Whoopee - GEC website shows #77 BLADE FORUM 2014 CLUB KNIFE is in production

Parke1 said:
Correct. Premier pattern production. The prototype etch is on the first made of a particular pattern, I believe.
Click to expand...

Close. The PPP is as you say, Premier Pattern Production-- the first knife made of a given pattern. (For example, the #15 spear point Barlow was the PPP, the Boy's Knife version-- exact same frame and blade selection-- was not.)

GEC's "prototype" etch is marketing, pure and simple.

I had two knives from the same run, one marked Prototype and the other with a regular serial number and etch. The one marked Prototype had a later Certificate of Authenticity [COA] than the regular knife. I do not believe this was an exception.

In other words, the knives so marked are not true prototypes as is generally understood (a test run to evaluate a given pattern and possible success or needed changes) but a matter of a unique etch applied to a random knife within a run and marketed as... something it isn't.

I am hopeful that the latter practice is no longer in effect, based only on my not seeing "prototypes" in more recent production runs.

[I don't mind a Unique Etch as a way to make a knife be (seem?) exclusive, but the deliberate (mis)use of the word "prototype" bugs me.]

~ P.
 
According to Mike Latham, GEC makes only one prototype of each variation. I'd imagine that refers to current production.
 
As Pertinux states, the knife with the "Prototype" etch, although there is only one, as Mike states, is not necessarily the first of that run produced. Rather it is taken at random and etched with the "Prototype" etch when a Distributor orders a Prototype. There is only one of each variant.
 
It seems that some of the more limited runs are not marked with the triple Ps and unserialized.

Regards

Robin
 
JB in SC said:
According to Mike Latham, GEC makes only one prototype of each variation. I'd imagine that refers to current production.
Click to expand...

I don't think they make them much any more and only if requested. But just another tidbit - an SFO maker can have a couple made if he so chooses.
 
Alright so I just got a 2009 #12 River Blue Bone Toothpick off the bay for a good deal. It arrived today and to my surprise it has the triple P etch on it. So is this the only river blue with the triple P etch? I collect users, meaning I like to at least carry most anything I buy. Usually I dont pay the premium for extremely rare knives or things that I'll feel a little abashed about using, but I just want to know am I committing any sort of sacrilege in using a triple P? Of course its up to me and whatever makes me happy, but do I have something here that I should think twice about using like any other knife and maybe put up for posterity or to send my future kids to college LOL. I have other gec toothicks so I can always play with those instead, but if I dont have anything all that special then Id just assume carry it and use it.. I mean once that triple P fades with a patina there's nothing at all to say that it is a prototype right? I appreciate any help with this. Thanks

p.s. Mods if you think I should move this query to another thread I'd be happy to.
 
As I understand it no, that is not the only one, all the ones from that initial run in that configuration will have the PPP etch. I say use it like you would any other knife.
 
slide13 said:
As I understand it no, that is not the only one, all the ones from that initial run in that configuration will have the PPP etch. I say use it like you would any other knife.
Click to expand...

I think I'm getting it now. So all the first runs of toothpicks from 2009 would have that 3P etch, just like all the blade forum 77's will have the 3P etch. sound about right?

It's funny how I'm actually vying for my knife to be less "collectible" so I can just go ahead and use it. lol
 
Yah, you got it! At least as I understand it. And I totally get what you mean about wanting it to be less collectible, I'm not a collector, I try to only keep what I use so limited stuff has no extra special appeal to me.
 
GEC is a business, and with that marketing is a means of survival - especially in the Cutler trade - I would hate to imagine just how hard it is to keep afloat and yet try and produce top Quality knives.
This is why I am quick to react when people still moan at a wee mark on a superb knife that is of immense quality - take for example the TC Barlow that they paid $100 for.

I dont mind GEC doing their thing if it means it helps them to keep afloat -the good thing about it, is that ( probably not me ) that a lot of us here in the forums can find out if the knife stamped "Prototype" is in fact that, or part of a first run - or perhaps a later run.

I remember Charlie posting a knife that was one of his TC's from memory ( please correct me if I am wrong ) that had prototype etched on the main, now I couldnt imagine Charlie having such a knife if it were the 200th knife produced down the line ? But if it was? - it wouldnt realy bother me - if it meant me having a choice of owning that knife - or turning it away because of that etch, I can gaurantee you that knife would be mine :D
 
Funny, I don't remember last years knife being so marked, and it was not only the initial run, it was the only run.
 
PPP premiere pattern production (I never know which order the p's go in) is not the same as prototype. I lifted a picture from google to demonstrate:



:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top