Lets talk GEC!

[draggat]

I don't want to take her time for this. I will just let everything play out and see what happens.

Pretty much what it comes down to is I've been eyeing something else that will take my #15 funds. If the jigged bone is red, and the wood is osage, I can move forward with something else because those are not my preferences. If the jigged bone is unicorn horn, and the wood is 10,000 year bog then I want duplicates...



Well, who knows... I was guessing they would start milling the covers for the #15 very soon. They just posted the most recent production schedule, but everything on the schedule is already in the works or completely done.

Maybe they will do the #14 first because it seems to be mostly sorted out, and that's why there's no word on the #15 covers.

Chris is GEC's representative to the public. It's part of her job to answer our stupid questions. Why does everyone always assume they're wasting her time asking questions? im sure I'll sound like a jerk, but I doubt anyone here knows what colors, type of wood, etc, will be on a knife that's still a few months out. I doubt even the person at GEC who makes these decisions even knows for sure. The bone colors seem to be decided after they've been dyed.

Here's the solution to your problem: Reserve all of the ones you think you might want and when they come down the line, ixnay the ones you don't like. Every dealer who accepts reservations will let you cancel that reservation. I've never had any issues with it and I've canceled a few times myself.

As to the dilemma of which knife to buy..... Well, that's a dilemma shared by many other folks around here. I guess it's a crap shoot.... Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't.

 

[Kiteman72]

The 57 whittlers also have the nail nick inside the cut swedge. It very well may be a 'whittler thing'. At any rate, I prefer long pulls on Northfields, but whatcha gonna do?! I guess don't buy it if it doesn't suit your fancy.

For sure! I passed on the kingwood whittler, but the big factor was the shield.

I wanted a "set" of matching 98s, camp knife, whittler and cattle knife and that Northfield hotdog kinda killed that plan, in the kingwood covers anyway. I was trying for a set of Charlie's SFOs as well but that Texas whittler is being very difficult to locate!

 

[odd]

The 72's information is available and they won't be out for almost half a year...

I remember seeing something about a run of 72s. but don't remember seeing blade/handle variants listed. what are they?

 

[rockgolfer]

This is why I don't understand their prototypes. It seams easy enough to make a batch of one of each cover and Mark them prototypes. These knives we would all know are first, made ahead of time and hand made, not mass produced. Give us all a chance to see them ahead of time and can be used as the trigger to open up pre-orders.

As it stands, they make proto's but I have no idea if they are made first, before the batch nor not. They are not available for sale ahead of time either. I don't get the draw to them at all.

Really GEC doesn't have to do anything. I am wishing here and we are all pretty privileged, other manufacturers don't do half as much.

I guess as they get busy, I am seeing a backward slide in their public relations and notifications. Will they get tired of it all and just stop posting stuff all together? Will we still by them like a kid in a candy store?

If I lived closer I would offer up my free services to be a "reporter" and update their site with so many more pics because let's face it, we all like pics!

 

[cbr1000]

I remember seeing something about a run of 72s. but don't remember seeing blade/handle variants listed. what are they?

No SFO's, lockback, single clip, lanyard hole:

Tidioute: OD canvas micarta (with satin finish on HANDLE), jig bone, east india rosewood

Northfield: stag, natural stag, wood to be determined, jig bone

 

[pmew]

If I remember correctly, the Northfield 38 whittlers didn't have long pulls either. Maybe the crescent nail nick is a "whittler thing".

I suspect you are right, the same was true of the Northfield conductor whittlers.

Edit: and the 62s.

 

[pmew]

If there's no SFO's on the 15's why is it they haven't released specific cover information. Seem's like that should be sorted out by now because they will be up for production any day now.

The 72's information is available and they won't be out for almost half a year... I don't know what to reserve if they don't post the 15 covers, sigh.

Every time I have ever pre-ordered a GEC I have either sold it or given it away. All the ones I really treasure are the odd ones out and bits and pieces that GEC constructed from left over parts or the really small one of 14 type runs that occasionally appear. The hunt for those older models is what keep me interested. I liked it when dealers would just say 'hey I got a bunch of knew knives just in' and that was the first you heard of it more or less. A run of 3000! It just seems so unlike the old GEC. I'm very happy for Bill, his company is doing really well but I don't enjoy the process as much as I used to.

Paul

 

[Will Power]

The 57 whittlers also have the nail nick inside the cut swedge. It very well may be a 'whittler thing'. At any rate, I prefer long pulls on Northfields, but whatcha gonna do?! I guess don't buy it if it doesn't suit your fancy.

Might be a Whittler thing yes. But, the Whittler frame on the 38 is a Seahorse type not a Serp and it could be to do with aesthetics and practicalities. A longpull on a Whittler 38 would kind of disappear into the rising shoulder of the Seahorse frame, look odd and be redundant I suppose.

As for GEC's prototypes, I've never understood the high price of these as they seem to be more or less the same as ordinary runs except having an etch and number. They don't come out as forerunners of other models, or models that never make it into production for instance.

 

[odd]

@cbr1000 Thank you!

As to the information pipeline. It seems maybe we are at times spoiled with info and then notice it more when we are lacking some. But at the same time if thats how GEC is doing things, posting productions, pictures and whatnot then it does seem like it should be kept up regularly (Coyote/Beagle acrylic swap. Beagle jig bone is? pictured but not named. The #14 is listed but nothing on "known" SFOs. #72s months away yet info known). I know they cant please everyone. But kind of doing it sometimes for some runs just seems to ruffle feathers all around. Either do or don't. Have a structure of what info is released and when and stick to it or don't bother.

Keep in mind I say this with a foreigners perspective. If I want a new GEC I have to quickly pre-order/reserve mystery knives, sometimes being forced to use a proxy to do so if the dealer doesn't ship internationally. This makes it difficult or even impossible to change my mind if new info is released later. I have to do this hoop jumping because the secondary market for these knives is a shark tank. So very fast and usually pretty harsh to international buyers. Padded costs/fees/more shipping/horrible exchange rates and thats IF you can find one who will ship internationally.

Now I love GEC products. Every one I own is an absolute gem. But after this run of beer scouts I am done with sketchy info pre order tag. If I miss out oh well, life goes on.

I am less the Lothario type player (the chase is better then the catch) and more the Gollum type Knife knut (My preciousss). The hassle is just not worth it.

I must be strong now and not put in anymore mystery pre-orders...lol

 

[meako]

I hear ya odd.

 

[BerkshireHunter]

My guess, and it's only that, is that the 15 run will be large enough that one should be able to get the knife or knives he or she wants without worrying about a reservation.

As somebody late to the traditional party with an interest in these 15's, is there a run coming down the road and any information on types?? (Barlows??) Just bought a 77 and now I'm jonesing for a barlow. A nickel silver one... is that blasphemous?

 

[Kiteman72]

As somebody late to the traditional party with an interest in these 15's, is there a run coming down the road and any information on types?? (Barlows??) Just bought a 77 and now I'm jonesing for a barlow. A nickel silver one... is that blasphemous?

Check out Collector Knives website for details. From what I understand, they are doing a run of beer scouts, boys knives and navy knives.

 

[blademan 13]

I just received one of the #98 whittlers in the Tidioute bone, which to my eye is the most attractive of the bunch. GEC simply did a terrific job on this knife. The blades all lie exactly as they should, the pulls are firm and the action crisp, not a gap to be found, springs/liners perfectly blended and the bolster/cover joint as nicely done as I have seen (i.e. smooooth!). All in all a pleasure to use although a slight challenge to carry.

I guess this is where I am confused by the decision to develope a 4 3/4" equal end when they already had the more practical 4+" 53/54 frame? Because they could? These #98's seem like more of a novelty knife than a pattern with any real legs, especially considering they have released the camp, whittler and cattle already. What other versions are we likely to see except perhaps a stockman or moose variant? Does anyone have any pictures of vintage patterns built on a frame similar to the #98?

 

[bozack]

Here you go blademan, not vintage, but a Camillus Classic Cartridge series knife.

 

[blademan 13]

Thanks, she's a beauty. Love the master with a saber grind :thumbup:

 

[cbr1000]

I just received one of the #98 whittlers in the Tidioute bone, which to my eye is the most attractive of the bunch. GEC simply did a terrific job on this knife. The blades all lie exactly as they should, the pulls are firm and the action crisp, not a gap to be found, springs/liners perfectly blended and the bolster/cover joint as nicely done as I have seen (i.e. smooooth!). All in all a pleasure to use although a slight challenge to carry.

I guess this is where I am confused by the decision to develope a 4 3/4" equal end when they already had the more practical 4+" 53/54 frame? Because they could? These #98's seem like more of a novelty knife than a pattern with any real legs, especially considering they have released the camp, whittler and cattle already. What other versions are we likely to see except perhaps a stockman or moose variant? Does anyone have any pictures of vintage patterns built on a frame similar to the #98?

Regarding your question about other variations of the #98 frame. I'd like to see a single blade someday. I thought the #98 was too big, but after holding a couple of them a single blade version would be interesting.

 

[Kiteman72]

Regarding your question about other variations of the #98 frame. I'd like to see a single blade someday. I thought the #98 was too big, but after holding a couple of them a single blade version would be interesting.

Imagine the 98 as a Northwoods Forest Jack. That would rule!

 

[cbr1000]

Imagine the 98 as a Northwoods Forest Jack. That would rule!

The #98 is the same size as a buck 110.

A Northwoods single blade #98 sounds... well, like you said, it would rule!

 

[1 ADAM12]

Which GEC is the same size as the Case medium jack?

 

[draggat]

The #98 is the same size as a buck 110.

A Northwoods single blade #98 sounds... well, like you said, it would rule!

Even though the 98 is the same length as a 110, it feels much smaller to me.... My personal favorite of the 98's is the red micarta whittler. It's much slimmer and lighter than the 110. I wouldn't mind seeing a 2 blade single spring version of this knife. A clip main with a coping secondary would be awesome. I'm kind of over the single blades, especially when 2 can be squeezed into a single spring.