Lets talk GEC!

[Wharn]

Let’s not forget when discussing grails:

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!

 

[Jiki]

Is there anyone else up there we can talk to?

 

[Markeologist]

 

[btb01]

Listen, the true grail is obviously the ugliest knife in the room. Since this is the GEC thread, and the question posed here was “what is your GEC grail knife?,” the answer is obviously an Orange Delrin #35 Calf Pen.

We all know what happens when you choose the flashiest Northfield with all the bells and whistles as your grail…

 

[Mayonardo]

Well said Markeologist. The term "Grail" IMO is way over used here.

I would
Also surmise that as soon as a Grail is found and purchased a new one immediately takes its place and the hunt goes ever on and on.

 

[akaMatt]

Listen, the true grail is obviously the ugliest knife in the room. Since this is the GEC thread, and the question posed here was “what is your GEC grail knife?,” the answer is obviously an Orange Delrin #35 Calf Pen.

We all know what happens when you choose the flashiest Northfield with all the bells and whistles as your grail…

Well played!

He chose... poorly.

 

[Signalprick]

A custom shouldn't be a grail in that it is always available if you have the funds to order one...that is really a question of economics. I would love to have lots of stuff I can't afford but that does not make all that stuff grails, instead its just stuff out of my price range. The "Grail" of Arthurian legend was something that all those who sought were willing to risk all to obtain. Obviously we aren't going that far in our pursuit of knives (or other stuff) but a true grail must be something that you will likely never obtain both because of its rarity as well as for the fact that you are competing with many others in this pursuit.

Try putting an order in for a knife with one of the makers I mentioned and let me know how that turns out for ya!
IMO, GEC knives aren't grails. None of them. But that's all this is, just a bunch of personal opinions. Nobody here is right or wrong. Just opinionated.

 

[Markeologist]

Try putting an order in for a knife with one of the makers I mentioned and let me know how that turns out for ya!
IMO, GEC knives aren't grails. None of them. But that's all this is, just a bunch of personal opinions. Nobody here is right or wrong. Just opinionated.

Let me respectively disagree. I'm not trying to be flippant, this is just a discussion, but there is no quest or hunt when waiting in line for a custom. I have a knife in with one of our esteemed modifiers, its been awhile and I can't wait to see it but I know at some point it will be in my hands...there was no hunt, no quest, just patience on my part (and some $$$) thus it is no grail. ] I think its Black Mamba who wrote about his collections of Cubans...to complete his set he needs one or two more. Those he does not have; however, are so rare that he will likely never see one...he likely doesn't even know where one is...but he knows one is out there and he looks for it...thus it is a grail. Those who have seen my posts know that I'm into 15s, in particular those with a cap lifter as well as TCs...there are a couple factory built TCs with cap lifters...Bill Howard only made a couple and at least one is in Charlie Campagna's hands...I'll never own one but I'm always on the hunt for one, thus it is my grail (Mr. CC Photo):

 

[Will Power]

Yes, but not all Custom makers actually do make it as you want.... They often have very narrow terms of what they will or (can't) do, some even know best

True, if you see a knife that's already made and you thirst after it but it has a price-tag beyond your means it's not Grail, it's obsession And isn't that at the heart of most knife 'collecting'? Some of us may have dozens or hundreds of knives we need (esteem) but 6 decently made knives would last anybody a lifetime, or more, but where's the thrill in that?

 

[Will Power]

Knife collecting is a quest rather than pursuit of a Grail which as I argued earlier, is usually a spectre of the imagination and not actually in existence

In terms of quest, GEC has provided a continuous rich seam over its short existence: so many patterns, so much to get interested in and always something else lurking in the shadows So they fill this gap of expectation with enticing new models or re-runs of others, thus it becomes an never ending quest In knife collecting, whatever that means or entails, it's always sobering&rewarding to try and get out your collection of GECs and put them on a table, just to contemplate how good they are both individually and collectively. If they're banished to a constant Hades like existence in the 'safe' then you gain no perspective or enjoyment, they'e a hidden hoard unseen by anybody, sad. That's why it's so inspiring to be able to see other peoples' collections on the net, something beyond possibility just a decade or two back.But check your own too!

Yet I don't recommend taking the quest for GEC as far as Jason of Ancient Greece did with his quest for The Golden Fleece Voyaging across half the known world, fighting enemies, confronting venomous snakes (one for meako ) getting swallowed and puked out by a Dragon (shown here on an ancient vase c500 BC(E) Mind you, it does sometimes feel like that when bidding, warding off flippers or contending with customs' bureaucracy and demands for money

Here's what corresponds to my GEC grail or Golden Fleece. But since I only have one example I cannot actively use it but it is on display and get's inspected regularly. If a generous member would like to donate me a user version...then splendid ! The other example is a Stag 33 in stainless that is very much in active use and was bought here from a decent Forumite.

 

[meako]

What strange fortune is this?
Will Power
I recently unearthed an ancient tatterd scroll which tells of the voyage of The Porchenauts in search of a grail knife so rare....so treasurable that to merely gaze upon 't causes fever, brain palpitations and insanity...So only if ye be brave of heart....read on...
Further translation to follow...

 

[Travman]

Let me respectively disagree. I'm not trying to be flippant, this is just a discussion, but there is no quest or hunt when waiting in line for a custom. I have a knife in with one of our esteemed modifiers, its been awhile and I can't wait to see it but I know at some point it will be in my hands...there was no hunt, no quest, just patience on my part (and some $$$) thus it is no grail. ] I think its Black Mamba who wrote about his collections of Cubans...to complete his set he needs one or two more. Those he does not have; however, are so rare that he will likely never see one...he likely doesn't even know where one is...but he knows one is out there and he looks for it...thus it is a grail. Those who have seen my posts know that I'm into 15s, in particular those with a cap lifter as well as TCs...there are a couple factory built TCs with cap lifters...Bill Howard only made a couple and at least one is in Charlie Campagna's hands...I'll never own one but I'm always on the hunt for one, thus it is my grail (Mr. CC Photo):

Yes, that is a worthy goal. I remember hearing a story about Charlie never wanted a TC barlow with a caplifter since it wasn’t very traditional. So Bill made a few just to surprise him. How many of those did they produce? Which year?

 

[akaMatt]

...
Here's what corresponds to my GEC grail or Golden Fleece. But since I only have one example I cannot actively use it but it is on display and get's inspected regularly. If a generous member would like to donate me a user version...then splendid ! The other example is a Stag 33 in stainless that is very much in active use and was bought here from a decent Forumite.

Use that WCLF, Will... it's a really great knife as a user! And that 33 of yours is fantastic!

In other news, I seem to recall you had a collection of 68's that would probably make up the majority of my GEC quest, if I was to embark on one!

 

[Will Power]

A akaMatt Thanks very much It's not bad Can't risk using the LF as I'm careless&prone to losing things The White Owl collection is a bit smaller than it was and I feel I took the wrong direction, not one Spear, all Clips Can't understand it as I generally prefer Spears, where's the Rust Redbone one I'm questing???

 

[Half/Stop]

Let me respectively disagree. I'm not trying to be flippant, this is just a discussion, but there is no quest or hunt when waiting in line for a custom. I have a knife in with one of our esteemed modifiers, its been awhile and I can't wait to see it but I know at some point it will be in my hands...there was no hunt, no quest, just patience on my part (and some $$$) thus it is no grail. ] I think its Black Mamba who wrote about his collections of Cubans...to complete his set he needs one or two more. Those he does not have; however, are so rare that he will likely never see one...he likely doesn't even know where one is...but he knows one is out there and he looks for it...thus it is a grail. Those who have seen my posts know that I'm into 15s, in particular those with a cap lifter as well as TCs...there are a couple factory built TCs with cap lifters...Bill Howard only made a couple and at least one is in Charlie Campagna's hands...I'll never own one but I'm always on the hunt for one, thus it is my grail (Mr. CC Photo):

The notation on the tube stands for Charlie Not Responsible For Cap Lifter. Charlie put this on all of the tubes.

Yes, that is a worthy goal. I remember hearing a story about Charlie never wanted a TC barlow with a caplifter since it wasn’t very traditional. So Bill made a few just to surprise him. How many of those did they produce? Which year?

Travis, yes Bill did surprise Charlie with the TC Cap Lifters at the 2015 Rendezvous. I’m not positive just how many he made, but it was not many, maybe 10. That was my first Rendezvous and it was very memorable. We meet some great people that we are still friends with. One of the main reasons Pam and I have attended every year since we started in 2015. Oh, before I forget, here’s mine!

 

[Will Power]

Souper bone on that rarity Ron

 

[GaiusJulius]

If you found your grail and it was all you hoped it was, you might never buy another knife, except perhaps as a spare. Pursuit of Pocket knife Perfection is probably the ultimate proof of the old dictum “The grass is always greener on the other side.”

Mine might be a White Owl, or it might be a Che Chen grinling whittler. But I have a feeling that neither would actually cut any better than my current EDC, which is a 73 single blade.

 

[Travman]

The notation on the tube stands for Charlie Not Responsible For Cap Lifter. Charlie put this on all of the tubes.


Travis, yes Bill did surprise Charlie with the TC Cap Lifters at the 2015 Rendezvous. I’m not positive just how many he made, but it was not many, maybe 10. That was my first Rendezvous and it was very memorable. We meet some great people that we are still friends with. One of the main reasons Pam and I have attended every year since we started in 2015. Oh, before I forget, here’s mine!

Wow! That one is very impressive. The soupy-ness of yours is outstanding. Thanks for the update. I knew I could count on someone here to know.

 

[Markeologist]

The notation on the tube stands for Charlie Not Responsible For Cap Lifter. Charlie put this on all of the tubes.


Travis, yes Bill did surprise Charlie with the TC Cap Lifters at the 2015 Rendezvous. I’m not positive just how many he made, but it was not many, maybe 10. That was my first Rendezvous and it was very memorable. We meet some great people that we are still friends with. One of the main reasons Pam and I have attended every year since we started in 2015. Oh, before I forget, here’s mine!

Heart be still, that is absolutely stunning!! I thought I read sometime back that there were just three of those TC Beerlows made for the 2015 Rendezvous...obviously could be wrong...never trust what you read on the internet. Thanks for sharing. Here is my 2015 Rendezvous special (I was not there), one of ten, only three of which were in red sawcut bone. Even though I own and the quest is over, it is still a grail:

 

[Jiki]

While I personally don't believe in the "grail" per se, I have been looking for a carving knife. My fortune is that Bill decided to make them for me.