GEC company and their fixed blade knife curve balls...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

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Aug 4, 2013
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This is a pic that I found online. It shows a Great Eastern Cutlery branded fixed blade knife. Now, my understanding is that gec brand meant stainless, and their tidioute and northridge meant 1095 carbon steel blade. Well, this gec knife in the pic is 1095 carbon. I wonder why gec is making their gec branded fixed blade knives with 1095 steel blades. I mean, wondering what the difference would then be over northridge or tidioute if the blade steel is the same? Curveball has me a bit confused... why not keep gec brand as the option for stainless blades?
 
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As a comparison... the picture above shows my Tidioute Pattern #10 fixed blade knife. The pic in the other post above, shows a GEC Pattern #10 fixed blade knife. In this particular case, both have burnt stag handles, the same blade shape and size, and only really differ in that one has GEC markings and an acorn shield, while the Tidioute has the Tidioute markings and a Tidioute shield (on the other side of the knife). So, other than markings and shields, are Gec and Tidioute pattern #10 fixed blade knives the same basic product? Without stainless being in the picture, I really can't seem to figure out as to the difference between these two in features?... Anyhow, just curious, and do appreciate any input or insight that you guys can share.

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Btw, they share the exact same type of sheath as well.
 
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Jimmy, here is my guess - GEC caters to collectors with high end production knives. Some collectors collect specific brands - maybe that is why GEC offers the same knife under two (or three) different brands - trying to cater to/satisfy their customer base. What do you think? OH
 
Old Hunter said:
Jimmy, here is my guess - GEC caters to collectors with high end production knives. Some collectors collect specific brands - maybe that is why GEC offers the same knife under two (or three) different brands - trying to cater to/satisfy their customer base. What do you think? OH
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Yeah, you might be right, sir. The only thing I don't get.... the GEC brand is known as stainless steel blades in their pocket knives, so I wonder why not just continue with that? Would it not be that the collectors of GEC stainless steel bladed knives are actually seeking them for their stainless application? If that holds true, then it would mean that GEC is not offering this group what they usually expect from this brand, the stainless steel blade. Just me thinking outloud :-)
 
I'm glad they're doing it. I really like the acorn shield but I prefer 1095 to 440c..
 
The acorn shield is pretty nifty :-) I also prefer the old style script blade etching they used to use on Tidioute fixed blade pattern 10's... not such elegance on the blocky lettering on the one I currently have. Oh well, just little things that tickle our fancy ;-)

Old style etching :-)
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Btw... though I have never been a fan of stag, per se, I am happy with the look of the burnt stag handles on the specimen I was sent. On the other side of that coin, I don't much care for the look of the burnt stag on the GEC pictured above. So, I guess I was lucky in that arena :-)
 
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Hmm, I was just wondering if there would be a price difference between the same two type handled knives, if the only difference were the types of shield and brand markings? I think too much!.. lol! :-)
 
I like the nice simple sheath you got with yours, I have been interested in a particular GEC fixed blade, but can't get over the overengineered, overly decorated sheaths that come with it.
 
fatcorgi said:
I like the nice simple sheath you got with yours, I have been interested in a particular GEC fixed blade, but can't get over the overengineered, overly decorated sheaths that come with it.
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Actually, I agree with you. Some of those sheaths, at least to me, look very much like the types of pressed in checkering and leafy patterns that used to be pressed in (embossed) into some rifle stocks during the 60's and 70's... The words gaudy and cheesy come to mind... imo ;-)

Here in this pic you'll see a nice quality leather, almost handgun holster form fit style, sheath that came with this Utica Cutlery knife. The only embossing is a Utica trademark, but kept sterile otherwise. The kicker is that the knife and sheath combo was only $51 total... including S&H.
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You make some good points in your threads, and I agree with you on this one.
edited to add: Nice Utica.
 
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Jimmy - There is a thread from around 2012 that discusses early GEC branded fixed blade knives being 1095 etc. Some people bought them thinking they were stainless because they had the acorn shield on them. I just read it a couple days ago but didn't save it. You'll have to use the "search function" to find it.
 
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why not keep gec brand as the option for stainless blades?

IIRC, The GEC brand is their own brand where they can do what they want with regards to steels while keeping Northfield and Tidioute like the older companies in carbon steel. GEC has been offered in 420HC, 440C, 1095, and O1 while the other 2 are only in 1095. Why don't they keep GEC in stainless? I don't know for sure. Keep in mind, 440C blades have the Cyclops Steel Works stamp while 1095 is usually Tidioute Iron Works or TIW. The O1 blades that I have are marked O1 Tool steel (only folders so far). I don't remember if the 420HC have the markings for steel.

As for the sheath, I have a newer H73 in Black Canvas that doesn't have the leaves. It is also softer than the stiffer leather used in the ones with the leaves. The H23 in Black Canvas still had the older style sheath though.
 
2Dead said:
why not keep gec brand as the option for stainless blades?

IIRC, The GEC brand is their own brand where they can do what they want with regards to steels while keeping Northfield and Tidioute like the older companies in carbon steel. GEC has been offered in 420HC, 440C, 1095, and O1 while the other 2 are only in 1095. Why don't they keep GEC in stainless? I don't know for sure. Keep in mind, 440C blades have the Cyclops Steel Works stamp while 1095 is usually Tidioute Iron Works or TIW. The O1 blades that I have are marked O1 Tool steel (only folders so far). I don't remember if the 420HC have the markings for steel.

As for the sheath, I have a newer H73 in Black Canvas that doesn't have the leaves. It is also softer than the stiffer leather used in the ones with the leaves. The H23 in Black Canvas still had the older style sheath though.
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Thanks for pointing out that Gec goes with other than stainless steel on gec brand knives... I did not know that, but do now... thanks again :-)
 
My mistake on believing that the GEC branded knives were all stainless, was because I had read the following under the GEC brand info on their website (but it was likely describing only their pocket knives)... "but to satisfy the need for a knife that will not stain and rust we have our Great Eastern Cutlery line of knives with blades and springs made of stainless steel."
 
It's not your fault Jimmy. They DID make some stainless fixed blades (I believe) but most of the fixed blades are 1095. And all of the GEC folders were stainless... up until the #71 Red Neck/Bull Nose or some/most of the #73Hs (H for hoofpick). I don't remember which came first. Most of the F&F line under GEC, except the #65 Fish Knife which is 420HC, are O1.
 
2Dead said:
It's not your fault Jimmy. They DID make some stainless fixed blades (I believe) but most of the fixed blades are 1095. And all of the GEC folders were stainless... up until the #71 Red Neck/Bull Nose or some/most of the #73Hs (H for hoofpick). I don't remember which came first. Most of the F&F line under GEC, except the #65 Fish Knife which is 420HC, are O1.
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Thanks again, sir :-)
 
Interesting thread. I know the topic is fixed blades but here's an example of a recent production GEC folder in1095. Note the acorn shield and GEC etch on the blade. I don't have mine handy but the tang stamp is either Tidioute or TIW. As others have mentioned it appears they do what they want with the house brand.

BTW that's a nice #10 pattern you have there.


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Thanks for the kudos about my new knife... And thanks for sharing your experience with having a 1095 bladed Gec brand pocket knife. I wonder if that knife still uses a stainless backspring?
 
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