Hey Robert, I pulled this from the side of the tube-
A Colonial American Farm recently celebrated its 200Th anniversary. While clearing the grounds for the celebration, a cattle graveyard was discovered. Cattle skeletons had been accumulated in a common area for many years. The bones were gathered together into a sizeable pile. Craftsman at Great Eastern Cutlery perceived the possible value of these primitive bones and obtained some samples for prototypes. The bones were in a state of natural deterioration, showing severe age and weathering. Special processes were designed and utilized at Great Eastern Cutlery to prepare the primitive bone for knife handles and for assembly to pocketknife liners. The finished and polished knife handles, as much as sixty years old, have a unique character and coloration that can only be achieved by the many years of aging and natural weathering. Great Eastern Cutlery was able to obtain the primitive bones and will use them for a series of highly collectible Northfield Branded Serialized knives.
A colonial american faorm recently celebrated its 200th anniversary. In cleaning the grounds in preperation for the celebration a cattle graveyard was discovered. The bones were gathered togeather into a sizeable pile. Craftsmen at Great Eastern Cutlery percieved the possible value of these primitive bones and obtained some samples for prototypes. Special processes were designed and utilized at GEC to prepare the bones for knife making handles. The finished and poloished product is at least 60 years old. The unique character and color can only be produced by the natural aging process.
I've got someone looking for a 620311W Courthouse Whittler in Genuine Stag. If anyone's got one they'd be willing to sell or do some trading for, let me know and I'll put you in touch.
LOL. Well, thanks to my thumb having a bone, it is still attached and seems to be mending nicely. I like to keep my knives shaving sharp, because a sharp knife is a safe knife. Unless one does dumb stuff like not paying attention.
In the meantime I'm getting pretty good at opening my knives left handed, and Greg is sending me a #72 he says is so smooth and easy I can open it with my teeth.
I'll try anything once.
Well, it's like this...... I was spending some time with a couple of my favorite GEC's. My EDC 538308 Stockman and a Big Moose pattern, both having the same frame and size, but one having round tangs on the blades the other having the square tangs that snap open and closed smartly. I guess I forgot which knife I was opening because, instead of rolling open smoothly the blade snapped open with good authority and jumped out of my grasp cutting my right thumb plum down to the bone. Man did that sucker bleed!
Made me right proud of my sharpening job on that knife! Cuts effortlessly, cuts clean, and cuts deep. Heck of a good knife. Just gotta respect those GEC springs and pay attention is all.
The interesting part was all the great new combinations of cuss words I came up with.
I'm looking forward to that easy opening #72 Greg is sending me. Should solve a lot of potential "problems".
Thumb(s) up, Dave. I like how you tell the story. And yes, a sharp knife is safer, but caution and attention constantly remain necessary. “Security First” is the first thing I learned from my father and I teach my children. I wish you a swift cicatrisation.
I hope you heal quickly Dave. I'm sure you know the reason for the half stops. My comment was meant more as general information for some of the newer collectors that read these pages.
LOL. Thanks Jean! Thumbs up, and I'm glad I still have one. I changed the bandage last night and got a good look at it. Ain't pretty but it's still there. Life's Good!
Jan, now Donnie and I can exchange "war stories" about knife "wounds". The knives may have won the battle but we'll win the war.
Bob, those half stops are a great safety feature aren't they?
Now I just have to remember which of my knives have them and which don't.
Ya know, I still can't figure how I managed to get cut opening that knife! Closing I can understand, although as you point out the half stops are there to prevent that, but opening? It happened so fast I don't know just how it happened.
I know the feeling. Not only as a Collector,but as a Dealer,I handle HUNDREDS of knives in a years time. There is nothing more humbling than laying yourself wide open while showing a knife to a customer. I've learned to carry some heavy duty band-aids everywhere I go. Cuts just kind of go with the territory. Oh,and they usually buy the knife!
if you go to hot brands you will see a picture of my thumb i did the same thing guys. must be something in the water.i was taking a picture of my new case xx when i put it in postion it bit my thumb two...
LOL.
Bob, that's a hard way to sell a knife, but I know you'll go the extra mile to make the sale! I guess I'd but the knife too, figuring it's the least I could do. And you're right. Carrying the big band-aids just kind of goes with the territory.
It's a risky business we're in my friend!
Stephen, I remember that picture! You did a fine job there! LOL. And if I remember right you stuck it out and went on to make the photo, which turned out great! "When the going gets tough, the tough keep going". That's Stephen!
Good knives cut good. No matter what they're cutting.
Maybe we need to start some kind of "Vets Club" for knife cuts.
Donnie thinks that ya'll should call yourselves the cutting club. Thats why when he sharpens mine he always tells me, be careful I sharpened your knives today. It gaurentees I will cut myself that night
Everytime I sharpen knives for lady friends they cut themselves within 24 hours, guaranteed. I guess that's why they let their knives get so dull before they bring them to me.
Then again, maybe that's why I don't seem to have many lady friends...........
I hope you heal quickly, Dave. I opened a 12" Brian Wilhoite Bowie a few days ago to take a picture of it and it fell out of the box and landed on my ankle. Luckily it just left a little cut on my ankle where it landed on its side. I am sure glad that the blade didn't hit with the edge straight down. I'm always getting nicks from the knives.
Thanks Billy. That Bowie sounds like a really nice one. How about posting that picture? I'd like to see it.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one here who interacts with knives in a rather self destructive way at times. I guess it's just part of the "fun". I'm having so much "fun" I just did it again this morning! Right forefinger this time.....
LOL. Yeah,....can't take me anywhere....!
But hey, what am I s'posed to do? I'm sitting around with my thumb bandaged up as big a a cucumber and I can't do Nothin'! So I figure I might as well spend some time with my knives. I've got this Northfield #12 Toothpick that's a little stiff and it just needs to be worked in a bit. I'll work on that for awhile. Promising myself to be careful and pay attention, I wrapped the blade with my 3M polishing cloth, (an excellent cloth for knife maintenance by the way), gripped the frame securely, and began working the blade. All was going well, when the planets perfectly aligned, allowing my forefinger to work around the frame just enough so the heel of the blade could nicely slice off a chunk of the pad. Just like a little gillotine!
Now I'm not (real) dumb. I know what to do. So I made sure I carefully wiped the blood off the blade to avoid staining the beautiful polish on that 1095. Then I took care of the cut, and I must say I'm getting pretty good at it, even though my bathroom and sink looked like the drain room down at the local funeral home by the time everything was under control.
Maybe I just need to head back up into the mountains for awhile and get away from my knives until this whole thing blows over. This stuff's gettin' old!
Ya s'pose I should have just taped up the blade for safety to begin with.........?
(and I thought of that too, but.....naw...) Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Dave, I think it is safe to assume that we have all been there so don't feel too bad. I am just getting over cutting myself twice while photographing my GEC's which are pretty sharp! I just got into Randall Made Knives also, having just got my first two last month, and I nearly one-upped you (and me). I have my two knives sitting on my nightstand since they are new and I am still regularly admiring them and I was laying in bed getting ready to go to sleep and decided to look at the knives one more time. So I am laying on my back looking at this awesome stag handled knife over my head when I dropped it. The edge of the blade just grazed my neck. The darn thing is sharp - you could shave with it. I just got a scratch but I had to laugh in hindsight thinking of how it could have been a bit worse. Needless to say I am a bit more careful and don't hold 'em over my head anymore! That would have required a BIG bandaid!
Wow, Tom. Now that's really living on the ragged edge! LOL.
Glad you survived that one okay!
I always have at least a couple of knives on my night stand every night. Usually they are my latest aquisitions or some favorite EDC's. It's a good time to admire and spend time with them. I used to have a small assortment of Randalls and they certainly are fine knives, always with beautiful Stag.
I guess getting cut once in awhile is okay as long as we learn something from it.
Ya'll are scaring me. Who is going to left to type in here at the rate you are going. Keep your curses, I have 10 gt's of Jalepenos to cut and put up tomorrow and Donnie just sharped my knives.. Dave you need some peppers?
Dave, I agree with you. I learned sometimes it is better to admire our new aquisitions from a bit further away, i.e. not overhead! LOL. Who said that a sharp knife is a safe knife?! Maybe it should be a sharp knife owner is a safe knife owner? Hahaha.
Jan, just don't rub your eyes after cutting them up (or in my case hold the knive over your head)! When I cut up jalapenos or habaneros for Mexican dishes I put the produce bags over my hands. That way when I take my contacts out that night, or put them in the next morning I don't do the jalapeno dance. LOL! Happy canning!
Here's that bowie, Dave. I was taking pictures of some of my Steel Warriors that I started collecting with and cut myself twice opening them. I think both time it was a congress pattern that got me. Just little surface nicks. No major cuts.
I was watching Kniveslive last night and fell in love with a blood red jig bone trapper that they had on sale. It was a Northfield and I couldn't help myself. I ended up ordering it. I was looking at the few Great Eastern's that I have the other day and realized just how well built they are compared to other brands. I don't think that any other maker is as well built.
I think that alot of folks would agree with your last statement. GEC's are pretty awesome well made knives. The people making the knives are pretty awesome too. I tried to call Christine at GEC to order one of the New Aged #89's and Pat Vroman answered the phone because Chris was on another call. Pat and I ended up talking about GEC knives for at least 30-45 minutes. It was awesome to get to chat with him about what I liked about certain knives, handle materials that I wanted to see on more knives, things that I thought that could use tweaking a bit, etc. I don't know what other company, cutlery or otherwise, you could call up on a whim and talk to someone who is instrumental in the production of an item. The knives at GEC are great but the folks at GEC are the best too!!!
Billy, that's one nice looking Bowie! I love the handle inlays. Beautiful!
You're right about the Great Eastern knives. They are good knives and getting better all the time. I like the fact that they are not only a top quality product but made here is the USA as well. Just when I think I have the "perfect" knife they seem to come up with something new and interesting. Great company!
Tom, that's pretty neat that you had such a nice visit with Pat. I really hope to get to the GEC factory one day and meet him in person. He is another of us who gets out and uses his GEC's. Great guy! Christine is another super nice person who makes contacting GEC a happy experience. For me, knowing I have friends at GEC makes the knives extra special, and I've never met these folks. It's the warm friendly feeling besides an exceptional pocket knife that makes it all really special. As you know, they listen and are interested in what we like.
Glad you had a good visit. That's pretty cool. Have you been to the factory?
Well, an allergy attck kept me from cutting peppers today. Figured there was no was to keep my hands away from my face and I have had that expience. Tomorrow when I get home form work will be the time to get them done
No haven't had the pleasure of visiting the factory. I am way down here in Orlando and my family doesn't share in my knife addiction so a pilgrimage to the GEC factory wouldn't work so well. I would sure like to do it though. For now I will have to live vicariously through some of you more fortunate GEC collectors who are closer geographically. Tom
JJ PARKER
May 17, 2011
Jan Carter
JJ,
I have not heard the figures on any of the handle types. Let me see if I can find out for us.
May 17, 2011
Jan Carter
Ken Mundhenk, Bob Andrews...
Any input on how many PB's are scheduled top be produced in the 72 pattern?
May 17, 2011
In Memoriam
Robert Burris
May 17, 2011
Bruce Piehl
May 17, 2011
In Memoriam
Robert Burris
May 17, 2011
Jan Carter
May 17, 2011
Jan Carter
May 17, 2011
Jan Carter
May 17, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
The #28 pattern "French Kate" knife is now in production at GEC.
We will see her soon!
May 18, 2011
Jan Carter
May 19, 2011
Jan Carter
Looking for a Genuine Stag Courthouse Whittler
Looking for a Genuine Stag Courthouse Whittler
May 19, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
They say it's a woman's right to change her mind, so who knows for sure?
We'll soon see.
May 19, 2011
Jan Carter
May 19, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
She could indeed have a leather coat if she so desired.
Ben Hogan already has a nice one and Kate could too.
Thanks for asking.
I'm betting she will make her grand and first appearance in her "little black dress" of Ebony.
May 19, 2011
Jan Carter
May 19, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
In the meantime I'm getting pretty good at opening my knives left handed, and Greg is sending me a #72 he says is so smooth and easy I can open it with my teeth.
I'll try anything once.
May 19, 2011
Morrie Mayfield
Dave,
What the hell did you do to your thumb????????????????????????
PLEASE BE CAREFUL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morrie
May 19, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
Well, it's like this...... I was spending some time with a couple of my favorite GEC's. My EDC 538308 Stockman and a Big Moose pattern, both having the same frame and size, but one having round tangs on the blades the other having the square tangs that snap open and closed smartly. I guess I forgot which knife I was opening because, instead of rolling open smoothly the blade snapped open with good authority and jumped out of my grasp cutting my right thumb plum down to the bone. Man did that sucker bleed!
Made me right proud of my sharpening job on that knife! Cuts effortlessly, cuts clean, and cuts deep. Heck of a good knife. Just gotta respect those GEC springs and pay attention is all.
The interesting part was all the great new combinations of cuss words I came up with.
I'm looking forward to that easy opening #72 Greg is sending me. Should solve a lot of potential "problems".
May 19, 2011
Jean-François
Thumb(s) up, Dave. I like how you tell the story. And yes, a sharp knife is safer, but caution and attention constantly remain necessary. “Security First” is the first thing I learned from my father and I teach my children. I wish you a swift cicatrisation.
May 20, 2011
Jan Carter
May 20, 2011
Bob Andrews
May 20, 2011
Bob Andrews
May 20, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
LOL. Thanks Jean! Thumbs up, and I'm glad I still have one. I changed the bandage last night and got a good look at it. Ain't pretty but it's still there. Life's Good!
Jan, now Donnie and I can exchange "war stories" about knife "wounds". The knives may have won the battle but we'll win the war.
Bob, those half stops are a great safety feature aren't they?
Now I just have to remember which of my knives have them and which don't.
Sounds simple enough........ ha.
May 20, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
Bob, thanks for the kind words.
Ya know, I still can't figure how I managed to get cut opening that knife! Closing I can understand, although as you point out the half stops are there to prevent that, but opening? It happened so fast I don't know just how it happened.
I hate it when I do dumb stuff.
May 20, 2011
Bob Andrews
May 20, 2011
stephen tungate
May 20, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
Bob, that's a hard way to sell a knife, but I know you'll go the extra mile to make the sale! I guess I'd but the knife too, figuring it's the least I could do. And you're right. Carrying the big band-aids just kind of goes with the territory.
It's a risky business we're in my friend!
Stephen, I remember that picture! You did a fine job there! LOL. And if I remember right you stuck it out and went on to make the photo, which turned out great! "When the going gets tough, the tough keep going". That's Stephen!
Good knives cut good. No matter what they're cutting.
Maybe we need to start some kind of "Vets Club" for knife cuts.
May 20, 2011
Jan Carter
LOL,
Donnie thinks that ya'll should call yourselves the cutting club. Thats why when he sharpens mine he always tells me, be careful I sharpened your knives today. It gaurentees I will cut myself that night
May 20, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
Hey, that works every time!
Everytime I sharpen knives for lady friends they cut themselves within 24 hours, guaranteed. I guess that's why they let their knives get so dull before they bring them to me.
Then again, maybe that's why I don't seem to have many lady friends...........
Life is Hard.
May 20, 2011
Billy Oneale
May 20, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
Thanks Billy. That Bowie sounds like a really nice one. How about posting that picture? I'd like to see it.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one here who interacts with knives in a rather self destructive way at times. I guess it's just part of the "fun". I'm having so much "fun" I just did it again this morning! Right forefinger this time.....
I think I'm going to take up knitting.
May 21, 2011
Jan Carter
Dave Taylor,
Did I neglect to say be careful those knives are sharp?
May 21, 2011
Jan Carter
Dave,
Please make yourself a thimble!!
May 21, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
But hey, what am I s'posed to do? I'm sitting around with my thumb bandaged up as big a a cucumber and I can't do Nothin'! So I figure I might as well spend some time with my knives. I've got this Northfield #12 Toothpick that's a little stiff and it just needs to be worked in a bit. I'll work on that for awhile. Promising myself to be careful and pay attention, I wrapped the blade with my 3M polishing cloth, (an excellent cloth for knife maintenance by the way), gripped the frame securely, and began working the blade. All was going well, when the planets perfectly aligned, allowing my forefinger to work around the frame just enough so the heel of the blade could nicely slice off a chunk of the pad. Just like a little gillotine!
Now I'm not (real) dumb. I know what to do. So I made sure I carefully wiped the blood off the blade to avoid staining the beautiful polish on that 1095. Then I took care of the cut, and I must say I'm getting pretty good at it, even though my bathroom and sink looked like the drain room down at the local funeral home by the time everything was under control.
Maybe I just need to head back up into the mountains for awhile and get away from my knives until this whole thing blows over. This stuff's gettin' old!
Ya s'pose I should have just taped up the blade for safety to begin with.........?
(and I thought of that too, but.....naw...) Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
May 21, 2011
Tom Peterson
May 21, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
Wow, Tom. Now that's really living on the ragged edge! LOL.
Glad you survived that one okay!
I always have at least a couple of knives on my night stand every night. Usually they are my latest aquisitions or some favorite EDC's. It's a good time to admire and spend time with them. I used to have a small assortment of Randalls and they certainly are fine knives, always with beautiful Stag.
I guess getting cut once in awhile is okay as long as we learn something from it.
Sounds like you know a lot about gravity now!
Stay sharp!
May 21, 2011
Jan Carter
May 21, 2011
Tom Peterson
Dave, I agree with you. I learned sometimes it is better to admire our new aquisitions from a bit further away, i.e. not overhead! LOL. Who said that a sharp knife is a safe knife?! Maybe it should be a sharp knife owner is a safe knife owner? Hahaha.
May 21, 2011
Tom Peterson
Jan, just don't rub your eyes after cutting them up (or in my case hold the knive over your head)! When I cut up jalapenos or habaneros for Mexican dishes I put the produce bags over my hands. That way when I take my contacts out that night, or put them in the next morning I don't do the jalapeno dance. LOL! Happy canning!
Tom
May 21, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
Cut those peppers Jan! Live life to the fullest.
When, (not "if"), you get cut be sure to share it right here with all your friends on iKC.
Tom and I are waiting to hear from you.
May 21, 2011
Billy Oneale
May 21, 2011
Billy Oneale
May 21, 2011
Tom Peterson
Billy,
I think that alot of folks would agree with your last statement. GEC's are pretty awesome well made knives. The people making the knives are pretty awesome too. I tried to call Christine at GEC to order one of the New Aged #89's and Pat Vroman answered the phone because Chris was on another call. Pat and I ended up talking about GEC knives for at least 30-45 minutes. It was awesome to get to chat with him about what I liked about certain knives, handle materials that I wanted to see on more knives, things that I thought that could use tweaking a bit, etc. I don't know what other company, cutlery or otherwise, you could call up on a whim and talk to someone who is instrumental in the production of an item. The knives at GEC are great but the folks at GEC are the best too!!!
May 21, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
You're right about the Great Eastern knives. They are good knives and getting better all the time. I like the fact that they are not only a top quality product but made here is the USA as well. Just when I think I have the "perfect" knife they seem to come up with something new and interesting. Great company!
Tom, that's pretty neat that you had such a nice visit with Pat. I really hope to get to the GEC factory one day and meet him in person. He is another of us who gets out and uses his GEC's. Great guy! Christine is another super nice person who makes contacting GEC a happy experience. For me, knowing I have friends at GEC makes the knives extra special, and I've never met these folks. It's the warm friendly feeling besides an exceptional pocket knife that makes it all really special. As you know, they listen and are interested in what we like.
Glad you had a good visit. That's pretty cool. Have you been to the factory?
May 22, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
May 22, 2011
Jan Carter
May 22, 2011
Tom Peterson
Dave,
No haven't had the pleasure of visiting the factory. I am way down here in Orlando and my family doesn't share in my knife addiction so a pilgrimage to the GEC factory wouldn't work so well. I would sure like to do it though. For now I will have to live vicariously through some of you more fortunate GEC collectors who are closer geographically. Tom
May 22, 2011
Luca Vignelli
Hot news from GEC! I just received an email from Chris regarding our special factory order buffalo horn #36 sunfish:
May 23, 2011
KnifeMaker
Dave Taylor
Bummer Jan, allergy season here in AZ too. Hope you get to feeling better today!
Happy pepper cutting. Cut safe.
May 23, 2011