Help a newbie?

[Shorttime]

With respect to Great Eastern Cutlery:

I understand that GEC, Northfield, and Tidioute are all under the Great Eastern Cutlery umbrella.

But is there a difference in materials and construction? Do they use different steels, for example?

Or is it just different shields and bolsters?

Thanks in advance.

 

[black mamba]

Material and construction quality are the same throughout. Tidioute are the basic brand, usually with plain bolsters, nail nicks, and the less expensive materials like wood, acrylic and bone. Northfield are the upscale brand, with pinched, threaded or fancy bolsters, long pulls, and more expensive or rare materials like stag or ivory. Tidioute and Northfield both use 1095 carbon steel. The GEC branded knives are somewhere in between the other two brands for "bling," and typically use 440C stainless steel. Examples can be found to contradict all of this, but are infrequent.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

Also, the Tiduoute knives are always made first, and in my opinion, the cutlers gradually increase the precision of each version of each knife build, and so that is one reason the Northfield knives are always a little nicer in construction.

 

[ISKRA]

I think to recall that the stainless GEC brand also uses more American cover materials, such as North American Elk, American chestnut or American cherry, while one the Tidioutes and Northfields you can see more "exotic" materials like Gabon ebony, Brazilian cherry, Indian sambar stag, African blackwood etc. You can easily recognise stainless GEC knives by the acorn shield, with the exception of certain special factory orders. Iirc GEC uses a type of jigging on their bone handles that you won't see with Tidioute and Northfield.

 

[Shorttime]

Thankya, gents!

Much appreciated. There are a couple patterns that caught my eye, but I want this foray into traditionals to be a more considered business than the shameful amount of money I spent on Mtechs, back before I knew what I liked. Knowing that there are differences in materials and construction among the lines, helps.

 

[Chief]

GEC's website has an excellent explanation of each brand including steel and cover materials used. Their photos are much better than they used to be.

I tolerate 1095 because no other company makes comparable quality slipjoints. 1095 maintenance is a pain if you use your pocketknife on food, any moisture left on it will rust, some call it patina. Because of my preference for stainless, even 440C, I like to believe the Great Eastern branded GEC knives are closer to top of the line.

My favorite GEC pattern is single clip 15s. Small enough for my pocket, big enough for my needs, pinchable, produced in a variety of covers and styles. SS 15 single clips were last made in 2016 and getting harder to find. Blue / cream mammoth right center is an Esnyx rehaft of a barn chestnut wood. NFS, good luck with your decision.

 

[Norcaldude]

http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/about/about-our-brands/

 

[joeradza]

GEC's website has an excellent explanation of each brand including steel and cover materials used. Their photos are much better than they used to be.

I tolerate 1095 because no other company makes comparable quality slipjoints. 1095 maintenance is a pain if you use your pocketknife on food, any moisture left on it will rust, some call it patina. Because of my preference for stainless, even 440C, I like to believe the Great Eastern branded GEC knives are closer to top of the line.

My favorite GEC pattern is single clip 15s. Small enough for my pocket, big enough for my needs, pinchable, produced in a variety of covers and styles. SS 15 single clips were last made in 2016 and getting harder to find. Blue / cream mammoth right center is an Esnyx rehaft of a barn chestnut wood. NFS, good luck with your decision.

Awesome John.