Lets talk GEC!

Fixall said:
Personally I’d like to know the answer to this too. I’d much rather have variations in color rather than have a dyed piece of wood.

On a “premium” knife (say above $300 or so) I do prefer a nice uniform, black ebony though. You can get ebony on knives at almost any budget these days. By using uniform, black ebony on more expensive knives, it makes me feel like I’m getting a more high end product. Jet black ebony is more rare, so it takes someone hand selecting the wood to ensure a uniform product. That just screams higher end to me I guess. There are some exceptions in my opinion though. Some high-end knives purposely use blonde or streaked ebony, but those too are usually hand chosen pieces with great coloration and/or figure... Rather than just being whichever piece of ebony the cutler happened to grab.
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I agree here. I went through three different GEC dealers before I found one who would take the time to inspect his stock of ebony #97s, and send me one that was uniformly dark on both scales. I do not personally like ebony scales with streaks of tan shot through, instead wanting that true dark coloration. As is, my #97 IS black on both sides, until shown in very bright light up close, and only then can you see the super fine tan streaking down in the wood, if that makes sense. But when you're just holding it in your hand and looking down at it, both scales look black. So, I don't think this one is dyed, but it DID require effort to get the one I wanted.
 
aji1 said:
That's a lot easier to believe at 34 than it is at twenty (or more) years older. Age is, to some extent, in the mind, but it is also to some extent in the joints and organs and whatnot.
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maybe so, but I was quoting my father who was in his late sixties when he said it.
 
LastRodeo said:
You will certainly know more than I on this topic and I will be the first to admit my memory might be faulty, but from what I recall, prior to somewhere around the #44 Jack, there would always be quite a bit of discussion around runs that included ebony knives. People would comment on whether they got a good dark black one or if it was brown or streaked. GEC used to specify if the ebony was Macassar or Gabon. Folks would discuss from what continent and genus was true ebony, etc.

Right around that time of the #44 Jack, it seems like every ebony knife was more uniformly jet black and GEC started to refer to it as “ebony”, rather than Gabon or Macassar.
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I was just curious as I had not heard anything about that issue. But I have learned that most times the underlying reason is fathoms away from what makes sense. With CITES getting more restrictive on woods and more so one region over another; he might have just decided to eliminate locale altogether. Personally I have never seen or heard of the ebony bleeding in the first place. And with all the speak of respecting the natural beauty on the factory's behalf; I would genuinely be surprised if they were attempting artificial enhancement. But I have been surprised before..
 
Seems to me that Ebony 'bleed' might be simply a mistake. New knives from GEC are notorious for having blackish gunk coming out of them at first or after an initial wash, could it just be that? If bleed were taking place, you'd expect the wood to start looking lighter in places, are there pictures? Never seen any, yet.

The Forum Knife last year was not Ebony anyway, it was Blackwood which has a different pore/grain structure and appears uniformly dark.

I've got a 56 2 blade Jack Barehead from around 10 years ago, this has a load of dark chocolate stripes in it which I find very pleasing. Whereas, a White Owl 68 is a real piece of coal by comparison. I remember seeing Black & White striped Ebony on a fixed blade, looked fantastic but I expect it was costly. A lot of factors dictate colour in Ebony. region, variety of tree, age, what part of the tree it is cut from, curing time etc. I would imagine staining Ebony to be counterproductive for knife slabs as you would need to re colour them while cutting and polishing, too time consuming?

Let's wait for the evidence, if any.

Thanks, Will
 
Will Power said:
Seems to me that Ebony 'bleed' might be simply a mistake. New knives from GEC are notorious for having blackish gunk coming out of them at first or after an initial wash, could it just be that? If bleed were taking place, you'd expect the wood to start looking lighter in places, are there pictures? Never seen any, yet.

The Forum Knife last year was not Ebony anyway, it was Blackwood which has a different pore/grain structure and appears uniformly dark.

I've got a 56 2 blade Jack Barehead from around 10 years ago, this has a load of dark chocolate stripes in it which I find very pleasing. Whereas, a White Owl 68 is a real piece of coal by comparison. I remember seeing Black & White striped Ebony on a fixed blade, looked fantastic but I expect it was costly. A lot of factors dictate colour in Ebony. region, variety of tree, age, what part of the tree it is cut from, curing time etc. I would imagine staining Ebony to be counterproductive for knife slabs as you would need to re colour them while cutting and polishing, too time consuming?

Let's wait for the evidence, if any.

Thanks, Will
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It's entirely possible what you are saying is true, someone mistook the blackish gunk. I wasn't speaking from personal experience and was relying on things I had thought been compiled into my memory over time. I am thinking now, I was simply mistaken.

I do have a theory about the real reason Coca-Cola marketed 'New Coke', but if anyone wants to hear it, you will have to private message me.
 
Jiki said:
And that's why I voted for jigged bone last year for the forum knife.;):D:D:p:D
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But jigged bone would probably be dyed. :p This African Blackwood looks black indoors, but bright sunlight brings out some natural character. :thumbsup:
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Fixall said:
On a “premium” knife (say above $300 or so) I do prefer a nice uniform, black ebony though. You can get ebony on knives at almost any budget these days. By using uniform, black ebony on more expensive knives, it makes me feel like I’m getting a more high end product. Jet black ebony is more rare, so it takes someone hand selecting the wood to ensure a uniform product. That just screams higher end to me I guess.
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Agreed.

For fun, below is my GEC ebony tree. All are a beautiful uniform dark black with the exception of the Geppetto which has light brown stripes on both covers. She is however, to my eyes, beautiful in her own way.
 

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I wonder if we are starting to see the symptoms of a reduced work force and whatever other impacts that the factory has had to endure (aside from the obvious reduced output, of course). With GEC using the same shield for all the Tidioutes on the #19 run as well as the same shield on the Northfields (albeit different from the Tidioutes), that seems to say that they are getting by without having to retool for different shields. Also, using the same cover options for the upcoming #47s that they used on the #74s?

I'm not sure if they have done either of those things before but if they have, it hasn't been done recently. I hope it isn't spelling an ill omen.

I'm just happy that they are able to produce what they can and that they continue to sell quickly. I hope they can push through all of this ok.
 
EngrSorenson said:
I wouldn't mind about 10,000 clip point #15s, with pile side small wharncliffe secondary blades, assorted handle materials for $80-$90.
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You know what they say, wish in one hand… ;) :D

I’m still disappointed that they did the #74’s and #47’s separately, and didn’t go with my #747 idea with blades that open on both sides. Now that would’ve been a unique knife! :cool:

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