My first GEC - my butter knife is sharper

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gmarthur said:
If i received a new knife from a dealer that was dull my first thought would not be - "Wow! That's awful nice of them to let me decide how sharp I want to make my brand new knife."

Personally I believe it is sloppy and indicative of poor craftsmanship. If you are going to spend the time and effort to build a knife and pay attention to all the little details like gaps in liners and blade clearance to eliminate rubbing how can you not also ensure that your product is ready to do what it is made for out of the box (or tube in this case) - which is cut stuff.

This is not a knock specifically against GEC but in general. I think if people started to return dull knives to the dealers they got them from and ask for their money back it would not take too long for the dealers to let the manufacturers know what level is required if they want them to continue their relationship. It's hard to run a business when your products are routinely being returned and money is given back to the customer. If people accept this no change will ever happen.

I agree everyone should be proficient in sharpening their knives. As someone who is into the older vintage side of this hobby I get great pleasure in finding an old gem and spending time oiling and honing an old user back into working shape. I don't take the same pleasure in doing the same to a brand new knife that should be ready to work.

In my mind it just comes down to the fact that if you want to call yourself a knife company or a cutler then the products should leave the factory sharp - else all your selling is pocket jewelry. The only jewelry I ever carry or wear is a wedding band.

I hope this post didn't come out harsh as that was not the intent. Just my thoughts,
Greg
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Well said:thumbup:

I also really like my GEC's but right is right.
 
Friends, there is not really any reason for disagreement on this issue as it is completely a personal preference. Every thread of this kind starts with a user getting a knife and calling it "dull as a stick" or "dull as a butter knife". Now, obviously these are exaggerations, but we get the point that the knife was not up the respective persons expectations. The problem is, that others reading it take it literal and it turns into somewhat of a bash thread because a factory didn't even put an edge on a knife before sending it out. I have said many times before that if they came razor sharp, I wouldn't have any fingers left - because I have to open all blades at the same time for pictures. Also, I wouldn't want them dull, because I would want to hit the ground running; and to be clear have never gotten a "dull" knife. Many could use a better edge - none have been "dull". (not completely true as a couple of older brand prototypes came without the blade ever being touched - several hundredths wide)

If you receive a butter knife, get your video camera out and film yourself performing this experiment. Open the knife to 90degrees; put your finger in the middle of the edge and without your finger ever leaving the edge push the blade to full open. A picture is worth a thousand words. BTW, this experiment is not recommended or condoned. But you post that video and I think we will all be on the same page.

I have received a knife that a customer sent back because it was as "dull as a butter knife"; put it back in the next box going out and it got a response of what a perfect example of a knife it was by the new owner. So, every customer has expectations; and every customer has the right to have those expectations realized. The guy that wants one shaving sharp is not wrong and the guy that wants a utility edge is not wrong - they just do not want the same thing.
 
Thanks for the reply guys but here's the thing. Its no where near sharp. I'm actually having a hard time trying to discern an actual bevel on this thing. Its edge is almost non-existant and I wouldn't have any reservations with giving this knife in its current form to a child to play with. Its that dull. I'm not exaggerating or being dramatic. I can barely make out a bevel. I wan't expecting an X-acto blade with stag handles. For the money, (close to $200) this thing is dull.
 
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Why don't you sharpen it?


nuggetz said:
Thanks for the reply guys but here's the thing. Its no where near sharp. I'm actually having a hard time trying to discern an actual bevel on this thing. Its edge is almost non-existant and I wouldn't have any reservations with giving this knife in its current form to a child to play with. Its that dull.
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nuggetz said:
For the money, (close to $200) this thing is dull.
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Is there a different "dull" for a $20 knife :D

Sounds like you need to let the factory take a look at it. I would be interested in what they say about it; I will even follow-up and post their response. Just to be clear (not that it makes any difference), I didn't sell this knife - but always like to see the factory improve if they can.
 
I have gotten one new knife which was dull. It happened to be a GEC Tidioute. It was a 2 blade model and was years ago. It was so dull that it was impossible to cut yourself with. I tried. I could have opened the knife and gave it to my six year old to run around and play with and not had to worry in the slightest. Sent it back to the factory with a note that the edge was dull and could they please sharpen it. It came back in close to the same condition maybe a touch better.

I'm sure Mike has handled more GEC knives than I will ever even see pictures of so hopefully in the past 4 years or so they have improved because if I had that knife still I could have performed his video test with ease. Both before sending it off and after I got it returned.

Again this is not a knock on GEC specifically but against any cutlery company who can't consistently send out sharp knives. i understand lemons slip through no matter the company but out of the box sharpness should be one of the top priorities. It's what your product was hopefully designed to do - cut things.

Greg
 
The op has the right to expect a decent edge, sounds like it isn't even an 'utility' edge. I've had the same, I cursed, was unhappy, then fixed it. However, in retrospect, contacting a company like GEC is better. Give them the feedback and let them satisfy you, they will. Doesn't mean you will buy another, but you'll be happy with this one and they will step up their game.
 
nuggetz said:
Thanks for the reply guys but here's the thing. Its no where near sharp. I'm actually having a hard time trying to discern an actual bevel on this thing. Its edge is almost non-existant and I wouldn't have any reservations with giving this knife in its current form to a child to play with. Its that dull. I'm not exaggerating or being dramatic. I can barely make out a bevel. I wan't expecting an X-acto blade with stag handles. For the money, (close to $200) this thing is dull.
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You need to send it back for either a full refund, or they sharpen it and return it to you. End of story.
-Bruce
 
knifeswapper said:
Friends, there is not really any reason for disagreement on this issue as it is completely a personal preference. Every thread of this kind starts with a user getting a knife and calling it "dull as a stick" or "dull as a butter knife". Now, obviously these are exaggerations, but we get the point that the knife was not up the respective persons expectations. The problem is, that others reading it take it literal and it turns into somewhat of a bash thread because a factory didn't even put an edge on a knife before sending it out. I have said many times before that if they came razor sharp, I wouldn't have any fingers left - because I have to open all blades at the same time for pictures. Also, I wouldn't want them dull, because I would want to hit the ground running; and to be clear have never gotten a "dull" knife. Many could use a better edge - none have been "dull". (not completely true as a couple of older brand prototypes came without the blade ever being touched - several hundredths wide)

If you receive a butter knife, get your video camera out and film yourself performing this experiment. Open the knife to 90degrees; put your finger in the middle of the edge and without your finger ever leaving the edge push the blade to full open. A picture is worth a thousand words. BTW, this experiment is not recommended or condoned. But you post that video and I think we will all be on the same page.

.
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Here you go
http://youtu.be/DxmdSjTDwRU
 
ahhh....Saturday morning...good cup of coffee....and....

$200 dull knives...?

Really? REALLY? I'm completely flabbergasted that the Kool-Aid drinking has gotten so bad that members of a knife "community" would for one nano-second justify poor edges on a knife... And a $200 knife at that...

Oh..."rifleman and cleaning"? Give me a break. If you bought a rifle and it didn't fire out of the box I sure you wouldn't be down in the basement showing off your gunsmithing skills...

And if this is a known possibility-buy from a company and risk not getting a good edge? Forget that company. There are wayyyy too many companies out there who can provide you with a great knife that comes sharp out of the box...

lol...

At least I got a chuckle this morning...

back to the doghouse...
 
akadave2 said:
They never come ready to go for my standards. Might as well just get to where you want it and move on. Besides...what happens when it gets dull? Throw it away!?:D Its almost as bad as owning a gun and not know very well how to use it.
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Why do you think this has something to do with knife sharpening skills or lack there of?
It's about getting an unfinished, unsatisfactory product that you paid a premium for.
 
I would say because most times guys that really know how to sharpen never make threads like this. Maybe a side note in a thread for folks that don't have great skills.

Bloefield said:
Why do you think this has something to do with knife sharpening skills or lack there of?
It's about getting an unfinished, unsatisfactory product that you paid a premium for.
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A general comment. There have been so many threads about dull GEC knives. A search will show a ton of honest feedback from members. It will also show pros and cons to the debates that go on in this subject. Not too many folks drink cool aid in the traditional section.

The simple fact is that it can happen, so currently you can buy a GEC and take the chance and just sharpen it or beware IMO.

The guys that do not really care see it as a trade off on a product and usually they take 5 minutes on a stone and just sharpen it and never look back.

Kevin
 
richstag said:
I would say because most times guys that really know how to sharpen never make threads like this. Maybe a side note in a thread for folks that don't have great skills.



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A general comment. There have been so many threads about dull GEC knives. A search will show a ton of honest feedback from members. It will also show pros and cons to the debates that go on in this subject. Not too many folks drink cool aid in the traditional section.

The simple fact is that it can happen, so currently you can buy a GEC and take the chance and just sharpen it or beware IMO.

The guys that do not really care see it as a trade off on a product and usually they take 5 minutes on a stone and just sharpen it and never look back.

Kevin
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Thank you for your explanation.
 
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