Great Eastern Cutlery and the Internet

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avoidspam

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Jul 2, 2011
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Hi folks

I've had this thought for the last few days (a few others too:)). How ironic it is that a company like Great Eastern Cutlery has started up and been growing for a few years dedicated to providing a range of traditional knives made using the tooling and techniques from yesteryear. Yet I get the impression the internet has been an invaluable part of their success. Perhaps it is a symptom of the world today but I cannot imagine how a new company would have achieved such success in a niche market like traditional pocket knives without the internet.

Fascinating world we are living in

Sam
 
I think it goes to show that while it's good to recognize the good things about the past, don't live there. Adapt and embrace the good of today as well.
 
Well, we ourselves can be salesman for a company, but you all already know that.

In this case, GEC is really benefitting the most. Case has it's history and Queen their's, buck too, but GEC is starting fresh. Advertising isn't always easy, but I think if you look, quality will advertise for itself. I enjoy their knives and I enjoy seeing, sharing and reading about their knives. I think there are a lot of people like me, so we are all constantly sharing about our experiences. It has really grown for them and now we are at the very doorstep peeking through the windows to see whats next.

They also have a curse on their knives which inflicts it's owner with a knife buying disease.
 
I think it's true nowadays in every hobby field, not just knife collecting, that the internet has become vital.
Online forums have replaced or supplemented conventions and meeting clubs.
Online shopping has replaced driving around all day looking for something special at a brick-and-mortar store.
Word of mouth from friends, salesman spiels, and trial-and-error have been replaced by online user reviews.
New small companies have thrived thanks to their niche appeals and affordable marketing.

With regard to Great Eastern Cutlery, the internet has allowed them to exist. For example, I bought one based entirely on photos and reviews seen here at Bladeforums. I have never, ever seen another Great Eastern knife in real life except the one I own.
 
Bob W said:
With regard to Great Eastern Cutlery, the internet has allowed them to exist. For example, I bought one based entirely on photos and reviews seen here at Bladeforums. I have never, ever seen another Great Eastern knife in real life except the one I own.
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Well, if you want to blow a day driving over here to Liberal, I can show you a few more. I've never seen one in a store either.
 
Raton is much smaller than Liberal but we do have an ACE Hardware and KMart, neither of which sell Great Eastern knives. :D
 
Great thoughts folks, pretty much backed up what I was thinking.

Bob W, would you qualify as someone who was collecting knives before the internet took off? I only contracted the disease relatively recently and imagine it was a much smaller game pre-internet with a few people meeting up from time to time and a few magazines on the subject?

Sam
 
And regarding us out of States...

I knew something vague on Leatherman... Knew about Buck... But more or less that was it... And then I stumbled upon Multitool.org, EDCF, and BF... Now I'm a happy man, with empty pockets... LOL

For sure I wouldn't have anything I have now if there werent internet. GEC?? Who are they?? But now I know, and own one!! And Case, and Spyderco, and Benchmade, and... And... And...
 
Different end of the spectrum, but where would Rough Rider be without the internet...
 
avoidspam said:
Bob W, would you qualify as someone who was collecting knives before the internet took off? I only contracted the disease relatively recently and imagine it was a much smaller game pre-internet with a few people meeting up from time to time and a few magazines on the subject?
Click to expand...

Before the internet I wasn't involved in the "knife community", no clubs or meetings. Knives were purchased through mail-order catalogs or physical stores. And I'd occasionally get a hold of a magazine.

Then, around the year 1999 we bought our first modern computer with browsing-speed internet. By this time the mail-order companies had already expanded to online ordering, and Bladeforums and other 'clubs' were going strong.
 
The Net has changed the game for everyone. Example does anyone buy a car without looking it up on the net these days? As I think the net is a great thing. I also feel we as a people are getting too attached to the net. This year I really noticed it at my New Years Party. At one time or another everyone was on their Phone or tablet texting or playing a game or looking something up. I was shocked to see this.
 
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db said:
The Net has changed the game for everyone. Example does anyone buy a car without looking it up on the net these days? As I think the net is a great thing. I also feel we as a people are getting too attached to the net. This year I really noticed it at my New Years Party. At one time or another everyone was on their Phone or tablet texting or playing a game or looking something up. I was shocked to see this.
Click to expand...

As with all things computer-realted, the danger lies in the fact that there is no back-up, no plan B. When the thing crashes everything just stops.

As far as GEC is concerned, two b&m knife stores in my area closed in the last 3 mos. and neither had a GEC display. I wonder if GEC is available anywhere BUT the internet. Anyone know?
 
CARRERA50 said:
As with all things computer-realted, the danger lies in the fact that there is no back-up, no plan B. When the thing crashes everything just stops.

As far as GEC is concerned, two b&m knife stores in my area closed in the last 3 mos. and neither had a GEC display. I wonder if GEC is available anywhere BUT the internet. Anyone know?
Click to expand...

They are certainly available in Texas. I still order them from websites from time to time (just ordered the bull-nose) when it is something hard to find or exclusive. I strongly prefer to buy in person and that's what I normally do. Luckily one of the best internet distributors of GEC's appears at many of the big gun shows around the Lone Star State. He's a great guy too.
 
There is a knife store about 85 miles from where I live. They are pretty well known as an online knife store and the b&m shop is really a nice place to visit. They carry GEC's for both internet and in store purchases.
 
As a European I would doubt that I would have ANY GEC knives at all without the internet as a buying and importantly, evaluating medium. I would have very few American traditionals at all for that matter! France seems to be one of the few European countries left that has much of a knife shop/brick&mortar selling infrastructure- due to their artisan knife makers.

We may nostalgize about the 'old days' somewhat but now is a good time to be a knife enthusiast on a global scale.
 
Interessting discussion!

I think, to me our world nowadays wouldn´t be the same with all the technique stuff. I mean, we are talking about pocket knives. But we should look around. Some of us have smartphones or tablett computers were we can get everywhere online. It doesn´t matter where we are ~ in our living room or in the deepest desert somewhere in the Great Nowhere.

As already told, the older companies (in the US: Case, Queen, Schrade and so on, in Germany: Böker, Hubertus, Otter and so on...) have their history. To newer companies it´s always more difficult to get seen on the wide market. But what, in case of GEC we shouldn´t forget, the quality is outstanding. For sure, the price is high, but you get value for money. Imo without the internet GEC would also grow, but not this far. Much slower, for sure. But talking to talking the company will get wellknown and people would buy their stuff. For sure not within about 15 years; make 50 years out of the 15 and they could be on the level they are right now.
Without internet, I would be the same as Will; I wouldn´t have known GEC than any of you guys.

Looking at this background, I´m glad internet exists...

KInd regards
andi
 
Great thoughts and facts:)

I'd agree with my European comrades and add that it has been a pleasure doing business with all the online US GEC dealers who ship internationally. The quality of the service and customer focused ethos is something which Americans should be proud of. Of course they have a business to run but their passion for the knives is plain to see.

Sam
 
I remember growing up, the only knives were the ones in the display cases at the hardware store or lumber company. I think it is great we can see so many patterns today. And have a forum like this to discuss our hobby.
 
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