I just commented in another thread in this forum regarding BRKT knives and it got me thinking.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=760407
What other brands/models of knives to ESEE users like to carry and use? What kind of quality and customer service do these other brands/models have?
I was just curious as to what other tastes ESEE users have in other brands and the experiences others have had with other brand's customer service and warranty service.
About a year 2 years ago, I discovered Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC). These guys make traditionally designed slip-joint folders under a few sub-brands such as Northfield. They have been gaining a strong following due to exceptional quality, customer service, and fit and finish.
These are truly "old-school" knives as they are handmade with classic materials. 1095 steel, brass, and a wide variety of classic natural (stag, bone, etc) and synthetic styled scales are the norm for these knives. They are batch produced so if you want a particular model in a particular handle material you better jump on it.
I own two models now, both are Northfield subbranded stag handled knives. One is in the Barlow style and the other is in the Sunfish style. Fit and finish on my examples are exceptional and both came razor sharp from the factory. Zero blade-play in either knife and they looked more like works of art than actual user knives when I first recieved them - absolutely beautiful stag combined with polished bolsters and brass liners. The Northfield subbrand knives are all made in 1095 steel and is considered to be the higher quality subbrand of the ones they offer but this is not reflective of the fit and finish quality but more of the features (such as mirror polished blades vs. matte finished).
I have been carrying Spydercos since being exposed to them in the Army and continued to do so after leaving. However, since discovering these GEC knives I have found myself carrying them more and more as my EDC outside of serious excursions into the woods. I can't whip it out of pocket and have it in action with one hand in under a second but in reality I never really NEED that capability in everyday life. Working men carried these styles of knives for the better part of two centuries past and somehow managed to make it without one-handed assisted opening or whatever new modern feature or super-steel. If it worked for them, it will not doubt work for me living a relatively easy life compared to theirs. You are not going to find them on the cover of some knife-rag magazine so if you are looking for the latest-new thing, then look elsewhere.
However, there is something about them that is hard to define that makes them "feel" better in the pocket or in the hand. Maybe it is the history behind the timeless designs, or knowing that your grand father or great-grand father probably had something in his pocket but there is something that gives them a character than does not exist with modern knife designs. I am a sucker for the classic look of stag combined with the classic lines of the models I own.
If you are in the market, for something with a little more "soul" and character than the current wide range of modern folders out there but has equal if not superior quality and fit and finish, give GEC a look.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=760407
What other brands/models of knives to ESEE users like to carry and use? What kind of quality and customer service do these other brands/models have?
I was just curious as to what other tastes ESEE users have in other brands and the experiences others have had with other brand's customer service and warranty service.
About a year 2 years ago, I discovered Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC). These guys make traditionally designed slip-joint folders under a few sub-brands such as Northfield. They have been gaining a strong following due to exceptional quality, customer service, and fit and finish.
These are truly "old-school" knives as they are handmade with classic materials. 1095 steel, brass, and a wide variety of classic natural (stag, bone, etc) and synthetic styled scales are the norm for these knives. They are batch produced so if you want a particular model in a particular handle material you better jump on it.
I own two models now, both are Northfield subbranded stag handled knives. One is in the Barlow style and the other is in the Sunfish style. Fit and finish on my examples are exceptional and both came razor sharp from the factory. Zero blade-play in either knife and they looked more like works of art than actual user knives when I first recieved them - absolutely beautiful stag combined with polished bolsters and brass liners. The Northfield subbrand knives are all made in 1095 steel and is considered to be the higher quality subbrand of the ones they offer but this is not reflective of the fit and finish quality but more of the features (such as mirror polished blades vs. matte finished).
I have been carrying Spydercos since being exposed to them in the Army and continued to do so after leaving. However, since discovering these GEC knives I have found myself carrying them more and more as my EDC outside of serious excursions into the woods. I can't whip it out of pocket and have it in action with one hand in under a second but in reality I never really NEED that capability in everyday life. Working men carried these styles of knives for the better part of two centuries past and somehow managed to make it without one-handed assisted opening or whatever new modern feature or super-steel. If it worked for them, it will not doubt work for me living a relatively easy life compared to theirs. You are not going to find them on the cover of some knife-rag magazine so if you are looking for the latest-new thing, then look elsewhere.
However, there is something about them that is hard to define that makes them "feel" better in the pocket or in the hand. Maybe it is the history behind the timeless designs, or knowing that your grand father or great-grand father probably had something in his pocket but there is something that gives them a character than does not exist with modern knife designs. I am a sucker for the classic look of stag combined with the classic lines of the models I own.
If you are in the market, for something with a little more "soul" and character than the current wide range of modern folders out there but has equal if not superior quality and fit and finish, give GEC a look.
Last edited:
just got my Becker but really pike it so far.
