Well I've had my Bull lock for a couple days now, and have carried it a bit and done some cutting with it. Mine has a very moderate to mild pull, no half stop, but the cam tang does kind of stall out mid closing. Action closing was a little lazy initially, a good flushing with WD40 and working the action freed it up a bit, but it is not a bear trap. At times, if the thumb lock is rotated out, the cam of it can stall or slow the blades closing. Pretty much what I expected there. One handed closing is easily accomplished by holding the knife, edge up, and disengaging the lock with the thumb, then use the thigh to close the blade with pressure to the spine of the blade while keeping the fingers out of the path. With just a little practice this can be done quickly and fluidly without even looking.
As far as cutting comfort, the lock acts as a pretty decent thumb placement point, I tend to not use that grip very often, and with my thumb on the side of the bolster the thumb lock rests on the web of my hand. I didn't feel much of a hot spot, but you know it's there. The neatest thing for me was using a choke grip, the protrusion of the lock indexes the knife nicely against my middle finger. It's a big knife, but I have large hands and these 23's feel like they were built for me.
I'm really glad I obtained one of these before they are gone, I enjoy different and unusual locks on knives, and this one is pretty cool. For ease of use, if I had to rate them in order,
easiest= slip joint, it just doesn't get any easier than snapping a slippie open and closed.
lock back, these two would be a tie for comfort as well.
liner lock, similar comfort but there is that slight possibility of grip interference with the lock. I give a tie to lockback and linerlock for ease of use.
Bull lock, Bull lock comes in last for ease of use and comfort, no way around that really, it is what it is,
Now, does anyone know if GEC made the 23 in a single blade version similar to the Bull Lock and liner lock?
It won't be here till Monday...
