Please explain how GEC's SFO's work

macmiddlebrooks

macmiddlebrooks

Joined
May 24, 2010
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It's been awhile since I've been here..apologies. So, I'm a little confused how the GEC SFO's "work". Say I'm looking forward to a re-release of a TC Barlow that's already been done..In my case the #15 sheepsfoot in Antique Yellow Jigged Bone from 2015. I've already got my eyes peeled on the secondary market, but I guess my question is does GEC re-release specific patterns with the covers they've already done in the past? If so, do certain retailers get certain covers? How do you stay informed as to what's coming out when and to whom? Thank you guys for any help.
 
macmiddlebrooks said:
It's been awhile since I've been here..apologies. So, I'm a little confused how the GEC SFO's "work". Say I'm looking forward to a re-release of a TC Barlow that's already been done..In my case the #15 sheepsfoot in Antique Yellow Jigged Bone from 2015. I've already got my eyes peeled on the secondary market, but I guess my question is does GEC re-release specific patterns with the covers they've already done in the past? If so, do certain retailers get certain covers? How do you stay informed as to what's coming out when and to whom? Thank you guys for any help.
Click to expand...

Email me at redacted. This is bordering on "how to buy" territory, which isn't couth for the general forum, but there are simple answers to all your questions.
 
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SFOs are special factory orders. That means that someone (a dealer, an individual, a club, a forum) gets their pile of money together and approaches GEC, and asks them to create a knife for them. The person placing the order gets to specify what they want made, within the capabilities and willingness of GEC to produce it.

They even have a form on their web site for people to inquire about having SFOs made.

http://www.greateasterncutlery.com/special-factory-private-orders/

So if you want to buy an SFO knife, you need to buy it from the person/company/organization who places the order with GEC.
 
macmiddlebrooks said:
It's been awhile since I've been here..apologies. So, I'm a little confused how the GEC SFO's "work". Say I'm looking forward to a re-release of a TC Barlow that's already been done..In my case the #15 sheepsfoot in Antique Yellow Jigged Bone from 2015. I've already got my eyes peeled on the secondary market, but I guess my question is does GEC re-release specific patterns with the covers they've already done in the past? If so, do certain retailers get certain covers? How do you stay informed as to what's coming out when and to whom? Thank you guys for any help.
Click to expand...


In a nutshell:
They make two kinds of SFO's. Standalone and Add-On. Standalone is an SFO for a contracting party that typically is 500 knives and is built on its own; although many times the factory will build something similar to lower the overhead of pattern setup. Add-On's are sometimes offered to dealers as a simple slight variance (handle, shield) to something already being produced. These are typically limited to 100pcs. Many patterns are essentially locked in to one dealer and the factory would not infringe upon the market by producing them for their other dealers. The TC is a good example of this - it was established by Charlie and will not be produced for anyone else unless Charlie decides to release it.
As to what is coming out, some dealers have early reserve options - but those only correspond to runs that dealer will have access.
 
macmiddlebrooks said:
Say I'm looking forward to a re-release of a TC Barlow that's already been done..In my case the #15 sheepsfoot in Antique Yellow Jigged Bone from 2015. I've already got my eyes peeled on the secondary market, but I guess my question is does GEC re-release specific patterns with the covers they've already done in the past?

How do you stay informed as to what's coming out when and to whom?
Click to expand...

No, don't waste your time waiting for a re-release of a certain style / certain covers, GEC doesn't do this. I was told this policy is intended to support and maintain value for collectors that supported GEC from the beginning. It works, the price of early, low run TCs bare this out, in some cases quadruple what they sold for new, if you could find one. If you find a TC on the secondary market in a style / covers that tickles your fancy, buy it. Suck up the price and be happy you found what you want, might not find it again.

GEC's website seems to be a little outdated but it has links for what's currently in production and a list of distributors / dealers.
 
Chief said:
No, don't waste your time waiting for a re-release of a certain style / certain covers, GEC doesn't do this. I was told this policy is intended to support and maintain value for collectors that supported GEC from the beginning. It works, the price of early, low run TCs bare this out, in some cases quadruple what they sold for new, if you could find one. If you find a TC on the secondary market in a style / covers that tickles your fancy, buy it. Suck up the price and be happy you found what you want, might not find it again.

GEC's website seems to be a little outdated but it has links for what's currently in production and a list of distributors / dealers.
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Chief is correct. The "special" knives usually aren't ever run in the exact same configuration/covers/shield/etch a second time.
 
Thanks for the tip Rodeo. For some reason all I see is my own post though..perhaps because I'm not a paying member of bf.
 
That was easy. It only took five minutes after a wtb post for a super nice member to reply with what I was looking for.
tEOup
https://imgur.com/a/tEOup The handsome fella on the bottom.
 
macmiddlebrooks said:
Thanks for the tip Rodeo. For some reason all I see is my own post though..perhaps because I'm not a paying member of bf.
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Yes. Only members whose memberships allow them to sell can see all the WTB threads. If your membership level is such that you cannot sell, then you can only see your own.
 
How SFOs Work:

1) Read and enjoy the Traditional Subforum.

2) Notice when people become excited about and then begin posting a pattern (or variation thereof) that just does it for you.

(nb: the time between others "being excited about" and "posting pictures of their own knives" can vary from 2.5 hours to roughly 3.2 days, depending.)

3) Upon seeing pictures, inquire about potential sources and receive a crash course in A) Forum etiquette and B) "SFOs": if you can see it, you probably can't have it, unless you already knew about it.

(SFOs are like nebulae: if you look directly at 'em, they disappear, but sometimes you can gain information, and possibly even a knife, via indirect gaze....).

4) Cry.

~ P.
 
pertinux said:
How SFOs Work:

1) Read and enjoy the Traditional Subforum.

2) Notice when people become excited about and then begin posting a pattern (or variation thereof) that just does it for you.

(nb: the time between others "being excited about" and "posting pictures of their own knives" can vary from 2.5 hours to roughly 3.2 days, depending.)

3) Upon seeing pictures, inquire about potential sources and receive a crash course in A) Forum etiquette and B) "SFOs": if you can see it, you probably can't have it, unless you already knew about it.

(SFOs are like nebulae: if you look directly at 'em, they disappear, but sometimes you can gain information, and possibly even a knife, via indirect gaze....).

4) Cry.

~ P.
Click to expand...

Thanks Pertinux! I managed to get the sheepsfoot TC Barlows in the three cover materials I like the most : natural canvas micarta, ebony and jigged bone.

QiC3a4K.jpg)
QiC3a4K.jpg
 
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