Thanks Jan. I sent the owner an email. Now I will have to start my research to see if I can figure out all the models that have been produced with the Burnt Grizzly bone. I would like to have a complete set.... but finding them is half the fun!
I just spoke with Chris Tucker the other day, she's the sales director at GEC, about special ordering custom spec knives. Their minimum order for a custom knife production is 50 pieces and they have a three to four month turnaround time. We have 88 memebers here so far, so we could use our numbers to order ourselves a very special knife and we could do so 3 or 4 times a year too. The way it works is that we spec the knife, from their existing patterns, choose materials, blades and details, and a mimimum order of 50 pieces (if not more) and they come back to us with a price. If the price works for us, we just sign the papers, give them the go ahead, and the money, and wait for our special packages in the mail! We'll get to talking about commissioning new patterns from them later, like a real repro of the C. Platts Jumbo Swell Center, although I did see the one the club made last year. Anyway, let me cut to the chase: I propose that we ask GEC to price out a Northfield #36 Sunfish all steel with smooth shiny all deep black buffalo horn handles (big black and shiny like a grand piano!). Anyone interested??? If I hear back from fifty of you out there we CAN do this! And then do it again and again!
Great! Craig and JJ are the first two to sign up for the "Grand Piano" Northfield #36 Sunfish! Can we get another 47 members? Yes we can! Spread the word folks!
This is terrific! We have 9 people so far, 8 here, and one from the ETTC group! And it's only the first full day of this posting. To those of you who have expressed interest in this project, I will not waver until we hit that magic number of 50 orders so that we can work with GEC on making this knife a reality. Tell your friends, spread the word among groups and members.
I just want to make one thing clear here. I will never ask anybody to send me any money, down payment or anything for anything ever. All purchases, once we get the final price from GEC, will be made directly through GEC and I will set that up for us for this knife. What am I getting out of this effort? The knife I want from a company whose work I admire at a price I can afford and some friends to share the experience with.
I'm really excited about this and as soon as we get this first one done, lets talk about a second special knife order!
OK, we're beginning to build some momentum here, we're now up to 11 interested members. To keep that momentum building now, I will call Chris Tucker at GEC this coming week and have them formally prepare an estimate for the production of a first set of fifty knives with the following specs:
GE Northfield UN-X-LD Sunfish #36 all Steel, two blade polished 1095 Carbon spear point with the UN-X-LD stamped into the main blade and a double pull, with pure black (no lighter inclusions) buffalo horn handles and the "cloud" shaped plain shield.
I'll also ask them to price out a production run of 100 and even 150 knives, so we can see how the price may drop and since some members may want more than one.
While I have GEC on the phone, I will also formalize a payment method that works best for both GEC and our club members so that we can send payment for our knives directly to GEC. I will not consolidate our payments myself nor can I fund the production myself.
I'll keep you all posted and please feel free to contact me with any comments.
A special thanks to Jan and Ken, and all of the other GEC group and iKC members who have expressed interest, for supporting my efforts in getting this project started.
Perhaps we can have some made with and some without writing on the shield, as this is not an officialy sanctioned iKC knife, but rather a more personal project I started within the community of iKC. I also wouldn't want to compete with the upcoming official 2011 iKC knife. I have a nagging concern that if any members decided to sell their knives in the future, a knife with an iKC/GEC shield may appeal to a smaller group of potential buyers than one with a plain shield, even though it is a limited run knife.
I welcome your input and will include your request in the estimate request to GEC.
On another note do you think the knives should be serialized or not? I had neglected to think about that in the specs. Thoughts?
So glad to hear you've got the "get er done" attitude! Today I sent an email requesting a formal estimate for the minimum fifty piece order and the payment details. Also asked for details on a larger order, if we can swing it. Just sitting here waiting for a response from GEC which I'd expect should come soon. I hope GEC is paying attention to us here, haven't checked the GEC/iKC group members list to see if any of them are personally on here, other than Ken who is one of their distributors and he's on board! Let's work on getting some more members up for this, one at a time.
Oh, and we're up to eleven so far. I figure some folks are waiting to get some more info before they sign on. For some reason our fellow iKC members on the Elephant Toenail Collectors Club group haven't signed on so fast, except for one. One day this will be a vintage knife they can all be proud to own... I'm planning on ageing with this knife in hand!
I'm definitely going to buy more than one, just waiting to see what the price will be and weighing that against what I can afford. Don't we all do that all the time!!! I feel like one of those old statues of "Justice" with the balance scales dangling from her hand, except I'm a him.
Max, OK, a COA distinguishing it as an IKC/GEC would work.
Luca, I know that Chris views this blog. She is pretty good, she keeps track of whats going on in the online community. I think VMan keeps track also. We are up to 90 members. YAHOO!!!
Just waiting for Chris and GEC to respond, then we'll get the ball rolling on this project. I'll let you all know by posting here when I hear the news and get the info we need.
Thanks for the update and again I appreciate your taking the initative on this. With members like you, being proactive on here, we may all have the opportunity to own a special GEC knife.
This one is going in the collection. I just can't stand the idea of ruining that beautiful stag. I usually have a lot of stuff in my pocket...and metal tends to wear the daylights out of just about everything that isn't steel...
Thank you to all who have sent me welcome messages..it helps to feel welcome..now I'll need a few days to become familiar with the navigation on the site to really participate,but in the mean time........
Luca please add me to the IKC/GEC Sunfish list for one please.
Good news! I spoke with Chris Tucker at GEC again this morning and we should have a firm estimate from Bill Howard (the President) in hand by the end of next week, more or less, on our custom order GEC Sunfish. I asked them to quote us prices on the knife as specified in quantities of 50, the minimum, 100 and also 150 pieces so that we can see how much the price drop is by quantity ordered. As soon as I have the quotes I'll post the info, and I know that will help us get more people interested in signing on.
Greg was very kind in posting a blurb on his blog about our knife and has allowed me to post our call for all interested parties to sign up for this knife. That should definitely bring more people here to sign on! Hopefully our group will grow as well!
Jan, So far we have promissed orders for 16 knives from fourteen people. I'm sure that number will grow after the end of next week when we get firm prices per unit.
Tom and James, I now have you on the list and that makes 18 people with 21 knives ordered. I am expecting to have price quotes by the end of the week for 50, 100, and 150 knives so we'll see what the price breaks are and how much interest we can generate.
I know, it's awfully quiet given that we have an exciting project going forward. Wrote to Chris this past Friday, but they hadn't managed to put a price quote together for us yet, they surely will though. That aught to liven things up a bit when they do!
Jan Carter
Vince
New listings, go look here
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_store/index.php?store_id=...
Jan 25, 2011
Jan Carter
or here
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&...
Jan 25, 2011
Vince Roberts
Thanks Jan. I sent the owner an email. Now I will have to start my research to see if I can figure out all the models that have been produced with the Burnt Grizzly bone. I would like to have a complete set.... but finding them is half the fun!
Thanks again
Jan 26, 2011
Jan Carter
Your welcome. Good refernce (pics) of the older models http://www.tsaknives.com/Great%20Eastern%20Photo%20Gallery.htm
Be careful because it will make you want them all
Jan 27, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Jan 27, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Jan 27, 2011
JJ PARKER
Jan 28, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Jan 28, 2011
Jan Carter
Count us in
Jan 28, 2011
Ray Wylie
Jan 28, 2011
Jack Crook
Jan 28, 2011
Richard L Campbell (Dick)
Jan 28, 2011
Luca Vignelli
This is terrific! We have 9 people so far, 8 here, and one from the ETTC group! And it's only the first full day of this posting. To those of you who have expressed interest in this project, I will not waver until we hit that magic number of 50 orders so that we can work with GEC on making this knife a reality. Tell your friends, spread the word among groups and members.
I just want to make one thing clear here. I will never ask anybody to send me any money, down payment or anything for anything ever. All purchases, once we get the final price from GEC, will be made directly through GEC and I will set that up for us for this knife. What am I getting out of this effort? The knife I want from a company whose work I admire at a price I can afford and some friends to share the experience with.
I'm really excited about this and as soon as we get this first one done, lets talk about a second special knife order!
Best to you all!
Luca
Jan 29, 2011
Alan
Jan 29, 2011
Luca Vignelli
OK, we're beginning to build some momentum here, we're now up to 11 interested members. To keep that momentum building now, I will call Chris Tucker at GEC this coming week and have them formally prepare an estimate for the production of a first set of fifty knives with the following specs:
GE Northfield UN-X-LD Sunfish #36 all Steel, two blade polished 1095 Carbon spear point with the UN-X-LD stamped into the main blade and a double pull, with pure black (no lighter inclusions) buffalo horn handles and the "cloud" shaped plain shield.
I'll also ask them to price out a production run of 100 and even 150 knives, so we can see how the price may drop and since some members may want more than one.
While I have GEC on the phone, I will also formalize a payment method that works best for both GEC and our club members so that we can send payment for our knives directly to GEC. I will not consolidate our payments myself nor can I fund the production myself.
I'll keep you all posted and please feel free to contact me with any comments.
Luca
Jan 29, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Jan 29, 2011
Jan Carter
Luca,
To distinguish it as an IKC/GEC I would like it if the shield said just that
Jan 29, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Jan,
Perhaps we can have some made with and some without writing on the shield, as this is not an officialy sanctioned iKC knife, but rather a more personal project I started within the community of iKC. I also wouldn't want to compete with the upcoming official 2011 iKC knife. I have a nagging concern that if any members decided to sell their knives in the future, a knife with an iKC/GEC shield may appeal to a smaller group of potential buyers than one with a plain shield, even though it is a limited run knife.
I welcome your input and will include your request in the estimate request to GEC.
On another note do you think the knives should be serialized or not? I had neglected to think about that in the specs. Thoughts?
Jan 29, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Craig,
So glad to hear you've got the "get er done" attitude! Today I sent an email requesting a formal estimate for the minimum fifty piece order and the payment details. Also asked for details on a larger order, if we can swing it. Just sitting here waiting for a response from GEC which I'd expect should come soon. I hope GEC is paying attention to us here, haven't checked the GEC/iKC group members list to see if any of them are personally on here, other than Ken who is one of their distributors and he's on board! Let's work on getting some more members up for this, one at a time.
I'm on it!
Luca
Jan 31, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Jan 31, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Jan 31, 2011
Jan Carter
Max, OK, a COA distinguishing it as an IKC/GEC would work.
Luca, I know that Chris views this blog. She is pretty good, she keeps track of whats going on in the online community. I think VMan keeps track also. We are up to 90 members. YAHOO!!!
Feb 1, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Feb 3, 2011
Jan Carter
Luca,
Thanks for the update and again I appreciate your taking the initative on this. With members like you, being proactive on here, we may all have the opportunity to own a special GEC knife.
Feb 3, 2011
Chris Stookey
Hello everyone!
I just thought that I'd take a second to share my latest GEC with all of you. It's a real nice one...
Feb 5, 2011
Chris Stookey
Feb 5, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Feb 5, 2011
Jan Carter
Chris,
Nice new addition, great color. Going in your pocket or the collection?
Feb 5, 2011
Chris Stookey
Feb 6, 2011
Rusty R Halsey
Feb 6, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Feb 7, 2011
Jim McLeod
Thank you to all who have sent me welcome messages..it helps to feel welcome..now I'll need a few days to become familiar with the navigation on the site to really participate,but in the mean time........
Luca please add me to the IKC/GEC Sunfish list for one please.
Feb 9, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Feb 9, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Feb 9, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Greg was very kind in posting a blurb on his blog about our knife and has allowed me to post our call for all interested parties to sign up for this knife. That should definitely bring more people here to sign on! Hopefully our group will grow as well!
see: http://blog.tsaknives.com/2011/02/09/interested-in-a-special-run-ge...
Feb 9, 2011
Jan Carter
Feb 10, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Feb 10, 2011
falah gumilar
hi, count me in!
thanks
Feb 12, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Feb 12, 2011
Tom C
Luca
Count me in for one or two depending on price point
Thanks
Feb 12, 2011
james childers
Feb 13, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Feb 14, 2011
Jan Carter
Feb 16, 2011
Jan Carter
Feb 16, 2011
Jan Carter
Feb 21, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Feb 21, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Feb 21, 2011
Jan Carter
Feb 22, 2011
In Memoriam
Scott King
Feb 22, 2011
Jan Carter
Feb 23, 2011