All About Pocket Knives

Well said ivyman !
What is true for all collectible knives is that 'fads' come and go. By this i mean that a GEC 81 pattern might be high now because it has developed a 'following' or become a 'fad'. This will not last forever. In a year or 2 or 3 at the most, the 'fad' will move on to other GEC patterns and prices of the 81 will drop to a more 'sensible' range, still in demand but not as intensely so.
If there is a GEC pattern you like and right now prices on ebay are close to original, then now is the time to buy because it could become the 'fad' pattern of tomorrow.
And if the pattern you really like is very high right now, wait for a year or so and you likely will get the same knife for less.
kj

Yes, well said Iman. Nobody is doing what gec is doing and I am a very satisfied return customer of theirs. I've been carrying my micarta 82 stockman since I bought it. Every time I use it I can't help but think of how much I enjoy it's quality and usefulness. It's a GREAT knife. I feel like this about all the GEC's I carry but lately the 82 has been top dog.

kootenay joe wrote:What is true for all collectible knives is that 'fads' come and go. By this i mean that a GEC 81 pattern might be high now because it has developed a 'following' or become a 'fad'. This will not last forever. In a year or 2 or 3 at the most, the 'fad' will move on to other GEC patterns and prices of the 81 will drop to a more 'sensible' range, still in demand but not as intensely so. If there is a GEC pattern you like and right now prices on ebay are close to original, then now is the time to buy because it could become the 'fad' pattern of tomorrow. And if the pattern you really like is very high right now, wait for a year or so and you likely will get the same knife for less.
kj

The 81 abilene stockmans were made in 2013, so far the only run. I think they will always be pricey, there's just not that many and it's such a good stockman. Sometimes you can get lucky but it's not the norm when they turn up.

The GEC site shows two 3 blade #82's, one is called "Dixie Stock Knife" and the other "Dixie Stockman". Is the only difference the year of production ?
http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/patterns/82-2/
kj

Roland they are the same pattern so I'd say yes.

The only real difference between the two runs (aside from handle options) is the old northfields have slant bolsters. I wish they would have kept that feature on the new ones but the double lined bolsters on the recent nf's are still nice.

KnifeSlinger#81 wrote:
The 81 abilene stockmans were made in 2013, so far the only run. I think they will always be pricey, there's just not that many and it's such a good stockman. Sometimes you can get lucky but it's not the norm when they turn up.

Agreed. The #81 Abilene stockman being so pricey isn't because it's a fad right now, its because they'veonly produced ~335 ever, 6 years ago. And considering they did #81s in '17, and a stockman #82 in '18, I feel it's safe to say it will be at least a couple years before any more #81 stockman knives are produced.

Hey are my recent acquisitions over the past few weeks.

The M&G is by far my favorite #15 of my collection.

Nice ones Ajd. Are you going to carry the M&G for the pleasure of having it with you ?
kj

Ajd looks like a very productive few weeks. A very knice mix as well.

That #62 is very nice.

Nice group Ajd, all kinds of stuff to like in that group. Congrats. Love the M&G and 62.

One of the 97’s I early reserved. Jigged cherry wood handle. Very nice.
SSk

I 'broke down' earlier on today after seeing a maroon micarta Tidioute 97 posted in another thread. CK had them at lowest price so i clicked 'buy'.
I have a Northwoods reserved and it will be interesting to see how the Tidioute blade with Full Flat Grind will cut compared with the full saber grind on the Northfield.
Very 'smart' looking Beaver Tail there Mark.
kj

kootenay joe wrote:Nice ones Ajd. Are you going to carry the M&G for the pleasure of having it with you ?
kj

I want to. I carry it around the house some. The bareheaded, long pull/cut swedge & pen is my absolute favorite configuration of all the #15s made, and those happen to be the rarest as well. I'd Like to find another to keep minty before I put this one to legit use.

FarSide wrote:That #62 is very nice.

It looks nice for sure, I just dont like it near as much as I thought I would. The blade size/configuration doesn't bug me, but the weak spongy action on the secondaries combined with the half stops, really turn me off. The main has a near perfect action, but the secondaries are just meh. I'll probably be letting it go some time before too long.

Autumn bone 97 arrived today. It sure looks pretty with the jigged cherry wood 97 sitting next to it.
SSk

Yep those are looking great.

Picked up this nice 48 in stag recently

Travis, the colors in your 48 are fantastic. Are they computer enhanced ? or is that how it looks in person ?
kj

kootenay joe wrote:Travis, the colors in your 48 are fantastic. Are they computer enhanced ? or is that how it looks in person ?
kj

Pic was edited just a little but colors weren’t enhanced much,

It really is attractive !
kj

kootenay joe wrote:It really is attractive !
kj

Thanks Kj

I was 'just looking' at the GEC knives in the AAPK store and i saw a rather nice stag 4 1/4" Equal End Stock knife, 538308. The price was reasonable enough but it did say "or best offer" so i sent a reasonable offer and the kind seller "Gary" accepted.
I like the early GEC's because there was more variety of pattern 'tweaks' and handle types. Many of the early knives are the more complex patterns, more demanding of the cutler's ability.
Here is this knife, seller's pics. I just bought it today, a good day to buy a knife.
kj

kootenay joe wrote:I was 'just looking' at the GEC knives in the AAPK store and i saw a rather nice stag 4 1/4" Equal End Stock knife, 538308. The price was reasonable enough but it did say "or best offer" so i sent a reasonable offer and the kind seller "Gary" accepted.
I like the early GEC's because there was more variety of pattern 'tweaks' and handle types. Many of the early knives are the more complex patterns, more demanding of the cutler's ability.
Here is this knife, seller's pics. I just bought it today, a good day to buy a knife.
kj

Roland that is some very fine looking stag on that 53. Beautiful knife!

TravisB, Roland, some fine looking stag!

Thanks Greg & DL. Yes the bolster to bolster stag is why i bought it. Some of the best GEC stag is on the early knives.
kj