Traditionals, You can have 'em.

OddBlade

OddBlade

Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
171
I just recently got myself a couple of traditionals, the first for me. Came in just last week actually.
A GEC Northfield #73 and a GEC Northfield #23, both stag. Pictured below.

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The 73 is a great knife in every aspect. :thumbup::)
The 2011 GEC Northfield 23 Pioneer burnt stag s/n #10 might just be the worst knife I have ever held in my hand. :thumbdn::mad:
The pathetic excuse for stag handles are shameful, I have never seen any as bad as these. The blade, it takes a good 5 degree left turn to the right out of the gate, and blade movement, hell the bolsters and the liners move.

Of course it went directly back! But to my surprise, in spite of my complaints and objections Mike at CK listed it back in stock to sell again.
And GEC themselves don't seem to have any objections to selling that knife either.
Guess in their opinion, I'm not a knife manufacturer, I don't make knives, I don't sell knives..... How the hell should I know anything!

I'll keep the 73, great knife. But if that 23 Pioneer is standard and acceptable quality for traditionals, Y'all can have 'em.
 
Ho Hum - another #23 story.

Went over to CK and couldn't see where Mike put it back in stock. Did GEC themselves tell you that they had no objections to selling that knife?
 
So, you bought two knives from one company and one of them had issues. That's probably a representative enough sample to dismiss an entire genre of knives.

Like, the other day, I handled a Spyderco that had some blade play. Better dismiss the whole brand, and modern folders in general!
 
So, what you meant to say, in your 12th forum post, was "You can have 50% of the traditional knives I've tried in my life." Maybe they thought you wanted an "Odd" blade? Enjoy that #73, and better luck with your next knife purchase.
 
Are you sure that's the same knife? I don't see the serial number listed anywhere...
 
It's quite possible CK has more than 1 of the same model in stock. They didn't have individual listings a few years back so you'd be buying without seeing the exact model. They changed how they do things now, but I don't think they updated all the old listings.
 
P.S: The title implies this may be a giveaway of some kind... If that's the case: I'M IN!
 
Stag is a tough one. I dint like to purchase stag sight unseen, and prefer to see pictures, including top down. Don't care for fat stag st all.

Did you attempt to contact GEC to see if they'd do anything for you? Although your first option to send it back to the dealer was likely correct. Myself, I may have given GEC a shot a rectifying it. If this is one that went past QC, or off a particular workbench, I'd think GEC would want to see it. They've a pretty good reputation for decent products. I own several and have not had any issues such as yours. I think by dismissing the entire brand because of one knife is perhaps a bit drastic, even though your knife was obviously not right.
 
It was updated. He showed it "out of stock" once it shipped, and back as it is now once it was returned.
And guys, lighten up a bit, put the pitch forks away. Sometimes we just need to vent out of frustration.

It's a stock photo. I questioned Mike about it, you know buying stag without seeing is dangerous.
Think he only has the one.

I thought about sending it back to GEC, but figured it was too far gone to be repaired, and probably couldn't have gotten a replacement.
 
OddBlade said:
And guys, lighten up a bit, put the pitch forks away. Sometimes we just need to vent out of frustration.
Click to expand...

The problem you're going to have here is that people on this forum know and respect both Mike and the people at GEC. You can absolutely come on and say that you're frustrated because you received a knife that didn't live up to your expectations. You went beyond that and said that GEC doesn't have a problem pushing out a subpar product and insinuated that Mike doesn't have a problem selling one. We all know that that's not true, so you're bound to get some pushback.

If Mike took the return and gave you a refund there's not much more that can be done. Maybe you can find another stag 23 from another dealer or look at the Queen Mountain Man, which is their version of the same knife. Either way, good luck to you in your hunt and hopefully you get over the initial disappointment and give traditionals another try.
 
But if that 23 Pioneer is standard and acceptable quality for traditionals, Y'all can have 'em.

It is not.
You are right to complain-
what's with blade on the 23? is it bent? or twisted out of whack in some way? I can't see much from the pic.
I have 2 X 23s and both are very good-not stag though.
 
The voice of reason Cory Hess, and you're right.
You try to do the right thing and get a defective product back to the manufacturer and you get dismissed and condescended to, you tend to get frustrated. Probably should have been more diplomatic.
 
To the original point... Yes, significantly mismatched stag is quite common. Some people don't care but I prefer well matched, not overly thick stag myself. That's why I love it when some dealers shoot the pics from both sides AND top down.

I generally prefer jigged bone which is usually much more consistent from side to side and in thickness. So just because you got one mismatched stag knife doesn't mean all traditional styles are bad. It's a big area with lots of choices.

By the way, complaints about a dealer or manufacturer belong in Good, Bad, and Ugly, not here.
 
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