Slightly Different View
Hey GEC fans, I received my fourth Great Eastern knife this week. No, not from Greg at TSA Knives but from an Ebay seller, however we thought maybe some of you would be interested in some observations anyway. It's a 2007 Red Diamond Back Bone Tidioute #73 Scout Trapper, Serial Number 210. It is new in the correct tube, with the wax paper wrapping.
Now the fit and action are excellent as I've come to expect from GEC (with one exception, more on that later). However, when I first handled it, I was disappointed to feel rough flaws in the finish of the handle scales. Close inspection revealed the tips of several of the 'diamonds' in the bone jigging were loosened or broken, (kinda hard to describe) particularly on the back scale. Perhaps this one is just an exception that escaped QC notice since my other '07 and '08 Tidioutes and Northfields had no such defects.
I was thinking of removing the problem areas and dressing with my Dremel and polishing the areas. But, I'm thinking, is there a better idea? hey Superglue. I've used it before to wick into cracks in bone and stag handles. Wow, it worked and all spots are now solid after drying overnight. I've now carefully dressed a few rough spots with a diamond Dremel burr (by hand, not in the Dremal) and polished everything with a dab of Simichrome. It's now smooth as silk, check out the pictures.
Now about that one fit issue. During the work on the scales, I noticed that the closed blade tips were just a little bit proud of the liners, enough to catch careless finger tips. Well a little careful work with my jeweler files by lowering the kicks has fixed that as well. Took a little more work than I anticipated though, those 1095 blades/kicks are really hard. Good stuff.
I really like this thing better all the time. Its time for some pocket time, cutting stuff, and see if I can get some nice blue and gold patina going like on my first one that I won in Greg's drawing recently, the Red Buffalo that I've told you about.
So, no harm, no foul as they say. This is sometimes how old retired guys amuse themselves and have fun. But the real deal for many of us I think is the final quality control that is provided by the dealers and distributors like Greg, linked on the GEC website.
Jack G (Jaxon)
Now the fit and action are excellent as I've come to expect from GEC (with one exception, more on that later). However, when I first handled it, I was disappointed to feel rough flaws in the finish of the handle scales. Close inspection revealed the tips of several of the 'diamonds' in the bone jigging were loosened or broken, (kinda hard to describe) particularly on the back scale. Perhaps this one is just an exception that escaped QC notice since my other '07 and '08 Tidioutes and Northfields had no such defects.
I was thinking of removing the problem areas and dressing with my Dremel and polishing the areas. But, I'm thinking, is there a better idea? hey Superglue. I've used it before to wick into cracks in bone and stag handles. Wow, it worked and all spots are now solid after drying overnight. I've now carefully dressed a few rough spots with a diamond Dremel burr (by hand, not in the Dremal) and polished everything with a dab of Simichrome. It's now smooth as silk, check out the pictures.
Now about that one fit issue. During the work on the scales, I noticed that the closed blade tips were just a little bit proud of the liners, enough to catch careless finger tips. Well a little careful work with my jeweler files by lowering the kicks has fixed that as well. Took a little more work than I anticipated though, those 1095 blades/kicks are really hard. Good stuff.
I really like this thing better all the time. Its time for some pocket time, cutting stuff, and see if I can get some nice blue and gold patina going like on my first one that I won in Greg's drawing recently, the Red Buffalo that I've told you about.
So, no harm, no foul as they say. This is sometimes how old retired guys amuse themselves and have fun. But the real deal for many of us I think is the final quality control that is provided by the dealers and distributors like Greg, linked on the GEC website.
Jack G (Jaxon)
In my opinion the buck starts and stops with the seller. I know that I inspect all the knives I sell and Greg does also. #1 a good company #2 the sellmans honest inspection of the product he sells to you.
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purchase the knife from greg and not an unknown on ebay(why do you think he took a new knife and sold it!!!) if its defective or unsatisfactory (to you the buyer) in some way greg will make it right---to YOUR satisfaction. i speak from experience and continue to purchase GEC at TSA --- FOR THAT REASON IF NO OTHER! Well done Greg.
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I think we're on the same page Chris, right? Surely GEC quality is superb, but exceptions must slip out occasionally and the person I bought this one from is not a GEC recognized dealer I think, and as such probably is not as astute to inspecting sales items as you and Greg, etc. My no harm, no foul comment reflects that I feel mine was a good deal and I had fun making it right all by myself. Kinda like extra value for a tinkerer like me.
Cheers,
Jaxon
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Jaxon, if I didn't know for fact that you damn near 'stole' that knife on ebay, I'd be asking you why you didn't send it to me to get it 'fixed'. As the saying goes, when life (or ebay in this case) hands you a lemon.....make lemonade!!! Looks like you did and without any whining!
Had an interesting discussion with a local businessman some time back and we were discussing product pricing and how tough it was to compete sometimes with discounters based on price alone. Not to drag this out...we both acknowledged the many successful businesses aren't always the least expensive to deal with. I've got a supplier that I deal with right now that I could go elsewhere and get the same product for less. The reason I keep going back is they've bailed my butt out more then once on an item I needed 'yesterday'. When something goes wrong, I can take care of my customer with 100% assurance that the supplier will back my decision and help cover my loss. It's always been my mission to take the extra step to keep a customer happy and if I've got suppliers backing me, .... life is so much easier for everyone. So the moral of the story is....I can always tell someone where to buy 'it' cheaper, but I can't tell them anywhere they'll be better taken care of then right here!!
Which brings up a good point. I can't buy the GEC's anywhere for less then I am. And you know what, even if I could, I wouldn't. Because NO ONE could take better care of me as a customer then they have/are/do! It all comes down to mutual respect and I've got a ton of respect for them. (even if a couple of them seem to have a little 'chocolate' monkey on their back)
And Jaxon, take better care of your knives. I think I see a fingerprint on the back bolster....or....good lord....could that be RUST?????
greg
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What ?????? No rust on MY bolsters. Besides, you might notice they are nickel silver. And fingerprints, that comes with use man. Whatcha think knives are for? Hey thanks for your thoughts. As you know, and everybody else should know, I have a few other GECs from your shop (one my prized Red Buffalo from your drawing). My comments are for no other purpose but to pass along my honest observations.
'Nuf said,
Jaxon
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I think there is something wrong with this knife Chris. Feels so good in the hand it has taken over pocket time from my Red Buffalo but after a couple of days slicing and dicing ham, Canadian bacon, onion and stuff I can't get any of the blue and gold color on the blades like the Red Buffalo did. Somebody make a mistake and put stainless blades on this guy?
Jaxon
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