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Yes you should. I like that one so much I have two, and a blood red that is very similar.
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Lets talk GEC!
- Thread starter rockgolfer
- Start date
Yes you should. I like that one so much I have two, and a blood red that is very similar.
Old Engineer
Gold Member
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It was made in 2011 : That is the Last 2 Digits in the # 852211 shown on the Tube Cap and the Main Blade Tang
The - O - on the Tube Cap was put on by the Dealer and is NOT A Serial Number
Harry
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- Jan 17, 2016
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Mike,
Look at it this way...
As a dealer, what’s the difference between:
a handful of “Limited Edition” knives
30-40-50-60 regular production knives
500 SFO knives
Don’t all GEC's sell out quickly and/or eventually?
“Cry Cry Cry, I didn’t get one!”
Those people will complain if hanged with a new rope!
What about the folks that would like to have a low production GEC knife?
They could be sold by raffle, random picker or on site (you happen to have an *odd lots* section)
Raffle ticket profits could be used for a charity or church donation(s).
A Rendezvous type *Limited Edition* for those who cannot travel or get time off during the summer?
Something Classy!
Maybe include a wooden box, a COA, a leather slip and/or have the knife numbered? or
Maybe just a regular GEC tube with a special/custom label?
For example:
[small quanity ???] Tidioute 82 copperhead possum skinners
[small quanity ???] Northfield 82 elderberry w/satin blades
Might bring some *new* excitement to the hobby or possibly just add another aggravation? Who Knows??
Just a thought...
- Del
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- Jun 3, 2015
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- 2,119
A while back I posted a thread titled What you like most from GEC in 2019? Or something like that. I included an option to have smaller runs of knives. I expected it to be a highly favoured option. It was not. I think this is weird, as like other posters above, I place a lot of value in limited run patterns.
In saying that, I also think that GEC actually does still produce a lot of limited runs, that don’t always find their way onto the open market. TC barlows and rendezvous knives being one example, but there are others. I think this is good, but for me, the key is that GEC stays idiosyncratic, doesn’t play by the rules, and is still keen to take risks that larger companies aren’t prepared to take. There is a loss in value in only catering to the mainstream, or, like Case, trying to cover every base and cater to every taste.
In saying that, I also think that GEC actually does still produce a lot of limited runs, that don’t always find their way onto the open market. TC barlows and rendezvous knives being one example, but there are others. I think this is good, but for me, the key is that GEC stays idiosyncratic, doesn’t play by the rules, and is still keen to take risks that larger companies aren’t prepared to take. There is a loss in value in only catering to the mainstream, or, like Case, trying to cover every base and cater to every taste.
Jiki
Gold Member
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- Jun 12, 2018
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- 5,463
De
Del, you don't know what they are doing up at GEC, no one does. They just did 10-12 Ivory Northfield 85's at the end of the run. The possum skinner's you speak of may already exist and you just don't know how to get them. I agree with Camillus, GEC needs to continue doing there own thing it's working.Mike,
Look at it this way...
As a dealer, what’s the difference between:
a handful of “Limited Edition” knives
30-40-50-60 regular production knives
500 SFO knives
Don’t all GEC's sell out quickly and/or eventually?
“Cry Cry Cry, I didn’t get one!”
Those people will complain if hanged with a new rope!
What about the folks that would like to have a low production GEC knife?
They could be sold by raffle, random picker or on site (you happen to have an *odd lots* section)
Raffle ticket profits could be used for a charity or church donation(s).
A Rendezvous type *Limited Edition* for those who cannot travel or get time off during the summer?
Something Classy!
Maybe include a wooden box, a COA, a leather slip and/or have the knife numbered? or
Maybe just a regular GEC tube with a special/custom label?
For example:
[small quanity ???] Tidioute 82 copperhead possum skinners
[small quanity ???] Northfield 82 elderberry w/satin blades
Might bring some *new* excitement to the hobby or possibly just add another aggravation? Who Knows??
Just a thought...
- Del
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2016
- Messages
- 1,195
I’m not referring to knives that GEC makes for personal use, gifts or store sales.
My point would be closer to what used to be considered *short run* knives that you would find on dealer sites from time to time.
They were usually Northfields with satin blades.
I directed this toward
knifeswapper
because Mike responded to one of my posts that was a bit vague in explanation.Also because he had some satin single blade stag & green bone #48’s a while back.
This could easily be a topic that has been discussed before? So if I’m beating a dead horse?
My apologies to the horse!
- Del
black mamba
Gold Member
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- Oct 21, 2009
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- 22,910
I think these run sizes are proportional to their sales interest. Six or seven years ago, their 25-50 piece runs stayed on shelves for months before selling out. Even short, short runs (less than 10 knives) stayed in inventory for days or weeks. There were only about a half dozen people on BFC who posted regularly about GEC and many people still had not even heard of them.
Now they are the biggest marque on the traditionals forum. 500 piece runs jam the retailer's system and have to be sold via lottery. I think that if they do very short runs they should be sold at the Rendezvous or through their own on-line store. I would still like to see them do a special limited release (say 100 knives) once a year with very special materials, very special features, and a higher price tag (similar to Case/Bose Collaborations).
GEC is getting bigger all the time, and things are just not gonna stay the same.
Now they are the biggest marque on the traditionals forum. 500 piece runs jam the retailer's system and have to be sold via lottery. I think that if they do very short runs they should be sold at the Rendezvous or through their own on-line store. I would still like to see them do a special limited release (say 100 knives) once a year with very special materials, very special features, and a higher price tag (similar to Case/Bose Collaborations).
GEC is getting bigger all the time, and things are just not gonna stay the same.
knifeswapper
Knife Peddler
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I directed this toward
- Del
There was nothing vague about my explanation - because it wasn't an explanation. It was an observation. GEC and dealers have been chastised for years about runs that were only big enough to wet the appetites of customers yet not accommodate them all. Now, they are making most runs large enough to fill current demand plus put a few in inventory - and there are some calling for short runs. And, to be honest, using as an example short runs that are essentially factory patch-it jobs and not really unique knives. I mean, let's call a spade a spade; a short run of Northfield satin bladed knives comes about because there was a problem with the blade finishing in polished - so they had to cover it. And anybody with a sisal wheel could make their own satin bladed knife and call it a short run. But, if you scroll back thru these 720 pages, you will see at least as many complaints about short runs as large runs.
So, ignoring the obvious increase in demand over the last few years, I will try and address the changes. But demand has played a major roll.
GEC has actually optimized their way out of short runs intentionally. There was a time early on where they realized they had to make more variations per pattern to sell more knives. Collectors would buy one of each in many cases, so if they had the resources to make a 250 knife run it made a lot more sense to make 5 x 50 instead of 1 x 250. So, they went for many years making small runs to help and move stock. The factory and dealers both were sitting on a lot of stock even at small numbers; but it was improved by variations. Also, if there were extra components at the end of a run, they could grab some leftover odd-lot slabs they had sitting around and finish them out. But more recently they have increased the number of knives they can make a day from the 70 knife range to the 120 knife range. Part of this optimization was keeping the flow rolling by making more of any one variant. They also got much better at estimating resources and component inventory control; so extra components are not as common. They also figure out the path of least resistance as they go along. For example, they take less grief from customers for making what may be considered too many as compared to too few.
So, they have made tiny runs, small runs, and large runs. The least painful of the three for the factory and most dealers are the large runs. But, as with most issues in today's world, if you change to accommodate one group of folks you typically don't have to wait long to hear from the other groups....
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Thanks Mike.
I wasn't talking about you being vague in answer or explanation.
My original statement that you responded to only mentioned *limited editions* not a question to be answered.
So, I wanted to ask you something more direct or at least explain myself a little better regarding a limited edition knife run and whether possible?
I always assumed the short run Northfield's with satin blades were intentionally manufactured, not factory cover-ups.
Learn something new everyday!
- Del
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At the factory. There were supposedly 8, maybe a few more, and one person bought 6 of them.
These have to be rare, and among the more unique knives. The two very first knives to be produced by GEC.
Going back to forum comments at that time, people were not very impressed by GEC quality. Like the original knife the design was taken from, the pull is very heavy.
Very cool. It's tough to believe those were seen as inferior. It's always good to remember that the collective view of quality is very subjective.
I agree. Those of you who were around 2006-2012 are really lucky to have seen the beginnings, those of us who were around 2012-2016 are lucky to have been able to get the short runs without the current frenzy, and everyone is lucky to see such a stellar company prospering in this day.
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I thought they weren't allowed to use that material anymore.?
Stropping Young Lad
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As someone with an ivory GEC on his bucket list, I have some strong feelings about that as well.
knifeswapper
Knife Peddler
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- Sep 3, 2004
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I don't remember, can you post a link to help my imagination.
I’m sure they were smooth ivory bone, maybe but not likely mammoth ivory, but almost certainly not “actual ivory”
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"Special Factory Assembly #85 Interior Elephant Ivory" I've seen a few photos it looks amazing.
I assume it was old stock and that's why they sold it at the store. Maybe we shouldn't be talking about it online...
Yeah. I'm glad that I found one that my brother ended up getting at least.
Haha no, sorry, I've left that temperament in my past. Shouldn't have brought it up!
It is what it is.
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I'm far from an expert or being knowledgeable about it, but I think it's okay as long as it's not shipped across state lines?
I call shenanigans. I just saw it too it has the same shield as one you can find that was sold through knives ship free several years ago. How often does GEC repeat the same knife with the same shield with the same handle material, same matchstrike pull? I think it’s some photoshop tomfoolery, not that it makes a difference what I think.