New here... GEC Brands?

Big_Red

Big_Red

Joined
Feb 23, 2009
Messages
669
I'm new to buying slippies and like what GEC has to offer. I noticed they produce knives under three different brands (ie. Tidioute, Northfield, and GEC), often times within the same design/model of knife.

In general, what are the differences between the brands? I know this is a very basic question but I have not been able to locate an answer.

Thanks.
 
GECs under the "Great Eastern" brand use stainless (440C I think)

Tidioutes are the lower-end knives made with 1095

Northfields are the higher-end carbon knives, which usually have more "exotic" scales and detailing, such as more highly polished blades, swedges, threaded/ dimpled/ slanted bolsters etc.

All 3 "brands" have identical blade action, so far as I can tell. They're all nice. :thumbup:

Hope this helps!
 
Thanks moonwilson, I see you are in Atlanta.... Do you ever buy GEC's in the area or all online?
 
I've never seen any GECs available at retail- they're only available online in this area. Unless you happen to be in Atlanta during the Blade show, in which case, you can buy directly from the GEC folks at their booth. :thumbup:
 
as best as i can determine gec does'nt make any lower end brands. i've had med. cost knives with mirrow polish & most expensive models with semi-polish on blades. fit & constuction is equally fantastic thruout the entire production.
 
I agree about no lower-end knives. Tidioute may not have threaded bolsters or stag handles, but the quality is every bit as good as Northfield; I have several of each to compare. They're different styles, but not different quality.
 
DennisStrickland said:
as best as i can determine gec does'nt make any lower end brands. i've had med. cost knives with mirror polish & most expensive models with semi-polish on blades. fit & constuction is equally fantastic thruout the entire production.
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You're right about this- I don't think I worded my post properly earlier. I meant to say that, generally speaking, Northfield is considered more of a "premium" brand than Tidioute, because the Northfields generally have more bells & whistles. Great Eastern does tend to mix things up, but the very fanciest knives they make- like abalone, mammoth ivory etc. are always (?) Northfields. There are stag and acrylic Tidioutes, but no acrylic Great Easterns that I'm aware of. (I could be wrong on this, but I don't recall ever seeing any)

All 3 "brands" are very, very nice- I collect them all. Now, a few years into my GEC collection, I tend to gravitate more towards the Northfields. But I certainly don't "turn my nose up" at any GECs. Most of my Pioneers are Great Easterns, for example.
 
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