Lets talk GEC!

[Frankki]

Same swirly-looking polish was evident on my Waynorth Black Jack and Northfield Oil Field Jack. In certain lighting the scratch lines are quite apparent. Probably the result of a rag wheel polish?

 

[waynorth]

Hi Charlie, very interesting. Can someone explain to me what a shell puller is used for please. I'm guessing it's to pull shot gun shells out of a barrel, but I'm confused because I've never had to pull a shell out.

Some old shotguns were made without ejectors!! You had to pull out the shells!!
Hence a tool would help with a hot shell!!

 

[Alex.Y.]

Some old shotguns were made without ejectors!! You had to pull out the shells!!
Hence a tool would help with a hot shell!!

But to be pulled out with such tool, the shell must stick out enough to be hooked, right?

Also, pocket knives with such extractors were common in second half of 20th century in Russia. Maybe earlier, currently I don't have the info.

 

[JohnDF]

That's gorgeous, my friend.

 

[HEMI 49]

Does anyone else notice that the Northfield polished blades are never truly polished? Is this something that is getting worse?

These pics highlight the micro scratches in the sunlight. From some angles the blades do look well polished, but anytime you hold the blade just right you can see the lack of true polishing.

I normally don’t worry about it because I assume a patina will be on the blade soon. But after comparing my nice 1960’s Case which has a true mirror polish to my Northfields I am wondering if GEC should raise the bar. Am I being unrealistic?

I get concerned when a knife arrives less shiny than the top of my head....

 

[Nature Boy]

That's gorgeous, my friend.

Thanks, John! The pic is an older one. It’s got a bit more patina these days.

 

[Jerbhola89]

Does anyone else notice that the Northfield polished blades are never truly polished? Is this something that is getting worse?

These pics highlight the micro scratches in the sunlight. From some angles the blades do look well polished, but anytime you hold the blade just right you can see the lack of true polishing.

I normally don’t worry about it because I assume a patina will be on the blade soon. But after comparing my nice 1960’s Case which has a true mirror polish to my Northfields I am wondering if GEC should raise the bar. Am I being unrealistic?

Like you, all my knives - eventually - have enough patina for it not to matter. That said, my 49 definitely was like this and If my memory serves me correctly it was the case with my 86 and 29 Northfields.

This 88, though It‘s already patina’d on the clip, is probably near perfect (IMO) on the lambsfoot. I used this baby so fast that it really didn’t matter

*I think most of the lines you see are from use/wiping for this photo. They don’t appear to be micro scratches. I could be incorrect though!



Patina patina patina goodness on the clip just because


Last note; not unrealistic to want this if Northfields are supposed to be the “premium” versions with the look, and have and extra collectors-factor. I would think better polishing is simply QC and not that hard to do?

 

[Will Power]

Travman Interesting question and your pictures certainly appear to prove the point.

Not sure as I don't have a lot of recent GECs....The English Whittler from last year, despite being Northfield sports matte/brushed blades. The last Cowhide White Owl doesn't seem to have swirls or scratches though. Somebody mentioned Canal St. but most of their knives were stainless or D2 (no high polish on that stuff) not carbon. It could be residues on worn polishing wheels causing it I suppose?

This 56 two blade most certainly had very high crocus type polish from c 2009 so too the first run Dixies 2014

 

[Frailer]

But to be pulled out with such tool, the shell must stick out enough to be hooked, right?

Also, pocket knives with such extractors were common in second half of 20th century in Russia. Maybe earlier, currently I don't have the info.

Break-action shotguns either have ejectors, which kick the fired shells completely clear of the gun, or extractors, which merely pull the shell far enough out of the chamber for the base to be grabbed with the fingers.

With today’s slippery plastic shells it’s rare to have a shell get stuck in the chamber. In the days of paper “hulls” it wasn’t altogether uncommon.

 

[bbfish]

Anyone else wish/think they could keep a better system for production schedule updates? Its obviously not my business, they can run it however they want. I would certainly appreciate it though, I personally feel its so much nicer when you know what you might want to spend money on and plan for it.

 

[Alex.Y.]

Anyone else wish/think they could keep a better system for production schedule updates? Its obviously not my business, they can run it however they want. I would certainly appreciate it though, I personally feel its so much nicer when you know what you might want to spend money on and plan for it.

Would be nice if they could update more frequently and list more upcoming models. But my guess is that they only plan as far as the schedule they post, maybe a little bit further.

 

[sf fanatic]

Anyone else wish/think they could keep a better system for production schedule updates? Its obviously not my business, they can run it however they want. I would certainly appreciate it though, I personally feel its so much nicer when you know what you might want to spend money on and plan for it.

I agree and would appreciate it to. But since they quickly sell the majority of the knives they make it might not be high on their priority list.

 

[JohnDF]

It's probably smarter that they don't leak too much information in advance, because people may skip drops to save for another one coming down the road.

 

[bbfish]

I agree and would appreciate it to. But since they quickly sell the majority of the knives they make it might not be high on their priority list.

I mean honestly that list could be updated in under 5 minutes. They sell out so quickly because they have such loyal customers, I just wish they would give us a better heads up.

 

[rdrogers]

They have already sold everything they produce. We really aren't part of their business model. The dealer sells to us, not them. Nice problem to have, I suppose.

 

[bbfish]

They have already sold everything they produce. We really aren't part of their business model. The dealer sells to us, not them. Nice problem to have, I suppose.

I wouldn't say that. I know they use a dealer model, but ignoring the end user would be pretty foolish. Again not saying they have to do anything based on what I or any individual customer say, I'm just saying it would be nice, and really wouldn't cost them anything.

 

[bbfish]

Would be nice if they could update more frequently and list more upcoming models. But my guess is that they only plan as far as the schedule they post, maybe a little bit further.

That would certainly explain it.

 

[Jiki]

The current supply chain problems probably factor in to the issue. I'm also guessing that if they post something then have to change it the volume of complaint phone calls is a pain in the ass that do not wish to deal with and therefore they just don't post until it is a certainty. Or that's at least how I would handle it.

 

[Modoc ED]

The current supply chain problems probably factor in to the issue. I'm also guessing that if they post something then have to change it the volume of complaint phone calls is a pain in the ass that do not wish to deal with and therefore they just don't post until it is a certainty. Or that's at least how I would handle it.

Speaking of supply chain problems, I was watching Cutlery Corner Network yesterday and they we talking about a shortage of Nickle Silver and how Case and other companies were looking for something else to use for bolsters and of course the waning supply of some blade steels factoring in on production (i.e. Carbon Steel (CS) now being used by Case in place of CV which is also Carbon Steel).

 

[JohnDF]

I'm also guessing that if they post something then have to change it the volume of complaint phone calls is a pain in the

That's probably a good point.

they we talking about a shortage of Nickle Silver and how Case and other companies were looking for something else to use for bolsters

I would not be opposed to steel bolsters.