POLL: SURVIVE! EDC-4 Preorder Promotion. Would you participate?

[ridnovir]

Guy,
I have done some research and found out that you collaborated with Mr. Stewart in the past. Any chance of that happening again? I like your 6 model but hesitant because of the saber grind. IMO full height convex would make it a better wood splitter.
Also, you have mentioned many new models this year. Can you share what those might be?

I am hoping for 4.2 drop point
7" 8" 6" 10" models with flat or convex grinds

 

[jwblack911]

Is CPM-154 particularly hard to acquire? I'm surprised at how rarely I see it in production knives.

From my basic understanding I have heard cpm154 might not be the most expensive steel, however it becomes expensive due to the long and precise heat treat needed. That is also why elmax and 3v are not as widely used by production companies.

 

[ceptor781]

Guy,
I have done some research and found out that you collaborated with Mr. Stewart in the past. Any chance of that happening again?

I truly hope not. Guy doesn't need that baggage as he's getting off the ground. I was glad to hear he moved on.

 

[willythekid]

Has anyone received either their 4.1 or a shipping notification?

 

[schmittie]

Not yet.

Somehow I get a feeling we will all have an email next Monday that says "April fools! There is no GSO 4.1!"

Just kidding! I trust Guy and expect to have it in hand soon. It's nice that so many of us are excited for these to start showing up in our mailboxes.

 

[willythekid]

Not yet.

Somehow I get a feeling we will all have an email next Monday that says "April fools! There is no GSO 4.1!"

Just kidding! I trust Guy and expect to have it in hand soon. It's nice that so many of us are excited for these to start showing up in our mailboxes.

I was just asking because he made it sound like they were starting to ship a couple of weeks ago and we haven't heard anything else. I sure hope that they come soon, it has been kind of disappointing how long this has taken. Back before Christmas I was under the impression there was not going to be any trouble getting mine before my big upcoming camping trip, and that was at the beginning of February. I am still very much looking forward to this knife because I really like my GSO-10, but never expected a wait this long. I hope Guy either gets help so he can start making deadlines or just become more realistic about how long it will take him to deliver goods to paying customers.

 

[Ruudr]

I think Guy in the beginning could never dream of the huge leap his company made in the last few months. I'm sure he also would ship earlier than this. He also had trouble with some deliverants. I dont mind. We are waiting so long I can wait an extra few days.

 

[underdog406]

He probably didn't expect the growth to happen so fast and so soon, and also there were some hiccups and improvements along the way. Like the blanks making a tour around the US. New sheath design; ambidextrous drainage hole and horizontal carry. New web site, since the old one was having issues with orders. Changing shipping from USPS to UPS.

To be honest, when he announced on facebook that the final price will be adjusted once the pre-order ends I felt a bit bummed thinking damn, it's getting a bit pricey, but then I looked around, look at other production knives, there simply is no better deal. Scale options; color, bow divot. Sheath options; color, ambidextrous, perfect snug fit with no rattle. With that in mind I feel that having a chance with such offerings we're getting spoiled.

Good things take time, patience is a virtue, a virtue that seems have been AWOL for some time now.

 

[willythekid]

Here's a shot from the other day. This is a GSO-4.1 blank in CPM-3V. All of the GSO-4.1 blades are on their way to heat treat. This one should move pretty quickly.

View attachment 317124View attachment 317125

No, that will for sure not happen. I stated on here that I was TRYING to get these out before or by Christmas but my timeline on my web store page has always reflected an expected delivery date of the first week in January. More realistically, I would guess I'll begin delivering these around the second week of January but I might surprise myself, since these won't have as many stops in production as the GSO-10's, which turned out to be a real nightmare from a manufacturing aspect. All of the GSO-4.1's are currently at Peter's Heat Treating.

Yeah, these might run a few weeks late, with all of this damned holiday madness BUT they will be done and shipped before February, no problems. I'm always good on my word, even if I do run behind sometimes. I'm motivated, with the best of intentions. I just have to remember I'm only working out of a small shop right now, mostly by myself. lol I know one thing for sure, you guys are going to LOVE these knives. I'm super excited.

Behind the scenes look! Here are some "set up" pieces, next to a GSO-4.1 knife blank that is all dialed in according to the blueprint. Depending on the complexity of the grinds, it can take from a few blades to a few dozen blades, to get the bevel grinder dialed in to the desired profile. Now you know and knowing is half the battle.

GSO-4.1's should begin delivering by late next week!!! Stand by for some photos early next week!

View attachment 331886

Yep, you're order #230 You're good to go. I'm really sorry to even make anyone have to look. It shouldn't have happened. I didn't even fully understand just how BADLY my old site was functioning or wasn't functioning, in this case. So glad to be done with that. The new system will be MUCH smoother and functional. We won't be having a conversation like this again. lol

These should begin shipping late this coming week, into late next week. All of the preorder blades should be shipped in two weeks or less and everyone will be getting UPS shipment notifications. I'll be using UPS for all of my shipping from now on.

Yes Sir, they certainly will be. Estimated shipping date is March 15th. You will see them on the site. They'll be available as soon as I get the preorders finished up and shipped.

Hey,
sorry for the delayed response. been working like crazy to get the shop finalized and these GSO-4.1's built. I will have optional scales available on the website pretty shortly. I'm shooting for the $25-30 range, with an extra bolt set included.



It will be M-390. If you have a paypal confirmation, then you are good to go. Although I am curious how many emails you sent? Maybe check your spam box because I'm pretty well caught up on emails recently. And yep, I'll have optional handles available soon as well.



I know I've been running behind and I do apologize for that. I'm just one person right now BUT I am looking in to a partnership though, to grow and get on top of this type of stuff. I'm working on the preorders right now and waiting for the first batches of sheaths to arrive from Kiah. I'm going to have a damned pallet of stuff waiting for the UPS guy on Monday.

I personally believe that we have been plenty patient with this GSO-4.1... I think serveral problems came into play, most of which could have easily been avoided.

-I think Guy sold a product for very cheap (probably too cheap) and had way more interest than he thought he would.

-He then sold a kind of second chance for the GSO-4.1 which added to the amount of work load.

-Materials were lost for a bit which could have been caught by either talking to Peter's heat treat or checking a tracking number.

-Very poor handling of the often extending deadlines... in other words, don't give a time-frame unless you intend to stick by it. And certainly do not give many different ones over the course of several months. If it is going to take 4 months fine... but don't tell your customers 2 months then.

-The GSO-4.1 is quite late and several more preorder projects have started up? I would like to think that purchased products would take priority.

I am still excited to receive my knife but it has been tempered a bit by this experience. I know this is a young company but I think it needs to grow within it's means. I am hoping that Guy gets the help he needs soon because I believe the product he is kicking out are basically second to none. I think that if he figures out how to get these products to his customers in a certain time-frame he will end up having a very successful career in knife-making and everyone will forget about these "growing pains."

 

[jwblack911]

I personally believe that we have been plenty patient with this GSO-4.1... I think serveral problems came into play, most of which could have easily been avoided.

-I think Guy sold a product for very cheap (probably too cheap) and had way more interest than he thought he would.

-He then sold a kind of second chance for the GSO-4.1 which added to the amount of work load.

-Materials were lost for a bit which could have been caught by either talking to Peter's heat treat or checking a tracking number.

-Very poor handling of the often extending deadlines... in other words, don't give a time-frame unless you intend to stick by it. And certainly do not give many different ones over the course of several months. If it is going to take 4 months fine... but don't tell your customers 2 months then.

-The GSO-4.1 is quite late and several more preorder projects have started up? I would like to think that purchased products would take priority.

I am still excited to receive my knife but it has been tempered a bit by this experience. I know this is a young company but I think it needs to grow within it's means. I am hoping that Guy gets the help he needs soon because I believe the product he is kicking out are basically second to none. I think that if he figures out how to get these products to his customers in a certain time-frame he will end up having a very successful career in knife-making and everyone will forget about these "growing pains."

well put

i was surprised how many times the completion date has been extended. as you said if the maker is unsure it really is best to say 6 months and show up like a hero shipping them in 4 months. but extending the delivery date every few weeks is really just a tease.

 

[RKP]

Well put ! Not really sure how you can go from Christmas delivery to probably April delivery. I know his knives are quality and made in the USA but his delivery time needs to improve. Still pyched for one though !

I personally believe that we have been plenty patient with this GSO-4.1... I think serveral problems came into play, most of which could have easily been avoided.

-I think Guy sold a product for very cheap (probably too cheap) and had way more interest than he thought he would.

-He then sold a kind of second chance for the GSO-4.1 which added to the amount of work load.

-Materials were lost for a bit which could have been caught by either talking to Peter's heat treat or checking a tracking number.

-Very poor handling of the often extending deadlines... in other words, don't give a time-frame unless you intend to stick by it. And certainly do not give many different ones over the course of several months. If it is going to take 4 months fine... but don't tell your customers 2 months then.

-The GSO-4.1 is quite late and several more preorder projects have started up? I would like to think that purchased products would take priority.

I am still excited to receive my knife but it has been tempered a bit by this experience. I know this is a young company but I think it needs to grow within it's means. I am hoping that Guy gets the help he needs soon because I believe the product he is kicking out are basically second to none. I think that if he figures out how to get these products to his customers in a certain time-frame he will end up having a very successful career in knife-making and everyone will forget about these "growing pains."

 

[FTR-14c]

I guess it doesn't bother me much. I'm just glad I had the chance to get in on this batch, I'm sure there are a lot of people who are wishing they got on this list.
When we all have our knives and look back at the wait time we will appreciate them more.

 

[Tixx]

I guess it doesn't bother me much. I'm just glad I had the chance to get in on this batch, I'm sure there are a lot of people who are wishing they got on this list.
When we all have our knives and look back at the wait time we will appreciate them more.

Yeah, me too. I have been part of many pre-orders and know what to expect. This is normal for a small company. It is almost like a kickstart project in a way. When I get it, I get it. Guy seems great, love the designs and now people have become more familiar with pre-orders and the issues that occur. Also I would suggest anyone offering a pre-order take their most educated guess and multiply by 3 from the beginning and at every delay. That way it is not as discouraging for the maker to offer pre-orders due to people planning on having such an item by a certain date or outdoor adventure.

 

[PatrickKnight]

I really don't think a lot of you know how much time and effort goes into making a single knife let alone a couple hundred. Guy is a one man shop hand grinding and finishing each one of these knives. There is no big group of people working on them. He is using premium products and selling them at a reasonable rate, I mean even at 200 bucks the GSO 4.1 is a steal of a deal. Show me any other knife that offers what it does for 200 bucks I would bet you would have a very hard time finding one if you can even find one.

 

[loonybin]

I guess I'm not perturbed by the wait because I've had experience with small one-man companies trying to get out product in addition to working a full-time bread-winning job. When I ordered my hunting bow from a small maker in 2011, I ordered it in February, and received it in June. His machinist would bump his smaller orders in order to fill a big order from someone else, thus delaying his risers and cams. Add to that the fact that it is a left-handed bow and those get cut last due to the number of them, and I knew it would be a wait. It was also worth it and I don't have plans to get a new bow since this one is so nice. I look at this knife the same way. Buy once, cry once. Whenever anyone large or small gives an expected delivery date, I double or triple it. Springfield Armory (hardly a small company) was close to 9 months late on the XD-S. Ruger was late on the LCP, I believe. If they can miscalculate a delivery date, then it's no surprise to me that a small one-man show would miss it as well.

 

[salmonkiller]

Guy,
Do you have a status or update on the GSO 4.1 ?I am waiting to receive my 4.1 before I pre-order another knife. When will the pre-orders close for your up coming releases?
Thank you ,
salmonkiller

 

[chiral.grolim]

Guy's website shows pre-order ending dates of March 24th for the GSO-5.1 and March 31st for the -5, -6, -7/7, & necker.

I'm not sure how many pre-orders he'll get for those since they all close before most of us will have or GSO-4.1's in hand...

Regarding the 4.1 pre-orders, Guy's facebook page suggests that shipping notices haven't ben ging out even if blades are... nothing here yet..

 

[gentemanndvm]

Guy,
I am waiting to receive my 4.1 before I pre-order another knife.

same boat. like the looks of the knives, like the quality reports/reviews i've read. but need to hold one in hand before i order more. got to make sure it fits/feels right, since i've had plenty of great knives that just didn't fit my hand. ended up selling them. i don't have any real doubts, i think i'm going to love it, but better safe.

for me, i was really hoping to get in on the pre-order for that no-choil 5, but won't order one until i get my 4.1 in hand and see how it fits me. unfortunately, timing being what it is, might mean i miss out on a knife.

so my thought o' the day:
Guy, maybe consider extending those pre-orders until you get all the 4.1's out to everyone??? that way we can handle them, make sure we like, feel good about getting them in-hand, get everyone's panties unbunched about the "should ship next week" updates every couple weeks since new years, etc? it might get you quite a few more orders on those blades.... it would likely get you at least one more (me ) if the 4.1 fits me as well as i think it will. just a thought.




---

re: business, timing/delays. it's been said already. expectations are a killer. promise 6 months, have the knife out in 4, people are happy and love you and love a great knife. promise to ship it next week every 2 weeks for 3 months, people are pissed and have a bad taste in their mouth every time they handle the exact same knife. underpromise, overdeliver. i know YOU expected to ship them within the next week every single time you said that, but just assume mega-delays with your timelines, and at worst you are on time. at best you're way faster than advertised.

 

[PaulJM]

The 2 I odered came today.
Paul

 

[moogoogaidan]

JMHO re: not plunging on preorders because you don't have a Survive knife on hand. I'm sure you have learned far morabout knives (steel, metallurgy, geometry, handle materials, ergos) by reading thoughts from you're fellow BF members than you would have alone. I don't think the onus is on Guy to cater to those who haven't received their knives yet -- i think you, based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews, should trust the community and roll the dice on the upcoming goods from a nascent company. After all, i you can't blame Microsoft for offering their IPO in 1985 before the world knew it was a goddamned golden ticket.