Lets talk GEC!

[supratentorial]

I had a couple of ideas that I have no intention of pursuing (don't have the means to pursue them myself) but I think they may be good opportunities for a dealer.

(1) I've previously mentioned the 1st idea in another thread but I hadn't mentioned it in the GEC discussion thread.

I think that if a dealer did a special order on every run and only changed the shield, that would be enough for it to consistently sell better than GEC's standard production. I think it would be a good opportunity for a dealer.

GEC rarely pays any attention to using an appropriate shield (the old catalog scans stickied to the top of the forum are a good reference). Unfortunately GEC just slaps hotdog or cloud shields on anything that doesn't have their Tidioute or UNXLD shields.

If some of the poor sellers had been made with crest, federal or bowtie shields without any branding, they'd be sold out rather than sitting in inventory.

I think the most practical approach might be just to tag along with standard GEC production runs and do the SFO with a traditional shield in place of the typical GEC shields. But it could be taken further. A dealer could create their own line of knives with a unique name or brand. The focus would be on traditional styles that resemble the oldies. One name that came to mind was "Antique Cutlery Co" to emphasize the choice of traditional embellishments, materials, and shields. It could be stamped or etched on the main blade. But changing the branding is not even necessary. Just choosing historically appropriate shields and embellishments would be a winner.

(2) A lot of folks on the forum seem to like using their pocket knives in the kitchen and I thought why not combine the two. The other idea was for a line of *fixed* blade kitchen knives with handle shapes that match traditional *folding* knife patterns. For example, a paring knife with a 92 Eureka Jack handle and a modified spear blade... or a paring knife with 47 Swayback handle and a Wharncliffe blade. Etc. The knives could be full tang with wood or synthetic handles.

 

[Kiteman72]

Jake, I think both of those are good ideas!

Especially the first one, folks really do want the traditional shields (although I like the hotdog and cloud, myself), and the shield on a traditional can be a make or break it feature for a lot of folks.

 

[2Dead]

Perhaps different shields will be used in future runs to differentiate them from the earlier runs?

Not a bad idea for kitchen knives. They did make hunting fixed blades with their hunting pocket knife frames (#23s and #73s). GEC has made kitchen knives in the past but used a traditional kitchen knife handle profile. For certain patterns, their folding knives would make a great handle shape.

 

[Greenbuttskunk]

I'm new to the forum, so I apologize if this post is in the wrong place:

I'm a fan of traditionals but a lone Case Peanut makes up my traditional collection at this time (hope to remedy that soon!) Through this forum I discovered GEC and love what they're producing. Since I'm in PA and work frequently takes me close to the factory, I'll be stopping by in the near future. In the meantime, however, I was wondering if anyone could tell me what knives GEC produced during May of this year ('15). My wife and I welcomed a son in May and I'd love to buy a GEC knife produced at during that month to someday pass along to him.

Thanks for any info anyone can provide to a new collector!

 

[2Dead]

I'm new to the forum, so I apologize if this post is in the wrong place:

I'm a fan of traditionals but a lone Case Peanut makes up my traditional collection at this time (hope to remedy that soon!) Through this forum I discovered GEC and love what they're producing. Since I'm in PA and work frequently takes me close to the factory, I'll be stopping by in the near future. In the meantime, however, I was wondering if anyone could tell me what knives GEC produced during May of this year ('15). My wife and I welcomed a son in May and I'd love to buy a GEC knife produced at during that month to someday pass along to him.

Thanks for any info anyone can provide to a new collector!

Take a look at this link. As of today, you can see some of the knives they produced in May on pages 4 and 3. Looks like all the single blade #735115s and some of the #215115s. Based on the date gap, 5/18-5/28, I imagine a SFO was produced as well, perhaps more #21s?
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/pocket-knives/2015-new-releases/?bwbps_page_477=4

 

[blee]

Based on an email https://mo137.infusionsoft.com/app/hostedEmail/12602948/2cd81d7058f9e763?inf_contact_key=7f5147f4602dd6e56515f3ef270c3ac8ffe992892f088c877114903b6f3feae1 from KSF on May 29, they received some #73 in stag.
There was also the #21 F&F.

Edit: I see Trand beat me to it.

 

[Ramrodmb]

Take a look at this link. As of today, you can see some of the knives they produced in May on pages 4 and 3. Looks like all the single blade #735115s and some of the #215115s. Based on the date gap, 5/18-5/28, I imagine a SFO was produced as well, perhaps more #21s?
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/pocket-knives/2015-new-releases/?bwbps_page_477=4

I bet it was some 21 mudbugs for smith and sons.
Mark
Greenbutt, the 21 in osage orange would be a unique one and was produced during that time.:thumbup:

 

[supratentorial]

Jake, I think both of those are good ideas!

Especially the first one, folks really do want the traditional shields (although I like the hotdog and cloud, myself), and the shield on a traditional can be a make or break it feature for a lot of folks.

Perhaps different shields will be used in future runs to differentiate them from the earlier runs?

Not a bad idea for kitchen knives. They did make hunting fixed blades with their hunting pocket knife frames (#23s and #73s). GEC has made kitchen knives in the past but used a traditional kitchen knife handle profile. For certain patterns, their folding knives would make a great handle shape.

Thank you for the feedback, guys.

I think (1) is a sure thing. There have been a few SFOs along these lines... like the JBF Champlin knives, the American Whittler, and Charlie's Diamond knives.... but these are few and far between. There's a lot of room. I'm surprised that it's not already being done on every GEC run.

(2) is a much smaller idea. I do think they would sell. But I don't expect the demand to be as large as the demand for their pocket knives. I suspect people who use pocket knives in the kitchen are mostly wanting opportunities to use their pocket knives. Some folks might not have a frequent need for a pocket knife even though they enjoy using them. Food prep might be the only opportunity even when a kitchen knife would be more appropriate. So there may not be a large interest in kitchen knives of any type. But if it was done well, I think the knives would sell. Everyone eats... several times a day. It would be something unique. And they would be much easier to keep sanitary than a folding pocket knife in the kitchen. I would buy some.

 

[blademan 13]

Jake, great ideas. I'll take a #92 Talon spearpoint fixed blade with a bomb shield, in stag please!

 

[Biggie_Robs]

I don't think GEC is that interested in making fixed blade knives these days.

It's a shame, because I like my two GEC fixed blades.

 

[supratentorial]

Jake, great ideas. I'll take a #92 Talon spearpoint fixed blade with a bomb shield, in stag please!

Sounds good to me!!

I don't think GEC is that interested in making fixed blade knives these days.

It's a shame, because I like my two GEC fixed blades.

Thank you. There's a lot of competition for fixed hunting knives. They also sell some kitchen cutlery (paring knives and steak knives) and there's a lot of competition in that market as well. I've only seen their kitchen cutlery in photos but there's nothing particularly outstanding about the knives. The steel is 420 and the the patterns are very basic. In the price range, there are a lot of very nice paring/steak knives that have more remarkable features. Forged knives cost about the same. And there are a lot of good inexpensive kitchen knives as well. My idea is not to compete with them but to target the interest of the traditional pocket knife crowd. I don't know if it would work since it's never been done before. The only similar knife that comes to mind is the Case/Tony Bose desk knife which was made for office use rather than kitchen use. It seems to have been a success for Case and I think the market for similar kitchen knives may be much greater.

 

[fatcorgi]

I agree with the different shield ideas, just seeing how much passionate debate there was around the shield for the forum knife proves how important it all is - before that I never gave much thought to another cloud shield or hotdog shield.

 

[Greenbuttskunk]

Take a look at this link. As of today, you can see some of the knives they produced in May on pages 4 and 3. Looks like all the single blade #735115s and some of the #215115s. Based on the date gap, 5/18-5/28, I imagine a SFO was produced as well, perhaps more #21s?
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/pocket-knives/2015-new-releases/?bwbps_page_477=4

This is exactly what I was looking for-thank you! Looks like a #73 in OD Green Linen Micarta was released on his birthday. May have to pick one of those up along with something for myself! Thanks for all the responses!

 

[2Dead]

This is exactly what I was looking for-thank you! Looks like a #73 in OD Green Linen Micarta was released on his birthday. May have to pick one of those up along with something for myself! Thanks for all the responses!

No problem . Email sent

 

[heefageLA]

This is exactly what I was looking for-thank you! Looks like a #73 in OD Green Linen Micarta was released on his birthday. May have to pick one of those up along with something for myself! Thanks for all the responses!

Boy, you sound just like me! I have two boys that are 8 months & 2 years.
Ive already begun buying "them" knives for when they are old enough.
The wife gives me some cross looks now and then for buying two babies knives for 10 years from now, but like I say, "these knives wont be around 10 years from now!"

From one knife nut to another: Your on the right road, sir! :thumbup:

 

[Halfneck]

Any idea if GEC plans on doing another run of the #15 Electricians Knife?

 

[Kiteman72]

Any idea if GEC plans on doing another run of the #15 Electricians Knife?

Holy cow, I was just wondering this same thing earlier today! I sure wish they would, my father carries this pattern almost exclusively and I would love to get him a GEC version.

I sat on my hands too long when CK still had some. Lesson learned yet again!

 

[philllll]

It was an SFO so chances are slim.

 

[Halfneck]

It was an SFO so chances are slim.

I know the ones in green micarta for BF member STR were an SFO, were the wood handled ones an SFO for someone else?

 

[philllll]

GEC ran some of their own as regular production along with the STREK SFO. I'm just not sure if they would run them without another SFO order to go along with them. You never know though.