Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on December 11, 2018 at 16:35

I read that too, my immediate reaction was "good, maybe the prices will be more reasonable on a GEC knife". At the same time, from GEC's view it means they will keep their doors open and their employees will still have a job. Personally I think they want to move to production of regular "user" knives and reduce the number of SFO's they produce so they can stay in business, this SFO thing put prices well beyond what the every day person could spend on a pocket knife, so I see this as a good thing for GEC, and a good thing for the cutlery industry.

Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on December 12, 2018 at 3:58

My main concern with higher production numbers would be the possibility/probability of lower quality knives. Unless, of course, their quality control standards were strictly followed and enforced. That's hard to do though. And, Syd is absolutely correct regarding the prices of recent GEC SFO's. Especially on the secondary market. I'm watching single bladed Tidioute SFO Barlow's commanding prices approaching $500 on the Evil Bay. It's mind-blowing! Certainly above my pay grade. 

Permalink Reply by elbin bunnell sr on December 13, 2018 at 16:33

i my self collect all types of knives so even if it is 1/1000 they have a value not as much as 1/25 or 1/50,so that sad yes i would, but it wood be a edc not a safe queen like the lower numbers

FeaturedPermalink Reply by dead_left_knife_guy on December 16, 2018 at 11:37

I've got a different perspective -- not necessarily an opposing viewpoint, I'm just coming from a different place.

My collection primarily consists of production knives, with some hand-made knives & some small-batch production knives.

The hand-made knives are ultimately either one-offs or made in small runs by necessity.  In the case of the latter, production numbers are likely to mean quite a lot from a collector's point of view, both on the secondary market & for the original buyer.

Large-scale production knives seldom have production numbers & derive their value from things other than a number on the blade (& usually don't have a production number).  And in one instance I can think of -- the Zero Tolerance 0550 -- serial numbers were printed on the first production run of the knife, though the second and third runs made some significant corrections to the knife, resulting in the lack of serial numbers indicating a superior knife.

Maybe it's because I'm from Generation X, maybe it's the fact that I'm not much of a classic pocket knife pattern collector, or maybe it's just my personality, but having small production runs for the sake of artificially maintaining something -- collectable status, price-point, exclusivity, or whatever else -- seems, well, artificial.

To be clear, I have a few knives with production numbers that make them feel a little more special, or at least a little more valuable on the secondary market.  I just think there are a lot of ways to accomplish these goals beyond production numbers, & especially beyond small production runs. 

For what it's worth, I seem to recall Queen having some quality issues, even in small batches.  I'd hate to see GEC go under the way that Queen did.  Without knowing anything more about the GEC situation, I'm guessing they're doing it to stay afloat, especially with the younger generations not being as willing, or as able, to purchase a $100+ pocket knife. 

It may be that dropping production numbers or increasing batch sizes would have the opposite effect, I don't know.  But as GEC knives seem to be marketed toward an ever-shrinking middle class, I can see why they would be considering ways to make a lower-priced knife.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on December 17, 2018 at 16:48

Well we seem to have a few different thoughts.  To be clear, I do not know that producing this knife in these numbers will lower the price point at all because the silly pricing has been secondary market prices not MAP pricing. Keeping the doors open does not seem to be an issue.

I can tell you that Bill Howard, the owner and head knife maker/designer at GEC has said from day 1 that he wanted to make knives as users not collection pieces.  That is just who he is.  Those of us collecting forced that mantle on him and his company. 

Maybe he is trying to get back to roots, maybe he is trying to lower cost to the users, maybe he knows that a company only building SFO's is not a sustainable business practice for your own business name.  Producing more and retooling very old machinery less, may be a factor.

I do hope the quality remains.  I think it will be interesting to see what happens to the values of the earlier, very small, well documented runs and the past 2/3 years of SFO's that have commanded high dollars on the secondary market.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Kenneth W. Hill on March 24, 2019 at 12:52

I just spotted a maroon micarta GEC#97 that sold on EBAY for $147.50 plus shipping.  The GEC #97 Alleghany knife 4 3/4" closed is the smoothest production Hunter style knife ever.  I own 2 with 5 pre-orders on the way.  Sweating it out on that Stag Sambar knife.  The Beaver Tail Brazilian cherry-wood with beaver shield is already sold out at Collector Knives. CKs is the biggest GEC dealer with there pre-order online service.  The Autumn Gold bone , Texas Yellow Rose , and African Ebony wood Northfields are still available for pre-order.  The GEC#12 Toothpicks are next for production.  The green camel bone toothpicks GEC#12 knives, are going to be killer.  

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Kenneth W. Hill on March 24, 2019 at 13:21

GREAT EASTERN CUTERLY MYSTERY KNIFE     Thursday evening I spotted a GEC#97 Mystery knife .  It was Autumn Gold bone Northfield "Titusville factory" two nail nicks sabre clip blade knives with a large hounds tooth shield.  There was also a picture of a box of yellow smooth bone scales with a note.   "1602 scales- 801 knives Tidioute Autumn Gold bone"  THIS IS MY THEORY :::  801 Autumn Gold Bone Tidioute knives might be a little hard for the dealers to get rid off.  I bet GEC sent half of those or less yellow smooth bone scales to the Northfield factory in Titusville ,PA.  The Northfield two nail nick sabre clip blades knives with be in much more in demand regardless of cost.   After 3 hours GEC removed that knife off of their web-sight.   GEC is awful about teasing their collectors.  

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on March 25, 2019 at 10:41

Ken,

I had spoken with several dealers that told me 2019 would be bringing these type of numbers.  Unless a knife is allocated to specific dealers or an SFO, we may indeed be seeing a run of 801

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Kenneth W. Hill on March 31, 2019 at 23:57

This mystery knife is a SFO knife.   1 of 50   Antique yellow bone with a large hounds tooth shield   ---  I am trying to buy mine , right now. 

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Kenneth W. Hill on September 29, 2019 at 10:17

GEC#92 Eureka Jack antique goldenrod camel bone knives ---  435 should be made !e.