Great Eastern steel type via serial #?

[mikeymoto]

Is it possible to tell which steel a GEC knife has by the "serial" number stamped on the tang? I understand GEC uses 440C and 1095. Thank you.

 

[kodiak]

I don't know.. but I just wanted to say that they picked a good couple of steels to use! IMO.

 

[lambertiana]

I believe the Tidioute and Northfield versions are 1095, and the Great Eastern branded ones are 440C.

You could always cut an apple to see.

 

[knifeswapper]

There are always a couple of exceptions, but for the most part our friend lambertiana is correct. The Northfield and Tidioute brands are 1095 and the Great Eastern brand is 440C. The exceptions will be in some of the SFO's; as I have seen some stainless models (mainly on eBay) that were commissioned in 420C to save a little money. But thus far I believe the rule of thumb is that the 440C will be marked with a "Cyclops Steel Works" reverse tang, whereas the 420C will not.

BTW, the serial numbers will be on the bolsters; and the pattern number will be on the tang. But neither one has any qualifier for the steel type used, and are only variants of the patterns and number of blades.

Mike Latham
CollectorKnives.Net

 

[mikeymoto]

Thank you! :thumbup: