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Great gifts.

I just got back home from the GEC Rendezvous yesterday, and what a trip. I met up with Jan, and Donnie, and wow, they are great people.This site is blessed to have Jan as a member, she really is a genuine, Great person and her husband Donnie is alright too. : ) A very generous and thoughtful couple. I really enjoyed a long conversation with Donnie on the GEC porch. I was gifted a beautiful knife from Donnie, and Jan, I'll share pics soon, I just need the right setup first. I've been admiring it since I first saw it, and it kept me good company on the way home.

On the porch Jan introduced me to Ryan Daniels, we talked for a little bit, then he reached into his pocket and said, "Do you have a quarter"? My heart started pounding. After finally producing a quarter I handed it to him, he gave me one of my most prized possessions... His own pocket knife. It didn't matter to me what knife it was, it mattered that it was his. He truly is an asset to this great company, and I was very blessed by his generosity.

[IMG]http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/Jtwoshoes/P1011017-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/Jtwoshoes/P1011028-1.jpg[/IMG]

GEC has a small town, home town feel, they don't get that from their quality knives though, they get it from the quality people who make them. They believe in what they produce, an they stand by it, they make a difference in the knife world. American made, doesn't always mean it will have an American feel, these knives are different... they have that touch. I thank the people like Ryan, Christine, and Bill Howard who take the time, their own time, to have a conversation, give thanks for the support and give a firm handshake. These aren't business people, these are neighbors.

P.S.

I have a lot more to share, especially about the blessing of family, but sweet corn calls. : )

O'yeah Jan, you picked the right one.

1 member likes this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom Peterson on July 29, 2011 at 7:31

Johnny,

That is a sweet knife but your story of how you came to own it is even sweeter! The folks at GEC are as special, even more so, than their knives it seems. That is awesome! What wonderful memories of the Rendezvous, meeting Jan, Donnie & Ryan and getting such a wonderful momento you must have. Will Ryan's knife be one of your new EDC's or will you keep it safe. From all of your blog posts I'll bet you will put it to work right away. If Ryan carried it regularly then that would be fitting. I think that you are one of GEC's best field testers so we will all look forward to hearing your continuing stories of that nice #12 toothpick in action. Carry on, sir!

Permalink Reply by johnny twoshoes on July 29, 2011 at 10:32

Tom, the EDC knife lover in me begs for me to put it in my pocket. The sentimental knife guy in me says, if you loose it then what? So right now it's away, but you never know.... right. : )

It will be my special occasion knife, and next year if I make it to the Rendezvous it will be there with me. It went right from Ryan's pocket, to mine, I carried it the rest of the day at the factory and I loved every minute of it. I was looking at it so much I may have missed a little info from Bill. : )

I'll definitely keep you all posted.

P.S.

To satisfy the knife guy in me the congress is in.

Permalink Reply by Tom Peterson on July 29, 2011 at 11:08

Johnny,I understand your hesitancy to carry that gem of a toothpick. I suppose it might be a bit big to carry to church on Sunday - besides you'd be pulling it out to look at it too often and might miss the whole sermon. I can imagine that you were fidgeting during the GEC tour - wanting to check out the new toy!

What congress? You didn't tell us about that one. Or did I miss something? Is that your present from Jan and Donnie or something else you picked up while at the Rendezvous? Is it in 1095 or 440C and what handle type?

I'm really wishing that I ran away from home to come up to the Rendezvous now! I don't suppose anyone would pick up an old hitchhiker from Florida with his pockets full of GEC knives - except maybe Jan and Donnie! They got a head start on me though. Maybe next year!

Permalink Reply by stephen tungate on July 29, 2011 at 11:52

ha johnny is that the knife from ryan if so you are a lucky man because it is beautiful and not many people gets to experience something like that from such good people.congratulations on the great present and hope it will remind you of the great people there.jan is such a great person two her and donnie would do just about any thing to help others.so i hope you enjoy your great knives johnny......

Permalink Reply by tom white on July 29, 2011 at 12:17

GLAD YOU WENT AND GOT TO MEET DONNIE AND JAN THEIR GOOD PEOPLE I USUALLY TALK TO THE 3-4 DAYS A WEEK AND HRS ON THE PHONE ..GLAD YOU HAD A GOOD TIME AND ENJOY THEM KNIFES TOM

Permalink Reply by johnny twoshoes on July 29, 2011 at 12:47

I am definitely enjoying the knives, I keep checking on them to make sure that they're still pretty and.... yep, they are.

Stephen, the powder horn with primitive bone is the knife Ryan gifted me. It's a heavy chunk of beautiful knife. It looks like it could handle anything.

Tom P, it may actually get the Sunday EDC duty, I love it, so I don't want to be far without it.

Tom W, I know why you talk with them for hours, they are great people. I'm proud to call them my friends, what a blessing they are. I'll be keeping in touch with them through IKC, so I have a feeling I'll just get closer to them. : )

Permalink Reply by johnny twoshoes on July 29, 2011 at 12:58

Okay Tom, you asked about the congress I got, and here it is.

[IMG]http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/Jtwoshoes/P1010973-1.jpg[/IMG]

I fell in love with this knife when I first saw it, it was in a line of beautiful congress knives, but this one spoke to me. Plus, you know of my love for GEC's SS. It'll get tested as time passes, I already opened a package with it and it cut beautifully. It's slim, trim in the pocket. It has a very good snap on both blades.

It's a keeper

Permalink Reply by tom white on July 29, 2011 at 13:00

OH THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR ANYONE AND THEY TOLD ME TODAY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SO I GUESS THEIR WILL BE ALOT OF CHATTING SEE LATER TOM W

Permalink Reply by Billy Oneale on July 29, 2011 at 13:43

Beautiful knife, Johnny.

johnny twoshoes said:

Okay Tom, you asked about the congress I got, and here it is.

[IMG]http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/Jtwoshoes/P1010973-1.jpg[/IMG]

I fell in love with this knife when I first saw it, it was in a line of beautiful congress knives, but this one spoke to me. Plus, you know of my love for GEC's SS. It'll get tested as time passes, I already opened a package with it and it cut beautifully. It's slim, trim in the pocket. It has a very good snap on both blades.

It's a keeper

Permalink Reply by johnny twoshoes on July 29, 2011 at 14:52

Okay, so here are the other knives I received on the day of the Rendezvous.

Right after saying our goodbyes to Jan, and Donnie, we headed to the car. Before I was even buckled up my brother Ethan hands me a tube, so I know whats up, he tells me happy B-day and I open up the tube.

Heres the beauty I received from Ethan.

[IMG]http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/Jtwoshoes/P1011005-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/Jtwoshoes/P1011011-1.jpg[/IMG]

As we went down the road we were discussing all the great people we met and the really informative tour we took. Ethan asked to see my new knife from Ryan, so I handed it back. I reached back to get my knife, my oldest brother Levi hands me back my knife, but this time it's lighter. I open my hand to see a beautiful beavertail Western Trapper. I love it, it goes great with the #53 beavertail he got me last year.

[IMG]http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/Jtwoshoes/P1010984-1.jpg[/IMG]

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 29, 2011 at 18:13

Good afternoon everyone,

I can tell you that the feel of Johnny's story is almost as good as the look on his face when Ryan handed him that knife. One of the true treasures of that afternoon on the porch though is seeing Johnny and his brothers interacting. These are three gentlemen about as close as I have ever seen brothers be. While Donnie took him to see the primitive bone collection his brothers were planning what knives he would get for his birthday and talking about how he would use the new ones. They brought their mom with them and Johnny is right when he says she is a special person.

The tour is open 5 days a week, if you ever get to the area stop by. The great folks at GEC are as proud of the people they build for as they are of their knives.

Pat Vroman, helped Donnie obtain a beaver pelt for me to display my beloved Beavertails. I had an opportunity today to lay them out so thought I would show them off a little to you all.