Fresh out of the tube GEC: Is this normal?

J

JasonWilliam

Joined
Apr 9, 2013
Messages
144
I've been dipping my feet into the traditional waters lately, and recently picked up a GEC #89 (892210) in deep purple jigged bone. I was all excited right up until I opened the tube...

Tip is proud enough to catch my finger/pants
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Left side of the badge is well proud of the bone
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Sides or the main blade are rubbing the liner, making for a very rough/gritty feeling walk
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Normal and to be expected? Or send 'er back and ask for another?
 

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Generally not in my experience.

However there could be a decent amount of gunk that might be causing the blade to not seat fully where the kick contacts the backspring.
Which in turn could result in the blade tip protruding.

The shield and sides of main blade rubbing the liner have been normal for me. Chalk it up to handmade.


I'd send it back for a refund myself if giving it a mineral bath, wiping away all the gunk and residue afterwards didn't help the blade tip being so proud. ( the main issue in my opinion )

edit::
I agree with ED in that regard of receiving a 'imperfect knife'.
I can imagine the disappoint that follows when receiving a brand new knife that wasn't 100% perfect. I myself am guilty in that regard when I was new.
I had received a SFO 77 from CKO that had minute gaps within the body and wasn't flush at the half stop.
I immediately called him up and asked if this was normal since it had not appeared so on my previous Stag version.
I ended up sending it back to GEC to remedy but looking back at it now..it didn't have play, it had nice snap and was a functioning high quality knife. Nothing wrong with that.

If you want a flush shield, go custom.
If you want those markings of a the liners to not show up on the sides of the blade, go custom where they involve mill relief liners or bushings.

But the blade tip being proud is a deal breaker. It seems like it is also not the first time the 89 gambler has experienced QC issues from this preliminary search below.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1017615-GEC-89-wharncliffe-melon-whittler-Problem
 
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I'd file the kick and let it go at that but others will fall over in a light faint and tell you to call your dealer and send it back. It is yet another example of an imperfect GEC knife that some claim don't exist.

Nice knife.
 
Some liner rubbing around the tang seems to happen on some patterns.

I also don't see much fault in a very slightly proud shield against an uneven surface like jigged bone or stag.

However if the blade is fully closed with the tip exposed - that's a deal breaker. Something is either keeping it from closing, or I would return it. I have never run into that issue.
 
Hmm ok, thanks guys.

I'm not too worried about the badge; if that were the only issue I wouldn't even mention it.

On the other hand, the rather rough walk is, well, annoying. Will that wear in over time?

And obviously the tip is a problem. I can confirm there's nothing in the way; the kick is making solid contact with the backspring. I could take a file to it, I suppose, but I've never done it before and I'd be a little concerned I'd screw it up.

I do love the pattern and otherwise beautiful quality, for what its worth. This, or one like it, will see my pocket often if the blade issue can be resolved and the walk will smooth out over time/use.

Thanks again.
 
Modoc ED said:
I'd file the kick and let it go at that but others will fall over in a light faint and tell you to call your dealer and send it back. It is yet another example of an imperfect GEC knife that some claim don't exist.

Nice knife.
Click to expand...

I must be extremely unlucky then. I've never owned a perfect GEC. Or any other knife for that matter.

:confused:
 
Modoc ED said:
I'd file the kick and let it go at that .....
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Same here. A brief search here about filing the kick will give plenty of instruction.

Also, wash with soap & water, flush with oil & blow the gunk out of the joints with air if you can. A clean & lube usually helps the action a good bit.
 
The 89 wharnecliffe whittler was my first GEC and it took me a few years to buy another. The tip is out of the slot, the coping blade has virtually no snap and the pen blade is gritty. I have lots of GEC knives, all the rest are perfect as you can get.

Best regards

Robin
 
JasonWilliam said:
Hmm ok, thanks guys.

I'm not too worried about the badge; if that were the only issue I wouldn't even mention it.

On the other hand, the rather rough walk is, well, annoying. Will that wear in over time?

And obviously the tip is a problem. I can confirm there's nothing in the way; the kick is making solid contact with the backspring. I could take a file to it, I suppose, but I've never done it before and I'd be a little concerned I'd screw it up.

I do love the pattern and otherwise beautiful quality, for what its worth. This, or one like it, will see my pocket often if the blade issue can be resolved and the walk will smooth out over time/use.

Thanks again.
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Mm if you don't want to file it down (I understand the hesitation) I'd say either get in contact with GEC about filing the kick down for you or send it back since it may take a month for the CS process to be finished or go for the return.

The grittiness as some have said should be fixed with flushing out the knife some. You could even go the fast route with some WD-40 and an air compressor to blow everything out.
 
I'd send it back. I've had pretty good luck with GEC. However the blade sitting proud is a dealbreaker with me. The shield is not a big deal, IMO, but I'd generally prefer it be flush. If I'm not misunderstanding, the sides of the tang rubbing is completely normal for just about any traditional knife, as they generally don't use washers like modern folders, and make direct contact with the liners.

It is possible there's some buffing crud in the handle keeping the kick from closing all the way, causing that blade to sit proud. If that were the case, it should be easily observable. But still, the concerns over the shield and blade, even if it is just buffing crud, I think are enough to justify letting GEC know about. These are things they need to be aware of if they want to be still in the game in the long run.
 
Looks like Blind Bart was on duty again :rolleyes:

Ryouchijtx said:
I'd send it back for a refund myself if giving it a mineral bath, wiping away all the gunk and residue afterwards didn't help the blade tip being so proud. ( the main issue in my opinion )
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

Before you even think about filing the kick, flush out the joint, it may just be some dirt or swarf under the kick. I'd keep it, but that's only because I live in the UK. If I lived in the US, I'd return it to the dealer. What I certainly wouldn't do, based on my past experience, is return it to GEC to fix, you'd do a better job yourself.
 
I didn't see where anyone said it, but the sides of the tang on a slipjoint will always have some rub because that blade is not on some kind of bearing system, but is just sandwiched in the frame.

The shield is likely due to the expansion and contraction of the handle material.

The proud tip should not be that way--as others have said, filing the kick is the way to go on that. Or, just send it back to GEC or the dealer.
 
okbohn said:
I didn't see where anyone said it, but the sides of the tang on a slipjoint will always have some rub because that blade is not on some kind of bearing system, but is just sandwiched in the frame.

The shield is likely due to the expansion and contraction of the handle material.

The proud tip should not be that way--as others have said, filing the kick is the way to go on that. Or, just send it back to GEC or the dealer.
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Hi Derek, you're the dealer ;) Order number 127354.

I sent a contact request via your website but maybe you can tell me here: I see stock on these is limited. If you have one that is good to go (tip is the primary concern; other issues aren't show stoppers for me), may I send this one back for an exchange? If not, store credit toward another is aok as well. I'm just not confident enough to go taking a file to a new knife. Not yet, anyway.

Thanks!
 
JasonWilliam said:
Hi Derek, you're the dealer ;) Order number 127354.

I sent a contact request via your website but maybe you can tell me here: I see stock on these is limited. If you have one that is good to go (tip is the primary concern; other issues aren't show stoppers for me), may I send this one back for an exchange? If not, store credit toward another is aok as well. I'm just not confident enough to go taking a file to a new knife. Not yet, anyway.

Thanks!
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This kind of purchasing, ordering, returning, pricing stuff needs to be handled outside this forum. If it has something to do with purchasing a knife it doesn't belong here. Thanks!
 
Peregrin said:
This kind of purchasing, ordering, returning, pricing stuff needs to be handled outside this forum. If it has something to do with purchasing a knife it doesn't belong here. Thanks!
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I agree. Better yet, contact the dealer before posting :) If you don't get satisfaction, start the thread in the Good Bad and Ugly subforum.

Whatever you do, if you soak it in mineral oil, file down the kick, etc. the knife is yours.
 
I'm more in the camp of fix it yourself. Clean and flush the joint very well before you commit to taking any metal off the kick. Work the kick down very slowly with a stone and observe the results as you go. A little bit of "bluing" on the spring where the kick contacts will show where to remove material off the kick. If you perfect the knife yourself, it becomes more "your" knife. But that's just me.
 
The tip of the blade sticking out, I wouldn't accept that from a $10 knife. Send it back.
The proud shield might or might not be normal on certain materials.
The rough and gritty action, it shows a certain lack of care during manufacture and QC, and I might grumble about it, but I probably wouldn't return just for that. But since it's going back anyway...

I'm 100% confident that your knife is not up to GEC standards. And I'm 100% confident that either your well-respected dealer or GEC will take care of the issue. :thumbup:
 
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