What Should I Know about GEC?

Nathan Dewey

Nathan Dewey

Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
929
After you guys answered my Queen questions, now I'm leaning toward a GEC Jack.
I promise I won't make a habit of this. Thanks
 
Top of the class in F&F as far as production slipjoints go, they have a huge following here on the forum. You'll hear some say that they're nail breakers but I haven't found that to be the case with their more recent offerings. If you enjoy slipjoints I don't doubt you'll be very pleased with whatever GEC you end up purchasing.

Nathan
 
ndeezl said:
Top of the class in F&F as far as production slipjoints go, they have a huge following here on the forum. You'll hear some say that they're nail breakers but I haven't found that to be the case with their more recent offerings. If you enjoy slipjoints I don't doubt you'll be very pleased with whatever GEC you end up purchasing.

Nathan
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+1

They might be a bit more expensive than Cases or Queens (about the same as Schatt & Morgan), but GECs are the best production slipjoints on the market aside from some the of collaborations.
 
ndeezl said:
Top of the class in F&F as far as production slipjoints go, they have a huge following here on the forum. You'll hear some say that they're nail breakers but I haven't found that to be the case with their more recent offerings. If you enjoy slipjoints I don't doubt you'll be very pleased with whatever GEC you end up purchasing.

Nathan
Click to expand...

wagglebee said:
+1

They might be a bit more expensive than Cases or Queens (about the same as Schatt & Morgan), but GECs are the best production slipjoints on the market aside from some the of collaborations.
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+2

I really like that you have the three different finish levels within the GEC brand:
Tidioute - Basic w/1095 steel
Northfield - High grade (Swedged blades, bolster treatments, and premium handle materials), w/1095 steel,
Great Eastern - High grade w/stainless steel
 
Walk,Skip or Run Away...they're addicting and anyone that responds to this thread has a handful..............and very pleased that they do
 
Yep, no hesitation required. Just pick one out and buy it.

It is true that certain patterns can be nailbreakers. I have a #23 that is downright dangerous to open and close. Closest thing to a bear trap I have ever seen in a knife. They are not all like that though.

If the nailbreaker issue concerns you, just ask the dealer to inspect the knife before you buy it. There are plenty of GEC patterns that are easy on the nails and some of those are Jacks like the #56 and #66 for example.

You can't pass up GEC. You just can't. You owe it to yourself as a knife enthusiast to get at least one.
 
Can only agree with everthing that's already been said. Especially that they're addictive. I highly doubt you'll be disappointed with a GEC purchase. What jack pattern are you looking at?
 
If you want a stag handled knife go with GEC. Out of all the production companies, they use the best stag IMO.

- Christian
 
They aren't about recycling the same old patterns as much as Case is. GEC has introduced a fair number of models lately that are quite unique, and in some instances, strange.
I like that they are thinking traditionally, but are not limiting themselves design-wise.
 
I don't know why you guys think they are so addicting. :confused:

All you gotta do is show a little willpower, like me. I only have 67 of them! :eek: :p :thumbup:

Seriously, though, if you don't like nail breakers, stay away from the ones with half-stops; they are pretty stout.
I would recommend a #56 or #66 frame-- great pocket size and smooth action, plus a good choice of blades and styles.
 
I could be wrong about this, but I think that most of their tooling is fairly new compared to other makers. This leads to tighter tolerances which can also be seen in Case's Swayback compared to the rest of their patterns that have been around for awhile. I've read that the patterns with a cam tang as opposed to half stops will generally have an easier pull. Mine are about the same either way, although the springs are stiffer than my knives from other manufacturers. None of them are as much of a nailbreaker as my 2010 forum knife though.
 
I agree with Wagglebee, et al - the only production slipjoints in my experience that equal or better GEC are the 2.5X more expensive annual Case/Bose collaborations. Nothing else comes close, IMO.

GEC's consistent quality control, fit and finish, walk and talk, steel quality/heat treatment, edge geometry (and recently, out-of-the-tube sharpness), attention to detail and vast, constantly expanding selection of interesting patterns and handle materials are unsurpassed in today's traditional production knife market. I also appreciate the fact that they prefer very short runs of diverse patterns to keep things lively and unpredictable, both for themselves and their customers. In addition to their desirability as collectibles and pocket jewelry, every GEC I've owned qualifies as a solid working tool that would have made a 19th or 20th century hunter, craftsman or rancher proud.
 
my GEC mother of pearl barlow is a nail breaker for sure. excellent fit and finish though.
 
Pretty much the next step up after a GEC is a custom. You will be happy with the overall quality.
 
FLymon said:
+2

I really like that you have the three different finish levels within the GEC brand:
Tidioute - Basic w/1095 steel
Northfield - High grade (Swedged blades, bolster treatments, and premium handle materials), w/1095 steel,
Great Eastern - High grade w/stainless steel
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Good to know. I wondered at the different designations.

Thanks for the info.
 
I'm into spydercos for the most part. But here lately I've been carrying a GEC lockback with burgundy jogged bone. Nice. Got another one with a warncliff blade as a backup. A little on the expensive side but they have great fit and finish and excellent walk/talk. Nice USA made traditionals. Pinned shields too!
 
I can only echo what has been said here. Best production knives you can get outside of the Case collabs.
 
I can't say anything but good things about GEC. Without getting into the maintenance forum, I have three blood red 73's. They have half stops. Two of the three were smooth out of the box. One that I carry and use daily was literally a nail breaker. It only took a little cleaning with acetone, grease and some use for a week to smooth up. Then I polished the tang and left a little of the buffing compounds. A week of use and it was like butter. Just a drop of synthetic oil about once a week now in the pivot. Even dry it is now very smooth.

Also, I really like how they treat the 1095. It takes an incredible working edge and holds it as well as a lot of the high end steels I have used. (nothing scientific just daily use observations, which to me are what matters) It works.

Kevin

ETA - I have about 10 54 big jacks and they have half stops and they are NOT nailbreakers. I have a few 23's and they have half stops and they are NOT nailbreakers. But like has been said if you have preferences ask the dealers a few questions before buying :)
 
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Rick said:
GEC's consistent quality control, fit and finish, walk and talk, steel quality/heat treatment, edge geometry (and recently, out-of-the-tube sharpness)
Click to expand...

Don't want to hijack the thread but it is sort of on topic. Has GEC recently started actually sharpening the knives they send out? I've owned two and they were by far the dullest knives I have ever received. I actually sent one back to them with a note saying the knife was so dull I could not cut ANYTHING with it. They sent it back to me in the same dull state. This was a few years ago but has really turned me off the brand. Is there a date at which the sharpening started? I like a lot of the GEC patterns but I won't purchase dull knives just like I won't purchase a watch that does not keep time.

Thanks,
Greg
 
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