No Shields

Status
Not open for further replies.
Thomason said:
Would a left hander prefer the shield on the pile side?
Click to expand...
Good question. I am a lefty, and I've learned to adapt to right-hand knives, though the times I've ordered customs, I've always ordered them to be lefty knives- and yeah, there is a difference... GEC made a few lefty's, I own one of them. Maybe I'm fine with shield-less knives because when they're in my dominant hand I never see them anyway...
 
Thomason, I've got a custom left handed slipjoint order in the works. It will have the nail nick and shield on the pile side! :thumbup:
 
I love the lefty GECs. Wish they would make more!

IMG_3913_zpsmwgwyzbd.jpg
 
I think it's great that there's open discussion. There will be differences of opinions. But it's just knives. And we're all gonna make it. :)
 
There's too many different opinions to please everyone. Just ask everyone here what is the best toppings for on a pizza?

I expect the sales numbers will be the final deciding factor if this was a good move or not. If sales dwindle, you'll see shields added back in a few years.

Just to throw my opinion in the ring, a knife has gotta have a shield, not matter the handle type. :)
 
Not sure any of these would benefit from a shield. Heck, I am not even sure 2 of the 3 "could" take a shield. But hey, each to his own...







 
Most historians connect the shields placed on cutlery items with ancient heraldry. Since we're discussing shields in general, I thought it might be helpful to share my admittedly limited understanding of their heraldic origins as employed on cutlery. Many of the shapes that have been employed have their origins a good way back in history. The shapes have often been used to impart a "personality" to the knife which is hopefully represented in its owner. This list is by no means exhaustive.

1. acorn .... implies antiquity and strength
2. Bar .... one who sets the bar of honor
3. Anchor ... hope, steadfastness
4. Apple .... liberality, peace
5. Chess rook ...strategic thinking
6. Cross .... faith
7. Dog's head .... courage, loyalty
8. Shield .... the defender
9. heart .... charity, sincerity
10. Hourglass .... mortality
11. Square .... constancy
 
A close examination of Levine's Guide, 4th Edition will show plenty of depictions of shieldless stag knives.

Browse Vintage Knife Catalogs & Ads (Images Only) and you will find quite a few shieldless stag knives as depicted in the old catalogs.

And as can be seen in this photo of knives recovered from the Steamboat Arabia which sunk in the Missouri River in 1856.....

SteamboatArabiaknives1856_zps6beee57a.jpg


Some with shields, some without.


"This is not without precedent, as many bygone cutlery companies did not shield their stag knives". - Bill Howard, Owner, Great Eastern Cutlery
Click to expand...


If shieldless stag knives aren't appealing... don't buy. It really is that simple.
 
As a collector I like GEC and I like the shields on their knives. Because the GEC knife shield is immediately recognizable among all brands of knives just like a Ford or Chevy truck is recognizable...So I guess it's better to have a shield on the GEC knife than a bygone knife company...
 
MerryMadMonk said:
A close examination of Levine's Guide, 4th Edition will show plenty of depictions of shieldless stag knives.

Browse Vintage Knife Catalogs & Ads (Images Only) and you will find quite a few shieldless stag knives as depicted in the old catalogs.

And as can be seen in this photo of knives recovered from the Steamboat Arabia which sunk in the Missouri River in 1856.....

SteamboatArabiaknives1856_zps6beee57a.jpg


Some with shields, some without.





If shieldless stag knives aren't appealing... don't buy. It really is that simple.
Click to expand...

Naturally, they sometimes left shields off. It gives choice, but it's also far easier to make them without shields, you don't need a particular skill. That should say something.
 
Cory Hess said:
.Woodrow, I don't think I'm assuming anything. I'm trying to read between the lines to get to the truth. I might be right or I might be wrong.
Click to expand...

That's the exact meaning of assumption...this issue has been beat to death. Bill Howard stated his reasons for taking shields off the stag knives. Who cares that much if there is a side to this that we don't know. If that side exists, we weren't meant to know it, otherwise he would have stated it.

I like the move, I like that it may just be an experiment to see how they sell or how even just how as a whole, they look. They might bring them back, who knows!
 
I'm here to discuss the knives. If you want to discuss me, I'd be happy to do that over VM or email. Shoot me a message and we can have a chat. :D

As for the historical precedent, I have no doubt that it exists. The question then becomes why did those previous firms decide to leave the shields off of their knives? I honestly have no idea. Was this a move that companies in the past have made in order to save costs or because they lacked the skilled craftsmen to properly place the shields? Or did they also feel that the stag looked better without a shield? There's a historical precedent for cutlery companies going out of business. Let's hope that GEC doesn't follow every path that has a historical precedent. :eek: :eek:

As had been discussed in the GEC thread, there is also precedent for mounting a shield on top of the stag instead of inlaying it. This would allow for keeping the shield and not having to cut down into the stag. Of course, it still removes a portion of the craftsmanship that some of us are looking for.

Regardless of how I feel about the decision itself, I really hope that it works out for GEC however they're hoping it will. Heck, I hope we look back at this in five years and say "That's the best decision Bill Howard has made since deciding to open his own shop." ;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top