Poll: When did you get your first GEC?

[TheChunk91]

I bought a new rust red bone 68 pony jack in 2013 or 14 and then a blackwood 81 abilene stockman used off the exchange shortly after for about $80. I still have the abilene and it has been used a ton. It’s unreal how popular and expensive gec’s have become since then. I am glad to have the ones I have (and wish I had kept a few more)!

 

[SteveC]

I received my first GEC from Duncan Campbellclanman , in 2012 I think. It was the 2011 Traditional Forum Knife that I was carrying this week, and Duncan took it out of his pocket (his favourite knife) to send to me I bought my first GEC not long after that, it was a #66 Serpentine Jack in Valley Green Jigged Bone, which I still love

In also received my first GEC as a GAW gift from Duncan Campbellclanman in I believe 2017 not too long after I joined the Porch. I have a few more now , thanks Duncan !

#54 Harness Jack

 

[Ramrodmb]

2011 Ebony Ben Hogan 65.
Like $60 from dealer.
Ivory 15's sat on KSF for weeks and months while I agonized over buying, ($150) and eventually missed out.

 

[JustinR]

2011, it was an 85 harness jack in ebony, used, bought here for like $60 bucks!

I think my next two were both from that first 65 Ben hogan run…one was coffee house acrylic, the other was a smooth mottled bone….don’t recall the name.

All downhill since then with much detriment to my disposable income.

 

[afishhunter]

I was gifted my first GEC in 2020, by an very generous anonymous member.
I won another in a GAW.
They will never be sold by me.

I've never bought one. They are way outside my budget.

 

[VentureDan]

I don’t remember what year it was, 2016 or 2017, I think.

But, I do remember being able to go to almost every GEC dealers website and pick the actual knife I wanted. Every new knife pattern from GEC would be lovingly photographed by the dealer, and you could scroll through 20 stag or 50 wood covers, look at the front and back, check handle width, and make the purchase with zero stress.

And the knives would usually sit for weeks, and there were always a few older models from previous runs that were orphaned, just sitting and waiting for someone to take them home.

The good old days, haha! Why do you think it's so crazy now?

 

[VentureDan]

I got mine in 2007, although I didn't actually get the knife in hand until 2008. It was the NKCA Youth knife, and you had to prepay and order ahead of time. They only made 500, on the 73 pattern with smooth white bone, single blade. Cost in 2007 was $48.00.

That's very cool - would you have a pic to share?

 

[Patrick Robbins]

Received this 48 as a Christmas gift in 2019, I was wanting one good carbon steel knife to use. What a addiction I wound up with as a result.

 

[Nature Boy]

Some of the reasons it’s gotten so crazy:
- No other American company is making production knives in the quality of GEC.
- They use old machines, and only make small batches.
- No stock = more demand and curiosity.
- Prospectors buy up stock and sell at markup.
- Less stock = even more demand and curiousity.
- The internet

 

[Nebuchadnezzar]

Think this was the first one 2013, wish I had gotten more. All mine are users tho, so it would just of made the rotation that much more confusing if I had.

 

[VentureDan]

Some of the reasons it’s gotten so crazy:
- No other American company is making production knives in the quality of GEC.
- They use old machines, and only make small batches.
- No stock = more demand and curiosity.
- Prospectors buy up stock and sell at markup.
- Less stock = even more demand and curiousity.
- The internet

Sounds right - I'd also add in there, anecdotally, that a number of modern folding knife enthusiasts seem to have gotten interested in traditionals in the last couple of years and moved their purchasing to slipjoints in general, and GEC in particular. Since many modern folders that folks buy/sell/trade are in the $100-600+ range, the relatively inexpensive $100 or so for a GEC makes it seem like more bang for the buck. And those folks are willing to spend $200+ for a GEC on the secondary market that retails for half that costs.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

The good old days, haha! Why do you think it's so crazy now?

I’m not sure. I can say that back in 2016 or so when I got my first GEC I was blown away by the quality. The first one I bought was a gift for someone, and once I had it in hand I ordered another and another, and now my family knows that when I interrupt breakfast or whatever I am in the middle of, or give vague excuses why I can’t do something for another 15 minutes, I am probably “trying to buy one of those knives”.

I have a recollection that GEC was blowing up right around the time they did more than a dozen SFO’s on the 14 pattern, and people were losing their minds trying to get them all or to get the ones they liked. Maybe 2018?

My sense is that GEC has always had the capability to make about 20,000 knives per year maximum, and once their quality and style became widely known there are so many people who want one, but GEC can still only make about 20k per year. Divide that by 6-8 or 10 patterns/variations and there really are not many knives available.

But truly, what kind of weirdo would buy dozens and dozens of old man slip joints.........? Makes no sense.

 

[madebyhand]

I put 2019 even though my actual first was a gift from a gracious forum member, my first and only direct purchase from a dealer was in 2019. I bought a 21 Bullbuster in orange delrin, honestly can't remember the dealer. But there was several in stock at the time and I believe my total purchase and shipping was 68 bucks. Because we all like pics here's one from as it was straight from the tube. View attachment 1646611

This was the same first purchase for me - and also the last "casual" purchase of a GEC knife without the hoop jumping. It took months of educating myself (mostly thru this forum which can be a bit intimidatingly for a newbie) before I started to catch on and trust the process and buy my second knife and fall into the rabbit hole that is GEC. It's a strange concept to commit to a purchase without seeing the product or even knowing the price. It's been a wild and strange ride so far.

 

[Henry Beige]

My first GEC was the 2016 Harness Jack. I have bought the Forum knife every year since, so that includes the GECs. A couple of years ago, I won an Oil Field Jack in a GAW here. That”s it. I have not tried to buy one direct from GEC or on the exchange. A couple of times I have been tempted by something a dealer had in stock, but never pulled the trigger.

 

[Hyesouljah]

I first grew fond of traditional’s in 2019, I spent a lot of time lurking Facebook groups and learning about them and also joined Bladeforums in December of 2019. I was first very interested in the Northwoods brand before I learned about GEC.

After learning about drops and dealers, in January 2020 I purchased my first traditional. It was a Northwoods Heritage Jack in OD green canvas Micarta. I absolutely loved it and it’s been a slippery slope since then. In hindsight I wish I picked up a mammoth or giraffe bone.

Shortly after picking up the NW, I still had a itch to scratch and that’s when I purchased a 93 in Cocobolo from a Facebook group member.

I got the knife pretty much close to retail, I don’t think you’ll be able to do that nowadays.

Here’s both when they were still relatively new. Both users, the 93 has the best patina now. I didn’t believe in buying a knife and not using it. But now that I’ve become a collector, there’s quite a few that haven’t been used yet.

I’m very excited to receive my first Bladeforums knife, and what better pattern than the 86! Came full circle now, back to where it began for me with the 86 pattern. I’m going to cherish having it in my collection.

 

[TE59]

Got my first one last year, a maroon micarta #97 and I couldn't be happier with it.

 

[thedonald]

My first one was the 235220 Pioneer Trapper - Northfield. Beautiful knife.

 

[bbk357]

2016 beer scout

 

[JohnDF]

My first GEC purchase in 2018... hadn't heard of them until I started visiting this forum.
#56 in Pheasant Feather Acrylic
I chose well because i still have it, still like it, and still carry it.


My oldest GEC is from 2011... and probably my favorite.
#48 Templar in Black Micarta
It's just so unique and I haven't seen another like it.

 

[VentureDan]

I first grew fond of traditional’s in 2019, I spent a lot of time lurking Facebook groups and learning about them and also joined Bladeforums in December of 2019. I was first very interested in the Northwoods brand before I learned about GEC.

After learning about drops and dealers, in January 2020 I purchased my first traditional. It was a Northwoods Heritage Jack in OD green canvas Micarta. I absolutely loved it and it’s been a slippery slope since then. In hindsight I wish I picked up a mammoth or giraffe bone.

Shortly after picking up the NW, I still had a itch to scratch and that’s when I purchased a 93 in Cocobolo from a Facebook group member.

I got the knife pretty much close to retail, I don’t think you’ll be able to do that nowadays.

Here’s both when they were still relatively new. Both users, the 93 has the best patina now. I didn’t believe in buying a knife and not using it. But now that I’ve become a collector, there’s quite a few that haven’t been used yet.

I’m very excited to receive my first Bladeforums knife, and what better pattern than the 86! Came full circle now, back to where it began for me with the 86 pattern. I’m going to cherish having it in my collection.

Beautiful knives, thanks for posting a pic. I never managed to snag a Northwoods, but I have a 93 and love it. I also don’t believe in not using my knives, so every GEC I own and like is a user, and several are waiting to be passed on to someone else who will like them more.