Lets talk GEC!

[knifegirl1]

WO

It was (is) a really cool knife. At the time I sold it, I didn’t think I would carry it often enough to justify what I had paid for it (a secondary price that felt high in 2015, but seems like a good deal now ). I only had a handful of GEC’s at the time, but I was already hooked and had several early reserves in, so I think part of my reasoning was also to free up some cash for other knives.

Since we're going down GEC-memory-lane, here's my first "family photo,” i.e. all the GEC knives I owned at the time. This was November, 2015 (and probably right around the time I sold that Ancient TC).

And here’s a more recent one.

WOW!!! Great looking collection.

 

[Murphjd25]

Man that’s a hard call with a lot of them. For the older ones I’m of course going to be limited to what I can find but with the newer ones where options are still possible? I think with the 92 the goldenrod is a no-brainer, for the 23 it was the beavertail ll for me, but what about the 93? I couldn’t say which I like more between the jigged bone, oily creek and cocobolo. Same for the 62s, they have so many great choices between the pocket carver and easy pockets. I’ve been complaining about limited options on the 33s but GEC did my wallet a favor.

I think it’s a good example to follow though, since I’m just adding to the GEC shortage...

It was a hard thing to do, but at the end of the day it means I can try that many more patterns that I think I will like! Plus my wallet has been a lot more happier, haha. I really don’t need two of the same model...just the best of that model

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

Good looking group of hard-working knives, David! I’m curious, are your #23’s the liner lock or the two blade version? I think I that pattern will be right up your alley (especially the liner lock)!

They are the liner lock ones. I have a couple Camillus made Remington jumbo trappers that are 2 blade and a Camillus/Remington single blade lockback as well. The jumbo trapper is a pattern I like pretty good and really like the looks of the single blade 23's. I think I'll like these quite a bit

 

[kamagong]

I won the knife in a GAW that was held by @meako
He was giving away a valuable knife and wanted to reduce the flipper value by marking the blade.
He need not worry, it is now a beloved possession and the blade etch makes it even more valuable to me.

I love FLIPPER BAIT. Such a very @meako thing to do.

 

[EngrSorenson]

You know, it’s amazing how desirable these knives are considering they are comprised of nickel silver, brass and good ol’ 1095. I get some satisfaction out of using my incredibly sharp 1095 blades the way I imagine a hunter with a 30/30 lever gun feels when he brings down a buck. “Old” might mean a lot of things, but it sure doesn’t mean “useless”.

 

[BDubbs]

You know, it’s amazing how desirable these knives are considering they are comprised of nickel silver, brass and good ol’ 1095. I get some satisfaction out of using my incredibly sharp 1095 blades the way I imagine a hunter with a 30/30 lever gun feels when he brings down a buck. “Old” might mean a lot of things, but it sure doesn’t mean “useless”.

Love the steel. It may require a little more maintenance but the edge on my 92 went from sorta ok to razor with just a few passes on a honing rod.

 

[Travman]

This past weekend I drove up to Titusville, PA for the unofficial GEC picnic my two Brother-in-laws. The trip to Titusville was great. We had more time will Bill Howard (GEC’s owner) and Randy Bell (GEC’s chief engineer) than we could ever had hoped for. They hung out with us at the picnic for several hours. We had a chance to ask many questions and talk about previous knives Bill had made. It was really cool when Bill looked through my collection of knives and remembered designing the 1996 Winchester NKCA knife he worked on when he was at Queen.

Bill did say that the no SFO’s announcement has to do with their current situation. He is having trouble staying running at full capacity. His employees are taking a lot of vacation/sick days every since they opened back up following the forced shutdown. There hasn’t been any COVID cases there at GEC or in that area of PA. I’m assuming the employees got spoiled with all that time off. He didn’t rule out future SFO’s if things get back to normal.

Bill didn’t spill the beans about future patterns other than to say that there would be different variations to the 35 in addition to the Beer & Sausage 35.

Even if there isn’t an official GEC Rendezvous next year there will be a unofficial GEC Rendezvous again. I hope to see some of you next year.

Here is Bill checking out my knives on Saturday morning. I think he missed having the GEC Open house this year.

 

[EngrSorenson]

This past weekend I drove up to Titusville, PA for the unofficial GEC picnic my two Brother-in-laws. The trip to Titusville was great. We had more time will Bill Howard (GEC’s owner) and Randy Bell (GEC’s chief engineer) than we could ever had hoped for. They hung out with us at the picnic for several hours. We had a chance to ask many questions and talk about previous knives Bill had made. It was really cool when Bill looked through my collection of knives and remembered designing the 1996 Winchester NKCA knife he worked on when he was at Queen.

Bill did say that the no SFO’s announcement has to do with their current situation. He is having trouble staying running at full capacity. His employees are taking a lot of vacation/sick days every since they opened back up following the forced shutdown. There hasn’t been any COVID cases there at GEC or in that area of PA. I’m assuming the employees got spoiled with all that time off. He didn’t rule out future SFO’s if things get back to normal.

Bill didn’t spill the beans about future patterns other than to say that there would be different variations to the 35 in addition to the Beer & Sausage 35.

Even if there isn’t an official GEC Rendezvous next year there will be a unofficial GEC Rendezvous again. I hope to see some of you next year.

Here is Bill checking out my knives.

aw man! So cool! Thanks for the report. I sure would have loved to have shared that experience. I have so much fun talking here on the porch I can’t help but wonder how much more lively it would be in person.

 

[Travman]

They may not have been officially open, but a few of us gathered on their porch Saturday morning after breakfast at Missy’s Arcade. We pulled out some of our knives for fun and before long Bill Howard couldn’t resist and he came out to join us. Notice the blue skies. The weather was perfect, especially compared to hot & humid Virginia.

 

[Travman]

Two more pics that I found from that morning. Now that I think about it, it was Bill who wanted to see the knives. That is when we pulled them out. He was amazed when we started pulling out so many knives. He was doubly amazed when he realized that was only half of them.

He we are talking about COVID. Bill said that we were the only people he had met who had any first hand experience with it (My 18-year son had it. He was fine. No symptoms). I guess things are fairly calm in that part of western, PA.

Here Bill is taking one of my knives in order to fix a pin crack that he noticed when checking out my collection. I would have never asked him personally, but he spotted it and offered.

After this we helped him load a few things up into his pickup and we all headed over to Mystic Park about two miles outside of town for the unofficial GEC picnic. *Thanks to Mike for capturing most of these pics. @llKRAKENll

 

[Half/Stop]

Travman Travis, my friend, thank you so much for the photos and commentary! You just don’t know how much I missed the Rendezvous this year. It’s great to see the familiar faces that were there! Seeing y’all on the Porch brings back so many fond memories. I was especially happy to hear that Missy’s Arcade survived the shutdown. That’s just about our favorite place to eat in Titusville. It’s definitely our favorite breakfast stop. You’re not going to find better food and prices! I hope and pray that things improve and Bill decides to have the 2021 Rendezvous. I think you’re right in saying he missed the open house. He takes well deserved pride in his company and the wonderful knives they make. He also really enjoys the fellowship just as much as we do.

 

[BDubbs]

Two more pics that I found from that morning. Now that I think about it, it was Bill who wanted to see the knives. That is when we pulled them out. He was amazed when we started pulling out so many knives. He was doubly amazed when he realized that was only half of them.

He we are talking about COVID. Bill said that we were the only people he had met who had any first hand experience with it (My 18-year son had it. He was fine. No symptoms). I guess things are fairly calm in that part of wes

Here Bill is taking one of my knives in order to fix a pin crack that he noticed when checking out my collection. I would have never asked him personally, but he spotted it and offered.

After this we helped him load a few things up into his pickup and we all headed over to Mystic Park about two miles outside of town for the unofficial GEC picnic. *Thanks to Mike for capturing most of these pics. @llKRAKENll

How cool is that! Thanks for sharing the photos and the 35 news will hopefully talk some folks back off the ledge.

 

[Fox79]

Travman - thanks for sharing! Did you get anything laser etched with the “bootleg” logo?

 

[EngrSorenson]

Travman - thanks for sharing! Did you get anything laser etched with the “bootleg” logo?

Laser etching is an option on these GECs at the Rendezvous?

 

[btb01]

This past weekend I drove up to Titusville, PA for the unofficial GEC picnic my two Brother-in-laws. The trip to Titusville was great. We had more time will Bill Howard (GEC’s owner) and Randy Bell (GEC’s chief engineer) than we could ever had hoped for. They hung out with us at the picnic for several hours. We had a chance to ask many questions and talk about previous knives Bill had made. It was really cool when Bill looked through my collection of knives and remembered designing the 1996 Winchester NKCA knife he worked on when he was at Queen.

Bill did say that the no SFO’s announcement has to do with their current situation. He is having trouble staying running at full capacity. His employees are taking a lot of vacation/sick days every since they opened back up following the forced shutdown. There hasn’t been any COVID cases there at GEC or in that area of PA. I’m assuming the employees got spoiled with all that time off. He didn’t rule out future SFO’s if things get back to normal.

Bill didn’t spill the beans about future patterns other than to say that there would be different variations to the 35 in addition to the Beer & Sausage 35.

Even if there isn’t an official GEC Rendezvous next year there will be a unofficial GEC Rendezvous again. I hope to see some of you next year.

Here is Bill checking out my knives on Saturday morning. I think he missed having the GEC Open house this year.

Two more pics that I found from that morning. Now that I think about it, it was Bill who wanted to see the knives. That is when we pulled them out. He was amazed when we started pulling out so many knives. He was doubly amazed when he realized that was only half of them.

He we are talking about COVID. Bill said that we were the only people he had met who had any first hand experience with it (My 18-year son had it. He was fine. No symptoms). I guess things are fairly calm in that part of western, PA.

Here Bill is taking one of my knives in order to fix a pin crack that he noticed when checking out my collection. I would have never asked him personally, but he spotted it and offered.

After this we helped him load a few things up into his pickup and we all headed over to Mystic Park about two miles outside of town for the unofficial GEC picnic. *Thanks to Mike for capturing most of these pics. @llKRAKENll

That’s awesome! I think it’s safe to say that we all wish circumstances were different and the Rendezvous (and, you know, everything else) could have gone on like normal, but that seems like an experience that’s pretty hard to beat right there.

 

[Jolipapa]

Thanks for sharing good moments and (rather) good news!

 

[hose56]

Wow, that is a very impressive collection of tubes! I obviously don't have the collector mentality, but you've bought all of those and never used one knife? Is that the GEC retirement plan? Probably as good as any, at this point!

Fwiw, I like the 15 as EDC of the ones you listed. Great size, great blade to handle ratio.

Never used a GEC to date. I began collecting them around 2009. This would have been my 10th Rendezvous if it had happened. I never planned anything, it was just a love for GEC knives. I guess you could say I got hooked. In the early days the rare GEC's were pretty easy to come by and the Rendezvous was not as crowded as it is these days. There are many regulars who attend every year. Fine folks and lots of knowledge to learn.

 

[akaMatt]

Never used a GEC to date. I began collecting them around 2009. This would have been my 10th Rendezvous if it had happened. I never planned anything, it was just a love for GEC knives. I guess you could say I got hooked. In the early days the rare GEC's were pretty easy to come by and the Rendezvous was not as crowded as it is these days. There are many regulars who attend every year. Fine folks and lots of knowledge to learn.

Yeah, sometimes I think it would have been nice to have had this passion from the early days of GEC. But knowing myself for much of my life, I likely still wouldn't have taken advantage of the ability to acquire so many great knives. I do enjoy the stories from the rendezvous, and can't imagine the knowledge and wisdom shared by those who attend!

 

[EngrSorenson]

Well I went for it- I called Joan Mae and threw down $30 bucks for a good cause and a shot at a beautiful knife. Honestly if I won it I wouldn't know what I'd do with it except admire it, take pictures of it, and show it off. I'll probably trade it to someone who's more deserving of it than I am. Most of my rationale was that if it's important enough to Mr. Howard to continue the tradition in spite of everything else, it should be important enough to me to make his contribution more valuable.

It's a good person who helps his neighbor in spite of his own setbacks, so kudos to GEC for continuing on with the raffle.

 

[Jiki]

Well I went for it- I called Joan Mae and threw down $30 bucks for a good cause and a shot at a beautiful knife. Honestly if I won it I wouldn't know what I'd do with it except admire it, take pictures of it, and show it off. I'll probably trade it to someone who's more deserving of it than I am. Most of my rationale was that if it's important enough to Mr. Howard to continue the tradition in spite of everything else, it should be important enough to me to make his contribution more valuable.

It's a good person who helps his neighbor in spite of his own setbacks, so kudos to GEC for continuing on with the raffle.

Well if I win I will raffle it off again and donate that money to wounded warriors. So there is an option for you.