Lets talk GEC!

texmex03 said:
Question

What would people think about a PPP stamp on the blade vs the PPP etch, making it a more permanent feature.

Not sure if it would really work out but I do like the blade stamp on my Ancient Barlow a lot, feel like it adds some character.
Click to expand...

The stamp on the Ancient Barlow was Charlie's mark which I think is different. Things like Pattern Production Premier etches, limited edition etches, and serial numbers are modern phenomenon. You don't see them on old knives. It's marketing and I have no interest in it. But there is a market for it. Case has definitely been successful with it. There's no functional benefit to a stamped blade and I actually prefer sterile blades with a smooth surface... no crevices to trap dirt or moisture and to seed the formation of rust.
 
I was thinking something very very small and out of the way but I get what you are saying and realize its not the same as a makers stamp. I hate the way Case plasters words across an entire knife like a billboard saying 3rd cut stag, 1 of 100, CASE XX, or Limited Edition.

Just a thought.
 
There's no right or wrong. There's just opinions. But I also hate the limited edition blades on Case's knives. I won't buy them even if I otherwise like the knife.

I should qualify my prior remark about marketing on old knives... they did use etches for marketing such as their brand or "Fully Warranted" or names like "Easy Opener" ...or odd slogans like "Rustler" and "Tickler". But limited editions and serial numbers designed to attract collectors is a modern phenomenon.
 
I'm with Jake in that I'd rather see them do away with the etches rather than stamp them into the blade. I find all of the advertising to be obnoxious, regardless of how historic it is. I equate it to buying a shirt with a big Nike logo across the chest. There are obviously a lot of people out there that like these things, because they sell a lot of those shirts. I'd guess that it plays on people's desire to belong. It's just not for me.
 
texmex03 said:
Question

What would people think about a PPP stamp on the blade vs the PPP etch, making it a more permanent feature.

Not sure if it would really work out but I do like the blade stamp on my Ancient Barlow a lot, feel like it adds some character.
Click to expand...


Remember, it would add about $5 to the price of the knife.
 
I don't mind the etches at all, on carbon steel, because they are a new-knife thing, and will go away as soon as you start to use the knife and a patina develops. Or you can remove them in a couple of minutes with some polish. Plus they look neat. Don't get why everyone gripes about something that is engineered to be temporary.

Now stampings... Those are another matter entirely, because they are permanent. The few I've seen, I like the look of, but I still probably wouldn't buy a knife that had one, because I'm sure I'd want a clean blade eventually.
 
I'd love to see GEC stamp more blades, but definitely not all of them. An occasional run for instance or even a % within a particular run. A little variety and creative thinking would be welcome as well, not all patterns would be receptive to a stamped blade. This one in particular, wears a stamped blade exceptionally well....

image.jpg1_zpslszenqvc.jpg
 
Jamie, Is "Galvanic" stamped or did you misspeak? I thought it was an etch but I've only seen them in photos. Either one would be traditional but I prefer an etch since it doesn't disrupt the surface.
 
Jake,

I did misspeak. This is not a stamp but actually a very deep etch, it penetrates quite deeply into the surface. Gives a similar effect.
 
Thank you, Jamie. I didn't realize it was a deep etch so I'm glad that I asked. It's certainly a nice looking knife.
 
Not being much of a fan of yellow rose, I dyed my knife last week. Not quite as dark as I was expecting, but I like it better now.





All polished up and ready to go! I figured I should wipe off the yellow rose etch since it's no longer completely yellow.



On another note, I hear there is a possibility that GEC might start drastically reducing the amount of SFO's they make. I have to admit, I like the sound of that. Maybe we'll either get more knives available per run, or more patterns run per year? At any rate, considering their massive popularity, it sounds like a good move to me as a connoisseur.
 
Can we talk about GEC "significantly cutting back SFO's". Anybody have specific's about this? I wonder how this change will impact some of the runs I (we) like.. Several come to mind.. Charlies SFO's, Mike's NF barlow...

I read this in a blog post today, as I'm sure others on here did too. Just wondering your thoughts and if anybody has more information.
 
"I imagine they want to expand on normal runs and it will limit the availability to do SFO's.
They'll make more of each run since everyone complains about the knives selling out so fast so they need to up their numbers.
Which will take away from the number of SFO's."

"They need to feed the distributor/dealer network. With the surging popularity and several more dealers opening up the demand has increased significantly.
I suspect dealers, particularly the larger ones, are getting less knives as a result. SFO's cut into that even more. Limit them for a couple years and play catch up."

"It sounds like all the SFO's are hurting the retailers who don't have any new GECs to sell (several dealers still have unsold knives from 08) because GEC is busy making SFO's instead of regular runs."


Purely speculation though ;) but makes sense in my mind. We've seen how many runs of 15's in the past 2-3 years, 77's etc.
While I love both Charlie and Mike's SFO's a case could be made that many of use would like to see new runs of old patterns (92's have yet to make a re-appearance)
 
I hadn't read the blog but a quick search pulled up the source.

I can't find the source(s) of Ryouchijtx's quotes. Who is being quoted? A dealer?
 
blademan 13 said:
I'd love to see GEC stamp more blades, but definitely not all of them. An occasional run for instance or even a % within a particular run. A little variety and creative thinking would be welcome as well, not all patterns would be receptive to a stamped blade. This one in particular, wears a stamped blade exceptionally well....

image.jpg1_zpslszenqvc.jpg
Click to expand...
Is that an SFO GEC 92 or an amazingly similar knife from another manufacturer?
 
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