Is GEC the only game in town for you?

First of all, I do not own any GEC knives. Not that I haven't tried. It seems every time I see one I like they are either out of stock or they have quit making that model. That said, I general buy my Case knives at stores, not on line, so that I can handle them and buy one that is to my standards. IMHO Case knives are the equal to any GEC plus they have more models that are readily available. Case, Schrade (USA) and Victorinox (Alox) are my personal favorites.
 
The problem with conflicting reports of quality is that production knives have a wider range of F&F and W&T than do customs. I have individual knives from Case, Moore Maker, Queen, S&M, and Boker & Fight'n Rooster that rival anything made by GEC. Where GEC shines is their CONSISTENT quality. Sure, you might get a stinker from any of them, but after handling hundreds of knives from GEC and dozens from all the other makers listed, GEC is consistently the best.
 
NMpops said:
First of all, I do not own any GEC knives. Not that I haven't tried. It seems every time I see one I like they are either out of stock or they have quit making that model. That said, I general buy my Case knives at stores, not on line, so that I can handle them and buy one that is to my standards. IMHO Case knives are the equal to any GEC plus they have more models that are readily available. Case, Schrade (USA) and Victorinox (Alox) are my personal favorites.
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You have to try a little harder with GEC's in terms of buying them if you want some. I don't think GEC's are EQUAL to regular production Case knives. It really isn't close based on my observations. Good Queens/S&M are about equal and I like the fact they they use D2 and some other steels other than 1095. I agree with you on the buy in person statement with Case knives. I just don't want to have to mail something back that I am dissatisfied with. In most cases, that means I don't regardless and I don't want to deal with that added money pit.

black mamba said:
The problem with conflicting reports of quality is that production knives have a wider range of F&F and W&T than do customs. I have individual knives from Case, Moore Maker, Queen, S&M, and Boker & Fight'n Rooster that rival anything made by GEC. Where GEC shines is their CONSISTENT quality. Sure, you might get a stinker from any of them, but after handling hundreds of knives from GEC and dozens from all the other makers listed, GEC is consistently the best.
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Yes, it is their consistency, and broad range of scale/handle materials that set them apart as well as the fit & fitness. Most GEC's have excellent walk & talk. This is what Case lost and it's an important consideration for me in terms of liking and using a particular knife.

The walk & talk issue (W&T) is also one of the reasons I have purchased few Canal Street knives. They tended to be very well made and sort of boutique factory knives (and priced accordingly). But the W&T issue just never impressed me with the ones I have handled overall.
 
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I can confidently buy GEC on line without spazzing out. Buying Case knives is a different story. The only store around here is Bass Pro and their selection is minimal, so online it is. I like Case large Copperlocks and they do a good job on them. Never retuned one. Recently I purchased 4 Case Tribal Locks. I had to have them. 2 where returned and exchanged. It's a pain, but I eventually got what I wanted.

For now its back to GEC because they are just that good. They are my go to traditionals.
 
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This is a timely thread and a useful one.

The current, stellar popularity of GEC may cause some to question whether this is right or inspire others to indulge in groupthink and bay up the merits of GEC uncritically. And to pay the often huge second hand prices....

Why is this? Well, it's not I believe because GEC is the only game in town, there's no such thing for a start! No it's because of a definite sea-change that GEC contributed to. Being European, I am more cut off from accessing American knives even in this digital age but I well remember getting my first GEC knife in 2007. I went home one day after work, tired as usual and fed up but I found a card from the P.O. telling me there was a package for me to collect. Back in the car to get it, nice envelope from the USA so I stop off for a cup of coffee and a cake at a cafe. On opening the packet and encountering this strange tube with an attractive label on it I nearly dropped the knife (a 73) out of sheer awe, the bone, the overall look of the knife the feel of it completely staggered me. It seemed so impressive and quite unlike any other American Traditional knife I had had at the time.This was what I had been waiting for after years of CASE's garish handles and kitsch themed special knives. Or English knives of frankly dismal quality.

Within a year or two GEC began to launch all sorts of interesting patterns that CASE et al. seemed to have turned their backs on or could only be found with connexions or extreme difficulty. It seemed like every month something new and often interesting was being launched, plus I could almost always get one with no worries. After a while reality or satiation kicked in, many patterns were not to my carry taste, a lot or carbon steel and brass. Right, they may epitomise 'traditional' but all steel and or stainless are nearer to my taste and are higher quality and correspond to the price being asked. So, a bit of discrimination set in but I have remained thankful to GEC for giving the Traditional American knife a real shot in the arm. The QC is simply much more reliable and consistent than the competitor brands. It's certainly true that the SFO cult has driven this 'money is no object attitude' to certain limited release models, whereby the secondary market can command enormous prices for well made but otherwise unremarkable carbon&brass production knives. This and the feverish pre-ordering and wave of must have mania is just not my thing and never will be.

The only game in town? Clearly not, but often a very desirable pocket knife (not an investment...) which usually has impressive build quality. CASE, Böker Germany, Buck and Queen all make a decent desirable knife but just less consistently so. Canal St. most people seemed to cry up to the roof but I never found them anywhere near GEC for F&F despite them going in for all steel construction which I greatly prefer. Most of their knives that I owned had build faults that I thought did not belong to such costly knives, plus very anaemic snap and limited handle choice.

Without a doubt, GEC has raised interest in American Traditional knives but how and why this has happened plus the ramifications of it is a different matter.
 
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I have to say, the Bob Cargill made Cripple Creek knives of the 80's and 90's are just as nice as any knife made. He and his shop turned out more knives than a custom maker, but they were not quite up to the production level of a factory. I wish they had continued on, I believe they could have rivaled GEC of today. Bob brought back a lot of features that had been lost to time from the big knife companies, such as the match striker pull.
 
I own quite few GEC and Case knives. I think GEC has Barlow frenzy. But I do believe Case XX builds and equal to better knife. I carry a Case/Bose Coffin Jack and don't think GEC comes any were close in quality. I know you pay a premium for collaborates but you get your moneys worth, a production level custom built by cases finest knife makers under the direction of the master himself Tony Bose, by one of the oldest on going knife manufacture in the world. I'll take a case or an older Buck any day.
 
Been averaging about 3 to 1 Queen/S&M over GEC. Queen quality is improving toward GEC's, and they have many short runs of interesting patterns and materials. I like their steels as well. The Trestle Pine Superior is an example of a good, simple, well made traditional, sporting cpm 154 steel. Well worth a look.
 
mlamb said:
I own quite few GEC and Case knives. I think GEC has Barlow frenzy. But I do believe Case XX builds and equal to better knife. I carry a Case/Bose Coffin Jack and don't think GEC comes any were close in quality. I know you pay a premium for collaborates but you get your moneys worth, a production level custom built by cases finest knife makers under the direction of the master himself Tony Bose, by one of the oldest on going knife manufacture in the world. I'll take a case or an older Buck any day.
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Getting your money's worth is a value judgement and you feel it is worth it. I don't. You compare what are probably the best Case slippies made with GEC in general. Don't think that is a fair comparison. There will always be rejects and there will always be exceptionally well made knives made by both GEC and Case.

Barlow frency... that's funny. I think Waynorth is big time into barlows with his SFO's. Case doesn't even make a barlow now. Queen does. People seem to like them. So as a factory, you make what sells or your SFO's reflect what sells.
 
Not the "only game in town", by any means. However, they may arguably be the current "leader of the pack". As many have mentioned, their knives seem to be consistently a bit more refined. This doesn't mean that they will necessarily cut any better, or last any longer than Queen, Case, Buck, etc. The second hand prices that some folks ask for them is absurd. Hopefully, like Rick Hinderer Knives, they will soon be willing and able to meet the demands. They, in my opinion, are worth their original list price. I would think that several more people would try and appreciate GEC knives if they were more readily available at fair prices. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I'd encourage everyone to buy what you like at a fair price, and enjoy the hobby.
 
Nice knives but until Bill Howard steps up to high end steels like Case and Queen do and starts using nickel silver pins and liners ,I won't buy one. The only knife I have ever had interest in was the Esquire and it had nickel silver liners and pins with some that had scalloped liners. Beautiful knives but he doesn't want to make small knives or regularly use silver nickel pins and liners. it's easier to make big knives than small ones and it's not about big knife demand. Try to get someone to sell you an Esquire. Good luck. they are probably the most beautiful ornate knife GEC has ever made. The tooling excuse for not using higher end steels has runs it's course as well. GEC's are good but Case and Queen both have higher end stuff available and GEC could make high enders but it takes willingness and I don't believe Bill Howard is willing. Sorry GEC fanboys but this needed to get aired and nobody would address the elephant that's been residing in the room now for years. Don't get me wrong I love GEC for what they do but they have the ability to use a bit better product in their knives. Who wouldn't pay a few dollars more for nickel silver and maybe an option of stepped up blade steels. I'm ready for it and it would finish off their product much better. I would like to see a Peanut or some kind of true Senator knife that's thin like an old Eisenhower or anything sleek and gentlemanly and until they do I will keep buying old 50 plus year Case knives that are awesome and nicer than GEC's and can be had for around the same money. Sorry to ruffle you GEC fanboys feathers but you know I'm correct and it's not like I don't like GEC. I like better materials. Time will tell if GEC will make some changes for the better. My opinion is it will be Bill Howard's son to make the shifts to up graded materials and I hope it's soon because I really want to own a GEC knife that is all that it can be.
 
GEC makes a nice knife, but the 14 and 15 single blades are the only patterns I really like.

I like the old Case patterns. I am a big fan of the Case 048. The one I just bought (61048) was tight, well centered, decent grinds, covers and bolsters well fitted, flush in the open and closed positions, with a really nice snap. It did have an almost imperceptible gap in between one liner and the back spring but that was more than acceptable for a basic working knife (stainless w/ delrin covers).

I was very impressed with the fit and finish.

I seen and owned Case swaybacks that were near perfect. I looked at a small stockman pattern in delrin covers that was fitted as well as any I've seen. I'm pretty confident that it depends upon the craftsman building the knife, but it can be done, even in lower priced offerings.

I agree with Case C, the old Case pen knives are much more svelte. The new pen knives are clumsy in comparison.
 
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greeetings,
I currently own 12 GEC models of various styles, yet I find myself carrying my buck 303 or case medium cv yellow delrin or as of late a usa schrade 34ot
most of the time. yes gec makes a fine product but so do others and i am confident that my 34ot can cut just as well as any of the other knives on the market
and there is no warranty on this one.
 
I don't guess I've had very good luck with case in the past . While I do really like case and have several case knives I find the quality inconsistent and some with what I call major flaws . I have a couple 70's models that I will never get rid of and carry them a lot but I went thru several to get them .
 
155440 said:
Honestly it blows my mind that people pay $300 plus for some models of GEC knives. Go custom. Get exactly the knife you want made with tighter tolerances and exactly the pattern and materials you want. Jim Dunlap, T.A. Davison, and John LLoyd all make great stuff. Of the three, LLoyd's knives are closest in price as the highly coveted GEC's but you get a lot more for your dollar.

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.

If your set on going production, A. Wright and Sons out of Sheffield make some pretty awesome stuff as well. I don't have any experience with their knives but plenty of folks here on the traditional board are pleased with them.
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Renaud Aubry? Yes he has some impressive knives and a good price, but remember that people go to GEC because they are American and made the old American way. The nostalgia of it all. People are rooting for the comeback of the old steel belt manufacturing and ironworks in that area. And that is why GEC is coveted. Yes, custom one offs by a knife maker too, but to see what Bill Howard has done in such a short amount of time is impressive. To start a high quality knife manufacturing plant from ground up is incredible. BUT, I agree that it is frustrating that another company cannot do it. I really want to root for Queen!!! If they just put their mind to it they should be able to do it! Ken Daniels has the knowledge and experience to execute. We as consumers must keep pushing them and demanding top fit and finish from them! That is the only ways Queen can get to the GEC level. Come on Queen!!! Do it!!
 
155440 said:
Honestly it blows my mind that people pay $300 plus for some models of GEC knives. Go custom.
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People that pay that much are people that are serious collectors of GEC knives. That's why they pay that much for some hard to get variants.

The mentality of collecting defies that sort of 'You get more for your money buying this other thing' logic. A hardcore GEC collector isn't collecting whatever custom maker you think is a better deal. They are collecting GEC knives.

I'm surprised this blows your minds so much. You don't collect anything?
 
To me GEC is a quality controlled Queen with a GEC stamp and nothing more. I would like to see Bear and Son and Blue Grass and other U. S. Companies go into higher end slip joint knives. I think there's a market for it in lower production better material higher priced knives. Case and Queen have done and others have the ability. I don't want this to seem like an attack on GEC because it's not. This is about getting with better higher end technology product. Look at that Collector Knives Barlow from Lion Steel. That's what I'm talking about and they are only about $100. This is where slip joints need to evolve to and the price is not that much more. It would attract more tactical folder people and people not associating sl
 
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