GEC F&F from a Noob Perspective

GC has done one big thing right, they use traditional steel, namely 1095, in their traditional knife patterns. Many of us if not most of us prefer carbon steel over stainless. If one is getting pits on the steel, that is an indication of inadequate knife care.

Also, to ask a dealer to inspect every knife in inventory might be ok if someone is selling out of their garage, but realistically that takes time and money and would necessitate higher prices. We buy online and save considerably over paying brick and mortar retail. Why complain about a few dollars return postage?
 
For me, I buy GEC knives because of the "nostalgia factor".
If all it came down to was ease of carry/use, high quality steel, and tolerances, I'd still carry a modern.
I just ask that my knives be made to a higher quality standard, look and feel like something the older/greater generation would have carried, and give me pride of ownership. GEC produces exactly what I want, carbon steel and all. I want my knives to start looking older and more-used because 90% of the use my knives get is just simply looking at them and admiring them. I want that "old time" look and feel, even on my newer knives. If I want one to remain pristine, I simply won't use it and just pull it out to admire it. I'm betting there are a bunch more here that are just like me... a whole bunch. :)

BTW, it's not only GEC that makes knives I admire, but this is a GEC thread. ;)

For example...
 
Last edited:
If all it came down to was ease of carry/use, high quality steel, and tolerances, I'd still carry a modern.

Not me. I'd be carrying my 4.25" Stockman with S35VN. I'm having a hard time carrying anything else this summer.

One thing about 1095, every time, is that every step from ordering through finishing gets dialed in. That lowers costs all around. I don't carry 1095 much in the summer because I'm out getting hot and sweaty and that does make me think twice before ordering another, but it doesn't seem to be hurting sales much. :)
 
I'm not sure that plays a significant part in it. I have said this before and there is always a bit of contention; but as the guy sitting in the middle I have watched enough to have a fairly good idea. 440C is just not a great seller. It will garner demand in small quantities; but in the past I have sit on SS way longer than 1095. And it does require a bit of a changeover in tooling; so you can't economically run just a few hundred. Folks that want stainless, want a better stainless - everyone else wants carbon. Bill has seen the same thing. The last time he had significant inventory buildup - the big part of it was GEC branded. The president of a factor listens to much feedback, but in the end his own experience has to play a significant part; a businessman remembers business.

Clearly you know more and I acknowledge that, sounds eminently reasonable too. I understand it might be uneconomic to make a short run but on popular patterns like the 15 I reckon the stainless went very fast. I've had people asking after my stainless 15 a number of times so I think there's a demand for popular patterns especially single-blade stainless.

On another note but not from your post, It's impossible to say whether carbon is actually overwhelmingly more popular than stainless for Traditional enthusiasts nor is it accurate to say that if rust or pitting appears then you're not using the knife correctly. Carbon requires extra care, constantly, otherwise....But then, it appears a lot of carbon knives are not actually USED much, remaining pristine and vigilantly looked after, so it doesn't really matter what steel it's made of ;).

My general point is of course conjecture. If GEC had the money to invest in more machinery then it could start doing runs of say 154 etc and I'm sure they would be much appreciated and sell well. But, it doesn't have this option so it has to focus on carbon which is understandable. I might add that the Lionsteel Roundhead has pleased me no end as it is not only entirely corrosion free and wonderfully assembled but shows off Ram's Horn to great effect-just wish GEC in the future would be able to offer their take on this :)

Thanks, Will
 
Clearly you know more and I acknowledge that, sounds eminently reasonable too. I understand it might be uneconomic to make a short run but on popular patterns like the 15 I reckon the stainless went very fast. I've had people asking after my stainless 15 a number of times so I think there's a demand for popular patterns especially single-blade stainless.

On another note but not from your post, It's impossible to say whether carbon is actually overwhelmingly more popular than stainless for Traditional enthusiasts nor is it accurate to say that if rust or pitting appears then you're not using the knife correctly. Carbon requires extra care, constantly, otherwise....But then, it appears a lot of carbon knives are not actually USED much, remaining pristine and vigilantly looked after, so it doesn't really matter what steel it's made of ;).

My general point is of course conjecture. If GEC had the money to invest in more machinery then it could start doing runs of say 154 etc and I'm sure they would be much appreciated and sell well. But, it doesn't have this option so it has to focus on carbon which is understandable. I might add that the Lionsteel Roundhead has pleased me no end as it is not only entirely corrosion free and wonderfully assembled but shows off Ram's Horn to great effect-just wish GEC in the future would be able to offer their take on this :)

Thanks, Will

If GEC took their most popular 5 patterns and just spent 6 months running them in stainless; it would no doubt make some happy. And probably even sell completely out. But, it is not guaranteed. And there would be a significant number of folks that complained for 6 months about not having anything to buy. Nearly guaranteed that that number would be more than those currently complaining about no stainless.

I agree with most of what you say; but it reminds me of a trip to the casino one time. I was in Eagan MN for a couple months of training in my younger days (physically and mentally); and ventured into a little Indian casino near Canterbury Downs. I wanted to play blackjack, but was quite the tightwad and all they had were $10 minimum tables. I finally got aggravated and asked one of the pit bosses why there wasn't any $2 tables. He said, "look around buddy, every seat is full at the $10 tables - why would we drop any to $2". It was then that I understood a little about business. It wasn't that they didn't want my business or didn't like me. They were just doing what was prudent to their end goal.
 
Yeah, but you saved a lot of money that way too:D Bigger gaming bigger losses:eek: usually...;)

Yup. It's quite the phenomenon. People win just often enough to get addicted, while losing overall. The best thing that can happen to someone is to lose their first time out. That initial experience is big.
 
Las Vegas, 1961 stopped to change planes on the way to Boot Camp. Had to borrow money for cigarettes when we left.

Good analogy for Great Eastern Cutlery. Why fix something that is not only not broke but wildly popular. If I want a traditional styled slip joint in “stainless” I will buy a lionSteel.
 
...
I agree with most of what you say; but it reminds me of a trip to the casino one time. I was in Eagan MN for a couple months of training in my younger days (physically and mentally); and ventured into a little Indian casino near Canterbury Downs. I wanted to play blackjack, but was quite the tightwad and all they had were $10 minimum tables. I finally got aggravated and asked one of the pit bosses why there wasn't any $2 tables. He said, "look around buddy, every seat is full at the $10 tables - why would we drop any to $2". It was then that I understood a little about business. It wasn't that they didn't want my business or didn't like me. They were just doing what was prudent to their end goal.
Almost nothing about the way GEC does business matches up with the way I want to "consume" knives, but at least I somehow, somewhere learned the same lesson Mike learned at the casino. :thumbsup::D
GEC would be nuts to change what they do so well in an effort to cater to a low roller like me! :rolleyes:
GEC does just fine without me (better than they'd do with me), and I'm pretty happy with my "knife life" without GEC.
(Actually, the existence of GEC is a big part of my knife life in the sense that I enjoy their products vicariously via the pictures posted on The Porch. :cool::thumbsup::))

- GT
 
Nothing against GEC (too expensive for me) but if you take the time and go to a Case dealer and look over what 's available you can find knives whose F&F is equal to GEC at half the price.
 
Nothing against GEC (too expensive for me) but if you take the time and go to a Case dealer and look over what 's available you can find knives whose F&F is equal to GEC at half the price.

I think you just said if you have the time to look thru an entire Case dealer's stock; you can find A knife as good as the standard GEC. I would have to agree with that; as long as it is a good sized dealer.
 
For what you pay Case makes good knives of varying quality. Seems best to select one in person though. I once had a great number of Spydercos. Great knives but to me most were screwed together sandwiches of stainless and G10, carbon laminate and other synthetics and the inevitable pocket clip. Nothing wrong with that but they don’t have the history and romance of traditionals. So I lost interest and they have all been sold.

I had recently a Case Barlow XX in sawcut bone. Nice. Inexpensive. But it just wasn’t up to the quality I was looking for. I will probably never get a GEC Barlow, they being out of my price range but I’d rather have one than a number of Case examples.

It’s all good though. We are fortunate to be able to satisfy our preferences because of companies like Case and Great Eastern Cutlery.
 
Great thread, and some very pertinent points from everyone. I really enjoy reading posts on this type of thread, you get to learn a lot and get a different perspective on things. I know i am guilty of being obstinate and sometimes not looking at other peoples perspective, but the conversation and ideas discussed on a thread like this can give a more balanced look at things.:thumbsup:
 
I think you just said if you have the time to look thru an entire Case dealer's stock; you can find A knife as good as the standard GEC. I would have to agree with that; as long as it is a good sized dealer.

I've been buying mail Case on-line or mail order for >20 years. Never sent one back.
 
I've been buying mail Case on-line or mail order for >20 years. Never sent one back.

They do make knives that are a great value for their price. I've been buying knives by mail from a dozen or so factories for a couple decades; I've sent at least one back to them all.
 
Back
Top