Older Gec's

Augie

Augie

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I'm very new to knife collecting but in the short time I've been collecting I have developed a distinct preference for GEC knives, both the patterns and quality really do it for me.
From my understanding they have only been in business since August of 2006. I have been looking for examples of knives from that era and last week found a 2007 73 Scout in stained tea, #250 out of 350.
Looking this knife over I am very impressed with it's quality, it appears that GEC put out a quality knife right from it's first days. I would imagine that this has a large part in why the seem to be so popular today.
Anyone know of any good threads on this forum from 2006 and 2007 that discuss GEC's?
Pics of the 73.
IMG_2962_zps5f50fd6f.jpg

IMG_2965_zpsb3a60a5e.jpg

IMG_2967_zps3b720b83.jpg
 
Mr. Bill Howard all ready had at least 30 years experience as a Cutler when he started GEC. I'm not surprised he produced top quality cutlery from the start.
 
One thing know from the first knives they put out, was that the pull on the knives was very strong, which led GEC to soften them up slightly. Here are a few of the first knives GEC produced. All of them nail breakers. That's how I like them though.

Russell

 
One of the patterns I collect is the GEC 73 pattern. I have noticed that the early knives seem to have a blocky finish on the handle covers. This can be seen somewhat in Rusty's picture. The latest knives seem to finished with softer rounded edges on the covers. I like a good strong spring too. Opening a slip joint is all in the technique, not the strength of the spring. IMHO.
 
Those are very nice! :)

I think the only traditional I have left around here is an old Trapper given to me from my father in law many years ago before his passing!
 
Notice how on all the examples shown so far the pins are domed and flush with the handle material. Most of the ones I've handled had this great feature through about 2008, then it slowly fazed out until quite a few started coming with sunken pins. They seem to be getting better now, though.

These were all from '07 - '08.

f66a239d-d7ee-412e-bac9-028a060700b8_zps5d6bdc20.jpg~original


4d9f188c-a063-4fd2-b15f-d896cc5622d3_zps7616fca0.jpg~original


RiverBlueCuban.jpg~original
 
Great collection CC! And Jeff, you're right, the earlier ones had very nice flushing of pins.
I think my favorite from the first runs were the herringbone handles on the Northfields!
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Perry
 
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Augie said:
Anyone know of any good threads on this forum from 2006 and 2007 that discuss GEC's?
Click to expand...

It is possible to perform a site search using Google advance search. It allows you to look for phases or words on a specific web site.
http://www.google.com/advanced_search

Here's a thread I found using such a search
For search terms, I used
exact phrase: Great Eastern
words: GEC 2007
domain: bladeforums.com

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/463286-Great-Eastern-Cutlery

(not bad for someone who started out using a slide rule.)
 
Frank, thanks for the heads up on how to use Google search, the forum search has not been working for a few days now, an error message comes up. There is a thread on it over in Service&Support.
John
 
Thanks for the pictures of early GEC's. Looks like from the thread knarfeng posted there may have been some minor start up issues but for the most part they produced really nice knives right from the start, love the 73 I found, will have to keep my eye out for other early GEC's.
 
I have several of these super sweet Shrade Walden special edition knives Taylor Brands had made by GEC back in 2007. These are some of the nicest GEC trappers ever made (if not the nicest) with very strong springs and amazing fit and finish. Amazingly, they occasionally turn up at great prices (around $60), but less so these days because collectors have caught on. I have about a half dozen of these.

IMG_0119_zpsa30ac3bc.jpg
 
Dma1965, that is a beauty, you've given me something else to keep my eye open for, thanks.
 
GEC has come a long way in regards to pull rating on their knives, some have been literal nail breakers, and have moved away from the patterns on steroids that seemed to be a part of their early lineup.
 
I have a 2006 Cyclop's Works stainless 73. This is a 2 blade knife in Sheffield Bone i think it's called.

I well remember opening the packet it came in from the US in a local cafe and being intrigued by the idea of a knife in tube and then the quality of the knife left me speechless, the weight/heft of it, the bone colour. I was a bit surprised at how heavy the pulls were, but I like a firm spring. Months later with more GECs to compare it with I found it had slight gaps and slightly raised spring on open, but the initial basic impression was extremely strong and pleasing. It may have these slight flaws but it was one of their first knives, they got it more than right and they continue to do so almost all the time.

Thanks, Will
 
Will, mine is also stamped Cyclop's Works, do they still use that stamp, I do not remember seeing it on any of my newer GEC's.
 
GEC in the early days did have some issues to work through. Mostly concerning the fit and finish of their knives. It was hard to find experienced workers, as you can imagine, to do this work so they had to train their employees to do these jobs from the start. Took time and there were a few bumps but they were determined! I would never say they were major in any way, just needing training and experience. Building knives is a team effort and know one knows that better than Bill Howard.
 
This is my first GEC purchased in 08. It is a 2007 Tidioute diamond jigged chocolate bone #73. It and my ebony 53 furtaker are my highest quality F&F GECs! This one as has been mentioned was a bit of a nail breaker but it now has the same pull as my 53s.
 
I have a 2007 Beaver-Tail 'Scout' (GEC's naming is often a lore unto itself...) which is in a White or Almond Bone that has yellowed very nicely indeed. This despite not being used to cut stuff it's been a desk-ornament, just turned out that way nothing wrong with the knife mind. It amuses me that in the early days GEC's runs were 'restricted' to 250, mine being No.76. Compare that to the 50, 25 or even 5 you can encounter today. Still less than the S&M Keystone runs of 600 or even the CASE Collabs at 300 but it does show that GEC has become canny about these releases.

Another early knife I have is again a Cyclop's Works stainless, I think 2007 fixed blade in Horsecut Bone, this was quite a restricted run too I believe but it does suffer from some gaps between scales and tang, unfortunately.

Regards, Will
 
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