Easier opening GEC model

EricV

EricV

Joined
Nov 19, 2008
Messages
2,673
I just opened up my first GEC, Tidioute #26 with the clip main blade. Fantastically well built knife, but I bent and tore off a section of thumbnail opening it. I heard they usually had stout springs, but wow maybe the shorter blades make it tougher too being less of a lever.

So I'll be returning that to the great guys at KSF, but what to get to fill the void? I'm looking for wood handle scales, plain bolsters, 1 or 2 blades and a fairly symmetrical shape(Like bullet end jacks, canoes, sleeve boards, etc), that is easier to open. Size would be 3-4" closed open to more or less though, and any blade steel they use suits me fine.

Now the tricky part is asthetically the "easy open" knotch kills me a little inside. So my question to you fine folk is what would you recommend as an easier opening GEC model without being an actual "easy open" model? Or are all the GEC brands going to destroy my girly man finger nails? :eek:

I appreciate any advice, still new to traditionals but my Strider won't cut it at work... :D

Snapped a quick pick for memories sake before packing it right back up:



That^ but easier to open.
 
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Perhaps a #68 Pony Jack? Excellent knife... :thumbup:

pj01_zpsd9a6b824.jpg


Good luck! :)

-Brett
 
Whats a Charlow?

And thanks Bob, I'll look through those too.

Their CS person mentioned that the lock backs tend to have an easier pull, sound about right?

Makes sense to me, since if nothing else you could manually disengage the spring by pressing the lockbar.
 
EricV said:
Whats a Charlow?

And thanks Bob, I'll look through those too.

Their CS person mentioned that the lock backs tend to have an easier pull, sound about right?

Makes sense to me, since if nothing else you could manually disengage the spring by pressing the lockbar.
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A Charlow is the #15 TC Barlow. I know it refers to Charlie (waynorth) but I don't know the whole story behind it.

As for the OP 's question, the Pony Jack is a fairly popular knife and it has what you are looking for.
 
I have a #66 Pony Jack and find it reasonably easy to open. It is essentially identical to the #15 except that is is an equal-end jack rather than a swell end like the #15.
 
The white owl is also a good choice. It's a 68 pattern like the Pony Jack but it's thinner having a single spring (2 opposing blades). Probably the easiest of the GEC line to open.
 
The #68 white owls are known for their softer springs and the #92 eureka jack is quite relaxed as far as spring tension goes. The #68 is a single spring cigar pattern and the #92 is a two spring Jack configuration.
 
A #68 White Owl would be a good choice. It is an equal end 3.5" closed pen knife, clip point or spear point main, available in both 1095 and 440C (clip only in 440C). If you want a jack, that's available too.

Ha!! Both you guys beat me to it. I went and checked Derrick's inventory before making the suggestion.
 
BigBill5953 said:
A Charlow is the #15 TC Barlow. I know it refers to Charlie (waynorth) but I don't know the whole story behind it.

As for the OP 's question, the Pony Jack is a fairly popular knife and it has what you are looking for.
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The #15 TC Barlow is called a Charlow due to Charlie's involvement with GEC to bring the pattern about. The first ones made were his SFO before GEC made more.
 
Whatever your next choice, and you've received many good suggestions, I'm sorry for your understandable disappointment. #26s sure look (and pocket) great, but are notoriously hard to open due to the thick spring with a relatively short space in which to lever the blades open.

I have two and I love them, but I bought the first one in person (knowing what I was getting into) and each thwarted me for a good long while until a course of cleaning out the joints, strengthening my fingers and nails (including not subjecting the latter to the #26s while rebuilding 'em) and working the joints consistently (blades covered in tape, back-and-forth, open-and-close while watching sports or something). I can fully understand that some might not find the knives worth the time to find out if it's possible to get to the point of not bracing before attempting to open one of the blades(!).

Your knife looks fantastic, but I hope you find something that works well for you sooner than later.

2Dead said:
The #15 TC Barlow is called a Charlow due to Charlie's involvement with GEC to bring the pattern about. The first ones made were his SFO before GEC made more.
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As a point of (gentle) clarification, every TC Barlow made to date has been an SFO through Charlie, not just the first ones. Prolific, he. :)

~ P.
 
pertinux said:
As a point of (gentle) clarification, every TC Barlow made to date has been an SFO through Charlie, not just the first ones. Prolific, he. :)

~ P.
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Thanks for the clarification P. I had thought I'd seen other dealers with them and thought they were part of the general releases.
 
Update for you gents:

I went with a #68 single blade with a spearpoint using up an unexpected paypal balance (Derek doesn't have the spearpoint single available currently that I could find)

Mailed the #26 back a few minutes ago, and I think I'll be using that towards a Northwoods forestjack, but I'm not committed yet too many great alternatives to switch between.

I really appreciate all the great suggestions from everyone!
 
The GEC #57 Geppetto whittler is a very soft opening knive. Just a tad too soft for me.
 
The Northwoods forest jack was quite the beast to open too.

The 92 pattern is silky smooth to open.
 
JustinR said:
The Northwoods forest jack was quite the beast to open too.

The 92 pattern is silky smooth to open.
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Is it? Darn, figured the longer blade would help on the forest jack.

The 92 however is a darn good looker, are there a halfstops on that one?
 
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