Off Topic POLL Why are GEC knives difficult to buy, for some.

GEC knives are hard, for some, to obtain because:

  • GEC does not make enough of each variant

    Votes: 15 23.4%

  • GEC does not make enough of each model

    Votes: 17 26.6%

  • Too many people want them

    Votes: 29 45.3%

  • Many people buy more than one if they can, even if they do not need to

    Votes: 25 39.1%

  • Many people try to / buy all the variants of each model

    Votes: 19 29.7%

  • Many people buy as many as they can, to resell

    Votes: 42 65.6%

  • They are just popular (fashionable, bragging rights, good value etc.)

    Votes: 13 20.3%

  • They are seen as an investement, rather than purely a knife

    Votes: 18 28.1%

  • There are no direct alternatives

    Votes: 10 15.6%

  • You need to work too hard to get them (time, connections, money etc.)

    Votes: 25 39.1%
  • Total voters
    64
Also as soon as I get an email from a popular dealer for them, they are all gone within minutes.
 
With some dealers you can join a priority club that helps you get more knives - I do not think they are that easy to get in anymore,
 
slyraven said:
Do dealers themselves pick the days they make the knives live?
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Yes. They may send them in multiple shipments. So some dealers will list them when they come in and maybe have them drop 2-3 times. Some dealers wait until they get them all in-hand. Some list them on eBay with factory pictures to ensure they get them to market first while people are still frothy over them. Some people wait until all other dealers have posted them, so there is not much competition. Etc. Etc.
 
Collectors are irrational when it comes to what they want. The classic example are tulips in Holland back around 1650; however one can't grow knives in one's yard :) It's strictly irrational customer demand that keeps the GEC flywheel turning.

The designs and quality are OK but not worth >$100 since its in that old nag 1095. Even with higher priced covers...still 1095 that'll turn grey with use. Low Rockwell 1095 too. Who needs a $300 knife with "pepper spots" and an etch that disappears when you use Flitz to make it shiny again? In some ways, it can be seen as a con, since GEC seems quite adept at keeping the flywheel going.

Take a load off, there's plenty of vintage carbon steel knives to chase that are better made :)
 
brownshoe said:
Collectors are irrational when it comes to what they want. The classic example are tulips in Holland back around 1650; however one can't grow knives in one's yard :) It's strictly irrational customer demand that keeps the GEC flywheel turning.

The designs and quality are OK but not worth >$100 since its in that old nag 1095. Even with higher priced covers...still 1095 that'll turn grey with use. Low Rockwell 1095 too. Who needs a $300 knife with "pepper spots" and an etch that disappears when you use Flitz to make it shiny again? In some ways, it can be seen as a con, since GEC seems quite adept at keeping the flywheel going.

Take a load off, there's plenty of vintage carbon steel knives to chase that are better made :)
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When you find those, please let us know. For that matter, may I ask to see some pics of your GEC collection? I mean, since you've got GEC knives to compare with those "vintage carbon steel knives that are better made"?

Thanks!
 
Quiet said:
When you find those, please let us know. For that matter, may I ask to see some pics of your GEC collection? I mean, since you've got GEC knives to compare with those "vintage carbon steel knives that are better made"?

Thanks!
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As you already know, I am picture challenged and haven't bothered to learn. Let's see the 100+ hoard you have :)

I have handled a lot of GEC's stock during their first 15 years. A guy would regularly show them in my city, but not any more. I see about 5-10 a year now at gun shows. I own one, stag 25 with a single blade.. Excellent steel, funky blade shape, needs more of a point. Owning one is how I know the etch goes away if you polish off the patina which I do at the end of every day I use it. Etch was gone within the first week. I know it's soft 1095 because becase I had to put a good edge on it. Just like when he was at Queen, Howard's training of his cutlers is deficient when it comes to symmetrical <40 degree edge grinds and sweet pointy tips.
 
brownshoe said:
As you already know, I am picture challenged and haven't bothered to learn. Let's see the 100+ hoard you have :)

I have handled a lot of GEC's stock during their first 15 years. A guy would regularly show them in my city, but not any more. I see about 5-10 a year now at gun shows. I own one, stag 25 with a single blade.. Excellent steel, funky blade shape, needs more of a point. Owning one is how I know the etch goes away if you polish off the patina which I do at the end of every day I use it. Etch was gone within the first week. I know it's soft 1095 because becase I had to put a good edge on it. Just like when he was at Queen, Howard's training of his cutlers is deficient when it comes to symmetrical <40 degree edge grinds and sweet pointy tips.
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Golly gee, I also seem to have forgotten how to post pics. In any case, we all know that you have an axe to grind with GECs for reasons I'll be polite and not share my speculation on. Your assertion is patently nonsense, and frankly seeing GEC knives that some guy "regularly showed in your city" leaves you woefully in adequate in your ability to judge them. You act like an etch being Flitzed off is somehow some mark against GEC, but the fact is, you'd be able to Flitz off etching of pretty much any older vintage slipjoints as well. So, I'm not sure what point you were attempting to make, but I imagine that like usual, it was pointless and trivial. Also, oh no, hey everyone, look at B brownshoe here, he had to sharpen a knife! He didn't love the factory edge, and thinks GEC's cutlers are deficient, you know, in his sample size of (checks Brownbag's post) one. That's adorable, really.

You don't like GECs, that's entirely fine, but you always seem to enjoy coming into these posts making disparaging comments that show your bias. Tell me, when's the last time you've seen vintage knives posted that were snapped up in seconds (the way GECs are)? Let me know when you see that happening. In fact, your single* #25 is almost certainly a more desirable knife than most if not all of whatever vintage knives you might own. Post up on the Exchange, and I wonder which would sell first.


P.S. If you were able to put a good edge on your knife, then that actually speaks more to GECs 1095 having a good heat treat and not being "soft". 🤡


* LOL
 
brownshoe said:
As you already know, I am picture challenged and haven't bothered to learn. Let's see the 100+ hoard you have :)

I have handled a lot of GEC's stock during their first 15 years. A guy would regularly show them in my city, but not any more. I see about 5-10 a year now at gun shows. I own one, stag 25 with a single blade.. Excellent steel, funky blade shape, needs more of a point. Owning one is how I know the etch goes away if you polish off the patina which I do at the end of every day I use it. Etch was gone within the first week. I know it's soft 1095 because becase I had to put a good edge on it. Just like when he was at Queen, Howard's training of his cutlers is deficient when it comes to symmetrical <40 degree edge grinds and sweet pointy tips.
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“I support this site with my MIND”, “As you already know, I am picture challenged and haven't bothered to learn”. If you don’t MIND use what you have that supports this site to learn how to post pics. Thanks! 😃
 
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