Brent,

Smooth white oiled bone and they were done at a local engraver.  The other side has a whaling ship.

RUSTY, LOL...I have the power to remove it but it is quite alright.  We are all GEC lovers but thats because we are knive lovers first

Rusty, what handle is on that Bulldog, I like it

Well I think this knife will be perfect for Luca, but I'll pass. I just can't see carrying around something that big, but everyone knows I like the small knives.

Hey, I'm still hoping it's a peanut.

Jan, that is Bulldog's version of bone stag, cow bone carved to resemble stag.  I've not seen this style of bone stag anywhere else, even on other Bulldogs, except for the other sunfish made in the trapper and congress style. 

Brent,

Well we knew it would be a possibilty at some point.  Great Partnerships dont last forever.  Bill Howard is a wonderful knife maker and we look forward to seeing Great Easterns continued success.  On a personal note we will greatly miss Ken Daniels.  He is a one of kind true gentleman with deep roots in the knife community.  I know we will see him soon

Think Ryan is staying?????  Hope so.

I am hoping to speak with Chris tomorrow.  Just too late to call her tonight

Wow, I'm really surprised to hear this. I thought that Ken really was GEC, or a least a big part of it. I enjoyed talking with him at the Rendezvous a couple years ago. I think it would be a big loss if Ryan left as well.

I think GEC will continue to be the best, but I'm still confused!!! ????

Jan, please let us know what Christine has to say.

I got the same email from TSA. That is truly disappointing news. Does this mean I need to start collecting Tuna Valley Cutlery knives too? I have one of their stockman already. My credit card balance is already mimicking the national debt clock! What happened to Perry at Space Coast Cutlery who had been selling the TV knives? This might get interesting....to see what direction each company will now head in.

You guys are too cryptic or I'm too simple.  I had to go to another site to discover that Ken sold his shares of GEC and bought the rights to Tuna Valley Cutlery.

I think that as GEC fans, or fanatics, we owe a great deal of thanks to the two founders, Bill Howard and Ken Daniels, and all of the men and women (Chris, especially) who helped them realize their vision together. Now that Ken is striking out on his own with Tuna Valley, I'm looking forward to supporting his efforts there, while continuing my love affair with GEC and Bill Howard's work there, knowing that the standards both men set for their work are the highest in the industry. I wish them both a happy and fruitful 2012.

Actually, I'm just surprised that Ken didn't sell his shares in GEC to Jan or Tom! Chuckle, chuckle...

Well folks I know everyone is interested in whats going on.  I dont want to go to far before I have spoken with everyone.  I can absolutley say without a doubt that Bill Howard will continue to produce the quality unique peices we have come to expect from Tidioute, Northfield and Great Eastern Cutlery.  Thats is truely just the type of knifemaker and man that he is.  The folks making the knives have not changed.  The factory workers will come back tomorrow just as they left before the holiday, ready to produce us the knives we crave!!!

It sounds like a peaceful departure for Ken!!!

I really hope that things just continue to get better for both men. I really appreciate all what they have done for the Knife world. They completely changed my opinion on knives and they own my business. I look forward to seeing Tuna Valley thrive as I really feel they will. 

Jan, do you know if Ryan is staying?

Luca,

That would be awesome if I could afford it. I feel like I already own stock in GEC (or should) with all of their knives that I have. I think that Jan would be a better exec than I though, not to mention that she is more diplomatic and even keeled than I am. What would be your first order of business Jan? Mine would be to offer the White Owl with both clip and spear blades together as a Moose Owl/White Moose. Then I would focus on the Camp knife, Peanut, Swingguard, Gunstock and other similar patterns that GEC has not made yet. A lockback #23 too. And a GEC calendar in which collectors send in their pics to be part of the calendar and win a free knife if your photo makes the calendar. And Patti could do a GEC cookbook of all of her treats that are featured in What's Happening. More GEC swag gear too - can coolies, knife sharpeners, soft carrying cases, etc....

I have had an opportunity to speak with Ryan this morning.  He did ask me to convey some things for the Daniels family.  First the answer to the burning question will he be staying the GEC.  As a direct employee of the company no.  He will still be involved as a sort of freelance sales.  Has has asked me to let you all know his number has not changed.  The Daniels family has asked that we extend a warm & genuine Thank you to all the folks here, without your support..nothing would have been possible over the past 5 years.  Without sharing too many future plans...although they are sorry to see the end of this era with GEC they are looking forward to some exciting changes.  Those include not only a new knife family for us all to enjoy (Tuna Valley) but also a new baby for Ryan and Courtney.  I have gotten confirmation that the Daniels Family will still be attending the shows for this year and they will still be offering Great Eastern Cutlery products at those shows.  In our eyes this is a wonderful step for both groups and a true win for those of us that love thier knives.  More on a conversation with Bill later today.

Well Tom it looks like you have all the bases covered with what I would do next.  I would go with the swingguard as the next pattern, the cookbook would be a great offering.  Lets combine the calendar and cookbook thought.  Lets do a calendar with a monthly picture and and receipe.  Less printing cost 

Wouldn't it be great if Mr. Daniels had GEC continue to make the Tuna Valley knives?  Is he going to get his own knive shop?  The part of his email about using specialty steels has me excited.  (Now I'm being cryptic - the email is published at TSAknives.com)

Had a comforting and exciting conversation with Bill Howard this morning.   Bill is excited about the next era for GEC and all that it will bring.  For those of you that know Bill, you know he values his commitment to the quality of a great USA made knife and the patterns we would not have seen revived without them the past few years. 

So Look forward to some new and exciting patterns, same great quality and wonderful folks at GEC!!! I hear that the new one is going to knock our socks off

Jan,

I like the calendar/recipe combo! I would also like to see a daily GEC calendar - the kind that you rip off the page each day. It could utilize the knife debut pictures that GEC uses and it could say the day/year that each knife & handle type came out. On days with no knife debut collector pics could fill in.

On a more serious note I appreciate your being our liason between all of us GEC fans and the folks at GEC. It is reassuring to get some information about this split in a timely manner and know that the info is pretty much first hand and not watered down. I'm happy to hear that Ken & Ryan will be moving forward with Tuna Valley and that GEC will continue to make the great knives that we all love & also that the split was on friendly terms. I'm sure that we will all look forward to offerings by both companies. It might be interesting if GEC /Cyclops continued to make the TV knives to keep the bar set high but if not I am sure that quality will continue to be a top priority with Ken & Ryan. It might be nice if GEC or TV would issue a statement about the split and the direction of both operations so that speculation is kept to a minimum.

Watch for those first hand announcements soon.  Just finishing up the holidays for everyone

Even sooner than we anticipated.....This just posted on GEC's site

A message to Great Eastern Cutlery customers, friends, fans, and family!

In 2006, when no one locally or in the cutlery industry would take a chance on a new start up cutlery manufacturing company, Ken Daniels was the only person who wasn’t scared by the challenges. He shared my dream and together we created Great Eastern Cutlery.

He has been integral to the company, but as with all things there is change,
and as of December 30^th, 2011 the company has purchased Ken’s shares
and he is no longer a partner in Great Eastern Cutlery.

In the years since our establishment, Ken has been an asset to the company, managerially, and as the company representative in the industry. I and Ken share the same values, authenticity, quality, honesty, and loyalty. With much help from Ken, we have built the Great Eastern Cutlery reputation on these values. As we go forward, we will miss Ken but our values as a company will not change.

I and all the other GEC employees owe Ken a big THANK YOU for all that he has done for this company and we wish him the best. We still expect to see him here often and also expect to have a good business relationship with him in the future.

Bill Howard

President

Great Eastern Cutlery

I really look forward to more news on all that is happening.

Jan, does it appear to you that Ken and Ryan will open a new factory? Or will GEC still produce the knives sold under the TV brand?

All I have to do is blink and the world gets tipped upside down. So...Ken and Ryan will be leaving GEC. Good grief. Technically, I know that this is none of my business...but I'd like to know "Why?" Is it a difference in opinion on direction for GEC? Is it that the Daniels want to run their own show without any other investors? Is it a health issue (God forbid!)?

I currently own some 92 GEC knives and just placed an order for 3 more (from the awesome Gary Norton of Northwest Knife Company). I'm a devout GEC collector (my latest is a #23 liner lock Northfield in Black Plum; Merry Christmas!). I have to be candid here; the idea of Ken and Ryan leaving GEC really bothers me. Of course I know that the work of Bill Howard, Chris Tucker and others are critical to the incredible knives that we all enjoy. Having been a businessman for decades, I know that, oftentimes, it is the chemistry of the people that make a company really "work". If that chemistry is changed, sometimes things don't "work". Truly, a company is the result of that chemistry and the people are the most important component.

So what does Ken and Ryan leaving mean for us as collectors? Certainly, I'm NOT going to stop buying GEC. Of course, I've heard about Tuna Valley Cutlery...though I know very little about it. I gather that GEC makes knives for this company. What's the Daniels involvement in it? Owners? Working for it? As dealers? I ask because I'd like to know what is going on. While I've read the posting thread below...I'm a detail kind of person...so in order for my "need to know" to be satisfied, I have to have some fairly specific information. That's the way that I'm wired.

Ultimately, it would be great for GEC to continue on to achieve even more success (without any compromise in product quality or standards) AND to have some great knives available to us through TVC (though I need another knife company to chase like I need another hole in my wallet).

While I would love to satisfy all the answers with corresponding details I can only pass on what I know to be true.  Bill Howard will continue to make the quality, fresh look old patterns that the Great Eastern group is known for.

I have not heard any talk of a new factory for the Daniels family, though to be honest I have not been given the details as to what direction they will ultimately go.  Only that it will involved their ownership of the Tuna Valley Line 

I do not beleive there is ill will.  No one I spoke to today had anything but great thoughts for the past and the future for everyone involved.  I know that Ryan, Ken and Courtney will still be selling Great Easterns at the shows and Ryan will be a freelance seller. 

So what does this mean to us as GEC collectors?  For Donnie and I- it means more wonderful great easterns and very possibly more Tuna Valleys

Ken owns a very large company in an unrelated industry, and I always wondered how he had the time anyway.  Whether there was a difference in opinion or just a decision to free up some weekends, I don't think it really matters.  Bill and Ken have been friends for a long time and I haven't heard anything that makes me think that has changed.

I haven't talked to anyone that thinks Ken will open his own knife factory / business.  Although he has always been involved in SFO's and the industry in general.  He is a great promoter of our hobby.  The Tuna Valley is a nice old trademark and Perry simply didn't have enough time to promote it to its full potential (in my opinion).

Thus, I don't think trying to figure out any underlying stories that may or may not exist is a good use of time.  But my time isn't worth anything anyway ;>

Very well put, I think as a collector we try to figure out and possibly read into what is is going on. It's the need to know in us, but too often we get to speculation, which often times leads to rumor. Lets just take their word for it and be thankful for everything that has happened since GEC incorporated.

Looking back in the history of knife manufactures, splits are not unusual.  Lets just go with...Our GEC company will remain and we can look forward to new great patterns with them.

The Daniels family has not left our industry or our hobby. 

Lets just be supportive and wish everyone the best of luck in all future endeavors

No worries.

None what so ever Luca!!  Any new knives to show?

Jan my friend, still haven't pulled out the camera to take pictures, and even though I'm a professional, I'm lacking the props and the personal sensitivity to the art form that our friend "Johnny" so clearly displays in most all of the photos of his knives. I'll get to it eventually...

On the other hand I did check out the "What's Happening" section on the GEC site, which was refreshed today, and interestingly enough I saw a new bunch of Tuna Valley #72 knives being made there. How's that for new knives? A happy sighting.

Now, as far as new knives, I'm just hoping that GEC takes my day dreams seriously, shared by Brent, and might make a Paul Bunyan version of the new and as of yet unseen Lumberjack with a #46 and a #36 blade combo, which would be huge, in hand, in the pocket, and on the market IMHO. Even if they make it just for fun, knowing full well it would be a break from the traditional. Still, I can't wait to see what the new Lumberjack will be as they've designed it.

Other than that I'd love to see a new herd of Moose charging out of the GEC factory... not that Moose form herds, so OK even just a special Moose or two? 

I'm still waiting for my Bull Nose, but everybody needs a break, even the post office. : ) 

I'm patient.... enough. We'll see if I don't have a new knife and new pics tomorrow. 

Can't wait to see 'em. As you know, I'm a fan!

Well that certainly looks like the best of 2 worlds to us ...YAHOOOOO

Mike Latham's GEC sfo "Farmer Jack" was just posted as the first 2012 date released knife of the year. Nice knife Mike!

I like the long pull on it!

Does anyone know when the shipping date is for the new club knife?

We dont have it yet Robert but will let you know when we are very close

I always get excited when waiting on a new knife. I guess, I'm not the only one that gets the new knife excitement, you know, counting the days....when will that special knife get here. Come on...I can't wait no longer.....lol

I'm kinda enjoying this wait, I'm testing my other knives in the meantime. I plan to put this #72 to work, I really think it will prove to be a great knife and one that will remind me of this place and you guys. 

I must say this is a very attractive looking knife. At first, I really didn't like the big spear point, but I couldn't pick a better knife. This one should be perfect for skinning out a deer or two.

I'm SO eager to see the new Lumberjack! I wish GEC would post another teaser image. I sure hope they might consider making it a Jumbo Jack with huge blades! Or a Super Moose with the #36 and #46 blades! I'm dreaming about it now! Sweet dreams...

What...did you say Moose...what, now I'm not gonna sleep, and I have to leave for the camp tomorrow. How can they do this to me ...lol

Robert, actually you are responsible for this latest obsession of mine, and I can't sleep for thinking of a beautiful new Moose, swedged polished blades and all! Thanks! I don't have one and all I can think of is getting my hands on one, and though there are some very nice Tidioute Moose kives out there, my heart is with and in the Northfield Moose with the swedged and polished blades and above all those long pulls. Personally I don't like the diagonal bolsters and I don't like the pinched bolsters, which in the earliest GEC versions they didn't do. Keep it plain and simple on the handle and turn it up to 11 on the blades. How about a UN-X-LD blade stamp on the main blade rather than any blade etch? OK, now I really can't sleep 'cause the level of desire is driving me crazy! Moooooooooooose!!!!

Yea Luca, I'm with you, I agree with your changes, with plenty of handle materials to choose from...it's got to be a winner!

That is indeed a wonderful image in my head.  I am getting very excited an wish we had more teaser images too

Okay Guys, LumberJack, or #72 club knife?

Well, I'm back from the camp, what's the news on the Lumberjack? Moose or no moose? We have to know.