i actually think gec is just now starting to get it right.
smaller batches, more creative patterns, nicer handle materials, etc.
i bought most of the first couple of year's worth of patterns as they came out, but i quit after 2007 and sold them all.
why?
they were all basically the same knife with a bunch of different handles.
plus, many of their production runs were either really big or really small.
it was really getting frustrating.
i got back into them later because they finally started making patterns that were much more interesting.
they also started using cool handle material like snakewood and ivory.
i also like the fact that they've cut many of their production runs to 25 #'d pieces.
i photographed all of my early gec knives before selling them.
looking back at them, they look like tinker toys compared with the newer ones.
i don't regret selling them at all.
on the other hand, many of my more recent northfield purhases will be part of my permanent collection.
they still make some duds now and again (those plastic-handled "tango" disasters come to mind).
but, overall, i think gec is the premier knife company today.
queen has taken a couple of steps backward lately and case just makes toys.
gec is absolutely unrivaled in my humble opinion.
as long as they continue to produce interesting new patterns and focus on making small, high quality batches, i'll keep buying them.
and, yes.
i have crystal balls.
