GEC 72 - Defective?

J

jerok8

Joined
Aug 6, 2015
Messages
165
Folks,

I just got a new 72 in African Blackwood. It seems like the backspring was cut too narrow, as there is daylight between the spring and frame where you depress it to unlock.

My concern is that pocket gunk could get up there, and eventually cause a lock problem. What do you think? Did anyone else observe this?

View attachment 691602
 
I've seen many lockbacks with that gap, from several different makers. I don't particularly like it for the same reason you give, but I don't consider it a defect. More of a design foible.
 
Like black mamba said, that isn't unusual on lockback knives. It has never caused me any problems.
 
Yep, 2 of my 3 GEC 72s are like that. I don't like it for aesthetic reasons, but I haven't noticed any functional problems.
 
Mine has a slight gap in the same place. You can see it a little bit in this photo. I noticed it when I first got it, but never really though about it afterwards. No functional issues.

0F8D88E5-AD53-4DC8-AB1A-10C78DE58B77.jpg
 
I'm having trouble getting photos of it, but yes, my African blackwood and olive micarta have the gap. Green jigged bone doesn't.

Blackwood, top. Micarta, bottom.

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It's possible I haven't carried any of them extensively enough for any problems to develop, so I defer to folks who've carried and used their more.
 
I really doubt that, the only important moving part is the pivot in the lock bar. If any gunk gets under it, it'll just get pushed down into the handle, which can be cleaned easily.
 
AlwaysTomboy, what can you tell me about those particular green jigged bone 72's? My brother has one and I cannot find any info on them. Like, why are they numbered and how many were made?
It also has excellent snap and lock for a traditional lock back. No gaps.
Thanks.

-Caleb.
 
seems to be the norm for the new 72's, i have 2. each. 1 in green micarta the other burnt grizzly bone. my thoughts are that they reduced the thickness to ease the spring tension, i say this because I also have a green micarta from the 2011 run and the spring is solid and more filling with no gap BUT there is a noticeable difference in tension when depressing the lock
thanks for listening, Troy
 
jerok8 said:
Thanks for the replies so far. Is this seen on 72's that others have bought?
Click to expand...

Congrat's on getting a great knife. - that's normal for all recent 72's. I forget why GEC started producing them that way, but it was posted as an improvement in function.
 
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#72 Stag from 2012 no issue with any gap. Easy pull, super snap locking & closing. Very tight 🔐 ☝️. A little play up and down left and right. Doesn't bother me at all. Great knife.
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Sent from my SM-G930T
 
Oops, I meant to insert this photograph of the measurement of the Lock bar width. Same #72 Stag.
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Sent from my SM-G930T
 
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