Get out the tar and feathers...

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GEC is clearly the best knife factory. Their knives look and feel the best. They faithfully recreate vintage patterns. They make nice full blades. Other brands tend to have shorter blades compared the overall length of the handle. The blades also have beautiful swedges. Some other brands don’t even add swedges. Take a look at the clip-point blade from a GEC 15 pattern and then compare it to one of Case’s or Boker’s clip-point knives. The aesthetics aren’t even close.

Those that feel GEC pulls are too hard are probably not familiar with what a pocket knife should feel like. Please don’t ask for softer pulls and ruin it for the rest of us.

I will agree that GEC’s standard light jigging pattern is not my favorite. I wish they would do more random and rounded jigging. I do wish that they would polish their Northfield polished blades to a higher level. I do wish they would put shields back on most stag knives. I do wish they would not do satin finishes on any of the wood or Micarta knives. I do wish they would stop with the pin—edged light red dyed knives and get some truly deep red dyed bone.
 
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CVamberbonehead said:
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.
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really? I have carried and used almost all of their patterns. I’ve seen this complaint before and don’t understand it. Are you purposely trying to rub up against the closed tang?

None of their knives have nail breakers pulls. The last patterns that required extra effort to open were the 46 and 26 secondaries, but even these would break in nicely after some use.
 
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Rookie82 said:
I really think 50% of GEC knives are bought, and immediately sold for 2x the retail price. Go to knife shows, check FB sales and Ebay. It seriously feels as soon as there is a new release, 1/2 of them show up for re-sale within 10 days. It's the Tulip Mania flower bubble effect, same as beanie babies in the 90s. It eventually will pop when there are more people trying to turn a profit than there are actual buyers/collectors.
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To be fair, on some of those ebay listing it can be hard to distinguish between flippers and some of GEC's actual "Dealers"...sometimes there isn't much of a difference. Not to say they don't have good dealers, they do, but some of them seem to charge the same price as flippers. That reflects poorly on the brand, hurts customer loyalty, and isn't something I would be happy to see if I were a company like GEC, and it's something I'm not happy to see as a customer of GEC.

I'm sure someone here will say "well don't buy them from those dealer(s), and I don't. But, with a limited production product like GEC, it is frustrating.
 
Travman said:
GEC is clearly the best knife factory. Their knives look and feel the best. They faithfully recreate vintage patterns. They make nice full blades. Other brands tend to have shorter blades compared the overall length of the handle. The blades also have beautiful swedges. Some other brands don’t even add swedges. Take a look at the clip-point blade from a GEC 15 pattern and then compare it to one of Case’s or Boker’s clip-point knives. The aesthetics aren’t even close.

Those that feel GEC pulls are too hard are probably not familiar with what a pocket knife should feel like. Please don’t ask for softer pulls and ruin it for the rest of us.

I will agree that GEC’s standard light jigging pattern is not my favorite. I wish they would do more random and rounded jigging. I do wish that they would polish their Northfield polished blades to a higher level. I do wish they would put shields back on most stag knives. I do wish they would not do satin finishes on any of the wood or Micarta knives. I do wish they would stop with the pin—edged light red dyed knives and get some truly deep red dyed bone.
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Strong pulls all day! One of my favorite things about GEC.

Also concerning Case, I have never had to send a GEC back for blade wobble, can't say the same for Case. I do like Case. I'd love to see them decrease production numbers a little, increase QC, and even charge a little more to make up for the loss in production. My last Rough Ryder was better put together than one of my recent Case purchases AND it has carbon steel, for 14 dollars! Now I'd rather buy a Made in America knife, but not for 4-7x the cost with poorer QC.

I love Case knives and I want to see them successful and continue to be in business. I get that their sales numbers are probably pretty good and the average person buying and using a Case knife probably isn't too concerned over a little blade wiggle and liner gaps, but it bugs me to no end.

On the other hand, GEC prices are going up quite a bit. The Camel Bone 87 was 240 bucks from a reputable dealer. That one surpassed my arbitrary dollar limit for a production slipjoint. I guess camel bone is expensive.
 
All manmade things can be good and bad. Perception plays a big part in what you think is good or bad. GEC makes great knives and so does Case. Every knife is individual no matter the technology used to make it. Good or bad is relative, unless of course poor quality is glaringly evident. Biy and ise with this in mind and either brand will work for you. As to flippers, they are in everything from real estate to watches to cars, guns, and of course knives. People even flip shoes. Don't buy grom them and they will go away. Patience and self control are key.
 
Ahh GEC.

Well, I’m a fan, I own a number of their knives. And yes I was a fan before they were hard to get, when you could mull over the numerous knives available and decide if you really wanted to try that pattern or not.

They make good knives. I’d venture to say, really good knives. There’s something to be said for getting a knife that’s almost perfect. I think their QC is better nowadays than it used to be.

I’m grateful when a pattern doesn’t trip my trigger so I don’t feel obliged to try to get one. There were patterns I wanted for years. Finally got them. Am I very happy, still? Yes, but ultimately it’s just a knife. But I’ll probably buy more, if they make something I really like. I liked the latest release, (English jack, Northfield trim, cloud shield) but I definitely didn’t like it enough to do desperate deeds and also spend nearly $300 to get one.

I think what I want, and what many of us want, is that timeless feeling. That feeling that my preferred knife company not only makes particularly nice or high quality knives, or knives that are a solid value proposition, but that they can effortlessly make thousands of a pattern, and will continue to do so, for decades, so that if I make a particular GEC mine, and use it till it falls apart, breaks, blades are worn down to nubs, or I lose the thing, I can without any trouble go into my local hardware store and pick a new one out of the display that’s very similar to my old example.

And in the old days GEC promised that, or something very like it. They’d do runs of the same pattern every few years. Knives from the earlier runs lingered in online inventories for years, too. It was reasonable to say “I want a GEC #66” and see exactly what options one dealer had. Other dealers might have different things left in stock. The thought was that this may not be my local hardware store but I can still buy a good knife at a fair price, and it’s a cut above the shoddy work found in lower priced brands.

Of course nowadays this seems very quaint and quite laughable. I think what irks me most is that because the knives are so sought after as collector’s items, I feel slightly guilty using them and can’t use them with the same sense of perfect ease I can, say, an Opinel. Should I ever lose or break a GEC it would be a major ordeal, maybe impossible, to replace it with a similar knife.
 
Travman said:
really? I have carried and used almost all of their patterns. I’ve seen this complaint before and don’t understand it. Are you purposely trying to rub up against the closed tang?

None of their knives have nail breakers pulls. The last patterns that required extra effort to open were the 46 and 26 secondaries, but even these would break in nicely after some use.
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No just normal stuff. Whittled a whittle bit (haha sorry, couldnt resist the pun lol) for a couple days with a 14 and just...ouch.
 
GaiusJulius said:
Ahh GEC.

Well, I’m a fan, I own a number of their knives. And yes I was a fan before they were hard to get, when you could mull over the numerous knives available and decide if you really wanted to try that pattern or not.

They make good knives. I’d venture to say, really good knives. There’s something to be said for getting a knife that’s almost perfect. I think their QC is better nowadays than it used to be.

I’m grateful when a pattern doesn’t trip my trigger so I don’t feel obliged to try to get one. There were patterns I wanted for years. Finally got them. Am I very happy, still? Yes, but ultimately it’s just a knife. But I’ll probably buy more, if they make something I really like. I liked the latest release, (English jack, Northfield trim, cloud shield) but I definitely didn’t like it enough to do desperate deeds and also spend nearly $300 to get one.

I think what I want, and what many of us want, is that timeless feeling. That feeling that my preferred knife company not only makes particularly nice or high quality knives, or knives that are a solid value proposition, but that they can effortlessly make thousands of a pattern, and will continue to do so, for decades, so that if I make a particular GEC mine, and use it till it falls apart, breaks, blades are worn down to nubs, or I lose the thing, I can without any trouble go into my local hardware store and pick a new one out of the display that’s very similar to my old example.

And in the old days GEC promised that, or something very like it. They’d do runs of the same pattern every few years. Knives from the earlier runs lingered in online inventories for years, too. It was reasonable to say “I want a GEC #66” and see exactly what options one dealer had. Other dealers might have different things left in stock. The thought was that this may not be my local hardware store but I can still buy a good knife at a fair price, and it’s a cut above the shoddy work found in lower priced brands.

Of course nowadays this seems very quaint and quite laughable. I think what irks me most is that because the knives are so sought after as collector’s items, I feel slightly guilty using them and can’t use them with the same sense of perfect ease I can, say, an Opinel. Should I ever lose or break a GEC it would be a major ordeal, maybe impossible, to replace it with a similar knife.
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Very thoughtful post and captures my thoughts and experience too
 
Guys, I like GEC. Seriously. I even have some, and they are very nice despite their razor like bone shards that they apparently shoot off into my thumb like a pissed off porcupine. Lol
Thats why I want to see them improve. Id like to see them make more knives so that people with lives can actually find one, maybe make a real warranty, bring back patterns that people want, bring back some stainless, etc. Maybe fix their deadly jigging? They are just overrated to me, thats all.

All Im saying is that we should be allowed to slaughter the sacred cow. GEC (and associated superfans) has issues. If someone saying that gets your panties in a bunch then you are part of the reason that GEC has issues. Lol

I think if you care about something, then criticism should be welcomed.
 
Let me just say that people buying GECs are not "fools" as someone said earlier.

Regarding scarcity, maybe it is not just the flippers causing it but also people that have to have each variation of each model, sometimes doubles. Even knives that τhey do not want or need.

Just because you get the chance to get a knife it does not mean that you HAVE to get it, even if you will practice "catch and release", for a small/no profit.

I can generally get the model I want, or something close to it and if I do not I just do not care that much.

I have several Case and GEC. They are both fine, for me. GEC to me is a 60 to 150 USD knife, depending on the model.
 
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CVamberbonehead said:
Guys, I like GEC. Seriously. I even have some, and they are very nice despite their razor like bone shards that they apparently shoot off into my thumb like a pissed off porcupine. Lol
Thats why I want to see them improve. Id like to see them make more knives so that people with lives can actually find one, maybe make a real warranty, bring back patterns that people want, bring back some stainless, etc. Maybe fix their deadly jigging? They are just overrated to me, thats all.

All Im saying is that we should be allowed to slaughter the sacred cow. GEC (and associated superfans) has issues. If someone saying that gets your panties in a bunch then you are part of the reason that GEC has issues. Lol

I think if you care about something, then criticism should be welcomed.
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I had a GEC 38 farmer with a pin crack a while back that I called about getting new covers on. It was in a cover that I’m not sure they’ve ever made since then. They told me they couldn’t replace it because then the knife would be a 1 of 1 and would be worth a ton. They get inquiries like that all the time. I totally understand why they wouldn’t do it. Flippers would be taking advantage of them all the time!

Their business model is perfect for collectors. You can go to their website and see just about every knife they’ve ever made and how many were made. It makes the chase fun. The knives really aren’t all that hard to get when they’re new. You just have to be patient and know where to look.
 
GEC is a small company of ~30 employees with passion to classics making (replicating, as D.L. Anthony positioned in his book) best traditional knives and doing so most traditional ways, also using hundred year old machinery and equipment. Go figure why the low numbers.

And look, you live in US, there are what, around twenty dealers available to you and you can't get a knife? Maybe you should consider the previously mentioned numbers and put a bit more effort to it then just expecting to be able to get that anytime you might wish.

I was there when first started with GEC, I get it. I was a bit frustrated by some of their knives, so I get that too. You just might need to rethink the whole GEC conception and decide for yourself if you want to go after them.
 
GaiusJulius said:
I think what I want, and what many of us want, is that timeless feeling. That feeling that my preferred knife company not only makes particularly nice or high quality knives, or knives that are a solid value proposition, but that they can effortlessly make thousands of a pattern, and will continue to do so, for decades, so that if I make a particular GEC mine, and use it till it falls apart, breaks, blades are worn down to nubs, or I lose the thing, I can without any trouble go into my local hardware store and pick a new one out of the display that’s very similar to my old example.
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Spot on!
 
I feel like we should be more efficient here, people- maybe list the talking points we must include in our responses. Please make sure you cover:
1) the small size of the company
2) the wholesome and enthusiastic owner
3) something about economics
4) something (preferably condescending) about there being other options
5) the number of GEC’s owned.
6) some kind of defense of Case’s product.

A good tar-and-feathering should be nauseatingly repetitive.
 
Some random thoughts.....

GEC, obviously manufacturers high quality knives, and I admire Bill Howard's dedication and high standards.

VERY few GEC patterns appeal to me. I'm old school, but not THAT old school! I greatly prefer the tried-and-true like stockman, trapper, barlow, peanut and the like. I get that they're bent of reviving old patterns, but (IMO!) most of those old patterns died off for a reason.
To me, GEC's earliest models were just too damn big. Their little knives tend to be too "stubby." Their high-water mark of plug ugly was that atrocious lady leg, but there have been other examples that, well, as a gentleman might say (if he said anything at all -- it's usually best not to), "probably have a real nice personality."

On their best day, GEC has not made a great knife. Let me explain. To me, a knife can only be great with years and years of steady carry and use. Memories! I'm more apt to drool over a U.S.-made Old Timer that some old dude carried every day for 30 years than any fresh-from-the-box product. Case, Schrade, Boker, German Eye ..... it doesn't matter. Here are a couple videos showing knives that, while "imperfect," have been worn over time into pieces of art:

Lastly, I'm just not willing to jump through hoops and pay through the nose to get one. I have a 66 calf roper slim I bought new from a dealer many years ago (excellent knife!). Getting it was as easy as clicking "add to cart" on a web site and sending over my $65 or $70. I don't regret that purchase. And I DO regret not buying a clip-point 15 barlow and a 71 bull nose while the prices were reasonable and the gettin' was easy.
Those days are over, though. I'm just not interested enough to do and pay what it takes to get one. $100 can get you a heck of a good user knife on the second-hand market ..... Case, Queen, Schrade, Camillus, Boker, etc.

Lastly, I do wish someone in the U.S. would pick up the mantle of what many assumed GEC's farm & field line was to have been. Namely, make a small selection of simple patterns with carbon steel and delrin scales. Crank 'em out like Schrade used to the Old Timers and Uncle Henry pocketknives. Priced fairly (no, I didn't say cheap), and available to buy.

Oh ..... one more thing: Here's hoping Bill Ruple can have even more success at Case than Tony Bose did in bringing up their quality.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

-- Mark
 
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