Great Eastern Cutlery

Thanks for the clarification, and I agree wholeheartedly. I just wanted to make sure I was reading it right before forming a firm opinion about this company, because this is certainly going to (negatively) influence any purchase from me...

And I hope someone from GEC reads this thread.

-- Sam
 
It looks like yet another American knife company will soon go away. This time the company may actually deserve their fate.
 
I received my diamond jigged red bone jumbo trapper. I'm not crazy about the jigging, but otherwise I can't complain about this knife. Good fit and finish, walks and talks, secure blade seating, and the shield is mounted flush with the bone. I must have gotten a good one.
 
I think rosconey may be onto something there. It really feels like some desperation driven thing - its not that they don't know what they are doing. A former Queen executive and all.

This CAN be undone - but I think it would take a heartfelt direct statement by the leader at GEC to explain and then to make amends by tightening up the QC for now and evermore. AND, to take back these mistakes and replace them with some quality items.

Don't you think that it is us, the BF types that are their target customer? They certainly aren't trying to displace the Tru Value Case customer at their price. So, how could they completely blow their introduction to their target customer like this? It just takes one knife with those sort of errors...

I wonder why I care enough to write about this, since we all know that there are a lot of inferior products out there. I guess it is because I was hoping they would fill that gap between Queen quality and price and a $250 and up custom. Does Canal St. do this now ? Does anybody?

This has been a pet peeve of mine since I started getting serious about collecting again. Why can't we trust a brand enough to know that we don't have to worry about blad flop or a bad finish on a knife by knife basis. How hard is it to have someone do a QC and reject knives that don't pass? Charge whatever you need to to account for the rejects, and I bet people would pay it.
 
longbeachguy said:
I received my diamond jigged red bone jumbo trapper. I'm not crazy about the jigging, but otherwise I can't complain about this knife. Good fit and finish, walks and talks, secure blade seating, and the shield is mounted flush with the bone. I must have gotten a good one.
Click to expand...

Mine just came in as well and everything above is exactly as LBG's knife, but for one exception: The shield is mounted proud beyond realistic expectations.. I intend to fix this myself, but I thought I should mention it.

Also, no indication of steel type here, which pisses me off as well..:grumpy:

On the upside both blades shave arm and leg hair with nearly 0 effort..:D
 
wow-i ordered before you guys and still havent seen mine-
maybe tomorrow-did you guys order from cumberland also?
 
dkronholm said:
Does Canal St. do this now ?
Click to expand...
Most of my Canal Street knives have been fine (I've got six, I think). Which means they're great; no defects at all. One (splitback whittler) is a little dodgy. I've had the coping blade catch the liner on closing a couple of times. It's OK if you're careful, and the blades aren't loose (no wobble) but it's disconcerting.

The biggest complaint most have with CSC knives is the blade steel. Most sites list it as merely "420 stainless". The CSC site claims they are "420 high carbon", but they don't come right out and say 420HC. A.G. Russell lists them as "420 stainless" with a hardness of 52-54 Rc (except the Dr's. knife, which is listed as 420HC, 56-58Rc...) So as you can see there is quite a bit of confusion. And CSC will not come out with a statement to clarify anything.

I have no problem with the steel, whatever it is. Does my office-centric cutting duties with aplomb. But as I've stated a few times here, it's not like I expect to gut an Elk, cut timber, and clear a campsite with a $70 "dressy" pocket knife.

-- Sam
 
Yes, but in the back of all our minds, we want a knife that can gut an elk and cut timber.
 
knowtracks said:
The email I received came from the sales manager of GEC.
And I've saved all my correspondence with them.

Just to clairfy I'm not out to impugn GEC's name, I to would love to see an American Co. thrive. 98% of all knives I have are American made. And I'm only 1 collector, they have bigger fish to fry. I think most eveyone here knows this Co. heritage & would LOVE to see them succeed. But I prepaid for the 1st 3 knives (2 months ago) & I expect to get what I paid for. Just seems like good business practice to me.

Dave
Click to expand...

That's why I went to Bill Howard, one of the owners of GEC. While I regard the 2 knives I recieved to be sub standard by GEC (everyone else got better ones, I don't know if anyone saw the photos at the link I posted earlier) I have seen some quality knives. Even the seller was apologetic, whom I have come to know as a top notch guy. I've been told by many that he will do the right thing. So, with that in mind, I will reserve any judgement/bias until that is resolved whether it is positive or negative. It is my firm belief that that this will be resolved in a positive manner (as far as my knives go). I'll bet he doesn't know what his sales manager said, because Mr Howard's response was 100% different. When I talked to him he said that if a customer has a complaint, generally he's right. It was nice to know that we were on the same page in a breif phone call.
Yeah, I got some less than quality knives, it can happen when a new company starts out. As far as I'm concerned, it's what the owners do with the information they now have, not a sales manager, that will define GEC's future.
It takes some balls to start out a company in the USA in these times. They do need the feedback from us, and we need to go to the right people to get things done. I'm rather impressed that an owner took the time to listen, that's a great start!
 
Hukk said:
As far as I'm concerned, it's what the owners do with the information they now have, not a sales manager, that will define GEC's future.
Click to expand...

Very well said.

Owners very often respond differently than employees...
because owners know where the money is coming from: the customers.
 
right now buying from them sounds like a crap shoot-
when i get my knife will it be a lucky seven or snake eyes-lol
 
Well, I just ordered/backordered a Northfield 73 in Sambar Stag from CKW. I hope the one I eventually receive is one of the "stars" of the QC process. I'll post here with FB when it arrives.
 
Well like everyone else the fever got too hot for me to hold back, I just made the order and will mail off the money order Monday...

73 model with Herringbone cut scales in walnut color with 1095 steel blades

NorthfieldGreatEastern.jpg


Sunburst

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_store/index.php?store_id=1&&category_id=274
 
WOW, Sunburst, Great looking knife pictured here above.

I guess the assumption being that GEC now own the old: Northfield UN-X-LD Knife Co brand at this time.

Where and when did you acquire this little lovely?
 
I placed an order for some Northfield knives with Cumberland also. I like dealing with Bill Horn, and I figure, GEC has stumbled a bit, but so does a kid learning to walk! I know they'll eventually make everything good, and make some great knives, so I intend to give them a chance!! They've been under a lot of pressure, and I wish them the best!! Let's be a little patient with them, and forgive a few sins. It's a pain sending knives back, but it will reveal their character!!
 
So far I'm really happy with the knives. I've got the three Great Easterns (red diamond jigged, amber horsecut, and laser etched bone) and the only minor issue is the shield on the horsecut is slightly proud of the scales. These are beautiful, solid knives. I'm waiting on the Tidioutes and Northfields, which look incredible in the photos. They're the smaller #73 scout models in 1095 steel.
Eric
 
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