Lets talk GEC!

knifeswapper said:
Some of the value needs a crystal ball - some does not. When I buy collections, the chinese knives (RR, Marbles, etc. etc.) go in a bucket. Anybody that wants $1000 retail worth of these for $300 - just private message me. They are great for using, practicing mods, determining interest in a particular pattern, or throwing in a tool box, etc. But I don't guess I have ever seen one even get near the retail price on the secondary - and I don't consider it simply discrimination.

Every knife has a price where it is a value. If the retail is in that range, outstanding; because that is a good thing in todays economy. But if you are buying a $50 knife and cleaning battery terminals with it, obviously your idea of value and my idea of value are different from the offset. Every person definitely needs to set their own criteria. But don't be offended if the future disagrees with your past assertions.
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No offense meant to anyone who likes them, but I would not trade my least favorite $80 GEC for that whole bucket. Just how different folks can be, I guess.
 
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I have had only a few interactions with the folks at GEC, but I do not believe they spend any time scheming and plotting about how to manipulate their customer’s purchases as has been suggested here many times. To me, it is much more of a Mom and Pop operation than most people realize. They have about 30 employees in a town of just over 5000 people. It is astounding that Bill Howard has been able to revolutionize and reinvigorate the traditional knife industry. I believe he spends every waking moment thinking about how to keep their business healthy while making the knives he wants to make.

We are fortunate that they share as much information as they do on their website. They do not have to do this, and I am sure doing so costs valuable time. Also, I very much doubt they read or monitor forums like this one. I wouldn’t. It would just be a huge distraction and waste of time reading endless conflicting opinions from people unknown to them who, for the most part, have no relevant experience.

If anyone ends up with extra knives because of the way GEC is updating their production schedule or releasing the knives, it would take about five seconds to sell the extras on the Exchange. It is ironic that some people complain about having to buy too many knives while others complain about the impossibility of getting any!

These knives are great, not perfect, but great nonetheless. They appreciate the moment you purchase them. What’s not to like about that?! I wish other products I purchased would go up in price after I bought them! I also buy American whenever I can, and I do not apologize for it.

I have found this run of TC Barlows to be the easiest to obtain of them all. By that I mean one or two examples, not every single one or a specific one. I believe that if someone cannot get at least one example, they have not tried very hard or spent the small amount of time it takes to learn how to get one. Of course, if your goal is to get every single variety, or the rarest example, then you probably will be disappointed.

HEMI 49 HEMI 49 , thanks for pointing out my mistake. I corrected it. Do you know how Chris is doing? She was a great representative for the company, and I miss her being there.
 
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Leslie Tomville said:
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I have had only a few interactions with the folks at GEC, but I do not believe they spend any time scheming and plotting about how to manipulate their customer’s purchases as has been suggested here many times. To me, it is much more of a Mom and Pop operation than most people realize. They have about 30 employees in a town of just over 5000 people. It is astounding that Bill Howard has been able to revolutionize and reinvigorate the traditional knife industry. I believe he and his wife spend ever moment thinking about how to keep their business healthy while making the knives they want to make.

We are fortunate that they share as much information as they do on their website. They do not have to do this, and I am sure doing so costs valuable time. Also, I very much doubt they read or monitor forums like this one. I wouldn’t. It would just be a huge distraction and waste of time reading endless conflicting opinions from people unknown to them who, for the most part, have no relevant experience.

If anyone ends up with extra knives because of the way GEC is updating their production schedule or releasing the knives, it would take about five seconds to sell the extras on the Exchange. It is ironic that some people complain about having to buy too many knives while others complain about the impossibility of getting any!

These knives are great, not perfect, but great nonetheless. They appreciate the moment you purchase them. What’s not to like about that?! I wish other products I purchased would go up in price after I bought them! I also buy American whenever I can, and I do not apologize for it.

I have found this run of TC Barlows to be the easiest to obtain of them all. By that I mean one or two examples, not every single one or a specific one. I believe that if someone cannot get at least one example, they have not tried very hard or spent the minimal time it takes to learn how to get one. I do not feel sorry for, or have much patience for, people who complain about not being able to get every single variety.
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I'm with you, I hope they don't come here and read any of the arm-chair-knife-business-owner comments. They just need to keep on doing their thing.
 
Concerning certain dealers selling their knives at flipper prices, gec could utilize a type of dsr where the further you get away from their dsr, the less stock you get. Say, if ck sells his at dsr for $100, and one of these auction dealers are selling for $400. The auction site dealer should only get 1/4 of the amount of stock that ck gets. If the auction dealer wants more, they can bring their price closer to the dsr. It would make it more fair to the dealers and encourage the dealers to represent gec more honestly.

In regards to availability and production, i hope they never decide to go to a set patterns to to be produced for a whole year. Instead, cut the amount of patterns by half and have second round of drops per pattern released.

Alternatively, only make 4 version of a pattern. One tidioute, one northfield, one farm & field, and one surprise low count highly collective version.

A combination of these two methods seems to be where they may be headed. Not as many patterns being released and not as many variations of the patterns. I just hope they dont go too crazy as demand for a product is healthy for a business.
 
black mamba said:
GT, a couple of points about your post. I would change the word value in your statements above to price. When the quality is commensurate with the price, you have value. The problem, though, is the same in nearly every field of manufacture: each step up in quality costs proportionally more. Often as much as double the cost to get even a noticeable increase in quality. Also, how consistent is that quality? Rough Ryders are such a good value because their quality is unusually high for such a low price, and they are very consistent in quality. I would argue the same holds true for GEC, and also for quality customs. In putting some average retail prices on these, I'd say RR about $15, GEC about $95, and customs about $600. Now I have RRs that are every bit as good as the average GEC, and also GECs that are every bit as good as the average custom, but it's rare. It's why consistency is so important to quality. It's also why I didn't include Case and Queen in this discussion; because their quality is so inconsistent it is difficult to categorize them. With these brands you want to inspect the knife to see if the quality is there, but with RR or GEC or many customs, you pretty much know what you are gonna get. While I have owned a few customs, I am perfectly happy with GEC's quality, and the value for me is not there with a custom. You seem to be happy with the level of quality in RRs, and don't see value in spending the extra coin for a GEC, at least very often. Its great to have value choices at all levels of expenditure, and to me, the joy of collecting is finding the niche that makes you happy.
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I had a Toyota Prius that cost much less than either of my 2 Lexus autos . I consider the Quality of it to be VERY HIGH . It was put together as expected and performed as designed . I expected no more than that .
Harry
 
Leslie Tomville said:
View attachment 1500491

View attachment 1500490 View attachment 1500489

I have had only a few interactions with the folks at GEC, but I do not believe they spend any time scheming and plotting about how to manipulate their customer’s purchases as has been suggested here many times. To me, it is much more of a Mom and Pop operation than most people realize. They have about 30 employees in a town of just over 5000 people. It is astounding that Bill Howard has been able to revolutionize and reinvigorate the traditional knife industry. I believe he spends every waking moment thinking about how to keep their business healthy while making the knives he wants to make.

We are fortunate that they share as much information as they do on their website. They do not have to do this, and I am sure doing so costs valuable time. Also, I very much doubt they read or monitor forums like this one. I wouldn’t. It would just be a huge distraction and waste of time reading endless conflicting opinions from people unknown to them who, for the most part, have no relevant experience.

If anyone ends up with extra knives because of the way GEC is updating their production schedule or releasing the knives, it would take about five seconds to sell the extras on the Exchange. It is ironic that some people complain about having to buy too many knives while others complain about the impossibility of getting any!

These knives are great, not perfect, but great nonetheless. They appreciate the moment you purchase them. What’s not to like about that?! I wish other products I purchased would go up in price after I bought them! I also buy American whenever I can, and I do not apologize for it.

I have found this run of TC Barlows to be the easiest to obtain of them all. By that I mean one or two examples, not every single one or a specific one. I believe that if someone cannot get at least one example, they have not tried very hard or spent the small amount of time it takes to learn how to get one. Of course, if your goal is to get every single variety, or the rarest example, then you probably will be disappointed.

HEMI 49 HEMI 49 , thanks for pointing out my mistake. I corrected it. Do you know how Chris is doing? She was a great representative for the company, and I miss her being there.
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I love this post, Greg!! You are way too sane for this world my friend!!:eek::D
But please stick around!!:cool:
 
skx013k2 said:
Anyone have a photo of a #97 next to a buck 110? Trying to compare sizes. Thanks.
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rAVgrSJm.jpg
 
Tuna said:
I lurk too often and figured I should weigh in once in a while. I have become quite a fan of GEC knives over the past few years (mostly due to this forum) and if they're producing a pattern I think I'll like, I try to get at least one. When I first discovered GEC I took for granted that they posted the production schedule several patterns in advance. The fact they posted it contributed to the excitement and appeal of eventually purchasing one of their knives.

Anyway, last year there were long stretches that GEC didn't update their production schedule, and I'm sure I was not alone in checking their website frequently hoping that I would see a new pattern pop up on the schedule, and then being bummed when there wasn't.

I agree that not posting an advance schedule increases demand for whatever pattern is currently in production, and not knowing is frustrating. The uncertainty of what is coming next leads to knife collectors wondering whether the current knife being produced may be the last chance at a GEC they want for their collection for many months into the future. So they rush to buy upon release.

My main point is this: GEC must have a good reason for the change in communication to us (the knife nuts via their website). I don't think they can be accused of malevolent communication strategies (for lack of a better term, although I wouldn't describe the way the #15 schedule was rolled out as malevolent, but it's Friday night and I can't think of an appropriate adjective) towards the knife buyers and I'll give a couple reasons why. They post production pictures of most knives they produce, before they're shipped to dealers, and often more than one update per pattern - meaning they're pretty open about how the knife will look in hand and give us opportunity to see variations in handle materials, etc. Now, you could argue that they're trying to artificially inflate demand by doing so, but my opinion is that is not their style. They also post production totals every year and that takes the speculation out of what quantity of a given knife was produced. They don't have to, but they still do. GEC thinks it's in their best interest to communicate the process to the end user. Maybe that's part of the enjoyment they get out of it. GEC openly communicates so much about production, I have to believe they communicate as much as they can because they want to communicate as much as they can.

My best guess is that the reason they don't communicate the production schedule as far in advance as they used to is because they need to keep their options open. Maybe they can't depend on materials being available, or maybe they can't depend on having their full production staff so far into the future with possible shutdowns looming. I've never ran a business. I don't know. There is an American manufacturer of modern folding knives that regularly makes known the knife models that will be coming out over the next few months. I think there are still several models originally scheduled to be released last year that still have not come out. Granted they are a bigger knife company than GEC from what I can tell, but if GEC put out their production schedule well in advance and wasn't able to follow through, how would that play out? I doubt it would play out better than the current situation.

Not trying to pick on you L.H.S, I share the frustrations you point out.

Until there are more American companies offering a competitive product to GEC, as a user/collector I have to concede that demand will far outweigh supply especially as knowledge of GEC spreads on social media and by word of mouth. I will be happy with whatever knife or knives I end up with (or may not end up with) based on the effort I'm willing to put in to get one. Please excuse the long-winded post. Just my $.02, however I'm not as serious a collector as some. I am proud to own American-made cutlery by GEC and I admire what they do because I don't think they have any direct competitors.

HmUvJCZ.jpg
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Great post! As I think and hope I mentioned in my post, I definitely think the lack of heads up on a run of knives and less than full lineup of the versions coming is a product of supply issues over the last year. Certainly it's better to under promise and over deliver.

Leslie Tomville said:
View attachment 1500491

View attachment 1500490 View attachment 1500489

I have had only a few interactions with the folks at GEC, but I do not believe they spend any time scheming and plotting about how to manipulate their customer’s purchases as has been suggested here many times. To me, it is much more of a Mom and Pop operation than most people realize. They have about 30 employees in a town of just over 5000 people. It is astounding that Bill Howard has been able to revolutionize and reinvigorate the traditional knife industry. I believe he spends every waking moment thinking about how to keep their business healthy while making the knives he wants to make.

We are fortunate that they share as much information as they do on their website. They do not have to do this, and I am sure doing so costs valuable time. Also, I very much doubt they read or monitor forums like this one. I wouldn’t. It would just be a huge distraction and waste of time reading endless conflicting opinions from people unknown to them who, for the most part, have no relevant experience.

If anyone ends up with extra knives because of the way GEC is updating their production schedule or releasing the knives, it would take about five seconds to sell the extras on the Exchange. It is ironic that some people complain about having to buy too many knives while others complain about the impossibility of getting any!

These knives are great, not perfect, but great nonetheless. They appreciate the moment you purchase them. What’s not to like about that?! I wish other products I purchased would go up in price after I bought them! I also buy American whenever I can, and I do not apologize for it.

I have found this run of TC Barlows to be the easiest to obtain of them all. By that I mean one or two examples, not every single one or a specific one. I believe that if someone cannot get at least one example, they have not tried very hard or spent the small amount of time it takes to learn how to get one. Of course, if your goal is to get every single variety, or the rarest example, then you probably will be disappointed.

HEMI 49 HEMI 49 , thanks for pointing out my mistake. I corrected it. Do you know how Chris is doing? She was a great representative for the company, and I miss her being there.
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I inquire about Chris every now and then, but haven't heard much from the GEC crew. I also hope she's doing well. She was always very nice and helpful to me.

As has been everyone at GEC. It is unusual and greatly appreciated that the owner of a company, as well as the production and sales managers, would take the time and care to discuss knives and knife related stuff with a random enthusiast like me. I think they are nice people who are doing their best to make great knives and run a good business. I think it's incredible that they have built such a great small business in Titusville. I am from the area, and I know how rare that is. I don't for a second mean to suggest otherwise.

(I'm not assuming you were referring to my post, but it made me think of some points)

I hope I was clear enough in my post, though I know I am often rambly and long winded, in that I DO NOT think that the way the #15 run has been handled so far has been an intentional attempt to create perceived scarcity. My point was that this is the first situation that I think could reasonably be construed as such (whereas all other suggestions as such have seemed completely illogical to me).

Of course, the communication that we do receive is great. The production numbers are a great resource. The production updates are extremely exciting and helpful. The in production photos are great insight. But I do think they all contribute value to GEC; it's not like they are only valuable for the consumer.

I am definitely not complaining for myself. I am extremely fortunate in being able to get the knives I do. I love the knives I get. I love sharing them with others as best I can.
 
I read somewhere gec has done some lockback knives in the past and it made me think how so many companies have made a version of the buck 110 that a gec version would be outstanding. Nickel silver bolsters that are for convex as oppose to flat brass. Clip point with a swedge only gec can do. And then theres the covers... it could be a beautiful thing. They can even do a nonlocking two blade version and a farm and field as well
 
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