Is GEC the only game in town for you?

I have four. I'll buy no more. This is like the MAP pricing gig, out of my price range. SAK or Case or Buck or some other draft pick.
 
I'm frankly surprised by alot of the negative comments I've read here, regarding GEC quality. I honestly feel that GEC's accomplishments are being downplayed. Of the 30 or 40 GEC's I've purchased, the recent consistency of manufacture has been extraordinary. They're the only US made brand that I can purchase now, sight unseen, with an almost certain knowledge that I'll get a knife of exceptional quality. I've been collecting traditionals for over 20 years, and this has never been possible before. The quality is so good that I have no real wish to consider custom made knives at this time.

But I do find the aftermarket to be rather ludicrous. I never buy GEC on the aftermarket, unless it's a very reasonable deal offered here on Bladeforums. Buying a GEC from an auction site at double or triple the price is too far down the rabbit hole for my walllet. I'd rather keep my ear to the road, and buy them cheap when they first appear. If I don't like it, I can always flip it with likely no loss of money. Or I can spend the money on a vintage model from a different manufacturer, made during their golden years.
 
Last edited:
I have plenty of GECs, and like them a lot. With that being said, I don't pay expensive secondary prices for them. For quality knives I like Queen and Case as long as I can hand pick, and love vintage knives.
 
Certainly not the only game in town, but I do have more GEC than any other brand. I like the nice covers and the different patterns offered, and believe them to be worth the money asked at retail. While I would like see them be more available, I can live with how they conduct their business.
I like Case and have several, along with Boker, Shrade, Buck and others. I'm looking forward to my first Moki, as well as CK's Lionsteel Eurobarlow when it becomes available.
The only brand I feel squeezed out of is Northwoods. I have one and would like more, but just can't seem to get the hang of succeeding in the feeding frenzy that ensues when they go on sale.
My only S&M had very bad blade wobble and I sold it, so that has soured me on Queen. Maybe not fair, but I can't shake the feeling and I would need to inspect one in person first before buying.
I don't own any customs, so can't comment on them. The Davisons are certainly beautiful though!
 
Very interesting thread! I would have to say hat 95% of my pocket knives are users. I don't like owning a tool that's not used, yes I am a collector, since I have more knives then I really need, but I like rotating them. That being said, most of my knives are GEC. I have a few from Queen and a good number of case knives. I have one A. Wright knife (that I really like) and would also like to thank the person who recommended Renaud Aubry, I think that will be my next knife!
 
mbp said:
I'm not really into vintage traditionals, so I feel like I don't have any options other than GEC for traditionals made at the level I want to own and carry. What do you guys think? Is anyone else out there making traditionals at GEC's level?
Click to expand...

If you arent into the old knives there's nothing wrong with that, but I think you are missing out.

GEC makes a top notch product in the flavor of old knives, who wouldn't like them? I do. But think about it, they are imitating old patterns, materials and production methods of the old knives, that's pretty much their entire business. How then, could you not like old knives? They were everything gec is and then some long before gec existed.

The history, study and hunting down of old knives makes them unique, something no current knife or company can ever replicate. They also have more carachter and individuality, thus making them more interesting. Just my opinion at least.
 
kpfeifle said:
Very interesting thread! I would have to say hat 95% of my pocket knives are users. I don't like owning a tool that's not used, yes I am a collector, since I have more knives then I really need, but I like rotating them. That being said, most of my knives are GEC. I have a few from Queen and a good number of case knives. I have one A. Wright knife (that I really like) and would also like to thank the person who recommended Renaud Aubry, I think that will be my next knife!
Click to expand...

No problem. I bought one for my brother for his birthday and was shocked by the quality at the price point.
 
I've given my opinion on this before and always somebody misinterprets my post. But I'll try it again.

I think GEC makes an excellent knife. They are worth what they are priced at in the retail market. Aftermarket prices? no way. Wouldn't ever pay that much.

GEC makes a nice product at a fair price. I have a couple of GECs made before their prices climbed and they became so wildly popular. But what they make is not what I am looking for. I'm really not interested in paying what for me is big bucks for a knife with carbon steel blades. They just aren't my thing. And most of the GEC stainless patterns are oddities to me. Again. not interested. You know, if they ever made a 66 stockman in stainless I'd try for one; although the collectors who absolutely MUST have five variations of every GEC model would likely beat me to them. But I'd try.

Queen has too many quality control issues these days. I got one of the new ones with issues, so I know. Some knives are good. Others, not. For my pocket book they are now too pricey for me to want to gamble by buying one. Gorgeous covers are not my thing.

Case doesn't ring my chimes all the way, but I consider their prices reasonable for what you get. I do often buy Case knives. But I'm fussy about which models I buy and which dealers I use.

I've tried the Rough Rider and Taylor Schrades. I actually like the Schrades better even though they aren't as fancy, because they run their steel harder. To me, Taylor Schrade makes a better knife than Rough Rider.

So often I just hunt until I find a small gem that others miss because the features I prize are not what they are looking for. Example: Earlier this year I bought a Gerber slipjoint made by Sakai in Japan. Fantastic design, Great steel with excellent heat treat. Immaculate machining tolerances. But it's not what other folks are looking for, so I was able to buy it for less than $60 shipped from a small web store's back pages.

So to answer the question, no. GEC is not the only game in town for me.
 
Yes, Monty.
Pihaʻū oʻu mokukauaheahe i nā puhi
(Hawaiian)
 
Frank, I'm sure you're busy, and you probably spread your posts across multiple sub-forums; however, I do hope you post more frequent (non-blue) messages here on The Porch.
 
Not the only game by a long shot! I have carried old Case Tested, and Case XX knives, and enjoyed them immensely. If you are patient you can find a good one for way less dollars than a new GEC. They are hanging around waiting to be carried again!!

I have a strawberry bone Robeson Barlow from after WWII, that is wonderful!

But that Stag Clip Bladeforums knife GEC made a couple/few years ago is everything I want in a knife! And it's a factory second!!

And the Tomato Acrylic Congress with semi-sunk joints by GEC is mesmerizing to look at with no danger of gassing out! And the perfectly treated blades are getting antiquey-looking and hold a sharp edge!
And those last two were made by people I know, respect and trust! I have contributed to their livelihood!

There are endless knives to own and experience. If they cost too much, pass, because there will be another one calling "pick me, pick me " soon enough!
 
155440 said:
If you like french cutlery, check out Renaud Aubry's work. His stuff is shockingly inexpensive, 100-120 euro for custom hand made cutlery, and has impeccable fit and finish.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up for RA, I think I'll finally get a Laguiole! :)
 
Boker have a few new 440C traditionals out at present. Bog Oak. Limited but easily available and a good price especially as they are made in Germany.
 
mbp said:
Is GEC the only game in town for you?Is GEC the only game in town for you?
Click to expand...
Far from it. I've only ever owned four GEC knives, and I gave away two of those. I still have the BF 2016 Forum knife and a GEC paring knife.
 
Thanks for all the great feedback guys. FYI, my intention was not to assert that GEC is somehow "better" than everyone else... only that for me personally, they were the only brand I had found so far that consistently satisfied me in terms of value vs. quality (and even then, only at retail.)

I have tried Case and Queen before. I still have a peanut in my "junk" drawer and I do really like the Swayback Jack, it's an all-time classic and I've owned 2 that I gave away. But the F&F on the ones I've owned has been spotty and there's just something about them--the polish they put on their blades, the way they cut their nail nicks, a bunch of little things I guess... that just don't work for me aesthetically.

I've had about 5 Indian River Jacks from Queen which supposedly got the "Schatt & Morgan" F&F upgrade... 4 of the 5 had serious F&F issues and 2 of the 5 were basically unacceptable. That's not a huge sample size, but I'm not inspired to keep giving them chances.

I think I want to start looking into vintage traditionals at this point. Of course, I owned what would now be "vintage" when I was a kid... I had a Buck 110, several obligatory SAKs, a couple of Rough Rider/Old Timer slippies that have long been lost to the ages... but I'm going to look at them again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top