Great Eastern Cutlery will be having their 3rd annual knife rendezvous(open house) July 23rd,24th and 25th at their plant inTitusville, PA I'll be posting lodging and other information as I get it. Roger Cunningham and myself along with our wives went last year. We had a great time. I'll keep you posted.
I am Lost on Great Eastern. I stole the pictures from ebay hoping some of you Collectors would know thw answer.
This knife has the number 127 etched on the Bolster. The blade says 250 made. The seller of this knife said only 110 were made. Now the question. How can this be number 127 if only 110 were made in this Bone Jigging? What are they talking about is 127 the frame number?
This is the Auction information that was posted with the knife below.
Up for bid is a 2006 Great Eastern Cutlery Tidioute model #23 Pioneer with diamondback amber jigged bone handles. There were only 110 of this pattern made with this jigged bone in the innaugural year of this fine cutlery. This knife is serial #127 (250 total of this Tidioute pattern made, 110 in diamondback bone). It measures 4 1/2" closed, has flush nickel silver bolsters and pinned "Tidioute" shield, brass liners and pins, and 1095HC carbon steel blades, unused and unsharpened. Both blades have super strong half stops and excellent walk and talk. Any marks on the blades are simply from the factory oil, they're in pristine condition. The bone handles are in excellent condition, no chips or cracks, and done in GEC's own diamondback jigging. The knife has never been used and comes with original tube and wax paper wrap. This knife is one of the first knives made in GEC's first year of production, don't miss this opportunity to own a piece of history! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
OK, it worked! I'll get back to the ebay link in a second, but first I wanted to say I was watching the same 2006 GEC auction that Mike was asking about. All the different numbers for quantities had me confused also. Referencing the GEC 2006 Production Totals (this is cool!) only confused me more. They show a total of 200 #23 Tidoutes made, 110 of them in diamondback bone. There is something I'm not understanding here.
This knife, although a prototype, is the same as referenced in a previous post. It is a Bulldog brand 3 blade trapper made by GEC. I respect GEC quality, like most Bulldog knives that are not celluloid, and love the 3 blade trapper design. But there is something about this knife that turns me off. In my opinion, it is an ugly knife. Seems to be selling ok though.
Well if they made 200(I don't find that number and expect it to be more like 210+), maybe the first 81 were Bocote; the next 19 were Chocolate Bone; the last 110 were Diamondback Bone. They didn't start the serial numbers over for each handle material.
I didn't care for that 3Blade either, until I got it in-hand. Something about that expensive little beast...
Hi Rusty. I am still confused. Rusty a question how do you tell a PROTOTYPE in GEC? Cool link you provided. I went back and added all the different shield varieties together and found GEC only showa a total Production of each of the shield types on the 23 Pattern at 244, 227, & 21o. I am still Corn-fused!!
Great Eastern branded (Northfield, Tidioute, Great Eastern) prototypes will have a large main blade etch "Prototype". The Bulldog branded variants are etched at the Bulldog shop and probably on the back of the main blade in a more subtle metal etching.
Be careful unless you get prototypes of a variant that was never actually made at all; which is the true reason for prototypes (to pick on variant over another for final production). There is a large market for proto's and they are quite easy to counterfeit if the only difference is the etching....
OK, maybe you hit the numbering sequence on the head 210 made of the 23 pattern in the Tidioute Shield they had 3 digfferent Jigging patterns. Apparrently all the Spay blades were all etched before assembly and GEC had plans to manufacture 250 total knives but only wound up making 210 with this Shield? So were their 40 Prototyppes possibly made with the Tidioute Shield, Inquiring minds want to know?
I got a feeling that collecting these GEC knives will be as much fun as collecting the CASE CLASSICS was when they were very affordable.
No, GEC will only make 2 protos of each variant and #1 goes into the company collection. I expect they used the remaining blades for the 2007/2006 transition River Valley Green Pioneer. That tang has both dates (they added the 2007). People will throw a fit if you go higher than your etched max production; few complain if you come in under advertised production totals.
It has been brought to my attention that our 2006 production numbers are not correct. I would like to explain the #23 Amber. My records show that we produced the following in numerical order for the #23 Tidioute: 001 - 136 - Diamond Back Amber, 137 - 189 - Bocote Wood, 190 - 199 - Diamond Back Amber, 200 - 205 - Bocote Wood, 206 - 208 - Diamond Back Amber, 209 - 230 - Bocote Wood, 231 - Diamond Back Amber, 232 - 250 Chocolate Jig bone. Hope that helps explain it somewhat.
Thanks Chris, I am glad the Ladies & Gentlemen from Great Eastern are members of this Club, Especially You! You had the records on hand to provide an answer to my question in an exceptionally quick time! :).
I am sure sooner or later other questions will come up about Production Numbers and the relation to a particular number of a knife’s frame. It is great to know that You have records of the different handles and numbers sequence associated with the different Shields. Oh, and I didn’t have a hard time understanding what you were saying.
At this time Counterfeiting is probably not a problem with GEC, however as time goes by and these early issues rise in value, then I would almost bet some enterprising Person will attempt to counterfeit the more valuable issues of your early cutlery. It’s great to know somebody can tell us if the knife is legit or not.
I collected The Case Classics because the Quality of the knives, however the miss information on them was tremendous. Even the Case Classics Book that was published in 1995 had some typos in it. Hopefully when the GEC Book is published for GEC collectors your records will be a little more accurate.
Great Eastern Cutlery will be conducting their annual "Open House" on July 23rd with tours of the factory 8A-2P, July 24th with tours of the factory, 8A-4p and July 25th with tours 8A-4P. Their address is: 701 Spring Street, Titusville, PA. Chris at GEC has provided the following lodging information:
Comfort Inn - Titusville - 814-827-0041
Cross Creek Resort - Titusville - 814-827-9611
Arlington Hotel - Oil City - 814-677-1221
Holiday Inn Express - Cranberry - 814-677-2640
Quality Inn - Franklin - 814-437-3031
Robert I'm sorry it took so long to respond, I've been working on a project and haven't been on here for a few days. Yes they have half stops and have good snap on them.
Scott, Joe Ball here...finally. It was great to meet and chat with you at the Blade show and I am impressed with this whole e-community you have provided. Fantastic work. Also grateful for this space devoted to those like me who love GE knives. Hi Chris!
Interesting family history and all about being from PA. Pretty cool. And you have relatives working for knife companies now too? You do fit right in here.
So you were attracted to GE because of their factory's location? I see you met GE Group's host- Ken, good.
I am amazed at the new congress stag. It is a very elegant design and feels light and very pocketable, one of my new favorites! A very classy addition to the collection.
just got the congress abalone .......................... WOW
i think im still blinded from the shine and dizzy from the unreal 3 D effects.
I could not be more impressed.
Even more classy an addition.
Thanks to Scott King, founder of this site and Lisa, an old NKCA friend I discovered the Great Eastern Knife Co. I have been involved heavily in knife collecting since 1969, but have not been very active for the last four years. Since being made aware of this site I have purchased a Northfield Sunfish, A Northfield moose, and a Northfield whittler all with beautiful burnt stag handles. I also purchased a Bulldog muskrat with burnt stag handles. They are all beautiful knives and among the highest quality knives I have ever seen. Thanks much Scott and Lisa.
Scott.... the ETs are on a different plane of existence... my three GE ETs are still bomb, I agree...even the acrylic which I normally can take or leave.
Richard... I think you are onto something!
Dick, I am glad you like them. The folks behind the company are good folks who care about quality knife making.
And for you other older knife guys/gals here- when Josh (Joe) says "my three GE ETs are still bomb...." translated- it means he likes them :) Josh if I missed your meaning let me know.
Hey Ryan. Glad to see you join your knife company's fan club here! Gotta open house coming up this weekend, eh? Wish I could get there....but I can't. Ken is going and try to get some video so I can edit it and put it up here. Hope you will give him permission to video the factory.
Ken Mundhenk
May 13, 2009
In Memoriam
Scott King
Is that something you can post on the master community calendar?! :)
Scott
May 13, 2009
Mike Bryant
I am Lost on Great Eastern. I stole the pictures from ebay hoping some of you Collectors would know thw answer.
This knife has the number 127 etched on the Bolster. The blade says 250 made. The seller of this knife said only 110 were made. Now the question. How can this be number 127 if only 110 were made in this Bone Jigging? What are they talking about is 127 the frame number?
May 13, 2009
Mike Bryant
Up for bid is a 2006 Great Eastern Cutlery Tidioute model #23 Pioneer with diamondback amber jigged bone handles. There were only 110 of this pattern made with this jigged bone in the innaugural year of this fine cutlery. This knife is serial #127 (250 total of this Tidioute pattern made, 110 in diamondback bone). It measures 4 1/2" closed, has flush nickel silver bolsters and pinned "Tidioute" shield, brass liners and pins, and 1095HC carbon steel blades, unused and unsharpened. Both blades have super strong half stops and excellent walk and talk. Any marks on the blades are simply from the factory oil, they're in pristine condition. The bone handles are in excellent condition, no chips or cracks, and done in GEC's own diamondback jigging. The knife has never been used and comes with original tube and wax paper wrap. This knife is one of the first knives made in GEC's first year of production, don't miss this opportunity to own a piece of history! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Item Specifics
Type : Folding Knife Brand: Great Eastern Cutlery
Material : 1095HC Model: #23 Pioneer
CLOSED LENGTH : 4 1/2" Style: Folding Trapper
May 13, 2009
Rusty R Halsey
I'm still playing with referencing an ebay auction. Lets see if this works.
May 14, 2009
Rusty R Halsey
This knife, although a prototype, is the same as referenced in a previous post. It is a Bulldog brand 3 blade trapper made by GEC. I respect GEC quality, like most Bulldog knives that are not celluloid, and love the 3 blade trapper design. But there is something about this knife that turns me off. In my opinion, it is an ugly knife. Seems to be selling ok though.
May 14, 2009
Mike Latham
I didn't care for that 3Blade either, until I got it in-hand. Something about that expensive little beast...
May 15, 2009
Mike Bryant
May 15, 2009
Mike Latham
Be careful unless you get prototypes of a variant that was never actually made at all; which is the true reason for prototypes (to pick on variant over another for final production). There is a large market for proto's and they are quite easy to counterfeit if the only difference is the etching....
May 15, 2009
Mike Bryant
OK, maybe you hit the numbering sequence on the head 210 made of the 23 pattern in the Tidioute Shield they had 3 digfferent Jigging patterns. Apparrently all the Spay blades were all etched before assembly and GEC had plans to manufacture 250 total knives but only wound up making 210 with this Shield? So were their 40 Prototyppes possibly made with the Tidioute Shield, Inquiring minds want to know?
I got a feeling that collecting these GEC knives will be as much fun as collecting the CASE CLASSICS was when they were very affordable.
May 15, 2009
Mike Latham
May 15, 2009
KnifeMaker
Joan Mae Howard
May 15, 2009
Mike Latham
I think you said 150 Amber, 81 Bocote, and 19 Chocolate; all but the Chocolate with varying number ranges...?
In other words, stop trying to make sense out of 2006 serial numbers...
May 15, 2009
Richard L Campbell (Dick)
May 15, 2009
Mike Bryant
I am sure sooner or later other questions will come up about Production Numbers and the relation to a particular number of a knife’s frame. It is great to know that You have records of the different handles and numbers sequence associated with the different Shields. Oh, and I didn’t have a hard time understanding what you were saying.
At this time Counterfeiting is probably not a problem with GEC, however as time goes by and these early issues rise in value, then I would almost bet some enterprising Person will attempt to counterfeit the more valuable issues of your early cutlery. It’s great to know somebody can tell us if the knife is legit or not.
I collected The Case Classics because the Quality of the knives, however the miss information on them was tremendous. Even the Case Classics Book that was published in 1995 had some typos in it. Hopefully when the GEC Book is published for GEC collectors your records will be a little more accurate.
May 15, 2009
Ken Mundhenk
Comfort Inn - Titusville - 814-827-0041
Cross Creek Resort - Titusville - 814-827-9611
Arlington Hotel - Oil City - 814-677-1221
Holiday Inn Express - Cranberry - 814-677-2640
Quality Inn - Franklin - 814-437-3031
Hope to see you there
May 18, 2009
In Memoriam
Scott King
May 26, 2009
Ken Mundhenk
May 27, 2009
Richard L Campbell (Dick)
May 27, 2009
KnifeMaker
Joan Mae Howard
May 29, 2009
In Memoriam
Scott King
May 29, 2009
KnifeMaker
Joan Mae Howard
May 29, 2009
In Memoriam
Scott King
May 29, 2009
Ken Mundhenk
May 30, 2009
KnifeMaker
Joan Mae Howard
Jun 3, 2009
Ken Mundhenk
Pics of Tortosie Shell Acrylic and River Blue Jigged Bone Congress and GEC 01 Blade KeyJun 3, 2009
Robert Spring
Jun 5, 2009
Ken Mundhenk
Jun 8, 2009
Joe Ball
Jun 16, 2009
In Memoriam
Scott King
So you were attracted to GE because of their factory's location? I see you met GE Group's host- Ken, good.
Jun 19, 2009
Joe Ball
Jun 20, 2009
Joe Ball
Jun 23, 2009
Joe Ball
i think im still blinded from the shine and dizzy from the unreal 3 D effects.
I could not be more impressed.
Even more classy an addition.
Jun 23, 2009
In Memoriam
Scott King
Jun 23, 2009
Richard L Campbell (Dick)
Jun 24, 2009
Joe Ball
Richard... I think you are onto something!
Jun 25, 2009
In Memoriam
Scott King
And for you other older knife guys/gals here- when Josh (Joe) says "my three GE ETs are still bomb...." translated- it means he likes them :) Josh if I missed your meaning let me know.
Jun 25, 2009
Roger Cunningham
Jun 25, 2009
In Memoriam
Scott King
Jun 25, 2009
Roger Cunningham
Jun 25, 2009
Ken Mundhenk
Jun 25, 2009
Joe Ball
Jun 26, 2009
Ken Mundhenk
Pic of Tidioute Barlow, single blade with Exotic Mexican BocoteJun 30, 2009
Ken Mundhenk
Tidioute single blade barlow, standard orange jigged boneJun 30, 2009
Ken Mundhenk
Tidioute barlow, clip and spey blades, standard jigged orange boneJun 30, 2009
Joe Ball
Jul 1, 2009
In Memoriam
Scott King
Jul 17, 2009
Perry Miller
Jul 17, 2009
In Memoriam
Scott King
Jul 21, 2009
Danny Allen
Jul 21, 2009