I love GECs but...

[Humppa]

Well... many of my GECs were dull ootb. But that´s ok. It just takes a very little time to reprofile the edge. And I can do it the way I want it. I´m with Frank and Duane - As long as I haven´t sharpened the knife, it is not really "mine".

But I understand the disappointment when you buy a knife in the "above $ 100 knife" and get it with a dull edge, no big deal (at first sight).

However - I like it how it is.

 

[B Hess]

It's been my experience that GEC knives post-2011 have been much sharper out of the tube than their 2007 through 2011 knives. That said; GEC knives are not hair poppin sharp even today but the ones I've had recently are serviceable out of the tube.

Here's a test for those complaining about this issue (dull, uneven, edges) that has been known since GEC's get-go.

Draw the cutting edged of your new knife across your throat. If it will slice your throat, at least it's "throat poppin sharp".

As a substitute, go out to your shed or garage and see if the cutting edge of your new knife will cut a piece of rope. If it cuts the rope that's great - if not, hang yourself with the rope.

These two tests are offered tongue-in-cheek but it's not uncommon to have to sharpen almost any traditional knife out of the box or tube if you're looking for a razor edge.

Like I said it's mot really about the sharpness.

 

[midnight flyer]

Here's a test for those complaining about this issue (dull, uneven, edges) that has been known since GEC's get-go.

Draw the cutting edged of your new knife across your throat. If it will slice your throat, at least it's "throat poppin sharp".

As a substitute, go out to your shed or garage and see if the cutting edge of your new knife will cut a piece of rope. If it cuts the rope that's great - if not, hang yourself with the rope.

These two tests are offered tongue-in-cheek but it's not uncommon to have to sharpen almost any traditional knife out of the box or tube if you're looking for a razor edge.

Always good to see an well thought out response to a serious, honest question posted by someone wanting to learn. Good stuff.

Like I said it's mot really about the sharpness.

Personally, I think you will just have to find a way to move past that if you are going to enjoy today's offerings. I had the same problem as you do now, but have significantly lowered my expectations of what a knife should be. That way when I get a knife that is pretty close to perfect (and there are some that still come that way) I am very excited and pleased.

But more the norm these days, I find myself grading on level of acceptability, and line all the things up on a knife that I don't like to see if they outweigh the things I do. A non-so-sharp blade isn't a consideration unless it is really poorly ground to the point of an non straight edge or burned metal.

Robert

 

[rma100]

When I get a new knife I use it. If it is not sharp enough I sharpen it.

 

[Le Fermier]

I've never given any consideration to the factory edge of a knife. If I need to sharpen or whatever I simply do it. My own issue with GEC is the enormous deep pits they excavate in the the handle to 'sink' the pins in. Other than that, darn fine pieces of hardware.
Interestingly enough, one of my favorite knives is an H&R Spanish model 5040 that came with no grind on one side of the blade. I had a very nice time putting a 'homemade' edge on it. 22 1/2 degrees and it sits open on my workbench for use.

 

[Modoc ED]

As long as customers keep accepting them the way they shipped GEC will never raise the bar.

But that's just it. Most people don't have a problem with them as they come. They simply sharpen them to the degree of sharpness that they want and if necessary, reprofile the edges while doing it. There's no reason for GEC to "raise the bar" as you suggest. GEC sells them as fast as they can make them.

 

[B Hess]

Like I have said it is not a matter of just sharpening. It's buying a $100 knife and having to immediately spend an hour reprofiling the edge to even make it usable. I have not had to do this with any other maker with any regularity but almost 100% of the time with GEC. I have found better grinds on rough riders. I will continue to buy them and fix them with my diamond rods and I will continue to be annoyed. Conversely a company like Spyderco that makes a lot of cheaper knives than GEC almost always come out of the box with a sharp usable edge. Some of mine have been hair popping out of the box.

 

[rma100]

Like I have said it is not a matter of just sharpening. It's buying a $100 knife and having to immediately spend an hour reprofiling the edge to even make it usable. I have not had to do this with any other maker with any regularity but almost 100% of the time with GEC. I have found better grinds on rough riders. I will continue to buy them and fix them with my diamond rods and I will continue to be annoyed. Conversely a company like Spyderco that makes a lot of cheaper knives than GEC almost always come out of the box with a sharp usable edge. Some of mine have been hair popping out of the box.

Labor Costs on the Knives you mention are much cheaper I would assume. As are materials. As is producing an edge with automation.

 

[B Hess]

So are the knives themselves. The steel used is a lot of times more expensive however.

 

[2Dead]

The sharpness of the edge isn't an issue for me. Most just needed a few passes on a ceramic stone for a usable sharp edge and not a full reprofile. The obtuse point on some knives as noted being the exception. The bevels on mine have been really good and reprofiling when done was quick. Other makers have been much worse in my experience. Not saying your experiences weren't different though. I am curious as to which patterns you've gotten and had issues with.

 

[Flint Hills]

This has to be the dumbest post I've ever seen on this forum. Suggesting someone attempt suicide? I can't believe this hasn't been deleted! I doubt I'm alone on this when I say, if you don't have anything better to add, keep it to yourself.

It's been my experience that GEC knives post-2011 have been much sharper out of the tube than their 2007 through 2011 knives. That said; GEC knives are not hair poppin sharp even today but the ones I've had recently are serviceable out of the tube.

Here's a test for those complaining about this issue (dull, uneven, edges) that has been known since GEC's get-go.

Draw the cutting edged of your new knife across your throat. If it will slice your throat, at least it's "throat poppin sharp".

As a substitute, go out to your shed or garage and see if the cutting edge of your new knife will cut a piece of rope. If it cuts the rope that's great - if not, hang yourself with the rope.

These two tests are offered tongue-in-cheek but it's not uncommon to have to sharpen almost any traditional knife out of the box or tube if you're looking for a razor edge.

 

[leghog]

But that's just it. Most people don't have a problem with them as they come.

It would bother me if I received any knife with an asymmetrical/off center/uneven grind, and that seems to be a not rare complaint in this thread. Regardless I've only owned one GEC. It was new, inexpensive as far as GECs go, and the grind was fine. It's no longer mine anyway.

 

[Modoc ED]

Modoc ED said;

It's been my experience that GEC knives post-2011 have been much sharper out of the tube than their 2007 through 2011 knives. That said; GEC knives are not hair poppin sharp even today but the ones I've had recently are serviceable out of the tube.

Here's a test for those complaining about this issue (dull, uneven, edges) that has been known since GEC's get-go.

Draw the cutting edged of your new knife across your throat. If it will slice your throat, at least it's "throat poppin sharp".

As a substitute, go out to your shed or garage and see if the cutting edge of your new knife will cut a piece of rope. If it cuts the rope that's great - if not, hang yourself with the rope.

These two tests are offered tongue-in-cheek but it's not uncommon to have to sharpen almost any traditional knife out of the box or tube if you're looking for a razor edge.

This has to be the dumbest post I've ever seen on this forum. Suggesting someone attempt suicide? I can't believe this hasn't been deleted! I doubt I'm alone on this when I say, if you don't have anything better to add, keep it to yourself.

What part of tongue-in-cheek don't you understand? In case your knives are not sharp enough to slice open your dictionary to look up the meaning of tongue-in-cheek, here it is.

"Tongue-in-cheek is a figure of speech used to imply that a statement or other production is humorously or otherwise not seriously intended, and it should not be taken at face value."

 

[trevytrev]

Modoc ED said;





What part of tongue-in-cheek don't you understand? In case your knives are not sharp enough to slice open your dictionary to look up the meaning of tongue-in-cheek, here it is.

"Tongue-in-cheek is a figure of speech used to imply that a statement or other production is humorously or otherwise not seriously intended, and it should not be taken at face value."

Good thing you cleared this up Ed, I was about to kill myself

Thanks for looking out for me Flint!

 

[leghog]

A better sharpness test. Why risk your own neck?

 

[oldtymer]

But that's just it. Most people don't have a problem with them as they come. They simply sharpen them to the degree of sharpness that they want and if necessary, reprofile the edges while doing it. There's no reason for GEC to "raise the bar" as you suggest. GEC sells them as fast as they can make them.

Well in reality a lot of users on this forum have complained about the issue of the OP as well as sunken pins, blades pinned so tight that you literally have to push the blade into
the handle on a brand new knife(66 slim pen & jack). Would you take delivery of a new vehicle with obvious defects? How about a pair of jeans with one leg longer than the other? The point i am trying to bring out if you advertise your goods as being better than average & you take the effort to use the best steel & hand assemble them how much
more effort would it take to send them out at least ground properly- not shaving sharp but at least with an even bevel

 

[knarfeng]

I haven't seen any GEC knives with an uneven bevel.

I dunno. I don't believe I've ever bought a new vehicle, but I'm not certain they all come with a full tank of gas. A dull blade is easily rectified, as is a less than full gas tank.

 

[mr_badexample]

This has to be the dumbest post I've ever seen on this forum. Suggesting someone attempt suicide? I can't believe this hasn't been deleted! I doubt I'm alone on this when I say, if you don't have anything better to add, keep it to yourself.

Flint I have to agree here.

Ed your comparison is a poor one. I deal with with depression and suicide personally and professionally and find nothing "tounge and cheek" about it. I find your comments downright offensive. You bring nothing of value to the conversation with these comments. And it's not the type of thing I'd expect to see in a forum about traditional knives. Take it to W&C please.

And staying on topic. OP I have had many GEC knives and admittedly most needed a reprofile to be useful to me. When I did the factory tour I noticed that the sharpening step was done very quickly. Maybe a minute or two tops. They sharpen freehand on a big old stone wheel and use paper for a cut test. I suspect that some employees are better at this than others and the time investment is a cost savings measure.

Bottom line is if I forget my knife on the way to camp and stop at the big box store for a $40 buck knife I'm pretty sure it's going to perform reasonable well out of the box. I think that knives costing more should also do the same. Unfortunately I also know it's not always gonna happen this way.

GEC knives have certainly taught me a lot about sharpening and improved my skills ten fold. Like others have stated I've basically come to expect this to happen. Good luck and keep em sharp.

Brian

 

[Will Power]

I've got quite a few GECs, given a few away too. About 50% of them have arrived acceptable user sharp, the other half dull, uneven and needing work.

Of course every knife has to be sharpened, eventually (clothes have to be washed, eventually...so?) . The point is, if you get a brand new knife and it looks very good, fit & finish is fine, you really like the pattern in the hand etc and it's decently sharp on arrival (SOA) you are not only going to like that knife immediately you are going to get a very good impression of the workmanship of the company that made it. If they bother to sharpen and bevel it properly it shows skill and that they care. If they don't it shows a certain indifference or contempt for the user (they can fix that anyway so why bother?). Knife companies are cutlers after all, a cutler's business is knife grinding skill, the knife should have decent edges from the start.

 

[Modoc ED]

Good thing you cleared this up Ed, I was about to kill myself

Thanks for looking out for me Flint!

I'm glad I was able to clear that up for you at the last moment. If you need anything else, I'll be hanging around the forum.