Well I see the two obvious

Do you have a favorite style of knife for your own use? 

Do you have a favorite style of knife you prefer to make?  

Do you prefer an existing pattern or creating a new one?

Anyone else have ideas before I send this out?  I have to get Bill's permission for Chris to ask the associates but we will certainly ask!

Hi guys! I haven't bought a GEC knife yet. I think I'm afraid to. LOL!

Well Craig, I saw you liked carbon steel knives, well you're not gonna find any better than a GEC. They use 1095 carbon steel, it's one of the best. Miss Jan, those questions sound great but lets see what others have to say.

I doubt you will be disappointed Craig. They have it all. Great materials, workmanship, variety and they are beautiful.  Go ahead...take the plunge!

OUCH!!  You guys twist an arm real good! LOL! Now that I've gone to the dark side of carbon steel, that's one aspect that I don't have to fret about.

Any nice pictures of the #53 or # 66?

Craig, here are some pictures of some of my 66's. I couldn't find pics of the muskrats. I seem to be missing alot of my pictures but you can see more in my GEC picture albums here on iKC. I need to retake my collection and be more organized I guess. Will post some 53's next.

Here are some 53's, more in my albums on my page.

Very nice Tom!!  I love bone, stag and wood handles, but I also love the "old celluloid"  look too!!! Lots to pick from!

Hey guys I almost forgot to share.  Chris told me there are some more of the bullnoses coming out soon in the orange and a black too

hey jan... thanx for the updates http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/pocket-knives/2012-new-releases/  with that link their they can go and check em out by pictures as well.... also notice some more SFO this year... also i know bladeforums is having thier club knife as of right now...done by GEC....that may change.

Miss Jan, this is my 4 GEC user knives. It's finally complete with my last purchase of the Trader lockback.

Robert,

Some great choices there!

I am so very pleased to announce a selection for the 2012 iKnife Collector knife. Our selection is:

From GEC a Whittler, specifically #570312 Northfield UN-X-LD, jigged Pioneer bone. The blade is 1095 Carbon Steel. The knife will include the traditional Wharncliffe (cut swedge), Pen and Coping blades(inside cut swedges) that are polished. The main blade will have the Northfield Tang Stamp. Bolsters on the knife will be Lined and /Dimpled.

The Shield will be our iKC shield used last year and an etch this year -see the picture. It will not contain serial numbers but will come with a tube under the Northfield label and have a Certificate of Authenticity(COA)

The price for this years knife is $123 USD plus $7 us and $15 international.  All shipping is  through the US postal service.

As last year, all knives must be prepaid.

We do need your names and addresses to coordinate the list with GEC. Please send an email to myself or Jan Carter with your name and address of where you want your knife shipped.

Payment:  For the processing,  Jan  is putting together a spread sheet with correct names, addresses and method of payment. 

This year we are pleased to offer a direct pay option through the Great Eastern PayPal Account. sales@greateasterncutlery.net Pay Pal

Anyone choosing to do a Money Order or personal check to GEC should still give us your name and address and mail their payment to:

Great Eastern Cutlery
701 East Spring Street
Unit 10 Building 2
Titusville , Pennsylvania 16354

Please make sure your name and the words IKC knife are on the payment.

On behalf of Scott King our founder, the selection committee and all the members of iKC we sincerely appreciate your continued interest and participation in our community.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks for that info on the 2012 IKC Jan, I've made payment to GEC already.

Awesome selection and one I do not have, Thks Alan

Alan,

Thanks for the support, we appreciate it.  So Glad you like it and I was pleased we went with GEC again!

Yes Mam, I love ya'll decision, I think everyone will be pleased with this years knife. Thanks for all ya'll hard work.

A true labor of love Robert!  This is a wonderful community and getting to help design a knife is AWESOME!!!

Just noticed there is a 89 (melon tester) being produced in a short run.  

Have ya'll seen the new #23 Jack knife with Calico Bone handles? Sweet! That's all I can say, "Sweet"!

MELON TESTER?!! I love the melon tester styles.  When does this GEC #89 come out young lady?

I can't wait to see these!!!

If they are what I think they are, people are gonna love them.

Heres the pics in process

http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/information/89-short-run/

and here is the page of the previous 89's

http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/patterns/89-melon-tester-2/

I love this pattern also!

Nice...very nice.

Nice lookin' knives, them Beavertails! I love that Beaver badge! Thanks for posting some cool pics of your properly initiated and now broke-in knife.

Cheers from the other Ron!

Ain't no tuna on my breath!

Ron, these knives are mean't for hard work and I love to see that your putting it through the paces. Great pics.

I couldn't find much by googling it, but can someone please tell me all the ins and outs of "Looking Glass handles"?

Hello Craig. In a looking glass handle GEC uses a thin piece of genuine material, usually abalone or mother of pearl, and then covers it with clear acrylic. It is a great idea, as you get the beauty of the material, and the toughness of the acrylic. It makes it very pocket friendly

Thanks Gary! Sounds like a new and improved idea! I guess it keeps the cost down some?

Yes, and that as well

hello craig,I own a couple of the looking glass models,..and they are quite nice.they are less Pricey than the non-looking glass handles. like gary said they are a thiner piece of material,coated with  a clear acrylic.they also seem to be more pieced together,{not a solid piece of material} more than the originals ,but, that could be my opinion, I'm not sure if that is a trait of looking glass version, or just my collection of them.

Interesting. Thanks Jeff!

Okay, I did the deed. I placed my first GEC order last night. Not one....not two....but THREE knives!

Okay, I give.....what does "PPP Pattern Production Premier" mean? First run of that pattern?

So now Craig, which three have set you a fire with glee.....and yes on the PPP

1. #26 Northfield Sleeveboard in Cocobola with clip

2. #33 Northfield Conductor in Burnt Sienna Jigged Bone

3. #33 Northfield Conductor in Stag

That is exciting Craig!!  And a PPP too?

No, no PPP.  I just noticed that listed on a dealers site.

I'm already looking around and thinking about my next months knife order!

Where's the best place to find out stuff about GEC?  

Also, do they put out new handle materials every year? On each model, or just selected models? 

Are all production runs split up with half serialized and half non-serialized?

Are they going to continue to produce fixed blades, or is what is out now all there is going to be?

Do they always produce a model or pattern in both Northfield and Tidioute markings?

How often do they come out with a completely new pattern?

Craig...ooouuch careful you don't want to overload on to much information at once,you might go broke.....

For more information you'll need to take in a few other Blogs and Forums

Other GEC Dealers

TSA Knives Blog (linked from website)

Old Hundred Collectibles Blog (linked from website

Collector Knives (left hand side towards bottom link to register)

Forums

All About Pocket Knives

And you bound to see a few familiar names

Craig,

LOL...we are happy to answer any questions right here.

Each year there are handle materials and patterns added to the line.  The mix is based on many things included the feedback from the customers.

Not all productions are split.  Most are not even.  If a run calls for 30 knives, they need to make about 40 or so to account for those that dont make the grade.  So the original 30 will be serialized and then any remaining are non serialized.  Some runs are just not serial numbered at all

There are no plans to drop the fix blade production.  They just dont make them as often as they do the pocketknives

Completely new pattern, it varies.  New frame and everything, a few times a year.  A change to an existing frame..pretty often

Jim is certainly right. All of those are good places to get information and you will certainly see some familiar faces.

Jan,

Thanks as always!

Jim,

Thanks Jim. I've already been to those places. Overload? Me? LOL! I LOVE knife information! At my age now I might not remember a lot of it (I don't know if I should laugh or cry), but overload....no way!

I see now Craig..you have an insatiable appetite for more information and you've run the gambit on all the regular hang outs for GEC....one thing left to do Dorothy follow the Black Pavement to PA.

One of the things that make knife collecting = buying is the studing of all the different knives, patterns and handles. I think this part of knife collecting is lost by some people but can be a very enjoyable part of the hobby. Good luck Craig, I know you will make a great choice. GEC, forever!

Jim, I like how you think!!!

Comment by Jim McLeod 1 hour ago

Jim Said;

I see now Craig..you have an insatiable appetite for more information and you've run the gambit on all the regular hang outs for GEC....one thing left to do Dorothy follow the Black Pavement to PA.

Hmmm....I was born in PA. Maybe  I should go visit. Except I can't afford it......I buy too many knives! LOL!

Ok, here are answers to all your questions:

We are always looking for more or different handle materials/colors to put on the knives.  They go on any or all models.

Serialized/non-serialized usually follow these basic guidelines:  if the run is under 50 pcs. then there are no serial numbers put on the knife, if the run is 50 pcs. to 75 then we serialized the first 25 pcs. and not the rest, if the run is 75 pcs. or more then we serialize the first 35 pcs. and not the rest.

We will continue to produce fixed blade knives and there are some on our schedule at this time and should be finished in the next month or two.

Most of the time we produce in both the Tidioute and Northfield patterns at the same time.  Tidioute being the working man's line and the Northfield is the fancier line with more expensive handle materials, different swedges, long pull nail marks, lined/slanted/dimpled bolsters on some.

As for new patterns (new body styles) we currently have something brand new come out approx. every 6 - 8 weeks.  In between this time we will often take an existing pattern and change the blade configuration in it to then have another new knife with a old body style.

I hope this has answered all your questions and if there is anything else I can help you with just let me know.

thanx alot chris!

THANK YOU MS. CHRIS!!!!!