A small problem for edc

SusAntigoon

SusAntigoon

Joined
Oct 13, 2007
Messages
188
I recently got a GEC #73 in smooth white bone and I must say it is a beatifully made knife. Perfect size ,nicely finished and a strong spring.
A small problem however is that the tip of the blade sticks up just a tiny bit when closed. Barely noticeable but enough to probably catch in my pocket. I remember reading that someone filed down the kick a bit to remedy this. Might seem a bit dumb but I'm not exactly sure what he meant by the 'kick'. Is this the bottom part of the blade that sticks out in front of the edge? Or do you need to file down the inside of the spring a bit so the blade rides deeper when closed (as I type this ,this seems a rather bad thing to do as it might weaken the spring a little...)?

Sry if I posted this in the wrong subforum, but seeing as you guys are all about slipjoints......:o
 
The best thing to do would be to return it for another one. A kick is the pointed piece of the tang, by the cutout(choil) by the end or bottom of the edge. If you have to file the kick the knife is a defect IMO.
 
To be honest, I really can not consider this a defect worthy of sending it back.
I just looked at some other knives and quite a few of them seem to have been adjusted (by filing the kick a bit) after assembly. I have a Queen where this is especially evident.
I don't consider myself a collector, so I buy knives to carry and use. A small issue like that is no problem for me as long as the knife itself is sturdy and properly built (as is the GEC that I'm talking about).
If I was collecting them it would be a different issue of course.
 
Here is the kick. Just a little stock (very little) off it will lower the tip significantly. They are typically not polished anyway, thus it will only take a couple minutes to correct and the knife will be none the worse for wear.

But you need to be happy with the knife and comfortable with whatever way you go.

Mike Latham
CollectorKnives.Net
 

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Just do the adjustment slow and easy - take off a tiny bit at a time, then close it to see the results, then a tiny bit more,.... Note that taking a bit off the kick will lower the spring in the closed position a little bit also, so don't take off any more than you have to. I also recommend wrapping some masking tape/painters tape/gaffers tape around the blade to protect the edge from your filing, and protect you from the edge.

-- Dwight
 
I can't stand a peeking blade. It's the one thing that will keep me from putting a knife in my pocket. But in your case, it is an easy fix, as described by others.
 
Thanks for the advice ,guys. You've been very helpful. Just took a few minutes doing it like you described and you can't feel anything of the tip anymore, perfect!
And Dwight, seems I can hardly notice the spring lowering afterwards so that's good too.
Thx!
 
It's a shame that these people make such otherwise well built knives but leave details such as this and others, like dull blades, go by. First impressions make a difference, and if one keeps on finding the same issues, well, then one starts avoiding the product.
 
mendezj said:
It's a shame that these people make such otherwise well built knives but leave details such as this and others, like dull blades, go by. First impressions make a difference, and if one keeps on finding the same issues, well, then one starts avoiding the product.
Click to expand...

I could not agree more, and I will not be buying anymore GEC sight unseen. Personally I have bought 3, and 2 have had problems worth sending them back over, blade wobble both times, and of course all three were basically dull. Inexcusable at the price point IMHO, and a real shame when you consider the otherwise heirloom quality in the materials used and the overall construction.

I hope to find some to browse and maybe buy at Blade this year since there are no dealers within a days drive from me that I know of, but I will not be ordering anymore online, period.
 
Filing the kick is something easily done with a Dremel too. As it has been mentioned, care must be taken to not file of too much. Then the blade edge could hit the spring or you loose the nail nick (like on a stockman sheepsfoot or spey).

My GEC 73 Tractor Green point stuck out a bit after I rounded the top of the handle to make it more smooth. I easily took care of this the way previously mentioned. The tape on the blade helps also. I also sanded in a notch with the Dremel so as to make it an "easy open" as the spring is strong and I like to pinch the knife open anyways. Since it's a user an not a safe queen, it suits my use just fine.
 
Here you can see how the modification affected a Schrade serpentine stockman. The sheepsfoot on Schrade stockman ride pretty high by nature, and this one shows a modified spey blade as well.

895_kick_f.jpg

Two like knives front view.

895_kick_b.jpg

The back view, notice clearance of nail nick on the spey blade.

895_kick_k.jpg

View with blades open, and easy to see where the kick was taken down a bit. Very small amount on the spey blade.
 
What about the converse. If a blade sits so low that it's edge hits the spring, can the kick be peened to make the blade sit higher (up off the spring)? If so, would some steels work better at this than others?
 
Tape the knife with masking tape to protect the bolsters before you file down the kick
 
black mamba said:
What about the converse. If a blade sits so low that it's edge hits the spring, can the kick be peened to make the blade sit higher (up off the spring)? If so, would some steels work better at this than others?
Click to expand...

Interesting idea, I bet it's doable, but I'd be worried about damaging the knife. When I've had that problem I just sharpen the edge a little until it doesn't hit.
 
The work appears minimal, though I did not do it on these knives (something I noticed right away when I got the modified one), and could surely screw something that simple up. It sure gives the modified knife a sleek appearance, and still provides plenty of room for access to the nail nicks.
 
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