Lets talk GEC!

Pàdruig said:
The final price is going to be the determining factor for me. I think it has potential as simply a working knife but, as has been mentioned, the execution seems wonky. I will be curious how the finished knife looks and what effect it might have on the pocket.
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Wonky describes it pretty well. Just my opinion can't see GEC wasting time & material on this. I think it will bomb worse than the Navy knife
 
You never know, the little Indian girls (canoe) sat in dealer inventory for a couple years, now they command a heft price.
 
Wilted Kilt said:
There was an entity that was considering doing that, but the minimum order to force a blade type is 1,000 pieces.
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Drats! Oh well, like I said - mid December is a good time to not buy [many] knives. At least there'll be better handle options than the Churchill.
 
I took a look at last year's production numbers, and it looks like when GEC is producing a knife in both single bladed and double bladed variety, double blade production is about 84% of single blade production*. If there are going to be 1,800 Tidioute/Northfield single blade American Jacks, I think it is fair to assume there will be 1,500 double bladed American Jacks. If we add in the thousand knives from various SFOs, the total comes to 4,300 in the upcoming #78 American Jack run.

Great Eastern Cutlery's 2016 production total was 23,756 knives. If things are unchanged from last year, the #78 American Jack run of 4,300 knives will take up a little over 18% of GEC's annual production capacity - so over 2 months may be needed for this run. For reference, the most recent run of Beer Scouts (and other #15 caplifters) totaled 3,887 knives, or 16% of 2016's production.

*this ratio is applies only to Tidioute and Northfield production, double blade production is less for Farm & Field and SFOs
 
Will anyone think of how many 1095 trees will be destroyed to make these thousands of 78's? Does no one ever consider the availability of sustainable 440C trees which could just as easily be used? The environment is important! I think we should all handcuff ourselves to sheets of 1095 outside the GEC factory until something is done.
 
Pomsbz said:
Will anyone think of how many 1095 trees will be destroyed to make these thousands of 78's? Does no one ever consider the availability of sustainable 440C trees which could just as easily be used? The environment is important! I think we should all handcuff ourselves to sheets of 1095 outside the GEC factory until something is done.
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I'm a proponent of carbon steel, but this made me chuckle.
 
440C N. Barlow - it's a wrap.

However, the #35 frame would make a nice Indian Jack...IIRC. Its shape with 440C would be sublime, as well.

Just throwing it out there, GEC.
 
I am in for a single blade 78. I just need to see the handle materials and what the SFOs will bring. I am guessing there will be a Northwoods model as well. I will go with the Northfield on this one. I really like the overall size. I would have been all over the #14 Lick Creek if it had been just a bit bigger. A stainless steel version of this model would be a dream.

,,,Mike in Canada
 
Same dealer blog that posted the tentative production quantity of 78's posted today some SFO's were cancelled... and I'm done conveying what I see online about GEC production. It changes so much that I don't know if it's very helpful to anyone.

On a side note, in my opinion, some of the navy knives were under appreciated. Charlie's SFO navy knive with the rope bolster and lanyard is an awesome knife - besides the rope bolster, it has the best jigged bone I personally have seen from GEC. I liked the micarta stainless navy knife without the lanyard hole too. I understand why people don't care for them. Seemed like the production volume was high, blade shape weird to some, and had a bale... on the plus side they were readily available at the time, you don't have to worry about sticking any body with the point if you are using it on a boat, and also don't have to worry as much about breaking off the tip.

P1030015%201280x960.jpg


image credit: google/bladeforums posting
 
cbr1000 said:
Same dealer blog that posted the tentative production quantity of 78's posted today some SFO's were cancelled... and I'm done conveying what I see online about GEC production. It changes so much that I don't know if it's very helpful to anyone.

On a side note, in my opinion, some of the navy knives were under appreciated. Charlie's SFO navy knive with the rope bolster and lanyard is an awesome knife - besides the rope bolster, it has the best jigged bone I personally have seen from GEC. I liked the micarta stainless navy knife without the lanyard hole too. I understand why people don't care for them. Seemed like the production volume was high, blade shape weird to some, and had a bale... on the plus side they were readily available at the time, you don't have to worry about sticking any body with the point if you are using it on a boat, and also don't have to worry as much about breaking off the tip.

P1030015%201280x960.jpg


image credit: google/bladeforums posting
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I saw that blog today as well. The blogs seems to have a conistent undertone about GEC in general. I have noticed it before. Although, I see the point of view from a nuetral side.
Yeah the Navy knife is fine knife but you know the old saying... What is difficult to get is what many like. The Navy Knife just did not stick. For someone who loves it and uses the heck out of it, they are in heaven.If they beat the crap out it, they can always get another without inflated cost. But, for a collector, not much there. And you know... Many who own GEC do so as a collecting hobby.
 
rbeggs said:
So Mike, what would be a time frame on info about 78 sfo's (clip blade?)
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Varying setups were not offered. I have put my 100 in the build, but have not finalized my slabs yet. I guess all others will announce theirs as they see fit.
 
NJBillK said:
What I don't get is when myself or others suggest a pattern that isn't rooted in a preexisting traditional "pattern", it ruffles a bunch of feathers and folks go to grab their pitch forks and torches...

A barlow with screwed on slabs?
A Hawbaker blade combo on a moose frame?
And a myriad of other options...

But GEC comes up with this on their own, and the folks that normally pipe up, now keep their heads in the sand...

Unless someone can point out an example of this particular pattern made 50+ years ago, this will now be my reference and arguement as to why knives that are made in a traditional form don't have to be "traditional patterns"...
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I definitely think and hope there is room for creativity. I think it's good for the market. It's not like the Howards are going to take a 90 degree turn and stop paying homage to traditional knives, their history, and the traditional styling.

NJBillK said:
I am thinking that if this was indeed designed as a work knife, it was thought of as being a nice option to have a traditional that can be used one handed.

This way if you are holding or manipulating something and you need to make a cut, you don't need to reach for a modern folder.
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I've found the one arm opening on the 2014 Rendezvous TC to be very useful. Like modern folders or not, it's plain simpler and easier to use a knife that opens with one arm.

Matt Bernier said:
You folks will probably think I'm nuts, but I'd love the 35 frame with a one arm main and a cap lifter secondary. Like a slightly bigger one hand beer scout.
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That sounds pretty cool to me! I would definitely prefer it without the lock though, unless they took off the oversized tab.

Wilted Kilt said:
That's it. We just need a full scout.
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We DEFINITELY need a scout on the 35 frame.

r8shell said:
It doesn't look very pocket friendly to me. Maybe as a workbench knife, though in that case, there are a lot of options like a fixed leather trim knife.

I think it's wonderful that GEC revives old traditional patterns, but I also have no objection to experimentation as well. It gives me hope that I will someday get a PunchNut! (that's a peanut with a punch blade)
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The one arm blade is very pocket unfriendly. My TC has made holes in my back pocket and definitely can poke you.

A Hawbaker on the #82 would be basically the grail knife for me.
 
Maybe I missed the posts, but, anybody get in on a MudBug? I resisted as long as I could but had to get in on one in Natural Canvas Micarta.
 
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