GEC #73 Linerlock Digit (Thumb & Finger) Guillotine

Modoc ED

Modoc ED

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
14,426
Over the last few years, I've owned five (5) GEC #73 Linerlock knives. I've passed two on, broke one, and just yesterday got two #73 GEC Tidioute Scout knives with linerlocks and ebony covers. Here's one of the #73s I got yesterday.

wus7.jpg


a4k1.jpg


I don't know how you guys that have these GEC Linerlock knives feel but I think there is definitely a knack that must be developed when closing one of these digit (thumb and finger) guillotines. They have half stops and go into each position with a hard, quick, snap. It's that hard, quick, snap to the half stop position, when closing, that can get you into trouble.

When closing one of these things, I hold the knife in my palm with my fingers against the cover and then use my thumb to push the linerlock out of battery and start the blade closed with my other hand. Once the blade starts moving, I get my thumb from under the blade immediately but if not soon enough, the blade will snap into the half stop position and can nip (flat out cut) the tip of your thumb.

Unfortunately (fortunately for me), I do not have a picture of a cut/severed thumb for you to see and make my point. You'll just have to take my work for it.

These are great knives. I especially like the GEC #5 drop point blade that comes on these knives. These blades are relatively thin and make good slicers. As show above, the two I got yesterday don't have end caps. I ran over the one I did have with end caps with a brush hog (a big PTO driven mower towed behind a tractor) while mowing part of our lower property and broke/tore it to bits.

You guys that have a GEC Linerlock knife feel free to comment. It doesn't have to be a #73 - it could be one of the #23 linerlocks too. I've also got one of those and it's a potential guillotine too.
 
Last edited:
I had a #73L, the combination of liner lock and powerful spring was to be respected, I always held the blade as I brought it half closed, then snapped it shut when my fingers were out of the way. I have got a lot of little cuts from a GEC blade snapping to half position, they sting. I have since sold the knife, what I really liked about it was the sound of the blade and lock snapping into place, it was enough to get neighbourhood dogs barking, birds flying from the church belfry, and to set off car alarms.
 
fatcorgi said:
I had a #73L, the combination of liner lock and powerful spring was to be respected, I always held the blade as I brought it half closed, then snapped it shut when my fingers were out of the way. I have got a lot of little cuts from a GEC blade snapping to half position, they sting. I have since sold the knife, what I really liked about it was the sound of the blade and lock snapping into place, it was enough to get neighbourhood dogs barking, birds flying from the church belfry, and to set off car alarms.
Click to expand...

I agree with your last statement. When this knife I got yesterday snaps into the open position and the linerlock engages, it would wake a bear out of hibernation. ""set off car alarms"" - I like that.:thumbup:
 
I have a 23 liner lock and love it, It does command respect on closing. I pinch the blade out near the nick, push the lock tab out of battery and start the closing arc. As soon as the tang secures the lock tab while still pinching the blade I move all digits out of harms way and bring the blade to half stop in a controlled fashion. Then I can just close the blade from there paying attention to where my fingers are gripping the handle. I'm pretty sure that my 23 would cut to the bone if accidentally snapped onto my fingers. It gets my utmost respect at closing time...
 
Echoing same sentiments regarding my current 55 liner lock and an older 23 LL I used to own. I'm still trying to decide whether to go with the liner lock on this most recent run.
 
I am sometimes tempted to leave my 23 LL open as a quasi fixed blade. Closing it makes me very nervous even using the identical process as Sitflyer.
Guillotine for sure.
 
sitflyer said:
I have a 23 liner lock and love it, It does command respect on closing. I pinch the blade out near the nick, push the lock tab out of battery and start the closing arc. As soon as the tang secures the lock tab while still pinching the blade I move all digits out of harms way and bring the blade to half stop in a controlled fashion. Then I can just close the blade from there paying attention to where my fingers are gripping the handle. I'm pretty sure that my 23 would cut to the bone if accidentally snapped onto my fingers. It gets my utmost respect at closing time...
Click to expand...

I'm not sure the Bone would stop a 23?
 
sitflyer said:
I have a 23 liner lock and love it, It does command respect on closing. I pinch the blade out near the nick, push the lock tab out of battery and start the closing arc. As soon as the tang secures the lock tab while still pinching the blade I move all digits out of harms way and bring the blade to half stop in a controlled fashion. Then I can just close the blade from there paying attention to where my fingers are gripping the handle. I'm pretty sure that my 23 would cut to the bone if accidentally snapped onto my fingers. It gets my utmost respect at closing time...
Click to expand...

Respect - a key word when using one of these knives. I honestly think that if the blade of a #23 and maybe a #73 snapped down on a finger just right at a joit, it could actually cut the tip of a finger off.

Sonnemann said:
Echoing same sentiments regarding my current 55 liner lock and an older 23 LL I used to own. I'm still trying to decide whether to go with the liner lock on this most recent run.
Click to expand...

I hadn't thought of the #55 Linerlock. I don't have one and haven't handled one. I would imagine that they too demand respect.
 
I believe respect is essential with these knives. I always make sure I have a firm grip on the blade. I do not allow it to "snap" to ANY position other than fully open. I always make sure that my fingers are never near the blade channel , only to disengage the liner lock with my thumb. I always use both hands to close the knife. I don't like to let the blade snap into the blade channel for the risk of hitting the spring pin or the spring. Having said that, as a Knife Dealer, Collector and user, I have cut myself MANY times. Sometimes very embaressingly while showing a knife to a customer. I carry Band-Aids every where I go, and the afore mentioned techniques have been learned through years of trial and error. :cool:
 
Yeah it's all about respect,...and a lot of technique.

I've got pretty big paws, so I close mine with one hand, here's how I do it,.
P1060722_zpsd921bbed.jpg


I use the tip of my thumb to disengage the lock,...

P1060723_zpsa0bd8d8f.jpg


Then use my index finger to push blade over to the half stop,...

P1060724_zps20d62916.jpg


...and with all digits out of the way,...

P1060725_zpsf87af730.jpg


...snap the blade shut,...

P1060726_zps6a75b145.jpg


...with that being said, I've still cut myself plenty of times,...

Hope this helps

Kris,.
 
Kris, does that one have a lanyard tube?

I have 4 #23/#73 LLs. 2 are short run #73s with ebony and end caps, 1 is a barehead #73 with bocote and a lanyard tube, the last is a barehead #23 with ebony and lanyard tube. I definitely need to watch the 2 #73ECLs. I've been using one regularly and its smoothed out a bit but I'm still careful and close it with two hands, walking the blade the entire way closed. The #23T and #73T are a different story though. In my experience, the #73s and #23s with the lanyard tubes have noticeably easier springs. They just don't have the force that all my other #23s and #73s have. I find this true for the slip joint #23 and #73s with and without tubes too (after all, the #23 and #73 LLs are effectively slip joints with an additional scale for the lock tab). For the record, I currently have 36 #23s and #73s, 7 of them with tubes, and the 7 are all easier to open than the rest.
 
@2Dead, no tube on mine mate, it's a 735108, 42/50. I love it, saving up the buck's to get a spare #73. I think they're the ultimate everyday knife. man you much really love'em!

Kris,.
 
They really are a great EDC. I can one hand close mine with tubes but can't do it safely with the others. I guess with a couple more years of use it might be a possibility :)
 
...I brought mine new maybe 4-5 months ago, old stock, It's the only slip joint I've handled, so I don't really have any experience/benchmark to compare it to,...but by the sound of it, it's on the heavy side, which I like,....:thumbup:

Kris,.
 
My EDC is a #55 with LL. I've had no problems but I'm very cautious when closing any folder.

In a two-handed operation I palm the knife in the left hand and disengage the LL with my right thumb as I barely move the blade just barely enough to get clear of the LL with my left hand. Then with open palm and all fingers clear i palm the back of the blade with one hand and the handle with the other and close it.
 
Dang Kris!!!!!!!!! You've got more guts than I do. I'm just not going to try that. Tempting, but I think I'll pass.

Thanks for posting that sequence of photos though. Cool.:thumbup:
 
I've had several of each, #23s and #73s, but only have carried this stag #73 with any regularity. No cuts yet, but I use utmost care when closing.
Everyone shows the mark side of their knives, so I decided to be a little different this time! :)

73L_stag_zps213222e2.jpg~original
 
After reading this post I realized that I close it by moving the liner over and closing the blade by pressure against the spine with my leg. Unconsciously my body must have told me to do that & not risk digits!
 
fishface5 said:
After reading this post I realized that I close it by moving the liner over and closing the blade by pressure against the spine with my leg. Unconsciously my body must have told me to do that & not risk digits!
Click to expand...

The old thigh swipe close! I like it:thumbup:
 
Only got two of these, a Tidioute Stag Bone 73 and a real Stag Northfield 73.

Must be odd man out here (as usual :cool: ) Don't find these bad to close-wouldn't dare Kris' method though, that's a Russian Roulette :eek: Maybe my versions have modest pull. I close them by holding in right hand, gripping blade with left two fingers and thumb, push the liner,go to half stop, shut blade with left hand, fingers&thumb of right hand holding sides of knife well clear of closure. I don't have large hands, long thin fingers so maybe this helps? It would be perhaps better without half-stops, I prefer knives without them as far from being a safety point, i think it's the opposite! Abrupt stop and a LOT of spring to finally close it... er...

Whatever, I think we all agree these (73) are super work knives, good strong backspring plus the added safety of a sturdy liner. Nor to big or small and they're lookers too lock or no lock. Nice to see GEC offering them again for those who missed out. Interestingly, the Linerlock SFO 85 I have probably has the stiffest liner tab but even so it's very useable.

Thanks, Will
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top