Peeve about GEC/Northfield/Tidioute

VictorLouis

VictorLouis

Joined
Mar 6, 2000
Messages
976
Well, I've finally grasped the fact that GEC marked knives are 440, and their other two brands are carbon. However, everyone seems to use 'GEC' as the catch-all in their posts, whether here, or in the sales forum. The vast majority of posts are dealing with the carbon brands/models. Why is that?

It's like saying I bought a GM Enclave (Buick), or a GM Corvette (Chevy).

After pouring through several websites, I realized that GEC only makes a couple, or three patterns in stainless.
Am I alone in wishing they'd offer many more?
 
I'm a carbon guy. I have a few stainless knives but rarely if ever use them.
To be honest, I hate 440c. :eek:
I have a handful of GEC knives that are pretty much my favourite modern classics, if they were made in stainless I wouldn't buy them.
Best regards

Robin
 
VictorLouis said:
Well, I've finally grasped the fact that GEC marked knives are 440, and their other two brands are carbon. However, everyone seems to use 'GEC' as the catch-all in their posts, whether here, or in the sales forum. The vast majority of posts are dealing with the carbon brands/models. Why is that?
Click to expand...

Great Eastern Cutlery makes all three lines-- Northfield, Tidioute, and their "GEC"- branded stainless offerings.

Great Eastern Cutlery is easily shortened to GEC when discussing their wares-- most of which sport carbon steel blades-- hence the often confusing terminology.

All Northfields, Tidioutes, and GECs are GEC products.

A relatively small number of GEC products are... GECs (stainless).

In general, it's safer to assume a GEC knife is carbon unless the specific example is labeled/discussed as GEC stainless.

After pouring through several websites, I realized that GEC only makes a couple, or three patterns in stainless.
Am I alone in wishing they'd offer many more?
Click to expand...

Nope. :)

~ P.
 
Regarding the auto company analogy: GM also makes / made a few vehicles under its own brand.

You are not alone in wishing that Great Eastern Cutlery offered more choices in stainless steel. However, they seem to do quite well selling just the carbon steel blades and have reasons of their own to prefer not to focus on stainless. I don't know if it is personal preferences of the owner, or ease of manufacture, or their perception of the demand.

You could use their "contact us" page to offer your opinion directly to the company. If enough customers actually ask for (and then follow through by purchasing) more SS options, perhaps they will produce some.
 
pertinux said:
Great Eastern Cutlery makes all three lines-- Northfield, Tidioute, and their "GEC"- branded stainless offerings.

Great Eastern Cutlery is easily shortened to GEC when discussing their wares-- most of which sport carbon steel blades-- hence the often confusing terminology.

All Northfields, Tidioutes, and GECs are GEC products.

A relatively small number of GEC products are... GECs (stainless).

In general, it's safer to assume a GEC knife is carbon unless the specific example is labeled/discussed as GEC stainless.



Nope. :)

~ P.
Click to expand...

There are also a very few Handle Materials that are Specific to the GEC Brand Knives made by GEC. :rolleyes: These are American Elk and Black Walnut, so far, I think? :confused: You must remember when discussing Great Eastern Cutlery, the manufacturer, that there are very few rules. And most of these are subject to change without notice.
 
Jack, thanks for the thread link.

Yes, it seems they're doing quite well as-is. I know there are a huge number of satisfied carbon owners. The only carbons I have right now are Opies, and I don't really seem to mind the patina and character they take on. However, they are NOT pocketed. Since I have found spots on two differing VG-10 knives I've pocketed, I know my perspiration is on the harsh side.
 
rma100 said:
There are also a very few Handle Materials that are Specific to the GEC Brand Knives made by GEC. :rolleyes: These are American Elk and Black Walnut, so far, I think? :confused: You must remember when discussing Great Eastern Cutlery, the manufacturer, that there are very few rules. And most of these are subject to change without notice.
Click to expand...

Yep-- your "so far" being operative in most cases. :D

~ P.
 
pertinux said:
Yep-- your "so far" being operative in most cases. :D

~ P.
Click to expand...

Actually, I just remembered the 2012 Rendezvous Knife! #42 Missouri Trader/ #42 Missouri Trapper Set. Black Walnut Handles and 1095 Blades. 30 sets made. Foisted on my own petard! :foot:
 
rma100 said:
Actually, I just remembered the 2012 Rendezvous Knife! #42 Missouri Trader/ #42 Missouri Trapper Set. Black Walnut Handles and 1095 Blades. 30 sets made. Foisted on my own petard! :foot:
Click to expand...

There ya go.

If I recall correctly, there was also at least one run of carbon-bladed knives sporting the acorn shield (a fixed blade, maybe?).

Once you discover that you can't trust the acorn, all bets are off.

~ P.
 
Tidioute and Northfield bear the Titusville Iron Works stamp, while Great Eastern bears the Cyclops stamp. I did not know that the acorn shield was used on carbon steel patterns.

I received a 73 single blade, marked GEC. The member that I traded it from stated it was a 420HC blade, not 440C. I ended up sending it down the river in a trade. Really nice bone scales too. Can't shake that aversion to 420HC :rolleyes:. I would like to see more 440C blades from GEC, but I like carbon steel blades and the patina they acquire.
 
You are not alone. GEC's 440 is fantastic and takes a great edge. I've got a very specific GEC stainless pattern wish list myself ... but there is something to be said for a traditional folder with a well earned patina. It seems to me that the "typical" GEC owner falls into one of two broad categories. The Collector (who also collects other makers) and the EDC/Collector (mostly GECs), although the lines can easily be blurred. I EDC a GEC pattern seven days a week - a Calf Roper for weekdays, a 440 Dogleg Trapper for Saturdays, and a Pemberton for Sunday mornings. Sunday afternoons are "free form" ... I pick something different out my case. The demand for quality 1095 is high in the Knife Nut community and GEC's capacity is not infinite so their production has got to be tilted towards the carbon side of the market. When I think of GEC as a brand - these are the elements that immediately come to mind: great fit and finish; excellent steels; good walk and talk; pleasing covers; and for me, traditional patterns that are just a bit "beefier" than their competitor's equivalent. That being said - Canal Street, CASE, Queen, etc. all make great products that serve the traditional Knife Nut community well.
Scott D
 
pertinux said:
There ya go.

If I recall correctly, there was also at least one run of carbon-bladed knives sporting the acorn shield (a fixed blade, maybe?).

Once you discover that you can't trust the acorn, all bets are off.

~ P.
Click to expand...

Yes the Fixed-Blade Hunters all carry the Acorn Shield and 1095 Carbon Steel Blades. BUT, the Stainless Slip Joints all have the "Cyclops Steel" tang stamp. So far, I mean I think. :D
 
rma100 said:
You must remember when discussing Great Eastern Cutlery, the manufacturer, that there are very few rules. And most of these are subject to change without notice.
Click to expand...

Add the above to the long list of things I like about GEC. :D
 
No. In answer to your question. I personally don't want to see more stainless. I'm sick of stainless. I like having a knife in my pocket that gracefully ages with me as we partner together through life. Its nostaligic, it makes me feel warm, it reminds me of my grandmother and her old butcher knives and takes me back to working the old carbon steels as a kid where I grew up between two competing knife makers! Nope. I chose GEC for their carbon blades. Had they offered only stainless or mostly I'd probably have passed on by for the type of knives they build. In my mind tradition seems to dictate carbon blades but maybe I'm strange. I mean some of the guys posting thumb studs and clips even though they are used on traditonal knives like Case knives I own that have back springs, and they get classed as non traditional please don't show them, yet stainless slippies get shown all the time and in my mind they should be booted too if you are going to kick out a carbon blade CASE with a thumb stud, pocket clip and clip on it from the factory. But again, maybe I'm strange.
 
To make matters as clear as mud, I have also seen fixed blades with the acorn shield listed as 440C...
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Tidioute and Northfield bear the Titusville Iron Works stamp, while Great Eastern bears the Cyclops stamp. I did not know that the acorn shield was used on carbon steel patterns.

I received a 73 single blade, marked GEC. The member that I traded it from stated it was a 420HC blade, not 440C. I ended up sending it down the river in a trade. Really nice bone scales too. Can't shake that aversion to 420HC :rolleyes:. I would like to see more 440C blades from GEC, but I like carbon steel blades and the patina they acquire.
Click to expand...
Can you tell me what shield was used on this particular knife please?
 
STR said:
No. In answer to your question. I personally don't want to see more stainless. I'm sick of stainless. I like having a knife in my pocket that gracefully ages with me as we partner together through life. Its nostaligic, it makes me feel warm, it reminds me of my grandmother and her old butcher knives and takes me back to working the old carbon steels as a kid where I grew up between two competing knife makers! Nope. I chose GEC for their carbon blades. Had they offered only stainless or mostly I'd probably have passed on by for the type of knives they build. In my mind tradition seems to dictate carbon blades but maybe I'm strange. I mean some of the guys posting thumb studs and clips even though they are used on traditonal knives like Case knives I own that have back springs, and they get classed as non traditional please don't show them, yet stainless slippies get shown all the time and in my mind they should be booted too if you are going to kick out a carbon blade CASE with a thumb stud, pocket clip and clip on it from the factory. But again, maybe I'm strange.
Click to expand...

Stainless Steel has been used for Pocket Knife Blades since the 1930's. Thumb Studs since the 1990's. One IS Traditional, the other is not.
 
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