Quick review of GEC "EDC" quality knives

[Stich2442]

I recently ordered two knives from a forum approved online vendor last Friday who was having a Black Friday sale. One of the knives I picked up was a GEC Farm & Field Tool #473212, at a greatly reduced price basically 50% of normal price. GEC labels or calls theses knives EDC & mark the tang with a " S "( for store ). I can't find any flaw on this knife it is up to par with the other two GEC knives I own, as a matter of fact the fit & finish is better than my Moore Maker ( Queen ) and Case knives I've bought new, nothing really wrong with the Case or MM some gaps and blade rub nothing that bothers me as mine are all users. I guess I was expecting a visible flaw,a ruff finish or a raised pin? Nothing of the sort, I am extremely happy with the purchase.
Has anyone else purchased a GEC EDC quality knife and were there any real flaws? Just wondering, in my experience their QC seems to be very good.

Both blades centered

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but this knife might replace my Opinel #9 as my work knife.

 

[Finedges]

Thanks for the information Stitch. I've wondered on the Edc blades before. This helps a lot!

 

[mnblade]

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but this knife might replace my Opinel #9 as my work knife.

I can see that. GREAT looking knife! :thumbup:

-- Mark

 

[Stich2442]

Thanks for the information Stitch. I've wondered on the Edc blades before. This helps a lot!

I'm being truly honest, if the "S" was not on it I would not know there is a thing wrong, I even took out a magnifying glass and still can't find a thing wrong.

 

[Humppa]

Pete - thanks for the review!

I was also looking into these kind of GEC knives. And yours seems to be a great piece, especially on F&F. As much as I can see it on the pics everything seems to be well put togehter. Nicely centered blade, no bladeplay and no gaps... that is no 2nd choice knife.

I´d like to hear someone´s expierences with the GECs that are made of higher quality materials and be sold for a realy nice price... what about those?

Let me tell you, the O1 Tool steel which is used for these series of knives is a great one. I got my F&F Tood from ~P. (thanks again ) and it´s a great steel to resharpen.

Yours look great, Pete! Congratz

 

[Peruna1998]

I have two. The only issues I have found are chips in the bone jigging. Sorry, no pictures. One one it took me awhile to find, but I "felt" it one day. I guess the jigging machine(?) got away from them and chipped the bone. Oh well.

 

[red05]

I have one EDC quality GEC. It is a #56. I too have some chips in the bone from jigging. Mine is very noticable but it doesn't bother me any. It doesn't affect the performance of the knife in any way so I'm good. It was worth the discount.

 

[Jack Black]

That's a really great looking knife. Looks like a good working pattern too. Good buy

 

[2Dead]

I wrote up a longer reply but lost it... so the short version.

I have one of those 2 blade #47s too and the only thing I can find is that it looks like there are some rough or uneven spots in the nitebright covers next to the scales. Not noticeable and really doesn't make a difference in a work knife.

I have other EDC GECs. Here are couple of pics. Most/all of the flaws I've seen have been cosmetic.

These 2 #72s both have rough/chipped bone on the pile side lock bar cutout. Some sandpaper smoothed it over enough to not be sharp.

This #73 has a pin crack near the end cap pin. It still is one of the nicest I've seen

I've got a #61 half congress with some gaps between the cherry and scales but I don't have pics of it. I also have this #48 with some cracks in the pearl near the center and rear pins on the mark side. Pile side looks fine. I still haven't decided if I'll use it in another #48 project or just carry it as is.

 

[biglmbass]

Stich,

My experience has been that the flaws are very insignificant, and even sometimes hard to spot. One of my mine has a minor gap or two which classifies it as an EDC "store" model I suppose as it's otherwise perfect to my eyes. I've had a few with bone handles and like the others have mentioned but for a few chips in the jigging they were 1st quality. I've got a rosewood t'pick that has a goofed up pile side scale. Looks like the laquer or whatever top coat they used didn't cure evenly.

Given your photo with the Vise Grips I thought you were going to tell us it was a wee bit hard to open. Glad you like it; I've been mulling over one of those.

 

[bonky]

I recently ordered two knives from a forum approved online vendor last Friday who was having a Black Friday sale. One of the knives I picked up was a GEC Farm & Field Tool #473212, at a greatly reduced price basically 50% of normal price. GEC labels or calls theses knives EDC & mark the tang with a " S "( for store ). I can't find any flaw on this knife it is up to par with the other two GEC knives I own, as a matter of fact the fit & finish is better than my Moore Maker ( Queen ) and Case knives I've bought new, nothing really wrong with the Case or MM some gaps and blade rub nothing that bothers me as mine are all users. I guess I was expecting a visible flaw,a ruff finish or a raised pin? Nothing of the sort, I am extremely happy with the purchase.
Has anyone else purchased a GEC EDC quality knife and were there any real flaws? Just wondering, in my experience their QC seems to be very good.

Both blades centered

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but this knife might replace my Opinel #9 as my work knife.

I received the same pattern knife in the mail today, from the same dealer and sale. Like you, I'm hard-pressed to find any flaws; liners and springs have no gaps, blades are centered, and have great walk n talk.

Earlier today I read this thread ans thought from your pictures it seemed that maybe the master blade might have had a slight tilt or angle towards the closed position when opened. After getting home and examining mine, it seemed mine had that angle as well, until I compared it to a single blade version in black delrin I bought for my wife a few weeks ago.

Same/same on both knives, fit and finish seemed the same to me, yet the two-blade second cost me less than the single blade version (thanks Mike!). I've absolutely no idea why these were sold as seconds, but I'm happy as heck with mine, as I'm sure you are with yours.


-Russell-

 

[akadave2]

I have the same Hayn Helper model and they are every bit as good as their other knives.

 

[Stich2442]

I have the same Hayn Helper model and they are every bit as good as their other knives.

Hey Dave, it is not really a review of the Hay N Helper line as it is the GEC "EDC" which are knives that they sell at a reduced price because of a cosmetic flaw, I agree the line is every bit as nice and well built as the other GEC knives I own, I just can't figure out the flaw on mine that caused it to have a reduced price it was 1/2 the cost of a Hay N Helper without a cosmetic flaw which is fine for me & my wallet.
Pete

 

[akadave2]

Hey Dave, it is not really a review of the Hay N Helper line as it is the GEC "EDC" which are knives that they sell at a reduced price because of a cosmetic flaw, I agree the line is every bit as nice and well built as the other GEC knives I own, I just can't figure out the flaw on mine that caused it to have a reduced price it was 1/2 the cost of a Hay N Helper without a cosmetic flaw which is fine for me & my wallet.
Pete

Oh!...I wasnt aware of the EDC designation. I have never seen them sold that way. Sorry for the random input then. I didnt see any flaws either!

 

[hookblade]

edc "S" knives are great in my book. just got a moose in the mail today. smooth black buffalo horn and it's flaw has yet to be found. my other is my 66 bullwinkle moose and the only flaw is a slight mark next to the center pin where it must have double struck. i got that one for $32 off. heck of a deal, heck of a knife. dang, forgot my lumberjack. dealer said it was an 'S' cause the 2 man saw shield area was a little rough. but for the money, i couldn't pass it up. no warrenty on 's' knives, but supposed to be cosmetic flaws only. hookblade

 

[Modoc ED]

There is a nick in the liner of the pictured knife. Nothing serious and it doesn't even look bad but it looks to be enough for GEC to consider it a Second.

 

[whetrock]

The F&F of these Farm and Field knives has impressed me. I figured GEC would skimp on quality to help this line meet the lower price range they were hoping for. That's not the case thankfully. Those Glow in the dark scales are nifty as well. All in all GEC has a couple of winners on their hands with the Hayin' Helper and Bullnose work knife. The EDC moniker is interesting as well and seems to be a nice way to get a nice user:thumbup:.

 

[Stich2442]

There is a nick in the liner of the pictured knife. Nothing serious and it doesn't even look bad but it looks to be enough for GEC to consider it a Second.

Nope, no nicks, even under magnification, I think you are referring to the pic on the left?, that is just some residual oil seeping through.

Also GEC does not call these knives " Second " seconds are marked with a 2, these are marked with a " S " for store. ( verbiage )