Lets talk GEC!

knifeswapper said:
I actually had this conversation not that long ago. They do still do it periodically, although not as often as they once did. They have found such consistency out of Peter's Heat treatment; that they have found little need for stringent "hammer testing" and mainly just verify the treat with in-house hrc testing on each run.
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I’m sure whacking blades is fun, but the rhc tester is probably a bit more accurate.
 
knifeswapper said:
I actually had this conversation not that long ago. They do still do it periodically, although not as often as they once did. They have found such consistency out of Peter's Heat treatment; that they have found little need for stringent "hammer testing" and mainly just verify the treat with in-house hrc testing on each run.
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That makes perfect sense. Why waste the blades and the effort if it’s so consistent the likelihood of identifying an anomaly is almost zero within a given population. Neat to know people still do that though.
 
knifeswapper said:
I have seen debates on every aspect of knives in days gone by. Generally someone writes a book or blog article setting up a definition for all to use and then there will be reference back to it some 30 years later as a true definition. You have to look no farther than this particular sub-forum to fire a debate between friends - try putting a clip on a Case trapper and watch the fur fly. If makers used only pre-defined setups for knives we wouldn't have any knives. And few blades are used today solely for the reasons they were created 75 years ago. Knife books of old are to be like cookbooks, as my mother says, simply recommendations. We owe those that came before us a debt of gratitude, but we can't let them also dictate all aspects of our future. Having said that, we have seen 3 backspring whittlers for decades.
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Look no further than this thread, for an early 20th century attempt to do exactly as you stated with the Pocket Knife Manufacturers Standard Catalogue.

I’m still having trouble figuring out whether it was the US government or just the knife manufacturers themselves that tried to make this work.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...ers-standard-catalogue.1634813/#post-18683629
 
gaj999 said:
That's what's missing from my collection, a Stabber!
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Every collection needs a stabber. LOL.

It’s very difficult to find any information whatsoever on the Standard Catalog. But from reading what was available online, it kind of sounds like the worst idea in cutlery history. Unless, of course, you detest variety and ingenuity.
 
I really don’t think careful definitions are juxtaposed against creativity and ingenuity. I think it gives people a new opportunity to come up with a new meaningful name to define the newness.

I think creating variations without careful consideration of what impact using the same name has lead to ambiguity, particularly in the knife world.

The hallowed title “Barlow” is even used to describe certain knives I’d never consider a Barlow.

GEC has a great opportunity to innovate and set their own definitions, that we might like better than whatever else is out there.
 
knifeswapper said:
I have seen debates on every aspect of knives in days gone by. Generally someone writes a book or blog article setting up a definition for all to use and then there will be reference back to it some 30 years later as a true definition. You have to look no farther than this particular sub-forum to fire a debate between friends - try putting a clip on a Case trapper and watch the fur fly. If makers used only pre-defined setups for knives we wouldn't have any knives. And few blades are used today solely for the reasons they were created 75 years ago. Knife books of old are to be like cookbooks, as my mother says, simply recommendations. We owe those that came before us a debt of gratitude, but we can't let them also dictate all aspects of our future. Having said that, we have seen 3 backspring whittlers for decades.
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Great post Mike! Extremely sensible. I agree.

Elgatodeacero said:
The GEC bowies are now out, and the H40 is a perfect all purpose outdoors knife.

4.5 inch blade, and full grip. This one is antique cherry.

They forgot to send the sheath with mine, but GEC will fix that I am sure!

View attachment 1165011 View attachment 1165010
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Looks great! And the sheaths for these do look really nice with the new tooling. I might get one at the Rendezvous.

knifeswapper said:
I actually had this conversation not that long ago. They do still do it periodically, although not as often as they once did. They have found such consistency out of Peter's Heat treatment; that they have found little need for stringent "hammer testing" and mainly just verify the treat with in-house hrc testing on each run.
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One of the best things about GEC is that they use Peter's. Peter's is so well respected, and does such a great job. I also appreciated that all the whalers had HRC testing marks on the tangs. That's a lot of blade to grind and heat.
 
Man... eye balling the #29 pictures while reminding myself the #86 is supposedly on the production docket for this year.

I love the lengths of the narrow Sheepsfoot secondaries on both. I’m promising myself I’ll only get one of the two models though. That old high school lesson comes screaming back at me; “economics is what you do in the face of scarcity”...

I’m contemplating going hungry for a week.
 
Morrow7x said:
I've been wanting another acrylic, the 29 looks really useful also. Win-win!
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Do you use your acrylics? If so, how do they hold up? I have some experience with things made of acrylic, but not much with knives.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Do you use your acrylics? If so, how do they hold up? I have some experience with things made of acrylic, but not much with knives.
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Acrylics can take a pretty good beating and don't outgas like the old celluloids did. The smooth surface is the only downside really...if grip is a concern.
 
Oh man- ouch. Just saw the #29’s go up and get sold out at nearly $118... guess I wasn’t expecting that price. Should have thought back to the Dixie stockman pattern. Maybe I’ll be getting a #86 at a friendlier two blade price... lol

For the record, I’m sure the knife is worth it. It’s just 100 bucks is the magic number with my wife.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Oh man- ouch. Just saw the #29’s go up and get sold out at nearly $118... guess I wasn’t expecting that price. Should have thought back to the Dixie stockman pattern. Maybe I’ll be getting a #86 at a friendlier two blade price... lol

For the record, I’m sure the knife is worth it. It’s just 100 bucks is the magic number with my wife.
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Maybe you can kick in the difference after she pays the 100 bucks, I mean they’re your knives you should at least pay a little for them.
 
First off, I’m not a collector in the usual meaning but I have four user GECs and one shelf queen. I know there are other manufacturers like Case, et. al., but when I look at them I just see “meh…”. They just don’t compare. In the overall scheme of things the price difference is insignificant.

I know how, and to a certain extent why GECs are made. I respect the adherence to quality with a big Q, and traditional roots. Some accept stainless blades as ok in traditional knives. I do not. Some like “modern” traditionals which is a fundamental contradiction for me.

Considering a GEC Barlow, for example, against a different brand is no contest. If the GEC costs twice as much, well, you are certainly getting what you pay for.

Yes, I am a GEC fan man (too old to be a fan “boy”) and I’m not knocking others proclivities. Just saying you can’t beat GEC.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Do you use your acrylics? If so, how do they hold up? I have some experience with things made of acrylic, but not much with knives.
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Carry traditional folders often, use them little, to be honest. I have a LTWK fixed I use at work most of the time. IMHO the acrylics get a little shabby/fine scratches from pocket carry but still look good. Just not as display pieces anymore...

EngrSorenson said:
Oh man- ouch. Just saw the #29’s go up and get sold out at nearly $118... guess I wasn’t expecting that price...
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Which dealer/scales? I haven't gotten any notice from the sites I frequent yet...
 
Morrow7x said:
Carry traditional folders often, use them little, to be honest. I have a LTWK fixed I use at work most of the time. IMHO the acrylics get a little shabby/fine scratches from pocket carry but still look good. Just not as display pieces anymore...



Which dealer/scales? I haven't gotten any notice from the sites I frequent yet...
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I don't know which dealers he is referring to. Gunstockjack sent an email around 4 central for acrylic and sold out at a few cents under $118.
 
Mayonardo said:
First off, I’m not a collector in the usual meaning but I have four user GECs and one shelf queen. I know there are other manufacturers like Case, et. al., but when I look at them I just see “meh…”. They just don’t compare. In the overall scheme of things the price difference is insignificant.

I know how, and to a certain extent why GECs are made. I respect the adherence to quality with a big Q, and traditional roots. Some accept stainless blades as ok in traditional knives. I do not. Some like “modern” traditionals which is a fundamental contradiction for me.

Considering a GEC Barlow, for example, against a different brand is no contest. If the GEC costs twice as much, well, you are certainly getting what you pay for.

Yes, I am a GEC fan man (too old to be a fan “boy”) and I’m not knocking others proclivities. Just saying you can’t beat GEC.
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Three items of nearly the same thing is a collection. Four GEC knives is a collection. Welcome to the clan and learn to like it ! Baw-ha ! Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! Ha !
 
What I imagine is a similar discussion for many of us regarding the latest GEC knife drop:
“yes- these blades look similar, but the profile of this one is slightly fatter and stubbier and... well honey, just wait a second... well yes, the knife handle is the same general shape, but notice how this one is bigger and made out of wo... Honey, I understand this one just looks a lot like my other one, but even you can see how they are different! ... OH NO, HONEY, COME BACK! I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT! There’s no reason to go stay at your mother’s! Please stop packing and just listen- you see, this one has a pun...*slam*... why golly! It was just a knife!” (trombone with cup mute: wah wah wah wah waaaaaaah)
 
Morrow7x said:
Never mind, I see Knifeconnection is out, too. I think I dropped the ball on that one...:rolleyes:
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Don't give up , they just got started. You might not get one on the first wave ! They should be popping up through the next two weeks. Rendezvous is soon so GEC production is not all together smooth. Rendezvous comes first over normal production. Keep checking all of the dealers , many times through out the day.
 
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