novice needing knowledge

[prairiedog]

I'm a novice collector actively trying to acquire any knowledge i can. I started collecting one year ago...although I can't seem to get my wife on-board ....hopefully she'll come to appreciate knives the way I do eventually. But anyways...love this web-site and I appreciate all the information you all provide in these posts. Here's my question...I recently bought a TIDIOUTE #73 SCOUT made by GEC from a fellow collector. Its quality made,superb blade, good-lookin' bone handles... although I've yet to identify the jigging with any of the jigging patterns I've seen on the GEC web-site... and I'm wondering why it does'nt have the pattern # under the TITUSVILLE IRON WORKS stamp...where the pattern # should be its stamped "2008"...and it also has a number "2" neatly engraved by the stamping. I have'nt seen a lot of GEC's up close...but all I've seen has had a pattern # on the back side of the tang...and the one's that are serial-numbered I've seen normally would have that # on the bolster..I think?? Anyways, I'm hoping someone can give me some information concerning. Sorry, I"m a new member and haven"t quite figured out how to post a quality photo of a knife yet.

[caddyman1973]

Welcome to AAPK! I May be wrong and I hope I am, but the #2 might mean that its a factory second. If it is, there's prolly nothing really wrong with it, maybe just a cosmetic flaw or something. I'm sure someone else will know for sure what the #2 is for certain. Jigging......They've used some odd jigging here and there since 2006, might just be one of the oddballs.

[boggs]

caddyman you're correct...... Seconds from Great Eastern Seconds are stamped with a number "2" but have flaws that are most often related to poorly matched slabs, miscolored handles or imperfections in the final finishing. A few may have buffing or polish marks on the blades or metal surfaces that could not be buffed out in manufacturing. In all cases, the function of the knife is not affected. These are not warranted by Great Eastern and are sold as is. Each knife that has a letter "S" (for Store) stamped on the tang are the "EDC" knives that distributors sell .

Interesting to note is that seconds are only available to employees for purchase so yours had a rather unusual path...

[prairiedog]

Thanks for the info...I guess on a positive note...I now have a quality knife that I can pack around and actually use. Again, thank-you for your time and knowledge!

[boggs]

Just additional information so that everything is clearer on "Seconds"...The "EDC" knives from GEC are really called,by GEC and at the GEC Factory, "Store Only" knives. They do have a Cosmetic Blemish as described . They are marked with a small s on the tang to designate Store Only. They do have the other Tang Markings including the pattern number. These knives ARE NOT "Seconds".
GEC does have some seconds,and they are not sold outside the Factory. These "Seconds" however can be purchased at greatly reduced prices by the employees. I have been told that these seconds are VERY ROUGH knives and could never be mistaken as anything BUT seconds by anyone thats ever owned a pocket knife. Though I have never even seen a true "Second" from GEC.

[prairiedog]

here is pics of the knife in question...you can barely see the "2"..but it's there. Thanks caddyman and boggs for the informative replies...it's much appreciated!

[boggs]

Prairedog that would be Gator Bone little brother to the #23 Pioneer S.A.R.P.N.T (See a reptile playing near Tidioute) model.... pronounce serpent

[prairiedog]

Thanks for the help and expertise!