Johnny2S,

What is the ugly knife that you don't want? You lucky dog you, you got folks everywhere giving you knives! What's your secret my friend? You are the field tester extraordinare! You should be on the payroll at GEC. Every time you do a write up of a knife I somehow feel compelled to go get one of whatever you're writing about, like I'm missing out on something! You did get me started on the American Elk, and for that I thank you. I haven't found a #12 GEC toothpick out there though. I was actually looking for two - one for myself and one for my father in law who is the real fisherman lately. I saw one at a retailer after your #12 fishing story and I didn't jump on it fast enough. GEC might oughta think about making a two blade toothpick like the old fishing knives but much better in the GEC fashion. One with a std. toothpick blade and one with the fish scaler& hook remover both in 440C and a hook sharpener on one side of the handle (American Elk would be nice). Upscale functionality!

Tom, okay if they did one like that, I would NEED to HAVE one, or two, but wow, my mouth is watering right now. I would buy one of them with any materials used, I love the sounds of that. If GEC would make a knife that didn't appeal to me, that would be okay, but they all looks so good, I want them all. : ( I hope you can find an Elk Pick, they are definitely pearls to have on a trout fishing excursion, well, at least for me.

 

I just keep EDCing every knife I get, so if I'm gonna use one, why not pass on a little info to others who may be curios? I want people to know that GEC makes a great product, and one of the real ways of knowing that they do, is trying one in the pocket.

 

Are you gonna pack the #61 in your pocket?

I thought that my idea of a fisherman's special #12 would set the hook on you Johnny! I want all of the GEC's too, as I said before, even the ones that I don't want have a way of finding their way home to me. I didn't think that I was gonna like the Templars but ended up with 9 of them (they reproduce like rabbits)! I plan on carrying the #61 and it will be in the rotation with my #25 New Aged and #89 New Aged. Works ok with blue jeans with a coin pocket but when wearing shorts in the summer I always get mad at myself for putting my keys in my knife pocket. I hate to scratch up even my EDC's too much! I have several (read: LOTS OF) old classic other vintage knives that I like to pick from too. I have given up on the oldies for awhile but I have an Ulster Cattlemans knife in peachseed jigged bone that I like to carry when I'm not carrying my GEC's. I do enjoy a well made vintage knife and thinking of all that history from time to time. GEC's have the same quality of craftsmanship (if not better) but they only lack the decades of patina and pocket wear of some of my vintage friends. Check out some of my pics on my page sometime.

Tom, I've visited your pics many times, I can't say that they help my want to take a break from buying. Those Templars are amazing, I need one of those yet, and I'll probably have one before I get anything else. I'm just afraid that I'll like'm a lot, then I need more. I can't stand not using my GEC's, they just feel at home in my hand, or pocket, that quality needs to be put to the test, and they need to earn their keep. They fit the bill for an EDC knife quite perfectly, so I'm always wanting to carry every knife. I have a few that will wait months before I get them into the pocket. 

 

Right now my #72 Red Wine has been my working buddy, she's helped me on the farm many times this year, when I get home she gets cleaned up, and slid back into my pocket, them my #61 joins in. They really work well for me, I don't "miss" another knife, I just decide on which one will be best suited for the chore before I pull one out. 

 

I missed out on the New Aged, but they look really good. Right now though, I'm on a stainless kick.

Tom,

I am going to get a chance TODAY to catch up on the pics you have posted,  Can't wait

Tom,

Impressive collection of GEC.  Makes me want more!!

Hey GEC folks!!!

Ryan just sent me an email....The Whaler just won the Knives Illustrated Overall Knife of the Year

Wa-hoo! Knife of the year!  I agree whole-heartedly with their choice!

It would sure be my choice. I just received the #2 primitive bone today. I guess Jan beat me to the #1. The Whaler is a fine specimen.

LOL, #1 never leaves the factory.  But the order is in, hope to have it next week.  Dick can you get us a pic?

For some reason I can not transfer the pictures from my computer, but you will love it.

 

Thanks for trying Dick, I'll post ours when it gets here

I am gonna post a picture soon of a scout trapper in 440c that James Ivy rehandled for me, GEC 2008. It had sort of plain jane redish bone slabs, I bought it because of the 440c steel. James performed a little magic on it.

I can't wait to see it Robert, I hear it came out rather nice

To,

Well the Cranberry Wine was up but now its gone from the site.  Maybe they are changing it to Janberry Jigged?

Here's the GEC trapper with new handles by our James Ivy.

Pictures just don't do it justice. Rattlers courtesy of Atchafalaya swamp.

Thats a beauty Robert. : )

I just got back from upper Sandusky OH, I have lots to write and share, but brain does not want to function. Great posts everybody, I'm gonna try and catch up.

Robert,

That indeed is a beauty  anf them are some real big rattles!!  Johnny, relax the brain and then tell us baout the trip.

James does some great work, everyone around here thinks it's ivory. Gec puts great handles but there's nothing wrong with a little change.

The new beaver tail is out, everything looks great. : )

Way to go GEC.

http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/7351...

And check out this beauty.

http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/7351...

YEA, new Beavertails!!!

The primitive bone has made it.  It is just fantastic

They really are great aren't they? I believe I like mine better than the stag. It is my first primitive bone handled knife. Now all we need is a pearl, but I am not sure I could afford it.

Oh I prefer it to stag

Borrowed this from Ryans Facebook...

Many of our production processes and equipment here at Great Eastern Cutlery are the same or very similar to those used in the cutlery factories of 75 years ago. We continually strive to make our pocket knives reminiscent of that era, an improbable task without the use of bygone manufacturing, but also, a bygone terminology. Just as with all other types of manufacturing, there are names and terms specifically used in the cutlery industry. We use it here at Great Eastern Cutlery on an everyday basis. This terminology from 100 years ago was conveyed by highly skilled cutlers from one cutlery company to another throughout their careers. But in the 21st century, skilled cutlery workers are nearly nonexistent, and there are no trade schools for cutlery manufacturing, so new employees here at Great Eastern Cutlery have the difficult task of not only learning the manufacturing process but also the terminology.

The Knife Makers Who Went West by Harvey Platts is an excellent book to read about the cutlery manufacturing history in the United States. The book follows the lives of four generations of the Platts family in the cutlery industry. A portion of that book that includes pocket knife assembly diagrams and terminology handed down through generations is copied below. We use the same terminology here at Great Eastern Cutlery

 

Miss Jan, I agree in some ways the cutlery industry has gone backwards, in some cases, in producing good knives. 

Jan,

I like your primitive whaler better than my own. I do like mine but when they polished the bone to taper it into the bolster they kind of overdid it. It left the primitive portion looking kind of blocky and unnatural. The polished primitive does look and feel really good but the transition between the two seems too abrupt. I guess that is one of the downsides to not seeing the knife that you are going to buy when you get it mail order. We need a GEC dealer in the Sunshine State - or at least more photos! It would be really awesome to be able to look at your favorite GEC knife de jour before deciding to buy it.

I see on GEC's pocket knife photo page that they have added a Tidoute spear Hogan in Blue Abalone. If Northfield makes them I suppose I will have to get a clip and/or spear of those. They better not make the Whaler in abalone - it will take a bunch of shells to make one of those handles. And my kids will have to pay their own way for college. Sorry kids.

LOL,

Mine are on the prepay college plan.  I pay for the knives, when I am gone they can pay off their college.

Jan, I do the prepay thing too at least for tuition. They may have to live at home through (and after) college or start selling off the knife collection when I am gone.  On a totally separate tangent, have you seen the Randall museum? Thousands of vintage folders and fixed blades. I could will my collection to RMK but the kids would be P.O.'d. RMK needs some GEC's in their collection though!

IT'S HERE!!!!!

http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/5384...

The award!!

Congrats Great Eastern

Congrats GEC, I can't wait to actually handle of these knives, I may have to order one.

Nice Video on here

 http://www.iknifecollector.com/video/great-eastern-cutlery-northfie...

Great Eastern Cutlery „Northfield UN-X-LD" Jack Knife (Burnt Stag)

 

Yep, a great video too.

I really enjoyed what he had to share, it makes me realize how truly blessed I am to live in the states. And I live in THE state that calls this great company home. : )

awfully quiet here this week.  Anyone have suggestions for Bruce for his first GEC?    

Sorry Jan, I've just been swamped with work. I'm going 100 places all at once so I don't have much time/energy to write. I will try though. 

 

I'm hoping Tom, or Robert will step in and tell us how we did on the hunt, but I won't let you wait too long before stepping in. Thank you so much for your part, I loved it. I think we could really get along on a trip like that. : )

 

P.S.

Tom, hint hint hint.

Robert, hint hint hint.

Anyone else, hint hint hint. 

I just got around to watching the video below. It was pretty enjoyable! I feel pretty lucky too that I don't wait 52 days to get a GEC knife that I have ordered. That would be way too long of a wait!!! I felt that the narrator missed a few points though in comparing GEC's to Case knives. Most of us have collected or do collect Case knives (I still do to a much lesser degree but I still like Case knives quite a bit especially the older ones and certain newer patterns) and I am not trying to bash Case. I am not trying to ruffle any feathers here! GEC's are produced in much more limited quantity than most Case knives and I often feel pretty lucky to get a certain knife of GEC's especially some of the short runs. I know some Case's are low runs too or the demand is so high that they are hard to get too. I think that the way GEC runs their operation that it seems more like family and their customers feel that way or at least like close friends cause they seem very warm and approachable and receptive to suggestions and to requests. I don't know honestly if the same thing can be said about Case. One thing that I do like about Case's knives is when you hold them they feel super smooth almost like fine jewelry. GEC's have gotten better about this but sometimes when I run my fingers across the backsprings there is a bit of an edge or something that feels slightly rougher. It is not enough to bother me typically but I do notice it from time to time. I guess additional polishing/buffing takes more time and costs more money and that drives the cost of the knives up which wouldn't be appreciated in this economy. I do think that GEC's continue to improve and I am excited to see what the next 5 years brings!

52 days would kill Donnie.  He has a hard time waiting 3 days.  Tom, We dont do the new patterns in Case, I have a friend here in FL that is a master dealer and his show is the only 1 Case we buy per year now.    The older patterns?  Yes...stilla few hundred in the safe.  I like the feel of the GEC folks, mostly that they listen to the people buying their product, the quality gets better with each year and they bring back some interesting patterns.  All three of those reasons are the foundation for our switch to GEC.  I will always be grateful to the man that said to me...Northfield, just go look

I wish someone would have told me about Northfields, period. I started collecting GEC's in 2008 and only bought a few. If I couldve started 2 years earlier and was more passionate about collecting then I would've had some sweet ones!

I think GEC goes by three names, Northfields, Tidioute and Great Eastern. I think I don't own a Tidioute.

I think I probably have more Tidoute than anything.  Tidioute makes the beavertails

Added to the new release page...

Pocket Knives

Welcome to the Great Eastern Cutlery pocket knife new release page. Here you can view some of the finest factory knives being manufactured in the United States today. We are continually updating this page as we design and complete new products. Our knives are not your typical run of the mill pocket knives. We reproduce classic old patterns that are very rare or uncommon and we do so by using mostly antiquated manufacturing methods and traditional materials. While our competitors are using modern technology to mass produce their products, we found our niche by using retro technologies that give us the capability to continually design and produce new products in short runs with many variations. Our skilled craftsmen and women blend more than 200 individual labor processes with expensive metals and natural materials to produce a reasonably priced exceptional tool that will perform its task for many years. Our knives are a reflection of the past as they commemorate the craftsmanship of pocket knives made by the great cutlery companies in the northeastern United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Our name is a dedication to that heritage; GREAT EASTERN CUTLERY. Those bygone cutlery companies created hundreds of pocket knife designs and we use them as our inspiration to craft our new products. They are also our benchmark as we strive to achieve that standard of golden age quality in the 21st century.

I only have the Tidioute and Northfield brands along with a couple of Cripple Creeks that were produced for SMKW.

Check out the newest auction news.  This is for disater relief folks, lets spread the word and bid if we can

Just a heads up.  Be sure to place your bids at http://blog.tsaknives.com/2011/08/30/new-flood--tornado-relief-auct...

WTG GEC!!!

Makes me proud to be an owner of one.... or two..... or is it three now? : )

Jan, I already found the auction site.. I love the GEC knives.

Hats off to GEC and TSA for helping out! I like the new feature on GEC's web page highlighting an employee of theirs every week (or is it month, oops)? Anyway, makes you feel like you are part of the GEC family. What other knife company gives us this level of accessibility? I have yet to make it up for a rendezvous but I have had several nice conversations with Chris and one pretty long one with Pat Vroman (he may never help Chris out and answer the phone again)! Just kidding Pat. He was very interested in what I liked/disliked about different knives, handle materials, etc. and was curious what I wanted to see more of. It was an awesome experience for me as a big GEC fan!