Why does it seem that GEC usually reserves ebony for the Tidioute models?

Woodrow F Call

Woodrow F Call

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Jan 3, 2013
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Maybe way back when, the cheaper knives used Ebony. I think it's kind of odd as I would like to see more of the dressed up Northfields in Ebony. The classy long nail nicks, fancy bolsters, shields seem like they would look classy in ebony. I also kind of think of ebony as a classy wood.

It seems that ebony is reserved for Tidioute and Cocobolo is reserved for the Northfield models.

Any reason?
 
Ebony scales are my favorite; it would be great to see GEC offer up some blade embellishments with this handle material.
 
Actually, I think they are making the right choice. The simplicity of Tidioutes, Bar shield etc lends itself to the sleekness and durability of ebony. The older surviving knives in ebony were often less ornate too.
 
I was wondering the same thing. I've seen a few Tidioutes in ebony covers that had some of the Northfield embellishments. I would love to see a Northfield knife done in ebony. I hope they do a run of Northfield TC Barlows with ebony, but if they even do Northfield TC's, I suspect it would be done in either cocobolo, snakewood, bocote, and maybe kingswood or something else more exotic.
 
The new #33 Northfield Whittlers (Conductor) have a test run of African Blackwood.
Not ebony, but they are supposed to be very dark and dense.
 
jazub said:
Ebony scales are my favorite; it would be great to see GEC offer up some blade embellishments with this handle material.
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The TC Barlows I commissioned have an enhanced blade more usually seen on a Northfield. Long pulls and cut swedges added to the appearance.
Most of the Ebony in my antique knife collection is on plain, lower budget knives.
 
Actually I think it is a great idea to have ebony as one of the Tidioute standards.

They ruin the looks of a good half of the Northfield knives with the ridiculous "pinched bolsters" of everything with this nametag. I know this may be sacrilege but most knives look much better without this addition to me. Therefore give the Tidioute as much good handle material as possible. Course I have said the same thing about the serial numbers on the bolster which I consider to be gimmicky.

Will
 
I was wondering that myself but I Just ordered a boys knife in single blade and ebony:):thumbup:
 
I have observed in the three HSB catalogs that I have (1884, 1886, and 1899) that when any particular pattern is available in both cocobolo and ebony, the ebony version is a little more expensive. And, generally speaking, for patterns available in only one of those two, the simpler ones are cocobolo and the fancier ones are ebony.
 
It's a crying shame.

I really like the long pull, and ebony combo. The ebony being on the Tideoute models usually means that it is nail nick.

There are a few exceptions that I have seen.
 
It is my personal opinion that GEC is, possibly not intentionally, being very smart on this subject. They have negotiated these two brands to where, for the most part, the Northfield is much more desirable to collectors. So the main selling point on the Tidioute brand, besides the simplistic design, is the slabs that cannot be had on the Northfield models. Ebony being the most obvious. For my part, every time I get an SFO made, if possible I get a Northfield Ebony variant.
 
knifeswapper said:
It is my personal opinion that GEC is, possibly not intentionally, being very smart on this subject. They have negotiated these two brands to where, for the most part, the Northfield is much more desirable to collectors. So the main selling point on the Tidioute brand, besides the simplistic design, is the slabs that cannot be had on the Northfield models. Ebony being the most obvious. For my part, every time I get an SFO made, if possible I get a Northfield Ebony variant.
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It's really such a shame. The extra touches on the Northfield models would look down right classy in ebony.
 
Maybe that is why they are trying out the African Blackwood. It could be a Northfield dark wood that they could run periodically.
 
I may be in the minority but I usually prefer the Tidioutes simpler treatments so I'm happy that ebony is available on them. I wish ebony would be available on more of the Tidioutes actually (#48 Jack and #76 Outlaw specifically). I wouldn't mind a Northfield #48J or #76 in ebony as well but would carry and use the Tidioutes more most likely.

Specifically with Tidioutes, I prefer the satin blade finish and non-dimpled bolsters. I can take or leave the bolsters being lined. I do like the long pulls though but kind of prefer drawn swedges over cut ones so that usually means a nail nick instead.
 
2Dead said:
I may be in the minority but I usually prefer the Tidioutes simpler treatments so I'm happy that ebony is available on them.... Specifically with Tidioutes, I prefer the satin blade finish and non-dimpled bolsters. I can take or leave the bolsters being lined. I do like the long pulls though but kind of prefer drawn swedges over cut ones so that usually means a nail nick instead.
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Amen to that. Would to the powers above that they would dial back on these pinched bolsters. Glad to hear someone else agrees with me on this! Even the 'GEC' line with 440C has been infected. The latest offering of the 68 White Owl was magnificent... right up until your eyes are assaulted by the combination of a beautiful round bolster with divots cut into them.

The Tidioute ebony knives with the understated emblem and bolsters is perfect. Sleek, unadorned, and elegant. Same could be said of the Mexican Bocote wood. At lest in this man's opinion and I fault no one for disagreeing with me. :)

Will
 
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