GEC #71 Problem

Maverick299

Maverick299

Joined
Apr 12, 2014
Messages
801
It appears that my #71 is closing so hard that it is bouncing off the back spring. It is dinging up the edge and driving my blade OCD nuts. I tried to capture it in the pics as best I could. You can see it as a imperfection in the reflection of the edge below the nail nick in the pics. Does anyone know how to fix this or can it be fixed? Would this be a warranty issue? This is my first #71 so I am not sure if this is just part of the deal of owning one.

 
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I'd say it's not #71 in general, mine doesn't get to the spring. I have another knife that has the same problem and it drives me nuts too.
 
I have 3 #71s, two of which have gator snaps and none hit the back spring. I'd contact GEC and they will make it right.
 
Not with my 71, but another couple of my knives have had this problem. It went away completely after a couple of sharpenings, but in the mean time I learned to guide the blade down so it didn't dent my edge.
 
I have close to 20 #71's and have never encountered this with any of them, I'd say this is a fluke and you have two options, send it to GEC to have them fix the issue or sharpen the blade a few time removing some steel which should eliminate the issue.
 
trevytrev said:
I have close to 20 #71's and have never encountered this with any of them, I'd say this is a fluke and you have two options, send it to GEC to have them fix the issue or sharpen the blade a few time removing some steel which should eliminate the issue.
Click to expand...

I like that idea. Sharpen it out, snap it closed 10 times, repeat.

I like the fact that my particular knife is about 7 on pull and close, I'm afraid if I sent it back it wouldn't be as tight after repair.
 
I'm pretty sure if you send it back to GEC, they will repair it by resharpening it, so you might as well do it yourself. I've had the problem on a couple of GECs, I kept it smooth so it didn't snag when cutting, and otherwise over time the ding got smaller. no need to do it all in one session and waste steel.

I'm wondering if another repair possibility is squeezing the tang, so it is a little thinner, but also a little longer, so it protects the blade more?
 
I never allow my blade to snap closed, but rather guide it back into the closed position. And fyi, elongating the tang is usually done by peening rather than squeezing. Elongating the tang will make the blade ride higher in the frame, but could possibly allow the blade tip to be exposed in the closed position. After a couple of sharpenings the blade nick should go away.
 
I just recently noticed this on mine as well. I've been trying to close it a bit more gently but after snapping it shut on my leg and it gets the chip in the blade, I just hit it on the ceramic rod a few times and it goes away. The backspring chip seems to be getting lesser every time I sharpen it, hopefully soon it wont be a problem anymore.
 
It's a common problem with a few GEC patterns; Typically the 71s, 72s, 73s, and 85s. That's not to say all of them have this issue.
 
My model 73 has the same problem. I am just using and sharpening as usual. The spot seems to be getting smaller as time goes on. One of these days it will not be an issue. Just enjoy using your knife.
 
As others have said above, it'll eventually sharpen out but in the meantime take rma100's advise and ease off of snapping it closed.
 
This has happened with both 71s I own. On one, the issue was resolved after I put my own edge on the blade. I can snap it closed without incurring damage. With the other, the issue has persisted, and I just don't allow it to snap closed. After a few more sharpenings, I'm sure it'll go away, but in the meantime, I just strop it back to center and live with the ding. It's my heavy user anyway.

I'm curious what GEC would do to fix this particular problem. It's not like material can be added to the kick. Do they just take a bit of material off of the spring where the pin goes through it? Does that risk weakening the spring?
 
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