GEC 73's: General ramblings ...

[coyote711]

GEC 73's have a reputation for being a nail breaker. Here's some comparison pics of a 2011 Northfield with Cocobolo covers and a 2013 Tidioute with ebony covers.

The Northfield has more "bling": threaded bolsters, a higher polish on the blade, and the blade is swedged. Note how the nail nick on the Northfield is cut into the swedge - for me this made the Northfield feel less secure when opening. The nick is not as well pronounced, and along with the thinner spine (see 4th photo), it adds up to not being able to get as good a bite on the blade when opening. YMMV.

What worked for me in getting the Northfield to the pull I like (around 6 1/2 - 7) was leaving the blade in the "quarter open" position (see last photo) for a couple weeks and recently working the pivot with powdered graphite. Prior to this I had thoroughly flushed the knife with hot, soapy water, with WD40, and then lubed and worked the pivot - pretty much to no avail.

Anyway, the whole point of this thread is to give encouragement to anyone dealing with "nail breakers", and to say that at least in this case ..... here's something that worked!

I'm indebted to the forum member, whose name I can't recall and in another thread, that led me to the powdered graphite trick. It worked where all else failed. Thank you! :thumbup:

And thank you Sarah - pertinux - for the help in posting these BIG pictures!

 

[Modoc ED]

Yep, that powdered (dry) graphite trick works great. Like you I read about it the other day and tried it on a particularly stiff springed #73 I have and it reduced the pull by quite a bit. I wish I could remember who posted about it but it's the first time that I recall that I'd heard about it. I'm thinking I might have read about it in the General Knives forum.

Good to see you posting "coyote711":thumbup:

 

[oldrifleman]

I started hte last thread on Nail Breakers and mine is slowly getting better, I can actually open it without tools now. Mine is a Burnt Stag Northfield and is really nice. I also have a two blade stag one that I have had for several years and love it. Steven

 

[coyote711]

Thanks Ed! I've been away for a while (you know how it goes), but started lurking again a month or so ago. It was some pics of yours - the 73's with Ebony covers - that got me interested in the 73 pattern again.

Steven, Ed, and anyone else - feel free to post pics of your 73's in this thread!

-Keith

 

[black mamba]

Burnt stag #73 linerlock

 

[coyote711]

That's absolutely gorgeous, Jeff - thanks for posting! :thumbup:

 

[Whitedog]

I posted a thread about the powdered graphite a couple of days ago. It really worked well on my GEC 73. After I gave it the graphite treatment I blew it all out with Tri-Flow and then cleaned out all the crap. Still a strong pull but a smooth pull now and makes the knife useable now. The 73 is in my pocket now and is probably going to be a user. It is quite the slicing machine.

 

[coyote711]

Thanks for posting here, Whitedog. As I mentioned in the OP, I couldn't recall your name or the thread where I saw it, but the powdered graphite seemed to work for me too! I want to give credit where credit is due, so thanks for the original idea! :thumbup:

 

[Whitedog]

This is the 73 that got the graphite treatment. Shortly after I got the knife I broke the tip by stupid accident. So out comes the file and now it is somewhat a sheepfoot. Actually I like it better this way but still regret breaking the tip. Added the easy open notch several days ago and it is quite easy to pinch open.

 

[coyote711]

Thanks for posting the pic, Whitedog. Bummer about the broken tip, but glad to hear it works better for you that way. For the easy open notch did you use a rat tail or half round file, or some type of power equipment? Also, any chance you could post a pic of the knife closed?

 

[Whitedog]

I used a small sanding drum with my Dreml tool. Then de- burred the liner edges with a thin file and finished up with some wet dry sandpaper.. Put a touch of MinWax stain on the wood.I'll post a closed pix in a few min.

 

[black mamba]

That's absolutely gorgeous, Jeff - thanks for posting! :thumbup:

Coyote, I really like the stag on mine, but the nick in the swedge is not my favorite, although it seems bigger than the current ones, so no problem getting a good grip. The pull on it is firm, but smooth, about a 7. Also, being an '09 version, mine does not have the threaded bolster, which really improves the looks with the #72/73 frames. Still in all, it's the only #73 I've kept out of a half dozen or so, not counting a couple of the spey/pen jacks.

 

[blademan 13]

Whitedog,

As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. Great looking knife! Giving me thoughts of either buying a new #73 to modify or maybe just sacrificing one of my #72's....

 

[Whitedog]

Closed position of GEC 73 mod.

 

[coyote711]

Jeff, glad to hear you can get her open easily enough, and it does look like the nick is longer - I didn't notice that the first time through. I had one of those earlier two blade 73's that made the backspring on my current ones seem absolutely soft by comparison. I sold it off before it hurt me.

Jamie, shoot us some pics if you decide to go ahead! :thumbup:

Thanks for the closed pic, Whitedog - looking good! I haven't tried the powdered graphite treatment on my ebony yet, but I'm planning to and if I'm not satisfied I may go the easy open route. It's going to be a user and I want it to be friendly, if ya know what I mean.

--Keith

 

[Whitedog]

I know what you mean by "friendly". My fiirst 73 did not like me at all. Sometimes wonder why I traded my Bullnose off for another 73 but I really like the 73 pattern. The 48 is a real sweetie.

 

[tonystl]

I've found just normal use will lighten the pull. Not by much, and it may be more of a sugar pill than anything. I think I've just grown accustom to the harder pull.

My first three 73s were too hard for me to open and I sold them off. Went back to the pattern (just can't get enough of the look) and found the pull to be hard. But like any habit to be formed I stuck with it. Now, they are still tough but I think I've also toughened my thumbnail and my thumb muscles.

 

[tonystl]

Here's one that I cold blued the other night.





And a couple 73 primitive bone with their big brother.

 

[22-rimfire]

My very first GEC was a Bradford Cutlery trapper. Essentially a #73. It is and was a nail breaker. But it has loosened up a good bit with opening and closing. I actually used a needle nosed pliers to open it once. Not a recommended approach. I keep powdered graphite around for locks. Might have to try that.

 

[tonystl]

Closed position of GEC 73 mod.

Looks good.