Great eastern cutlery

[Easyrider]

I have a couple of GEC knives and they make a very good knife. I am not too surprised that they are in demand but the current difficulty on buying one from a retailer has me looking at other brands.

 

[Lesknife]

Wow! A whole paragraph and only two periods. Good job.

Maybe you can sell some periods and make a killing. It sounds like there’s a demand for punctuation and not many posters are manufacturing them. First find a group of people with a high amount of interest in periods and you are set. Lol

 

[HECs Custom Knives]

Wow! A whole paragraph and only two periods. Good job.

Thanks for the complement but how did those periods get in there I said that whole thing in one breath without stopping but thanks for the complements anyway. Hec

 

[jstrange]

My problem with GEC is this. They have been in business a long time and know what will sell and what won’t. They know which models are in higher demand and which will sit on the shelves, and if they don’t then they should.

I understand they are a small company and production capacity is limited, but here’s a novel idea, make more of the ones in demand.

Instead of running a small batch of in demand models and them moving on to the next pattern, make two or three cycles of something that is selling well.

make smaller runs of the ones that complete a collection but aren’t in high demand and then immediately move back to the ones people are killing themselves to get.

This is why I think their business model is to create scarcity, even though that would seem counterproductive. It keeps people talking and looking all the time. They have to buy now or risk losing out.

Its working well, but people are getting fed up with it.

 

[Stelth]

I think GEC knows how to run their business. What they do doesn't suit me, yet they seem to have plenty of customers. If they're having fun AND able to make enough profit to continue, why change?

 

[Danke42]

The last GEC I got came from a spot that's not a Blade Forums dealer so we can't talk about them here but it's super sweet.

If you get this thread moved to the GBU folks can discuss more about where to buy GEC knives right away. This place had nearly a page of them up the last time I looked today.

 

[rje58]

The last GEC I got came from a spot that's not a Blade Forums dealer so we can't talk about them here but it's super sweet.
If you get this thread moved to the GBU folks can discuss more about where to buy GEC knives right away. This place had nearly a page of them up the last time I looked today.

You can almost always find some GEC knives in stock, somewhere, but usually just a few, and in the least popular patterns: 97 and 12, mostly, along with some 'bail and chain' knives.

 

[Danke42]

You can almost always find some GEC knives in stock, somewhere, but usually just a few, and in the least popular patterns.

Just a few? How many do you need?

Patterns are just a matter of taste. Just because one person doesn't like that's not universal.

 

[rje58]

Just a few? How many do you need?

Patterns are just a matter of taste. Just because one person doesn't like that's not universal.

I have more than ten GECs, I don't really need any. Do you know where there are other patterns available, besides 97, 12 and 'bail and chain'? I'm just saying that those three patterns seem to be the least popular, because out of dozens of GEC patterns, those are the only ones commonly available, and at several dealers, not just one. Looks like a trend...

 

[NorthernSouthpaw]

The way I see it is that it's about brand equity.
As long as the brand is in demand, the company will be able to control it's place in the market. Look at a company like Rolex. They absolutely could increase production of their popular watches to meet demand, but then they lose their exclusivity. If everyone who wants one can get one it will no longer be special to own a Rolex Daytona, or Submariner etc.

With this strategy, they don't have to make deals with the big box stores who will buy their product in huge amounts, but only if they get a fat discount. They have "authorized dealers" who have to apply directly to Rolex and then be vetted to see if the retailor is worthy to sell the product.

As long as the brand stays popular they control their own destiny and can slowly increase prices to where they want them. It seems to me that GEC is using a very similar business model. As long as they release enough knives to turn a heathy profit BUT at the same time not fully meet the demand without pushing away consumers.
They may not maximize their profits right away, but they can stay very profitable over a VERY long period of time. Which is why this usually only happens with privately held companies that don't have to answer to investors who only care about how much money they can make right now.

 

[Jiki]

Very simple economic concept. The lower the supply, the greater the demand. The higher the supply, the more demand is fulfilled and the lower subsequent demand. It's not rocket science, it's Economics 101.

That is not encon 101. Supply and are independent of each other, one does not dictate the other. Supply and demand dictate price and find equilibrium. In this case low supply and high demand should dictate a higher price, however the market is not allowed (until recently) to dictate the price and it is kept artificially low. This is where the secondary market steps in to find the equilibrium price. This too is not the true equilibrium price because the amount of supply that makes it to the secondary market is even smaller than the original and the demand has not decreased equally.

 

[jill jackson]

I think the truth is that a lot of the more successful knife companies like GEC, Hinderer and others intentionally limit the supply to keep the demand and prices up... they have every right to do that.

Hinderer used to keep production low. I watched them sell for way more than I'd pay on the aftermarket, for years. Suddenly you could buy them freely at regular cost. I wind up with three brand new, only to find out there's now plenty available all the time.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

I love GEC knives and I respect the way the owner runs it. He should not change anything. There is no reason to risk the health of the company to increase production. There is no reason for Mr. Howard to get all stressed out by taking on debt to buy fancy machines to make more knives.

At this point, I don’t think it will ever be possible for supply to meet demand. They could double production and nothing would change.

These knives are made by skilled labor and not computerized machines, which is why they are so interesting and charming. And why supply is so low. They are not limiting supply, they are making as many as they can. GEC is not intentionally limiting supply.

I remember about two years ago when they went to computer generated model labels (an outrageous compromise to modernity and a sign of the end of days). Before that Christine T. was literally hand writing 20,000 end cap labels a year - that is around 50 per day.

I don’t think people appreciate the effort, the skill, and the joy that goes in to making these pocket knives.

A few 97’s remain in stock because GEC made about 5000 of those. They will be gone soon and probably never made again.

The 12 pattern sold out quick, except for the Che Chen wood, but I don’t know why.

The 15 ball & chains were just not very popular, again, I don’t understand why, but these are almost gone and will never be made again.

GEC has had a few other patterns that sold slowly, like the French Kate, but now those sell for crazy prices on the secondary market. Probably never to be made again.

A few models also sold slowly because they had weaker than desired actions like the 81’s and the 66’s, but those are actually some of the finest knives GEC has made.

I don’t believe it is that hard to buy one GEC knife for a user, but if you are trying to collect all of the covers and patterns- well good luck on that.

My best advice is to try the dealers and if that fails try the “Old Timey” for sale forum on this website. Many nice knives being sold by members for retail cost plus PayPal fees and shipping.

We have all become so used to mass produced goods and a total absence of scarcity that limited GEC production capacity sometimes seems like an artificial construct, but they really are making everything they can. It can take a little effort to buy a GEC knife, but they are wonderful to carry and use, and fun to collect.

 

[Danke42]

I have more than ten GECs, I don't really need any. Do you know where there are other patterns available, besides 97, 12 and 'bail and chain'? I'm just saying that those three patterns seem to be the least popular, because out of dozens of GEC patterns, those are the only ones commonly available, and at several dealers, not just one. Looks like a trend...

My mistake. Thought the guy starting the thread just wanted to buy a GEC knife.

Instead it's about people who missed out on glitter gold. Well noted!

 

[Tyson A Wright]

The 12 pattern sold out quick, except for the Che Chen wood, but I don’t know why.

I don't understand it either - the Che Chen 12 is my favorite knife. I've carried it every day since it arrived three months ago, and love it.

-Tyson

 

[Mass1632]

Its the pony cut bone that ive seen in stock on several sites. Reason for that is because it turned out pretty ugly. I like the che chen perfectly fine as well.

 

[matfox]

My problem with GEC is this. They have been in business a long time and know what will sell and what won’t. They know which models are in higher demand and which will sit on the shelves, and if they don’t then they should.

I understand they are a small company and production capacity is limited, but here’s a novel idea, make more of the ones in demand.

Instead of running a small batch of in demand models and them moving on to the next pattern, make two or three cycles of something that is selling well.

make smaller runs of the ones that complete a collection but aren’t in high demand and then immediately move back to the ones people are killing themselves to get.

This is why I think their business model is to create scarcity, even though that would seem counterproductive. It keeps people talking and looking all the time. They have to buy now or risk losing out.

Its working well, but people are getting fed up with it.

Something I don't understand too. I guess it took them eight years from 2013 till today, to make another run of the cool long pull spears on a #15 frame.

 

[Alex.Y.]

I haven't seen anything I wanted to order for a couple years

I absolutely feel you, buddy.

I don’t care how well they can make a knife or the fit and finish, blade centering, snappy, nice jigging, patina or the walk and talk. Most of that is vanity and doesn’t effect the performance of the knife if it’s not perfectly done.

According to that statement, you must be just a knife user, not a knife enthusiast. But you are here, at the knife forum. That is strange.

I don’t believe it is that hard to buy one GEC knife for a user

Then go and try yourself. If we are talking about customer, who want's to buy a new GEC knife from the latest production, now it's really hard.

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

I have a couple of GEC knives and they make a very good knife. I am not too surprised that they are in demand but the current difficulty on buying one from a retailer has me lookin at other brands.

agree. I’ve been happy with the modern traditionals - “moditionals” - offered by Viper

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[rje58]

I don't try to speak for other people, so I'll let the OP and his posts speak for themselves.

Your opinion is 'well noted'.

My mistake. Thought the guy starting the thread just wanted to buy a GEC knife.

Instead it's about people who missed out on glitter gold. Well noted!