Lets talk GEC!

Scott J. said:
I don't understand people complaining about SFO's.
If you want a unique item then it cannot be produced in numbers that flood the market. By definition it would no longer be unique.
If you really want one you can have one just pick one if the following methods.
1. Get in good with the dealers and get in the lists and pre oreders.
Or
2. Pay someone to do that for you (you're free to decide to pay the flip price or maybe you don't want it bad enough to pay for it or do the groundwork for it)
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I guess it all depends on how many of your customers are in it for the uniqueness and profitability at resale. I'm sure most of us here take comfort in the fact that if we buy one at retail, that we can at least make our money back if we don't like it or decide to move on from it. A lot of people pre-order SFOs sight unseen, which speaks to this.

I know this is not the same industry, but as a watch guy, Rolex has been doing this for a little while now. And in some ways the structure is very similar. Used to be you could go grab a sports model at any dealer. Now, the dealers make you play games and will only sell the desirable models to VIP customers or you have to buy so much in a less desirable model or jewelry sometimes just to get on a list. What did Rolex do? Nothing. They don't produce more. They don't try to manipulate the secondary market by adjusting production. The market has decided what the value is. We see that with GEC today as well. What should GEC do?

Would GEC make more money by making more production knives? It would put more GECs in the hands of people, sure. But would it also hurt the integrity of the brand if the market became saturated with them? It's a tough line. I'm sure Bill knows what he is doing. But Rolex sat back and is business as usual. The market is scorching hot for GEC and a sports model Rolex. What happens when the market cools? Trying to regulate market scarcity is a fools errand imo. Sorry for the wall of text lol.
 
rpstrimple said:
I guess it all depends on how many of your customers are in it for the uniqueness and profitability at resale. I'm sure most of us here take comfort in the fact that if we buy one at retail, that we can at least make our money back if we don't like it or decide to move on from it. A lot of people pre-order SFOs sight unseen, which speaks to this.

I know this is not the same industry, but as a watch guy, Rolex has been doing this for a little while now. And in some ways the structure is very similar. Used to be you could go grab a sports model at any dealer. Now, the dealers make you play games and will only sell the desirable models to VIP customers or you have to buy so much in a less desirable model or jewelry sometimes just to get on a list. What did Rolex do? Nothing. They don't produce more. They don't try to manipulate the secondary market by adjusting production. The market has decided what the value is. We see that with GEC today as well. What should GEC do?

Would GEC make more money by making more production knives? It would put more GECs in the hands of people, sure. But would it also hurt the integrity of the brand if the market became saturated with them? It's a tough line. I'm sure Bill knows what he is doing. But Rolex sat back and is business as usual. The market is scorching hot for GEC and a sports model Rolex. What happens when the market cools? Trying to regulate market scarcity is a fools errand imo. Sorry for the wall of text lol.
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As a fellow watch guy, its the speculation that ruined it for potential buyers. Well luckily for me, I couldn't careless about most of the 6 digit serial line. none of them appeal to me. We got folks in our little watch group that was able to get the blue 58 tudor within days of the release. On the flip side, GEC knives are quite limited to that run and they have a rule to not repeat a run for the most part (not too clear on that rule). Rolex runs the same models again and again until the next updates or discontinued. Covid affected swiss watch sales all the same.
 
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Can anyone help me with production totals on a Great Eastern 651115 in sucker rod wood? Searching through the Gec websight on my phone is making my eyes hurt! Cant seem to find it listed. Thanks in advance
 
Scott J. said:
I don't understand people complaining about SFO's.
If you want a unique item then it cannot be produced in numbers that flood the market. By definition it would no longer be unique.
If you really want one you can have one just pick one if the following methods.
1. Get in good with the dealers and get in the lists and pre oreders.
Or
2. Pay someone to do that for you (you're free to decide to pay the flip price or maybe you don't want it bad enough to pay for it or do the groundwork for it)
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It’s the Macs out there who buy as many as possible and profit off of the same people trying to collect them.
I just saw a blade forum knife sell for over $400 on the auction site....:(
 
bbk357 said:
It’s the Macs out there who buy as many as possible and profit off of the same people trying to collect them.
I just saw a blade forum knife sell for over $400 on the auction site....:(
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Macs??
 
Markeologist said:
Few of the cap lifters were SFOs...the BF 85, Charlie's Diamond Radio Jacks, and the Soda and Gun Scouts that tagged along with the standard Beer Scouts. Seems to me we can expect a run of something with a cap lifter in future...still holding out for a "Beer Hunter" …. throw a cap lifter on a 23 in place of the spey!!!
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:D:D
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Now i would LOVE to get my hands on the BF 85 cap lifter.
I barely missed out twice last year on the sales forum.
 
Markeologist said:
OK, thanks for the info Mike. I thought the tooling for the Barlows was a cost you and Charlie incurred, thus your rights to those models.
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The barlows are on a 14, 15, or 77 frame. The bolsters and blade types will vary. I was told the punch blade on the 98 pattern was done by a different company but have never confirmed that with GEC.
 
Lander boy Matt said:
Makes me wonder how one doesn't feel foolish for paying that much, granted it's a beautiful knife, their money must come easier than mine.:oops:
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1st post mostly just a lurker. It was me who bought the knife..I recently got into traditionals and the 86 bf was a grail. My money def. does not come easy (i run a lawn and garden business). I know it seems like a lot but i dont spend money frivolously often and when i saw it pop up i had to have it.
 
knifeswapper said:
Things have changed a lot in 20 years. There was a time where there were collectors and users. Now the collectors use their knives, so they are more akin to hoarders.
...I do think Bill has targeted the hard core folks BY making the best traditional using knife available.
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Dadpool said:
I'm going to need some burn cream, because I felt the heat from that one halfway across the country! :D
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Haha Dadpool, you’re not the only one, but I think Mike’s second point says it best. GEC makes a collectable item that is as functional as it is beautiful, at a price point that most people don’t mind for a daily user. I’m a proud collector of users. If a knife isn’t cutting it’s only a knife academically (with deference to collectors of safe queens, for whom that is a hobby).

The strict definition of the verb “hoard” is, “amass (money or valued objects) and hide or store away.” So really all collectors with a “sizable collection” of anything “valuable” hoard.

of course clinical hoarders amass all kinds of things regardless of value or usefulness, which could be true, but that would imply Mike knows more about us than would be appropriate o_O:D.
 
Murdock457 said:
1st post mostly just a lurker. It was me who bought the knife..I recently got into traditionals and the 86 bf was a grail. My money def. does not come easy (i run a lawn and garden business). I know it seems like a lot but i dont spend money frivolously often and when i saw it pop up i had to have it.
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Congrats! I’m glad you were able to get your prized possession. I wish you many great years with it, though I wish it hadn’t cost you so much!
 
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