You are spot on. While I really do enjoy GEC knives I have taken a step back from them at this point. I no longer find enjoyment from hunting something that has become just about impossible to obtain. The cost has also become a factor. I have recently had good luck with Case knives again. Boker Knives that are made in Germany have been very nice.
I bought one GEC before they became so scarce, and it’s very nice. I’m retired and don’t have enough time to seek those things out at this point😂 I would like to have gotten a beer scout model when they were available.
Funny enough, I have a pretty intense love/hate relationship with GEC because of what you talked about. It took me a while to realize that the real problem is the scalpers. I will not ever do business with anyone who’s basically stealing from me by artificially sending the price sky-high. I’m glad you mentioned looking into older knives. I hadn’t considered that. A.G. Russel also has really attractive slipjoints and traditional lockbacks on his site.
Nice video thanks for showing people options for those crazy GEC’s!!!!! A lot of people will probably check your bid out because if your new gettin into traditional knives people aren’t going to know where to look for good traditional knives 😀
Slight gapping (eg.the Remington) is typical of traditionally made knives, not a fault. Uniformly tight knives are a product of modern hi tech manufacturing methods typical of the mock-traditional knives like GEC, Rough Rider etc.
Great video and as others have said spot on. I too have been turned off by the difficulty in getting GECs. As a fan of well made slip joints, looking forward to seeing more of your videos!
I have three GEC knives and all are well made, but finances made me step back from knives for a while. When I went back to look at new slipjoints a few months ago, Great Easterns were so hard to find that I assumed they'd gone out of business.
Yes. I bought four Tidioutes, back before the speculators began rounding them up. Those jackals will eat those knives before they'll get a penny from me.
Thanks for this video. I love GEC knives and actually recently purchased one for the first time. I paid too much but it's one I've had my eye on for a long time and I don't have the time or energy to try and play the "game". Call me envious, because I am, but it bugs me when I see or hear about someone's GEC collection that basically only comes out of the tube to lube up and take a few photos of. Knives are tools to me, even the really nice and hard to get ones.
You and me both. Managed to get a GEC Bladeforum Bunny knife (currently in the post). It Will be a working knife, I love knives but don’t own any for the sake of saying I own it.
I have an #85, and it’s a very nice knife for what I paid for it ($90), and I really love my #12, but I fail to get really excited about factory made, machine ground, water jet cutout knives like GECs. As you say, there are many great alternatives, especially from Solingen , Sheffield, Maniago, Tierres etc. Many are considerably more exclusive too!
At one point I owned around 15 GEC's. Loved all of them but with the prices going nuts I couldn't bring myself to use them. So they just sat in the safe. Sold them all.
Some of the pricing is outrageous, to put it mildly, and what I paid for my Northwoods Heritage Jack was flat out disgraceful, and I got a "deal" on it. I was only able to justify the cost because I sold blades I wasn't using or appreciating to finance the buy. Thanks for the close up look at all these awesome brands and patterns.
DLT Trading screwed me over... I had set 5 alarms for the GEC Tom's Choice Barlow. I set up my payment info and 5 minutes from the drop, I pulled into a parking lot with my 3 boys whining in the back seat. As I anxiously awaited the countdown winding down to 0, I spammed the purchase button. I had it in my cart and was prompted to re-enter my payment information because it was my first time purchasing from DLT Trading. (Even though I saved all my credit card info and shipping information) Then it said they were sold out. When I contacted DLT Trading, the customer service representative laughed and said we do that as a security feature and yea, we only got 90 knives and they sold out in under 1 minute. 💀💀💀
Ino longer even look at GEC, got so bummed, started buying s9me budget stuff and fell in love with the likes of RR, Roper and the like. I was a decades long modern folder user/collector such as Benchmad, Spydie, ZT and others. Case is where I started with traditional, but ran into many build issues, but still like them. These budget brands I mention are really putting pressure on case imo.
What I wonder is why gec doesn't raise their prices slightly, the market clearly exists and they could use the higher profit margin to invest in more equipment or employees to increase production bringing used prices down and channeling more of the money from the collectors to the people who actually make the knives the collectors want.
Loved the vid. Came into traditional s about 2 years ago and still haven’t been able to snag a GEC at a price I think is fair. The 2nd market price gouging sucks. Even Schatt and Morgan’s are becoming harder to find. At least on all the sites I’m aware of. Thanks for all the info. I would say German Bokers are as nice as a GEC or S&M or older queens imo. Nice video bro got a sub from me
Been 7 months since I commented here, and still haven't been able to snag one, done. To many great brands and models to buy. They could be so much more of a company, but they are content being a small boutique brand, good for them, I still pass though, one day when one pops up in front of me I'm sure I'll bite.
Great options Wiz.. The Otter 3 rivet can be bagged for $60 & is an amazing knife, the action on them are kinda choppy, but the lock-up is superb. check the smoked oak covers, I think you'll be smitten 🥰.. LoL I just ordered 2 case knives blindly from sheppard hills - so we'll see how that works out. Anyway, Great Vid! that Schatt is so sweet.. lovin' me some Schatts all night long 👊😆🤜
I do like GEC knives but I’m not going to pay those prices on the secondary market. I went with Böker Solingen knives instead, they are sometimes a little less expensive here in Europe.
I just got my first gec, an 86 Barlow it hasn’t arrived yet didn’t pay anything traded some leathermans but I have been a long time collector of Buck slip joints. They don’t make a lot anymore like they used to but 70’s 80’s 90’s and 00’s models are great. Built great too. And have several different patterns and scales. If you’re looking for a nice slip I recommend them you can find a lot of them on eBay for cheap
I like the craftsmanship of a typical Case knife, but I wish they'd start working with more carbon steels like plain old 1095 or C75.......something that I won't have to sit 3 flipping hours on a stone trying to get a decent working edge. Some of Case's knives are advertised as "carbon steel" blades, yet you'll see CV (chrome vanadium) stamped on the blade when it comes in the mail.
All good options. I don't understand why the Boker's cost so much in the US. I haven't landed a GEC since the lil' rattler. I've pretty much quit trying.
The ONLY 38 that "wasn't very popular" was the single blade version. The #38 Grinling Whittler, and just recently, the #38 English Whittlers ( both true splitbacks ) are among the most popular ever produced by GEC. The only difference is the recent English Whittlers were produced in much higher volume: somewhere between 500 to 700 in each of only 2 handle choices. (Most of the English Whittlers you may see still lingering for sale, are the jigged bone versions that didn't take the color dye very well, so the color doesn't look so good. ) The earlier 38 Grinling Whittlers were/are A VERY HOT ITEM, and produced in FAR LESS numbers for each handle material choice, but with more handle options. Bill is trying to produce his knives in larger quantities, but with only 1 handle option ( in most cases ) for the Tidioute and Northfields. I miss "the good old days" when GEC offered so many more handle options. Of course they would sell out even quicker than the larger production runs made today.
For a person like me. Who beats their knives. I prefer the LionSteel. I have the Dom from CK. And M390 for that price and fit n finish. Its a steal tbh. I understand the materials aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But. They are honestly a must
@@BakeryWizard13 as long as it can get sharp. Im good with any steel lol I have a rough ryder. And I sharpen it a lot. Compared to the LionSteel. There’s always gonna be drawbacks/pros n cons with the materials and styles. But I think styles in this case depends on the materials as well. Micarta and titanium doesn’t give off that classic traditional vibe. At all. But if you were to make the same knife with more traditional handle materials it’ll be a completely different knife.
I absolutely love my Lionsteel knives! Ive got two warhorses, a roundhead, and a best man; Im telling you I couldnt be happier with the quality. I have several GEC's but none of them get carried much because of these beauties.
Otter has the 3 rivet knife frame in a stripped down wood handle version, the 161 and also a white bone handle version which I don't know the number of.
I have several GEC and Böker from Solingen in my collection (not to confuse with the other Boker brands not from Solingen, but US, Taiwan or Argentina!, Solingen is very very high quality and handmade in Germany), I consider Böker from Solingen a lot superior to GEC in price and quality when I see and touch them ... ! cheers
The downside of collecting anything is that it inevitably always attracts grifters wanting to make a quick buck off of your passion. I've been collecting knives since i was 9 years old and I've always been a fan of traditional knives. I used to collect mostly case and boker but their quality has dropped but their prices stay the same, so i switched to gec. When i started collecting gec they were just a less mainstream alternative to case and and other brands... a bit more expensive, but a lot better quality. Now idk what I'm going to switch to, because i don't want to pay $600 for a second hand factory knife that's really only worth about $100... It's ridiculous. I hate to say it, but i think that quality traditional knives are a dying breed. I might have to find a new thing to collect soon because in more ways than one, it's just becoming a disappointing hobby. Nice going, scalpers... you've ruined another good thing in this world.
you know, the great eastern cutlery knives though well made of premium materials don't cut or carry any different than a cheaper knife, i have uite a few older case western and pre buy out marbles knives and wouldn't think of spending more than 60 bucks on a new knife
Screw all that . The biggest part of my collection is vintage USA made Schrade . Open stock , Old Timers and Uncle Henrys . Very well made knives that have better fit and finish than a lot of knives costing two to three times as much . I've got a slew of Stockmans produced by Schrade in all three lines and not one of them has blade rub . Not one ! Show me another production , let alone custom knife maker that can claim that . Every damn Case Stockman I've ever seen has blade rub before it's even opened for the first time . Schrade had the Stockman pattern wired when nobody else in the industry could accomplish it correctly . I love the Northwoods stuff but I'll be damned if I'll fork out that kind of money for a pocket knife . My vintage Schrade stuff is the most enjoyable part of my collection .
Do you have any experience with the RRR Reserve line from Rough Ryder? They have a few coming out in VG10 that Interest me. Just curious of your thoughts on them. Thanks.
I like the classic carbon line, they aren't consistently as high quality as case but they are a fraction of the price. I prefer carbon steel for aesthetic reasons, so I haven't gone for the vg10 but would assume that it would probably have better edge retention with similar build quality.
Unfortunately not many have a big 4 1/2" carbon steel Trapper like the GEC #23. Anyone have any suggestions? Case has the Panama, but the current run is in stainless.
I think Queen (under Bill Howard) made several of these for Winchester. They seem to go a little north of $100 on eBay. Winchester 29103 is the two bladed version and 19111 for single. Good luck
@Bakery Wizard There's a online store in Finland called my good knife I think there is no tariff but international shipping but still much cheaper. Seen some Bokers 60 to 80 dollars less than here.
AAPK and Facebook groups have tons of GEC and other brands changing hands on a daily basis. If you have patience you can score some great deals. You can even get good prices on ebay but that's alot harder for GEC. Other American and European brands can be found for dirt cheap on ebay if you have time to scour the constant stream of product. I suggest people buy a copy Levins guide to knives and get smart about vintage and antique blades. Why buy new, mass produced Chinese, when you can get hand crafted American history for the same price?
Personally, GEC has never done it for me. The knives look good and are well made, so I understand why other folks like them, but the price and the difficulty to obtain just makes me completely uninterested in them. There are other things I collect that are/were impossible to obtain at times (particularly during the pandemic). Scalpers were the problem in those other realms-scalpers on top of supply problems. Case and Boker Tree Brand have been my "Sunday" knife brands most of my life. They've always been good enough for me. Bottom line, when your hobby becomes irritating, it's time to change something. Thanks for making this video.
@@BakeryWizard13 indeed. 1 year and no luck for a red micarta bullnose. I could pay 200 on ebay but trying to pull that trigger vs a Benchmade Griptilian is hard
Huh! Good alternatives? I own some VINTAGE Imperial Prov, R. I., PAL Cutlery, WR Case, Camillus, Boker USA, Queen, Winchester and John Primble pocket knives that the best GEC knife can't come close to. I love GEC knives just so you understand.
People are doubling the price on eBay. What difference does it make? At least it’s a chance to own a GEC knife. People would not be paying the high prices of the demand was not there for the knives.
Jigged bone seems to be more alluring to the American market than elsewhere. They don’t do anything for me, but to each their own. I prefer French folders over any others, my Fontenille Pataud is leagues above anything else I have. Not cheap but with GEC I think I’m 2 and done.
I have 3 different models of saks, but im a part of the people who just enjoy having too many cool pocket knives. If it were entirely utility based all any of us would need would be a victorinox.
OK now just think about this. If I'm not mistaken people are paying for a raffle so if they win they're given the option to BUY a knife. Same knife brand people are charging unbelievable prices for on other sites. This knife can do no more than a case or even a $20 Schrade. Don't get me wrong I've been collecting and loving knives for 40 years but goddamned we've went ignorant over some of this stuff. I have to give GEC credit. Atleast you can make money of there's. Alot of the shite that's sold for ungodly amounts you can't even do that. I just don't understand the thinking
See as I watch more of this video it makes the same point I was trying to make. Nothing against GEC. The point is why on earth would someone pay those kind of prices when you can get quality knives for sometimes a fraction of the prices.
Never wanted one, never will. For all the aforementioned reasons plus the gec cult acts like theses are the gods of traditional knives. These people also tend to be arrogant snobs as they worship these knives. Feel free to argue I have heard it all before.
Another deciding factor to consider when trying to score GEC knives, is: are you buying the knife as a personal user, or are you putting it back as an investment? Many guys do both. ( I did. ) If your answer is: "buying the knife to collect & put away in mint condition as an investment"? ( People have been doing that for nearly 50 yrs now. ) Providing it is a desirable pattern, paying double ( but no more ) on the secondary market isn't as bad as it may seem. Especially when you witness what these knives are fetching several years after production AT AUCTION. There is a growing number of true investors with DEEP POCKETS who are willing to pay blood for the desirable patterns. THE REASON: Bill Howard is THE ONLY MAN on Earth who really knows how to produce these knives to such impeccable fit & finish, YET AS "A FACTORY KNIFE" in a production setting. Many of Bill's knives are every bit as good, fit & finish wise, as many custom knives that cost hundreds more new. Look how much it costs to buy a mint condition antique knife in a desirable pattern from one of the famous old American cutlery companies. Many of those knives sell OR auction for several THOUSAND dollars. Bill's knives are the ONLY factory traditionals on course to do the very same thing........but in a much shorter time frame, because a typical run of GEC knives is still tiny compared to antique knives that were literally produced by the TENS OF THOUSANDS back in the day........and that huge production number is/was for a single pattern. The HOT trend of investing in traditional factory folders made by AMERICAN companies got well under way in the late 60's. Nothing new there, and that includes GEC knives. Yet here we have all these young guys just discovering these knives, and literally freaking out over the soaring prices. When Bill Howard founded GEC and weathered the storm through THE WORST possible time to start "a cutlery company" of all things, ( many people told him "he was crazy" )........he knew damn well what he was doing. And GOOD FOR HIM. Lastly, I don't see anyone complaining about "paying 5 grand for a desirable Case pattern made in the 1920's". THE SAME GOES FOR TRYING TO BUY AN ALL-ORIGINAL, NUMBERS MATCHING CLASSIC MUSCLE CAR. THIS IS REALITY, and we have to live with it. All of these young whiners expect to pay "a hundred bucks" for a knife they know damn well WILL gain astronomically in value over a period of years. GET REAL PEOPLE. And "collectors" use knives just like anyone else. The only difference, is they buy a few to use, and the rest as an investment. ( So many guys bragging: "I only buy knives TO USE"...end quote.......Oh really? THEN WHY DO YOU HAVE 40 OF THEM, AND STILL BUYING MORE. YET THEY CONTINUE TO BASH OTHERS THEY DEEM AS "COLLECTORS". Hey.......I'm just sayin'. )
Idk who you are trying to convince with your mental gymnastics here. It seems like you have some preconceived notion that all of the “whiners” you talk about aren’t boomers interested in collecting knives just like you. The fact of the matter is: people do not like price gouging. Regardless of what you THINK about the realities of appreciation and speculation, your average collector is unable to obtain GECs at MSRP because of the few that make it their business to purchase all of them for the express purpose of resale. This “reality” you talk about is called price gouging and your justifications for that gouging as simple collection and subsequent sale is a false equivalency. Again regardless of what you think, this particular situation is infuriating to many passionate collectors of all ages because it is clear that this hobby we are so invested in (and the zenith of it (GEC@MSRP)) floats within the confines of a speculation bubble, literally unobtainable to most. See Tulipomania.
Amen. I have 40 plus GEC oiled up waiting for me to croak and be deeded over to my sons. Gonna keep buying them too. They are better than gold and silver coins, rental houses, stocks, bonds etc. I know cause I have all that plus other investments trying to diversify out of paper money. Hopefully bitcoin and etherium will shoot the moon and make me really rich but until then, it's more GECs and another rental house.
You are spot on. While I really do enjoy GEC knives I have taken a step back from them at this point. I no longer find enjoyment from hunting something that has become just about impossible to obtain. The cost has also become a factor. I have recently had good luck with Case knives again. Boker Knives that are made in Germany have been very nice.
Love your videos. A lot of information and very relaxing videos. Keep it up.
I bought one GEC before they became so scarce, and it’s very nice. I’m retired and don’t have enough time to seek those things out at this point😂 I would like to have gotten a beer scout model when they were available.
Funny enough, I have a pretty intense love/hate relationship with GEC because of what you talked about. It took me a while to realize that the real problem is the scalpers. I will not ever do business with anyone who’s basically stealing from me by artificially sending the price sky-high.
I’m glad you mentioned looking into older knives. I hadn’t considered that. A.G. Russel also has really attractive slipjoints and traditional lockbacks on his site.
I bought an Apta from Rough Ryder and it’s beautiful. The fit and finish is perfect.
The Copperhead is one of the nicest patterns Case has made lately. That pen blade is a thing of beauty.
14:48 This is the secret to getting GEC knives at reasonable prices. Bill Howard made the Winchester Queen contract knives.
Nice video thanks for showing people options for those crazy GEC’s!!!!! A lot of people will probably check your bid out because if your new gettin into traditional knives people aren’t going to know where to look for good traditional knives 😀
My Dear friend,
You have some beautiful knives. Very lovely collection. Good to see. Really enjoyed.
Rosecraft Blades and the Rough Rider Reserve knives are great alternatives as well.
This was the first of your videos that caught my attention It took me a while but I finally subscribed Keep em coming
I've watched you video many times over now. So very helpful. Thank you very much!
You're welcome
Slight gapping (eg.the Remington) is typical of traditionally made knives, not a fault. Uniformly tight knives are a product of modern hi tech manufacturing methods typical of the mock-traditional knives like GEC, Rough Rider etc.
Great video and as others have said spot on. I too have been turned off by the difficulty in getting GECs. As a fan of well made slip joints, looking forward to seeing more of your videos!
I've never owned a GEC knife, but I think one day, I will have to take the plunge :) That Schatt & Morgan is a real beauty!!
GEC is tip top of the traditional knife market. They are so nice, but Ebay flippers are making it hard for us to get them.
Good luck getting one at retail.
I have three GEC knives and all are well made, but finances made me step back from knives for a while. When I went back to look at new slipjoints a few months ago, Great Easterns were so hard to find that I assumed they'd gone out of business.
Just hard to get. I miss 2019 when I could still buy some of the less loved patterns.
Yes. I bought four Tidioutes, back before the speculators began rounding them up. Those jackals will eat those knives before they'll get a penny from me.
Thanks for this video. I love GEC knives and actually recently purchased one for the first time. I paid too much but it's one I've had my eye on for a long time and I don't have the time or energy to try and play the "game".
Call me envious, because I am, but it bugs me when I see or hear about someone's GEC collection that basically only comes out of the tube to lube up and take a few photos of. Knives are tools to me, even the really nice and hard to get ones.
You and me both. Managed to get a GEC Bladeforum Bunny knife (currently in the post). It Will be a working knife, I love knives but don’t own any for the sake of saying I own it.
Awesome collection ❗🔥💯👍
I have an #85, and it’s a very nice knife for what I paid for it ($90), and I really love my #12, but I fail to get really excited about factory made, machine ground, water jet cutout knives like GECs. As you say, there are many great alternatives, especially from Solingen , Sheffield, Maniago, Tierres etc. Many are considerably more exclusive too!
At one point I owned around 15 GEC's. Loved all of them but with the prices going nuts I couldn't bring myself to use them. So they just sat in the safe. Sold them all.
Some of the pricing is outrageous, to put it mildly, and what I paid for my Northwoods Heritage Jack was flat out disgraceful, and I got a "deal" on it. I was only able to justify the cost because I sold blades I wasn't using or appreciating to finance the buy. Thanks for the close up look at all these awesome brands and patterns.
DLT Trading screwed me over... I had set 5 alarms for the GEC Tom's Choice Barlow. I set up my payment info and 5 minutes from the drop, I pulled into a parking lot with my 3 boys whining in the back seat. As I anxiously awaited the countdown winding down to 0, I spammed the purchase button. I had it in my cart and was prompted to re-enter my payment information because it was my first time purchasing from DLT Trading. (Even though I saved all my credit card info and shipping information) Then it said they were sold out. When I contacted DLT Trading, the customer service representative laughed and said we do that as a security feature and yea, we only got 90 knives and they sold out in under 1 minute. 💀💀💀
Ino longer even look at GEC, got so bummed, started buying s9me budget stuff and fell in love with the likes of RR, Roper and the like. I was a decades long modern folder user/collector such as Benchmad, Spydie, ZT and others. Case is where I started with traditional, but ran into many build issues, but still like them. These budget brands I mention are really putting pressure on case imo.
What I wonder is why gec doesn't raise their prices slightly, the market clearly exists and they could use the higher profit margin to invest in more equipment or employees to increase production bringing used prices down and channeling more of the money from the collectors to the people who actually make the knives the collectors want.
I think Bill is happy with the ship he's running. It does seem like dealer prices have increased a bit though.
Thank you for a good clip😊
Loved the vid. Came into traditional s about 2 years ago and still haven’t been able to snag a GEC at a price I think is fair. The 2nd market price gouging sucks. Even Schatt and Morgan’s are becoming harder to find. At least on all the sites I’m aware of. Thanks for all the info. I would say German Bokers are as nice as a GEC or S&M or older queens imo. Nice video bro got a sub from me
Been 7 months since I commented here, and still haven't been able to snag one, done. To many great brands and models to buy. They could be so much more of a company, but they are content being a small boutique brand, good for them, I still pass though, one day when one pops up in front of me I'm sure I'll bite.
Great options Wiz.. The Otter 3 rivet can be bagged for $60 & is an amazing knife, the action on them are kinda choppy, but the lock-up is superb. check the smoked oak covers, I think you'll be smitten 🥰.. LoL
I just ordered 2 case knives blindly from sheppard hills - so we'll see how that works out.
Anyway, Great Vid! that Schatt is so sweet.. lovin' me some Schatts all night long 👊😆🤜
I love my 3 rivet i carried it for like a week and a half.
Thank you so much for this video! [I subbed!] this was fantastic!
That was great. Thanks!
I do like GEC knives but I’m not going to pay those prices on the secondary market. I went with Böker Solingen knives instead, they are sometimes a little less expensive here in Europe.
Good point well made. Plenty of options out there.atb paddy.
Yes, recently I've been buying some German knives. Got an Otter 3 rivet that I love, and a Boker trapper recently. Have another Boker on the way.
I just got my first gec, an 86 Barlow it hasn’t arrived yet didn’t pay anything traded some leathermans but I have been a long time collector of Buck slip joints. They don’t make a lot anymore like they used to but 70’s 80’s 90’s and 00’s models are great. Built great too. And have several different patterns and scales. If you’re looking for a nice slip I recommend them you can find a lot of them on eBay for cheap
I like the craftsmanship of a typical Case knife, but I wish they'd start working with more carbon steels like plain old 1095 or C75.......something that I won't have to sit 3 flipping hours on a stone trying to get a decent working edge. Some of Case's knives are advertised as "carbon steel" blades, yet you'll see CV (chrome vanadium) stamped on the blade when it comes in the mail.
At the risk of being ostracized from the knife society, I would add any of the Rough Ryder Reserve models to your list
Ive had good experience with them.
If it’s good, it’s good 🤷♂️
Not a populat POV, but take a look at tte Rough rider knife range.....very good quality, and very well priced.....
Great video. Look at the Taylors Eye Witness Barlow Pocket Knife Sheffield Penknife. They seem nice, however I have not had my hands on in yet
All good options. I don't understand why the Boker's cost so much in the US. I haven't landed a GEC since the lil' rattler. I've pretty much quit trying.
Boker has to pay a insane 25% import tax to America. That's why the cost.
American made knives are more expensive in Europe as well.
The ONLY 38 that "wasn't very popular" was the single blade version. The #38 Grinling Whittler, and just recently, the #38 English Whittlers ( both true splitbacks ) are among the most popular ever produced by GEC. The only difference is the recent English Whittlers were produced in much higher volume: somewhere between 500 to 700 in each of only 2 handle choices. (Most of the English Whittlers you may see still lingering for sale, are the jigged bone versions that didn't take the color dye very well, so the color doesn't look so good. ) The earlier 38 Grinling Whittlers were/are A VERY HOT ITEM, and produced in FAR LESS numbers for each handle material choice, but with more handle options. Bill is trying to produce his knives in larger quantities, but with only 1 handle option ( in most cases ) for the Tidioute and Northfields. I miss "the good old days" when GEC offered so many more handle options. Of course they would sell out even quicker than the larger production runs made today.
For a person like me. Who beats their knives. I prefer the LionSteel. I have the Dom from CK. And M390 for that price and fit n finish. Its a steal tbh. I understand the materials aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But. They are honestly a must
Yeah, i like the warhorse. Ill probably pick up a dom or roundhead soonish, but honestly i just love carrying carbon steel and bone handled knives.
@@BakeryWizard13 as long as it can get sharp. Im good with any steel lol I have a rough ryder. And I sharpen it a lot. Compared to the LionSteel. There’s always gonna be drawbacks/pros n cons with the materials and styles. But I think styles in this case depends on the materials as well. Micarta and titanium doesn’t give off that classic traditional vibe. At all. But if you were to make the same knife with more traditional handle materials it’ll be a completely different knife.
I absolutely love my Lionsteel knives! Ive got two warhorses, a roundhead, and a best man; Im telling you I couldnt be happier with the quality. I have several GEC's but none of them get carried much because of these beauties.
@@johnmeans2753 i recently ordered the roundhead in rams horn. Cant wait.
@@HammerSmashedFace92 I know youre going to love it! What scales did you get? Post a pic or two.
I'm a fan of the hen and rooster brand. Ones I've got are well made but they're also older knives. Been planning on ordering a new 1 but haven't yet
I have a congress from them and I'm not super happy with it. But your experience may be different.
I personally have taken the stance of only gunning for the GEC Remington knives but ibhave considered the schrade fire and ice GEC
Otter has the 3 rivet knife frame in a stripped down wood handle version, the 161 and also a white bone handle version which I don't know the number of.
Actually the Otter Ankermesser is available in a white bone version with a blued c75 blade for about 130 bucks and its freakin beautiful!
I have several GEC and Böker from Solingen in my collection (not to confuse with the other Boker brands not from Solingen, but US, Taiwan or Argentina!, Solingen is very very high quality and handmade in Germany), I consider Böker from Solingen a lot superior to GEC in price and quality when I see and touch them ... ! cheers
I think the Solingen Bokers are nice knives, but I guess the import to the US must be costly. The Solingen knives are all pretty expensive here.
The downside of collecting anything is that it inevitably always attracts grifters wanting to make a quick buck off of your passion. I've been collecting knives since i was 9 years old and I've always been a fan of traditional knives. I used to collect mostly case and boker but their quality has dropped but their prices stay the same, so i switched to gec. When i started collecting gec they were just a less mainstream alternative to case and and other brands... a bit more expensive, but a lot better quality. Now idk what I'm going to switch to, because i don't want to pay $600 for a second hand factory knife that's really only worth about $100... It's ridiculous. I hate to say it, but i think that quality traditional knives are a dying breed. I might have to find a new thing to collect soon because in more ways than one, it's just becoming a disappointing hobby.
Nice going, scalpers... you've ruined another good thing in this world.
you know, the great eastern cutlery knives though well made of premium materials don't cut or carry any different than a cheaper knife, i have uite a few older case western and pre buy out marbles knives and wouldn't think of spending more than 60 bucks on a new knife
i think the rough rider knives are great, especially the sunfish knives
I found a couple of sellers of new GEC knives without the Rolex-ish bull crap. No I’m not sharing! Evil ❤
Is that the Large or Small Otter Messer Anchor? Love the thing, just can't decide on the size and if I want Smoked Oak or Sapeli covers.
It's the small one. If i had to do it again i think I'd probably get the big one, but i like large knives.
I like rough rider knives 😁.
Hey great video I think.
Winchester "black box" made by Queen for Blue Grass Cutlery.
I wanted the beaver 🦫
Screw all that . The biggest part of my collection is vintage USA made Schrade . Open stock , Old Timers and Uncle Henrys . Very well made knives that have better fit and finish than a lot of knives costing two to three times as much . I've got a slew of Stockmans produced by Schrade in all three lines and not one of them has blade rub .
Not one !
Show me another production , let alone custom knife maker that can claim that . Every damn Case Stockman I've ever seen has blade rub before it's even opened for the first time . Schrade had the Stockman pattern wired when nobody else in the industry could accomplish it correctly . I love the Northwoods stuff but I'll be damned if I'll fork out that kind of money for a pocket knife . My vintage Schrade stuff is the most enjoyable part of my collection .
Oh , and I haven't got one Schrade that has the slightest hint of blade wobble .
BTW ,... Your videos are great.
Keep 'em coming .
@@Rancherinaz although Swindon key construction means that it is really hard to correct blade wobble if an old schrade knife ever develops it.
Do you have any experience with the RRR Reserve line from Rough Ryder? They have a few coming out in VG10 that Interest me. Just curious of your thoughts on them. Thanks.
Yeah i have a few of them, they're made pretty well, especially for the price.
I like the classic carbon line, they aren't consistently as high quality as case but they are a fraction of the price. I prefer carbon steel for aesthetic reasons, so I haven't gone for the vg10 but would assume that it would probably have better edge retention with similar build quality.
Unfortunately not many have a big 4 1/2" carbon steel Trapper like the GEC #23. Anyone have any suggestions? Case has the Panama, but the current run is in stainless.
An old Remington bullet knife, I forget the pattern number. Those are stainless too though.
I think Queen (under Bill Howard) made several of these for Winchester. They seem to go a little north of $100 on eBay. Winchester 29103 is the two bladed version and 19111 for single. Good luck
GEC is the alternative to Case XX, bro
Amen to that CASE > GEC
Bokers have a tariff attached to them. That's why they are marked up.
Well that's unfortunate
@Bakery Wizard There's a online store in Finland called my good knife I think there is no tariff but international shipping but still much cheaper. Seen some Bokers 60 to 80 dollars less than here.
AAPK and Facebook groups have tons of GEC and other brands changing hands on a daily basis. If you have patience you can score some great deals. You can even get good prices on ebay but that's alot harder for GEC. Other American and European brands can be found for dirt cheap on ebay if you have time to scour the constant stream of product. I suggest people buy a copy Levins guide to knives and get smart about vintage and antique blades. Why buy new, mass produced Chinese, when you can get hand crafted American history for the same price?
Personally, GEC has never done it for me. The knives look good and are well made, so I understand why other folks like them, but the price and the difficulty to obtain just makes me completely uninterested in them. There are other things I collect that are/were impossible to obtain at times (particularly during the pandemic). Scalpers were the problem in those other realms-scalpers on top of supply problems. Case and Boker Tree Brand have been my "Sunday" knife brands most of my life. They've always been good enough for me. Bottom line, when your hobby becomes irritating, it's time to change something. Thanks for making this video.
Hey are the Cartridge, rifle and buffalo head series all made by queen or just the cartridge?
I think they're also made by queen, as well as the "black box" Winchester knives.
Love this vid. Wanted a 71 but the hype and overall hunt is such a damn waste of my time. It’s aggravating
If you spend enough time looking you can eventually find what you're looking for. But it can be annoying
@@BakeryWizard13 indeed. 1 year and no luck for a red micarta bullnose. I could pay 200 on ebay but trying to pull that trigger vs a Benchmade Griptilian is hard
Lionsteel knives are beautiful, but almost as expensive as GEC.
Huh! Good alternatives? I own some VINTAGE Imperial Prov, R. I., PAL Cutlery, WR Case, Camillus, Boker USA, Queen, Winchester and John Primble pocket knives that the best GEC knife can't come close to. I love GEC knives just so you understand.
The best way to deal with scalpers is to not buy from them.
Those knive flippers are taking away the fun for a lot, a lot, of people. End the knive snobs with money keep enabling the flippers.
Do you own any rough Ryder's?
Yeah
Why do you prefer Carbon steel knives? What is your basis for this preference?
I just like them.
@@BakeryWizard13 I do too. I like the patina that they get.
Bokers are great but expensive.!
People are doubling the price on eBay. What difference does it make? At least it’s a chance to own a GEC knife. People would not be paying the high prices of the demand was not there for the knives.
14:58 What you have there is a GEC knife.
Treat it with some respect.
Scalpers screw everything up .
Jigged bone seems to be more alluring to the American market than elsewhere. They don’t do anything for me, but to each their own.
I prefer French folders over any others, my Fontenille Pataud is leagues above anything else I have. Not cheap but with GEC I think I’m 2 and done.
Just get SAK
I have 3 different models of saks, but im a part of the people who just enjoy having too many cool pocket knives. If it were entirely utility based all any of us would need would be a victorinox.
OK now just think about this. If I'm not mistaken people are paying for a raffle so if they win they're given the option to BUY a knife. Same knife brand people are charging unbelievable prices for on other sites. This knife can do no more than a case or even a $20 Schrade. Don't get me wrong I've been collecting and loving knives for 40 years but goddamned we've went ignorant over some of this stuff. I have to give GEC credit. Atleast you can make money of there's. Alot of the shite that's sold for ungodly amounts you can't even do that. I just don't understand the thinking
See as I watch more of this video it makes the same point I was trying to make. Nothing against GEC. The point is why on earth would someone pay those kind of prices when you can get quality knives for sometimes a fraction of the prices.
I've only ever seen the raffle style thing for custom knives, where there's only one knife available.
What great Eastern cutler Pakistan Junk?!
Never wanted one, never will. For all the aforementioned reasons plus the gec cult acts like theses are the gods of traditional knives. These people also tend to be arrogant snobs as they worship these knives. Feel free to argue I have heard it all before.
Right on !
I will buy knives made in Taiwan, Italy, Japan, Germany, U.K., and of course the US. I will not buy Chicom knives.
Another deciding factor to consider when trying to score GEC knives, is: are you buying the knife as a personal user, or are you putting it back as an investment? Many guys do both. ( I did. ) If your answer is: "buying the knife to collect & put away in mint condition as an investment"? ( People have been doing that for nearly 50 yrs now. ) Providing it is a desirable pattern, paying double ( but no more ) on the secondary market isn't as bad as it may seem. Especially when you witness what these knives are fetching several years after production AT AUCTION. There is a growing number of true investors with DEEP POCKETS who are willing to pay blood for the desirable patterns. THE REASON: Bill Howard is THE ONLY MAN on Earth who really knows how to produce these knives to such impeccable fit & finish, YET AS "A FACTORY KNIFE" in a production setting. Many of Bill's knives are every bit as good, fit & finish wise, as many custom knives that cost hundreds more new. Look how much it costs to buy a mint condition antique knife in a desirable pattern from one of the famous old American cutlery companies. Many of those knives sell OR auction for several THOUSAND dollars. Bill's knives are the ONLY factory traditionals on course to do the very same thing........but in a much shorter time frame, because a typical run of GEC knives is still tiny compared to antique knives that were literally produced by the TENS OF THOUSANDS back in the day........and that huge production number is/was for a single pattern. The HOT trend of investing in traditional factory folders made by AMERICAN companies got well under way in the late 60's. Nothing new there, and that includes GEC knives. Yet here we have all these young guys just discovering these knives, and literally freaking out over the soaring prices. When Bill Howard founded GEC and weathered the storm through THE WORST possible time to start "a cutlery company" of all things, ( many people told him "he was crazy" )........he knew damn well what he was doing. And GOOD FOR HIM. Lastly, I don't see anyone complaining about "paying 5 grand for a desirable Case pattern made in the 1920's". THE SAME GOES FOR TRYING TO BUY AN ALL-ORIGINAL, NUMBERS MATCHING CLASSIC MUSCLE CAR. THIS IS REALITY, and we have to live with it. All of these young whiners expect to pay "a hundred bucks" for a knife they know damn well WILL gain astronomically in value over a period of years. GET REAL PEOPLE. And "collectors" use knives just like anyone else. The only difference, is they buy a few to use, and the rest as an investment. ( So many guys bragging: "I only buy knives TO USE"...end quote.......Oh really? THEN WHY DO YOU HAVE 40 OF THEM, AND STILL BUYING MORE. YET THEY CONTINUE TO BASH OTHERS THEY DEEM AS "COLLECTORS". Hey.......I'm just sayin'. )
Idk who you are trying to convince with your mental gymnastics here. It seems like you have some preconceived notion that all of the “whiners” you talk about aren’t boomers interested in collecting knives just like you. The fact of the matter is: people do not like price gouging. Regardless of what you THINK about the realities of appreciation and speculation, your average collector is unable to obtain GECs at MSRP because of the few that make it their business to purchase all of them for the express purpose of resale. This “reality” you talk about is called price gouging and your justifications for that gouging as simple collection and subsequent sale is a false equivalency. Again regardless of what you think, this particular situation is infuriating to many passionate collectors of all ages because it is clear that this hobby we are so invested in (and the zenith of it (GEC@MSRP)) floats within the confines of a speculation bubble, literally unobtainable to most.
See Tulipomania.
Amen. I have 40 plus GEC oiled up waiting for me to croak and be deeded over to my sons. Gonna keep buying them too. They are better than gold and silver coins, rental houses, stocks, bonds etc. I know cause I have all that plus other investments trying to diversify out of paper money. Hopefully bitcoin and etherium will shoot the moon and make me really rich but until then, it's more GECs and another rental house.
I only like GEC, Case and LS. I don't like Soligen's products and "made in China" craps.
GNC is very overrated