GEC's #14s

[JET79]

at this point I think I would take what ever I could get. I'm very new to collecting old style pocket knives but I'm quickly realizing if I like a popular pattern then I gotta be Johny on the spot as for getting one I want and even thats not a guarantee haha... I set an alarm on a day I was working to try and get a Freemont jack from NW and my phone couldn't keep up with that feeding frenzy. But if I could choose

1 collector knives/ red saw cut bone
2 balde HQ / Brown burlap micarta
3 Any of the DLT ones save maybe the acrylic
4 lick creek/ smooth white bone
5 knife connection/ desert ironwood

[gsmith7158]

I think if the next Northwoods offering is a # 14 it may be the death knell for the brand unless each handle material is extremely exotic. The Northwoods Brand needs a kick in the pants in my opinion.

[robbobus]

I think if the next Northwoods offering is a # 14 it may be the death knell for the brand unless each handle material is extremely exotic. The Northwoods Brand needs a kick in the pants in my opinion.

Strong opinion. I disagree. For the last few years Northwoods sell out their 500 piece offering in under 10 minutes. In my opinion, they have their finger right on the pulse of the knife collector. I have been accumulating these for 10 years, and easily have over 20 Northwoods encompassing at least 15 models. I have my favourites, but not 1 is lacking from the earliest to latest. One of my knife regrets is trading off an early 2 blade Gunstock long before the current popularity.

If there will be an offering, I predict they turn it upside down and give us a sleeveboard mini-Fremont or mini-Bear Lake.

[gsmith7158]

I think if the next Northwoods offering is a # 14 it may be the death knell for the brand unless each handle material is extremely exotic. The Northwoods Brand needs a kick in the pants in my opinion.

Strong opinion. I disagree. For the last few years Northwoods sell out their 500 piece offering in under 10 minutes. In my opinion, they have their finger right on the pulse of the knife collector. I have been accumulating these for 10 years, and easily have over 20 Northwoods encompassing at least 15 models. I have my favourites, but not 1 is lacking from the earliest to latest. One of my knife regrets is trading off an early 2 blade Gunstock long before the current popularity.

If there will be an offering, I predict they turn it upside down and give us a sleeveboard mini-Fremont or mini-Bear Lake.

Robobus I wish for only the best in a new Northwoods offering. I suppose i may seem somewhat skeptical but i see GEC sliding into predictable handle materials and other safety measures and I hope Northwoods does not follow suit. It is refreshing to have a knife Co. on the edge.

[singin46]

Hey Greg, I think Northwoods needing a kick in the pants is a bit strong considering their latest run I watched sell out in less than 5 minutes! GEC is only doing what they've been doing with regularity over the past 3 or 4 summers. When they have a very popular pattern, like the #15 or #14, which they have produced the 15s for at least the past 3 summers, they tend to make more. Just to give others a chance at one, that might've missed an SFO or short run. They do what any company does. Produces the patterns that are their bread and butter. Quite frankly, they can make the #14s as easily as they make the #15s, so a no brainer. The extra bolsters are an easy part too, cause they've done it before. A new pattern is always the hardest because it requires new tooling and such. There is no way to predict what is coming from Northwoods in the future, I will leave that to them. GEC does alot of challenging things for an old fashioned/traditional Cutlery however.

[gsmith7158]

Here is a pic of Gunstock Jack's SFO in the 14 smooth autumn bone.

[boykinlp]

Here is a pic of Gunstock Jack's SFO in the 14 smooth autumn bone.

Thanks, Greg. I think it will be a winner.

[wlf]

Thanks JET79 ,
Let me know and I’ll reserve you one.

I didn’t realize so many were 1 bladers . For me, a one blade in the #14 just doesn’t seem like it would have enough grip. I originally had mine as a one blade and changed after consideration.

[JET79]

Thanks JET79 ,
Let me know and I’ll reserve you one.

I didn’t realize so many were 1 bladers . For me, a one blade in the #14 just doesn’t seem like it would have enough grip. I originally had mine as a one blade and changed after consideration.

Sir, I would love that! I tried to look up where I could find a reserve but I didn’t know where to look.

[boykinlp]

Thanks JET79 ,
Let me know and I’ll reserve you one.

I didn’t realize so many were 1 bladers . For me, a one blade in the #14 just doesn’t seem like it would have enough grip. I originally had mine as a one blade and changed after consideration.

wIf,
Which one are you reserving?

[wlf]

It is my SFO Larry. Lick Creek is my brand, and these are stamped as such this time,although Bill Howard asked to call his pattern “Lick Creek” boys knives.He also asked me to write stories, which are in GEC’s and my knives only.Mine is the two blade smooth white bone with the bar shield, and it’s got some thread on the bolster.

Did someone say SMKW bought the Criple Creek trademark?

[kootenay joe]

I agree with Greg: Northwoods NEEDS a "kick in the pants" (back side). The earlier offerings like the Norfolk Whittler are exquisite knives that require highly skilled cutlers are far more fascinating that a single blade barehead jack with Micarta handles.
Yes the Northwoods runs have all sold out in minutes but this collector frenzy is based on how good they were. The last 3 or 4 Northwoods patterns have been a GEC with a weird blade. Have another ho-hum run like these and the Northwoods mystique will evaporate, as it should.
But, "kick in the pants" and get back to fewer runs of exquisite knives that are not just minimal tweaking of an existing GEC knife, and the Northwoods brand will keep it's exalted status.
It comes down to your leanings: businessman says "hey, i'm making good money here every run. I'm not changing anything because business could not be better than selling out in 2 minutes";
but the collector says: "come on, Northwoods is supposed to be a special knife, so let's make them "special" i.e. interesting, not just a GEC with tweak".
I am 100% collector and i get a "0" zero, for business.
kj

[wlf]

Jet, I hope to be selling mine in an AAPK store, if I can get organized.

[JET79]

Jet, I hope to be selling mine in an AAPK store, if I can get organized.

I would love to be able to pick one up. Just last week I came across an Apostle P video talking about meeting you and the version of the #14 that he got from you and just thought that was so cool. I love the idea that stories come with it. I tried to convey the heart of that coolness to my wife and she did her best be interested but it kinda felt like when I was a kid and was trying to tell my mom how cool transformers were lol. Sir, let me know where and when and I will be there.

[boykinlp]

It is my SFO Larry. Lick Creek is my brand, and these are stamped as such this time,although Bill Howard asked to call his pattern “Lick Creek” boys knives.He also asked me to write stories, which are in GEC’s and my knives only.Mine is the two blade smooth white bone with the bar shield, and it’s got some thread on the bolster.

Did someone say SMKW bought the Criple Creek trademark?

Thanks for the clarification, Lyle. Are you going to have the "poster" that shows how your knife will look like Gunstock Jack showed us in one of the above posts? I did hear that SMKW was going to be selling the Cripple Creek knives.

[Drukai]

Will Smokey Mountain Knife works be offering pre orders on the Cripple Creeks? I hope I can get one in Stag.

[m0nk]

I totally missed out on the CK #14 red sawcut bone reservation "release" today. Seems to me that CK SFOs have all the popularity of Northwoods, the difference is that Mike takes steps to reduce the frenzy. But if he had the cart server bandwidth and did uncontrolled releases like KSF, I'm sure that all the same frenzy would be there. And these are on GEC branded knives! I see this as a testament to the deep enduring quality that is the driving force behind GEC sales. There's just no way that BladeForum hype or hipster EDC pocket dumps on instagram has somehow manufactured this popularity.

And I have to disagree with Roland about the NW designs. Look, the Bear Lake is on a custom KSF-only frame that doesn't even have a GEC pattern number. It's blade is totally unique compared to other brands and manufacturers, and the covers certainly seem exotic to me. C'mon, kudu and mammoth aren't exotic enough? I didn't even know what a kudu is, I had to google it to see a picture of one. Apparently their bones are more rare than Sambar stag, which we can't even import anymore, because the kudu BLs were what, $30 more than the stag BLs? You'd have to go find a custom maker with your own plan to find a more unique design with a more exotic handle cover. Not sure what more you'd want from a factory-made brand.

So what's the word on the #14 AAPK club SFO? I haven't been paying attention this week; hoping I didn't miss that one too.

Lee

[JET79]

I totally missed out on the CK #14 red sawcut bone reservation "release" today. Seems to me that CK SFOs have all the popularity of Northwoods, the difference is that Mike takes steps to reduce the frenzy. But if he had the cart server bandwidth and did uncontrolled releases like KSF, I'm sure that all the same frenzy would be there. And these are on GEC branded knives! I see this as a testament to the deep enduring quality that is the driving force behind GEC sales. There's just no way that BladeForum hype or hipster EDC pocket dumps on instagram has somehow manufactured this popularity.

And I have to disagree with Roland about the NW designs. Look, the Bear Lake is on a custom KSF-only frame that doesn't even have a GEC pattern number. It's blade is totally unique compared to other brands and manufacturers, and the covers certainly seem exotic to me. C'mon, kudu and mammoth aren't exotic enough? I didn't even know what a kudu is, I had to google it to see a picture of one. Apparently their bones are more rare than Sambar stag, which we can't even import anymore, because the kudu BLs were what, $30 more than the stag BLs? You'd have to go find a custom maker with your own plan to find a more unique design with a more exotic handle cover. Not sure what more you'd want from a factory-made brand.

So what's the word on the #14 AAPK club SFO? I haven't been paying attention this week; hoping I didn't miss that one too.

Lee

hey Lee, sorry you missed the CK red saw cut. I think your spot on about the Northwoods. That was cracking me up by the way, I didn't know what a kudu was either. Next NW run, Maybe dragon bone?

[Drukai]

No Wildabeast and Unicorn..I enjoi the Northwoods knives and they look great, shying away from the Sheepsfoot, Wharncliffe, Bohncliffe profile would be +1 x a lot in my book some spears, speys, clips and some damn northWOOD handle covers DIW, Cocobolo etc. Two blade run would be nice..

[boykinlp]

Here are 2 more posters to show what knives will look like:

Lyle,
I think yours is a real looker!
Larry

[Tsar Bomba]

I totally missed out on the CK #14 red sawcut bone reservation "release" today. Seems to me that CK SFOs have all the popularity of Northwoods, the difference is that Mike takes steps to reduce the frenzy. But if he had the cart server bandwidth and did uncontrolled releases like KSF, I'm sure that all the same frenzy would be there. And these are on GEC branded knives! I see this as a testament to the deep enduring quality that is the driving force behind GEC sales. There's just no way that BladeForum hype or hipster EDC pocket dumps on instagram has somehow manufactured this popularity.

"Gone in no more than 39 minutes..." -- probably much less. I don't know the nuances of Lyle/Charlie with a "Lick Creek Barlow" run but the numbers have to be looow. I've given up on getting a #14 TC.

[JET79]

Really diggin the smooth white bone.

[singin46]

Ok, I'm going with one other one. The Kifer ebony #14 single clip with the Kifer shield, like this shield on Gary's #78 from last year's SFO run.

[kootenay joe]

I am not saying BF is responsible for GEC's great success. BF definitely helped in the early days of 2006 and 2007. And Charlie C. began by posting threads about the Barlow at least a year before the GEC Barlows showed up. By then BF readers were well primed to get a new GEC Barlow which was a Charlie C. design. Nothing wrong with any of this. I find the history of knives as interesting as the knives themselves.
Certainly none of this GEC Mania would still be here now if they did not make an outstanding product and reliably so, almost never a return.
As for kudu bone, it is a new one to us here but the ones i saw are not as attractive as the giraffe bone which rivals mammoth and can resemble it too.
This last Northwoods run (Bear Lake with caps) only had 4 mammoth. Is this substance getting harder to locate a good source due to confusion with elephant ivory ban ?
The Northwoods brand has a solid following and could create very special folding knives, the "Jos. Rodgers of our times". Or they could make nice tweaks to each new GEC release. They would make money either way but as a knife lover i would rather see Northwoods strive for the top.
kj

[m0nk]

As for kudu bone, it is a new one to us here but the ones i saw are not as attractive as the giraffe bone which rivals mammoth and can resemble it too.
This last Northwoods run (Bear Lake with caps) only had 4 mammoth. Is this substance getting harder to locate a good source due to confusion with elephant ivory ban ?

KJ, I completely agree about the giraffe bone. I was hoping the kudu would show as much variation and beauty as a typical giraffe run, but none did. At least not that I could see in the 33 seconds I had to browse them. If I had spotted one with the appeal as most of the giraffe bone covers I've seen lately, I might have had to make that tough confession to the Mrs. that night. Good thing for me none of these $200 knives appealed to me. Nevertheless I'm sure the scalpers will do just fine with their investments on the Bay, so no sleep lost for those guys. Regarding the mammoth, I was under the impression that perhaps the sole benefit of the melting polar ice caps was the revealing of more thawing mammoth carcasses in the tundra. But the situation here is that GEC only made a handful of mammoth pieces in order to meet the order, so we should not see this as a sure indication of the availability (or lack thereof) of mammoth ivory. I'm still optimistic about my chances to score a little piece of the Ice Age in a future release.

Lee