excuse flaws on knives like GEC/Bill Howard could never do anthing wrong. And the flippers are awful! Regular people with a life cannot find a GEC, so they get preyed on by douchebags flipping GEC's for insane prices.

I am going to stop ranting now. I actually like GEC knives themselves for the most part, but the company and the cult of GEC kind of sucks. I'm just saying that Case makes 10x as many knives, and they get crucified on here all the time while people give GEC a pass on most anything because they do not want to bad mouth the collector value out of their precious little untouched tubes. It is silly! I have GEC knives thanks to the exchange here, where you can sometimes find a knife for a decent price if you happen to show up to a sale thread at just the right time. I like them alot. I just don't get the cult. GEC, I'm not mad at you. I'm just dissapointed. lol Thanks for coming to my TED talk, now you can shun the non believer. :(

Thoughts? Please be nice by the way. We don't have to agree, but don't be a jerk to anyone.
 
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If case offered a greater variety of patterns in their excellent CV steel, I'd be a happy camper. I have zero interest in stainless traditionals. I have plenty of more capable modern folders in all the latest stainless super steels.

Also, if someone were interested in providing GEC with some healthy competition in the form of producing larger quantities of USA-made knives of similar quality at more reasonable prices -- well, that'd make me happy as well.

What really baffles me, is the supposition that the secondary market somehow "corrects" the retail pricing model. Crazy secondary prices are still crazy -- even if people pay them. Overvaluing a product is not a real or sustainable way to increase the product's value. Watch what happens when a company is overvalued in the stock market (another economic system subject to emotional whims) and you'll see what I mean.
 
CVamberbonehead said:
Sorry folks, but I have to say it. Great Eastern Cutlery is the most overrated thing since the Mona Lisa. :eek:

.............................. douchebags flpping GEC's for insane prices.

Thoughts? Please be nice by the way. We don't have to agree, but don't be a jerk to anyone.
Click to expand...

On the one hand, there are those that flip GEC knives for insane prices and on the other hand, there are those that complain ad nauseam about it.

That's just part of the GEC experience whether it be here at BF or elsewhere across the Web. Kinda one of those "Love Hate" relationships.

Edited so as not to be a jerk to anyone.
 
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I love my GECs, but I have about 20- more than I'll ever use in my life time.
They're great knives.

Nothing is going to get me to dance in the circus just to pay the prices they currently command.

I've been carrying a $20 Opinel No 6 in Olivewood for about 3 months, and I've been perfectly content.
I've also bought a few more fixed blades, other Opinels and a Svord, and I'm more content.

The sum of the cost of all of those knives I've purchased is approximately what I'm seeing some "light user" GECs going for on the exchange today.
 
They look great but I couldn't get a useful one unless I paid way up or played the drop game. Decided not to do that. I was pretty close to buying one of the elderberry camel bone jacks on the exchange here, but decided to forget about it all together.

Too many other fish in the sea.
 
There's a GEC model or two I'd love to have, but I'm just not playing the game.
I wish they were something I could buy, but they aren't and that's fine.

I can live with out them, and have found I'm better off just forgetting the ones I can't have and pretty much ignoring GEC all together.
I'm happier not thinking about them, and it keeps me from constantly bringing up my problems with their business model.
I can wish their business model worked for me, but it works for plenty of others and that's their target market so I just need to accept the fact that GEC simply isn't the knife company for me.
 
That's a quality rant.
I have zero experience with GEC's other than seeing them here at BF but as a long time slipjoint fanboy I share some of your frustrations and confusion.

I guess I'm just in the wrong demographic.
(Happily carry Case)
 
It seems like the issues you're discussing are just being way over-inflated honestly.

Is GEC flawless? Nope. Is Case crap? Nope.

I love both GEC and Case for what each are. Case is typically a bit more affordable (if we're comparing real retail) and way more readily available. GEC on the other hand is typically a bit higher in the price bracket and hard to get. Both companies make knives that are worth what you pay for though and the main difference comes down to the details and extra levels of fit and finish and refinement and quality control.

I've owned 80+ GECs over the years and about as many Cases and the GECs have far and away been the winner in terms of quality control. However, I don't see that as an indictment of Case though, but rather just the nature of the two different operating styles of the companies. Case is cranking out WAY more knives and typically at a lower price point and thus it's kind of expected you're not going to get quite the level of fit and finish as a GEC as often. If I sat down and compared all my Cases and all my GECs and marked down every little imperfection or slightly off thing in the fitment and finish then my Case knives would score 2,3, even 4 times higher in terms of "not quite perfect" than my GECs..... but again, my Case knives are still great tools, were easy to get, and were typically cheaper than my GECs.

For what you get with Case, I think their prices are spot on, but by the same token, I think GEC's prices are spot on for what you get. However, some of what you get with a GEC may not be something everyone actually cares about. If I were to rate all mine on a scale of 1-10 in terms of walk/talk and fit/finish then my Cases would average around a 6-7 and my GECs would average around a 9-10. I only have 2 Cases that are in the 9-10 range and only 1 GEC that is maybe in the 6 or 7 range. I've never once had to return a GEC but I've had to return 4 Case knives. However, I don't really knock Case for that though because that is the nature of their operation and they happily made it right when I had a problem.

If we start talking secondary market prices then, yeah, things get insane real fast on GECs.... but I hardly ever buy on the secondary.

The other thing I don't entirely "get" in the common complaints with GEC is how hard they are to obtain. Don't get me wrong, they're not easy, but it's also really not THAT hard to score one. I have 0 in-road or connections in the industry whatsoever and I don't have anyone buying for me or have some secret deal or anything but in the last 20 or so GEC drops that I really wanted I managed to get like 15 of them.

Is the GEC market exactly how I'd personally wish it to be right now? No, but I don't see it as rant-worthy either and I don't see people crucifying Case on here either except in the rare instance that it was actually warranted because of a significant problem or issue. Heck I see people lovingly posting and commenting on Case knives all the time on here. Also, I don't want GEC to start cranking out more and more knives and focus on quantity and just become another Case. Again, I love Case, but I also love GEC for being the slightly higher priced but more premium product, even if they're hard to come by.
 
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I actually buy them for the art in them!! You will get a few flaws in any production knife, but I have gotten way more in Case knives for instance!! I think, the larger the production, the more these flaws will slip through!! So I like the size of the runs at GEC!!!!
Every flaw, no matter the company, has been corrected for me! - With a little persistence!!!

Luckily, we are free to choose other sources; no-one has to own a GEC!! I just want to, and I am willing to pay a certain amount!!! The aftermarket becomes less of a factor with patience!!! I have waited years to buy/find certain patterns, and it's paid off!! Wait the flippers out!!!
 
I have only purchased one GEC in recent years, a used 33 off the exchange here. I am please with it and I always wanted the pattern. It’s a nice knife, has some imperfections, but I enjoy carrying and using it.

I really don’t try to buy new GECs anymore now that demand greatly exceeds supply. I think the hunt is part of the fun of the hobby for some, but not for me. I don’t fault GEC one bit. I am happy they are running a successful business of quality American made knives.

It does bum me out that all the knives get bought up so quickly and then are only available on the secondary market for inflated prices. I suppose that is a business too, though I don’t like it for selfish reasons.
 
waynorth said:
I actually buy them for the art in them!! You will get a few flaws in any production knife, but I have gotten way more in Case knives for instance!! I think, the larger the production, the more these flaws will slip through!! So I like the size of the runs at GEC!!!!
Every flaw, no matter the company, has been corrected for me! - With a little persistence!!!

Luckily, we are free to choose other sources; no-one has to own a GEC!! I just want to, and I am willing to pay a certain amount!!! The aftermarket becomes less of a factor with patience!!! I have waited years to buy/find certain patterns, and it's paid off!! Wait the flippers out!!!
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Yeah, what he said lol.

I initially wrote out this long message as a rebuttal but everyone else already did it.
 
A pretty reasonable alternative to GECs, cost me less than $50!!! A couple of years ago!!
Aside from the many other knives I've carried, I have thought that this modest-sized stockman makes a lot of sense to carry!! Easily pocketed, easily sharpened, good steel, great snap and walk, and fit!!! A hair over 3 5/8" - nice size!! Purty!!!

edited; did I mention this knife is ~ 70 years old!!! Made when I was a child!!!
Reddish 6332 n half 1.jpgReddish 6332 n half 2.jpgReddish 6332 n half 3.jpg
 
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They just got more popular than their capacity for production.

Back in the good old days of the last recession, they'd sit in dealer inventory for months. There were a lot of patterns of theirs that just did not interest me. They were a bit higher priced than Case at the time. I could generally find a new Case knife from a dealer for between $25 and $55 for most of their standard patterns. At the same time, GEC knives were between $50 and $100, so about twice as much.

You used to be able to pick them up on the exchange here, UNDER their original sale price, as is typical of "used" items even if they were like-new. Some patterns in particular were not the hot thing. You could usually get into a pre-order or notification e-mail list from your favorite dealer, and have no problem getting a knife when they came out.

That changed over time as they became more popular. Starting maybe around 2015 you had to scramble a bit to grab one of the "hot" patterns. Apparently there has been a renewed interest in traditional patterns sometime over the past 10 years.

I bought about 15 GECs in total, 3 of which have been BF forum knives, a few were through a dealer pre-order process, several pre-owned from the Exchange forum here, and some just buying from dealer stock. That was mostly from 2013 through 2015. Concidentally, right about when it got hard to buy GEC knives, I had pretty much bought all of the pocket knives I wanted to buy and the fever was off me.

So I never really experienced the "want it but can't get it" frustration. I got most of the ones I wanted, back when the prices were a little high (for me) but not crazy, and availability was not a big deal.

They are some really lovely knives. The level of fit and finish is a notch above Case, no question. But other than a couple of GECs that I carry and use, I generally go with Case or Buck for my regular users.
 
Spillproof said:
That's a quality rant.
I have zero experience with GEC's other than seeing them here at BF but as a long time slipjoint fanboy I share some of your frustrations and confusion.

I guess I'm just in the wrong demographic.
(Happily carry Case)
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Lol thanks, I try. :cool: lol
 
Heathenhymnal said:
It seems like the issues you're discussing are just being way over-inflated honestly.

Is GEC flawless? Nope. Is Case crap? Nope.

I love both GEC and Case for what each are. Case is typically a bit more affordable (if we're comparing real retail) and way more readily available. GEC on the other hand is typically a bit higher in the price bracket and hard to get. Both companies make knives that are worth what you pay for though and the main difference comes down to the details and extra levels of fit and finish and refinement and quality control.

I've owned 80+ GECs over the years and about as many Cases and the GECs have far and away been the winner in terms of quality control. However, I don't see that as an indictment of Case though, but rather just the nature of the two different operating styles of the companies. Case is cranking out WAY more knives and typically at a lower price point and thus it's kind of expected you're not going to get quite the level of fit and finish as a GEC as often. If I sat down and compared all my Cases and all my GECs and marked down every little imperfection or slightly off thing in the fitment and finish then my Case knives would score 2,3, even 4 times higher in terms of "not quite perfect" than my GECs..... but again, my Case knives are still great tools, were easy to get, and were typically cheaper than my GECs.

For what you get with Case, I think their prices are spot on, but by the same token, I think GEC's prices are spot on for what you get. However, some of what you get with a GEC may not be something everyone actually cares about. If I were to rate all mine on a scale of 1-10 in terms of walk/talk and fit/finish then my Cases would average around a 6-7 and my GECs would average around a 9-10. I only have 2 Cases that are in the 9-10 range and only 1 GEC that is maybe in the 6 or 7 range. I've never once had to return a GEC but I've had to return 4 Case knives. However, I don't really knock Case for that though because that is the nature of their operation and they happily made it right when I had a problem.

If we start talking secondary market prices then, yeah, things get insane real fast on GECs.... but I hardly ever buy on the secondary.

The other thing I don't entirely "get" in the common complaints with GEC is how hard they are to obtain. Don't get me wrong, they're not easy, but it's also really not THAT hard to score one. I have 0 in-road or connections in the industry whatsoever and I don't have anyone buying for me or have some secret deal or anything but in the last 20 or so GEC drops that I really wanted I managed to get like 15 of them.

Is the GEC market exactly how I'd personally wish it to be right now? No, but I don't see it as rant-worthy either and I don't see people crucifying Case on here either except in the rare instance that it was actually warranted because of a significant problem or issue. Heck I see people lovingly posting and commenting on Case knives all the time on here. Also, I don't want GEC to start cranking out more and more knives and focus on quantity and just become another Case. Again, I love Case, but I also love GEC for being the slightly higher priced but more premium product, even if they're hard to come by.
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Sure, plenty of people like Case. They just don't seem to have the same craziness around them that GEC does.
 
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