GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

GEC specializes in highly collectable and premium quality usable pocket knives. The company's USA manufactured knives have quickly proven to be a big hit with both collectors and users who seek quality American craftsmanship.
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by kootenay joe »

I posted this in the thread for GEC #48 but received no replies so i am posting the same question here.
A new GEC #48 has just been released as an SFO for KSF, the Northwoods Hawthorne. Northwoods knives are known for having more 'upscale' handles. I have been collecting one of each new Northwoods release choosing either ivory or mammoth.
I was at the KSF website the second these Hawthornes became available and was able to see all or maybe nearly all, of the mammoth handles knives. I did not buy one because all of the mammoth looked rather dull and plain, uninteresting. For the extra $100 i want mammoth that has some color and 'life' to it. Past Northwoods offerings have had more colorful interesting mammoth.
Did anyone else have a look at the mammoth Hawthornes and if so, what do you think of the mammoth ?
kj
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by jmh58 »

I am not a mammoth fan but have found sometimes the knife you get looks a lot better in person than in the pics the sites show.. ::shrug:: John :D
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by Tsar Bomba »

I wasn't aware of Northwoods #48 releases this time but in the past, I've been disappointed with some of the mammoth on the Northwoods "premium" knives. The Esky Zulu seemed to be totally hit-or-miss; either you'd end up with an outstanding and eye-catching set of mammoth handles or they'd look almost boring. The same variance was observed in the camel bone, but after seeing so many camel bone knives I'm more used to that. Perhaps it's just my lack of experience with mammoth ivory, but I think I'd almost rather go through a knife artisan and arrange to pick out my slabs than take a shot at a 2D photo on KSF's site or other dealers for a premium, high-end (and high-priced) knife like that.
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by gsmith7158 »

No matter. There all gone.
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by kootenay joe »

Thanks for your posts in reply. I do know that sometimes mammoth will look more attractive in person but sometimes dull & boring in pictures is still dull & boring in person.
Is the supply of the more colorful & interesting mammoth drying up ? Or is there one major supplier of mammoth that has the market cornered and has jacked up the price on all but the dull stuff ?
3-4 years ago the mammoth on GEC's and their SFO's was excellent. Why is it now dull ?
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by Tsar Bomba »

gsmith7158 wrote:No matter. There all gone.
That's why I don't even sweat the SFOs or short runs if I find out about them after they go on sale. I normally assume I'll never see one at a dealer and if I want one I'll have to pay the secondary market "bump". ::disgust::

Fortunately I got the two #48 Improved knives I wanted and I'm perfectly happy with the one that already arrived. ::tu::
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by Drukai »

Anyone have a picture of the SFO trapper GEC did with the jigged cardinal red bone and the Ohio state shape shield? Bummed I missed out on that beauty ::td::
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by Drukai »

This Scagel Fruitport is a nice one from GEC 2010 run love the "oiled bone" whatever that means and the open nail nick...just wish Derrick Bohn didn't give the Scagel name up to Mike Stewart :x or we would probably still be seeing these built.
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by JohnR »

Couple of Northwoods in Mammoth, I prefer really white ivory and got to pick that on both these knives.
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by kootenay joe »

John, what is the name of the Northwoods ?

Has anyone had a look at the GEC website and seen the new Maher & Grosh # 54 Moose ? Some are handled in "Antique Honey Jig Bone".
The pictures do not make this look very attractive (to me). Maybe it gets a further polishing which will brighten it up ?
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by QTCut5 »

JohnR--you scored some sweet mammoth on that Esky Zulu for sure. If the mammoth I got had looked half as good I wouldn't have sold mine two days after buying it. Mine was as dull as mud and on top of that, the blade wasn't properly centered. Huge disappointment considering the price I paid for it. (Believe it or not, this is a rare instance in which the knife actually looks better in the photos than it did in person.)
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by QTCut5 »

Drukai wrote:This Scagel Fruitport is a nice one from GEC 2010 run love the "oiled bone" whatever that means and the open nail nick...just wish Derrick Bohn didn't give the Scagel name up to Mike Stewart :x or we would probably still be seeing these built.
Drukai--Couldn't agree more. The Scagel Wharncliffe Fruitport is one of my all-time favorite knives. A truly beautiful work of art...minimalist and graceful. Yours is very nice.
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Here's another Scagel that I also like quite a bit:
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by Drukai »

Yes they are beauty's still wish I would have bought a clip version when they first came up for sale! That Stag looks great! ::tu::
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by JohnR »

Thanks guys. KJ, the knives are the Madison Barlow and the Esky Zulu, wish I would have bough another of the Esky to carry, real nice feel to that knife.
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by Drukai »

Ok finally found a picture of the #48 Ohio State shield trapper in Cardinal jigged bone
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by Drukai »

I think this was a Chris Tenney(sp) SFO of 25pcs..wish I didn't miss out on this run..they are very unique..and I love trappers
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by RalphAlsip »

kootenay joe wrote:Did anyone else have a look at the mammoth Hawthornes and if so, what do you think of the mammoth ?
kj
Roland, I also participated in the 10 minutes long Northwoods Hawthorne sale :) . I wasn't interested in mammoth for this pattern, but I did scan over them quickly and none of them tempted me. I find it challenging to buy a knife under the pressure to make a decision and complete the transaction before the knife sells to someone who is faster. So far, I have not been disappointed with my "luck of the draw".

I did end up getting a stag Hawthorne (see below). My preference was the clip blade variation, but they sold much faster so the wharncliffe variations were easier to sift through to make a selection. The stag slabs are reasonably thin and symmetrical (the way I prefer) on this one.

This pattern would appeal to me in a lockback variation ala the Case 6151L, Remington R1253 bullet, or the Winchester variation made for Napanoch - in case anyone from Northwoods reads this :)
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Northwoods 2017 Hawthorne Jack Stag
Northwoods 2017 Hawthorne Jack Stag
Northwoods 2017 Hawthorne Jack Stag
Northwoods 2017 Hawthorne Jack Stag
Northwoods 2017 Hawthorne Jack Stag
Northwoods 2017 Hawthorne Jack Stag
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by kootenay joe »

Good looking Hawthorne ! and i too think the clip blade is better suited to this knife.
I wanted a clip blade with outstanding mammoth handles but i did not see one which is good in that i should not have been spending money. I have some very nice mammoth on GEC & Northwoods knives. To add more i want comparable mammoth which seems to be getting hard to find.
kj
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by kootenay joe »

I just won a GEC "Cripple Creek" Trapper Jack (my name for this pattern). Built on a #73 frame so is 3 3/4" which i think is a great size, i prefer it over the 4 1/2" #23. And it should have flush & square joints for a touch of 'class'. Prior to seeing this one on ebay i did not know they existed. There is one in Stag shown earlier in this thread (page 1 ?)
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by edge213 »

Joe, beautiful!
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by kootenay joe »

Thank you. It does look to be a substantial knife. Not sure but might have been made in 2010 ? That was when GEC was still making some springs far too stiff so i hope this knife is not a nail breaker.
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by TheMadHungarian »

All the GEC BFC SFO Annual knives for the Traditional sub forum.

2011 EO Bullet Jack
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2012 Wharncliffe Trapper
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2013 Congress Jack
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2014 Stag Jack
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2016 Harness Jack
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by jerryd6818 »

My only contributions to this thread are the 2013, 2014 AAPK knives (sold the 2015) and Lyle's Lick Creek Farmer's Jack.
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by kootenay joe »

All 3 are great looking knives Jerry.
KSF has just announced that a new Northwoods knife will go on sale Tuesday.
Does anyone know what pattern this will be ? It is possible that this Northwoods is not GEC made but from Queen.
Let's see what the AAPK sleuths can find.
kj
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Re: GREAT EASTERN PRIVATE LABEL, CLUB KNIVES & SFO's

Post by robbobus »

I picked up one of the C Risner red 78 sfo's today.
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