GEC #73 Cocobolo first impressions

coyote711

coyote711

Joined
Sep 19, 2009
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Howdy folks! I just got this knife today and wanted to share my thoughts. Note - these are my personal impressions, and this isn't intended to be a full-blown "review". Everyone likes great pictures, but you'll have to settle for the ones I have here. :o

This knife has good overall F&F ... no blade wobble, blade slightly off-center when closed (but towards the mark side, so that's great), decently sharp out of the tube, and best of all a fairly nice 5 or 6 pull. Given a choice I'll usually lean towards a knife without half-stops, but this knife has 'em and they're OK. From closed to half-stop to open, and back again, is very even and controlled - not the kind I dislike, where the half-stop snaps the blade out of your fingers.

At 3 3/4" closed length this knife is longer than what I usually carry. But being a single blade it's fairly slim and actually carries quite well - even in the watch pocket of my jeans. (My jeans have a fairly large, horizontal watch pocket - YMMV). The knife feels great in hand - almost a full four-finger grip. Overall, I'm very happy with this knife and have no regrets about buying it. Will it kick the Conductor or White Owl out of my watch pocket? Nah! But it might ride shotgun next to my wallet in the front pocket.

One other thing should be noted in case you're unaware of it. This is one one of the "new" GEC #73's ..... 735111. (The last two digits represent the year). Anyway, some of the earlier #73's had real nail breaker pulls. And half-stops that wanted to wrest control from you. As stated, these newer 73's are much, much better in that regard. Not wimpy by any means, but certainly doable by the average joe.

Anyway, those are my impressions, and I'm sticking' to 'em. ;)




coco73.jpgcoco73.jpgcoco.jpgcoco2.jpgcoco3.jpg ..... (Click 'em to enlarge 'em)
 
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Keith
Thanks for sharing your impressions. Glad to hear this one does not have nail breaker pulls as that would be a deal breaker.
 
Sweet knife Keith!

I have a 72 in cocobolo that I love.

Glad your 73 is not a nail breaker. My primitive bone 73511 was almost impossible to open with a finger nail.
 
Great looking knife and a nice write-up of your impressions Keith.

Ya know, that swedged blade really sets the knife off. :thumbup:
 
You're welcome, Gevonovich. Looks like we need to take my impressions with a grain of salt ..... (see Doug's post).

Thanks Doug. That's too bad your Primitive Bone is a nail breaker - if you posted that elsewhere, I'm sorry - I must have missed it. I probably shouldn't have made such a blanket statement regarding easier pulls on the new 73's.

Thank you, Ed. You're right - it is a good looking knife (despite my lousy pics), and the swedge adds a special touch. Also, where ya been hiding? :D Haven't seen much of you lately.
 
Keith, I have a 735111, also in coco--could be a brother to yours---and it likewise has a firm but very manageable pull. In fact, just about right for this knife, IMHO.

Andrew

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coyote711 said:
Thanks Doug. That's too bad your Primitive Bone is a nail breaker - if you posted that elsewhere, I'm sorry - I must have missed it. I probably shouldn't have made such a blanket statement regarding easier pulls on the new 73's.
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No problem. Hopefully yours was more representative than mine. Maybe I just have weak thumb nails!
 
Thanks for the writeup Keith!! I'm really happy you like your #73. One thing I would mention between Doug's and yours is that GEC did have a single blade #73 run earlier last year which was a little tougher. I think Doug's was from that run. Those do not have lanyard holes while yours is from later last year and does. The later ones are more manageable imo.

Edit: For reference, I have 1 of the earlier run #73s and 3 of the later runs (a #73L in Bocote is not pictured below but is the easiest of the bunch to open). The Jigged Cherry would give me a sore thumb after opening it many times during the day. I haven't used the others all that much but with the lighter pull I do not believe it will be an issue. (similar pull to my #71 sodbuster which doesn't give me any sore thumbs).
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Yes a great review on one of my favorite GEC patterns.
I have had a #73 for a long time and I really enjoy the usefulness of it. It's much like a sodbuster in the idea that it just works.
 
2Dead said:
One thing I would mention between Doug's and yours is that GEC did have a single blade #73 run earlier last year which was a little tougher. I think Doug's was from that run. Those do not have lanyard holes while yours is from later last year and does. The later ones are more manageable imo.
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You are right about that, Trand. The 73 I had was made February 16, 2011. It did not have lanyard hole.
 
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Thanks, I loved the primitive bone. And I would have kept it if I could get the blade open more easily. I'll probably pick up another one of these days.
 
Sorry to hear you got rid of it, it was a nice piece.
I know GECs biggest nock is their spring tension, but I love 'em. I have had some tough buggers to open, but I use all of my knives and it seams to lessen the tension nicely.

I hope you can get another one and hopefully one well suited to you. :thumbup:
 
Trand, thank's for throwing more light on the subject of the pulls.

And thanks for your comments allen, johnny, and Kevin!

Beautiful Stag, Trand, and gorgeous Primitive Bone, Doug! :D
 
I too really rate the #73 pattern. I carry one grizzly cut bone worker.

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and one burnt stag for best:)

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Both are linerlocks from 2011. Comfortable working knife, good blade length and orientation in relation to the handle (something I'm discovering really affects the versatility of a knife) I find the pulls just right. I'd be worried if they were weak, as these will hopefully have a few years in them:)

Loving the primitive bone scales Doug along with everyone else.

Sam
 
73 pattern offers a lot to a lot of people, it's a very fine single blade with the right balance in the feel of it.

I favour the linerlock versions as well. Been hoping to get a GEC in Coco, went after a nice No.26 (never hear people discussing these Watch Pocket Sunfish here, why not??) but just missed out. Don't have any GEC Coco knives, yet, but they often display remarkable and attractive grain.
 
I have to agree that the Linerlock version is best for me. I love having the added safety when I'm doing pressure cutting, or when I'm in a slippery situation. I have a #73 trapper that I love and I have never had any need for a linerlock on this knife, so I can see the benefits from both variations. Great knives everyone, that stag one is really awesome though Sam. :thumbup:
 
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