Who else discovered GEC knives here on BF?

[JPD1998]

Yep, I first learned of GECs here. That was in 2015, when you could still find less-popular models in stock at dealers months after release.

Preferring stainless meant that I was never squarely inside GEC's wheelhouse, but I loved all of the ones I owned. I sold them all off over the years, mainly because my interest shifted back to modern locking folders, and I'm not sure I see ever getting back into them.

They're lovely knives, but for me and my needs -- and my personal preferences -- they're not worth typical secondary market prices, and my occasional luck of the draw on a new release never coincides with their few-and-far-between stainless models. Fortunately the world is full of great knives, and GEC has a model that seems to ensure their continued financial health. It's all good.

I prefer stainless too and used to patiently wait for SS models. GEC made a beautiful single blade Fishtail in elk (SS) back in 2015. This was before the demand exploded and I hesitated ..... never got one.

 

[353]

they're not worth typical secondary market prices

Just did a quick search on Ebay now, found a 2016 #47 Pruner.

Asking price is:

US $1,200.00

 

[kvaughn]

I was gifted a stag 48 which I like a lot. I won't pay that for basically a repro of old patterns.
IMHO the best bang for your buck in traditionals is the black box Winchesters that turn up regularly. Top of the line Queen quality.

 

[BaconTKN]

I didn't hear of them here but I did buy my first here. Went down the rabbit hole now its about all I buy.

 

[Boattale]

GEC is anything but an "artificial brand". In fact, their authenticity is one of the reasons why they're unobtanium. Other reasons include:

1. Unlike virtually everything else, they aren't made in China
2. Overall, they have an excellent fit and finish. Case, for example, couldn't match GEC in their wildest dreams, but then, that's because they're pumping out seven hundred million knives a year or so. Yes, I'm including the Case Boses in that...unless you were able to handpick a good one. But then, a $500 knife should be better than a $115 knife.
3. They're made by master cutlers on old, original machinery, for a company run by another master cutler. Bill Howard has decades of experience in this regard. His leaving Queen Cutlery, and taking their best cutlers with him to start GEC is a major reason why they folded.
4. Their production runs tend to run in the hundreds for each knife (each cover per model), with the problem being that there are thousands of people who want them.

"Artificial brand" is a good way to describe one of the others in this game: Rough Ryder, or Ruff Rider, or however it's spelled.

By artificial brands I'm referring to this:

Great Eastern Cutlery produces traditional pocket and hunting knives under four brands. All of our knives are manufactured by skilled cutlers at the GEC factory in historic Titusville, PA.

I get everything you are saying. I do not own even one Chinese knife. I do have three Dozier Design Kabar folders that are made in Taiwan is as close as it gets. Case is USA and so are the Bucks that I have. I'm sure the FF is top shelf. It shows in the pictures here. It's cool they're using the old machines. They can make as many or as few knives as they want. They're surely doing something - actually a lot of things - right or they wouldn't be as hard to come by as they are.

 

[Quiet]

By artificial brands I'm referring to this:

Great Eastern Cutlery produces traditional pocket and hunting knives under four brands. All of our knives are manufactured by skilled cutlers at the GEC factory in historic Titusville, PA.

I get everything you are saying. I do not own even one Chinese knife. I do have three Dozier Design Kabar folders that are made in Taiwan is as close as it gets. Case is USA and so are the Bucks that I have. I'm sure the FF is top shelf. It shows in the pictures here. It's cool they're using the old machines. They can make as many or as few knives as they want. They're surely doing something - actually a lot of things - right or they wouldn't be as hard to come by as they are.

I can understand how it might look that way, and can see your point. However, I'll counter that with the statement that the buying of brands and making knives for them had been done by Traditional knife companies for many, many years. I know that Case has made knives for other brands as well, if I'm remembering correctly. Queen did it for many years as well. As for GEC, they have made knives for classic brands* like Bulldog, Maher & Grosh, more recently Remington, and a few others besides Northfield, Northwoods, and Tidioute.

This is all just a tip of an iceberg, naturally. There's a wealth of information over on the Porch (the Traditionals section). I accidentally tripped and fell in two or three years ago, and still haven't escaped!


* Whose companies had long since folded,

 

[JPD1998]

I can understand how it might look that way, and can see your point. However, I'll counter that with the statement that the buying of brands and making knives for them had been done by Traditional knife companies for many, many years. I know that Case has made knives for other brands as well, if I'm remembering correctly. Queen did it for many years as well. As for GEC, they have made knives for classic brands* like Bulldog, Maher & Grosh, more recently Remington, and a few others besides Northfield, Northwoods, and Tidioute.

This is all just a tip of an iceberg, naturally. There's a wealth of information over on the Porch (the Traditionals section). I accidentally tripped and fell in two or three years ago, and still haven't escaped!


* Whose companies had long since folded,

My favorite is when GEC used to use Cyclops Steel Works on some of the stainless steel knives, I don't know if they still use that , but it was cool.

 

[Quiet]

My favorite is when GEC used to use Cyclops Steel Works on some of the stainless steel knives, I don't know if they still use that , but it was cool.

Yessir, they still do....on the (sadly) rare occasions that they do stainless knives anymore.

 

[cutchu]

I was fortunate enough to have learned about them here. Also was a pretty good time ago when I did find out, that I was able to get some as sold new through some dealers. A bit ridiculous with the secondary market pricing. Here are a few of mine, have others not in pics.