GEC Boys Knife Question

jone

jone

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2012
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Recently picked up a two blade boy's knife. Love the knife but find it harder to access the Long pull than I expected. I can get it open, but it seems to sit a little low behind the pen blade. Is this normal?
Thanks for any help.
 
Some people have experienced that with their knives. Try pushing down a bit on the pen blade to better access the nail nick of the other blade.
 
If you have the room, try taking a fine file to the kick. I've done this to several knives to make the nail nick easier to get at. It won't take much though, be careful.
 
jone said:
Recently picked up a two blade boy's knife. Love the knife but find it harder to access the Long pull than I expected. I can get it open, but it seems to sit a little low behind the pen blade. Is this normal?
Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...

Is it the spear bladed version by chance? This seems to be the one I commonly see people comment on with this exact same problem. Not so much the clip point and sheeps foot blades though.
 
"roninelh" said;
If you have the room, try taking a fine file to the kick. I've done this to several knives to make the nail nick easier to get at. It won't take much though, be careful.
Click to expand...

Just to avoid a disaster - "roninelh" is talking about filing the kick of the pen blade not the main blade with the long pull.

Nothing negative meant toward your solution "roninelh" just passing on a word of caution. If "jone" were to file the kick of the main blade with the long pull, thereby lowering the main blade, it would make the long pull of the main blade impossible to access.
 
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Yes, jkulysses, it is a spear point. Thanks for the advice everyone, and the clarification Ed.
 
Thanks Ed. I obviously meant the pen blade, but still a good clarification. I have filed the kick on a couple GEC knives and had no problems, but be careful because not all of them have clearance of the backspring. I'm not sure about the pen blade on a boys knife as I only own a single blade.

If it really bothers you and you don't feel comfortable doing the work yourself, you could probably send it to GEC with a note and an e-mail explaining the issue. Of course e-mail or call beforehand to see what they will do.

This is the issue that stopped me from ordering a two blade spear point. Best of luck!

Modoc ED said:
"roninelh" said;

Just to avoid a disaster - "roninelh" is talking about filing the kick of the pen blade not the main blade with the long pull.

Nothing negative meant toward your solution "roninelh" just passing on a word of caution. If "jone" were to file the kick of the main blade with the long pull, thereby lowering the main blade, it would make the long pull of the main blade impossible to access.
Click to expand...
 
I had a similiar problem, and I didn't think filing the kick on the pen was an option as the nick sat low anyway. Carl suggested a slight easy-open notch, which might have worked (had I not already returned it). You may also be able to raise the main blade slightly with a shim such as a sliver of balsa wood.
 
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Sorry, double-tap, first time I've managed to do that!
 
I can only wonder if GEC is doing adequate prototype testing before releasing new models. Not being able to reach a nail nick because the other blade is partly blocking the nick, is kind of silly. If prototypes were made and really tested, dropped in a pocket and really used for a week, it would become very obvious very fast that the kick needs to be a bit higher on the main blade.

I know from my own life as a machinist, somethings look good on paper, but when they go to the assembly, you hear the word "Oops" sometimes. Then you modify the drawings, and make another couple test pieces.

Carl.
 
jackknife said:
I know from my own life as a machinist, somethings look good on paper, but when they go to the assembly, you hear the word "Oops" sometimes. Then you modify the drawings, and make another couple test pieces.
Click to expand...

Yep, we've all done it, the best laid plans of mice and men and all that :)
 
jackknife said:
I can only wonder if GEC is doing adequate prototype testing before releasing new models. Not being able to reach a nail nick because the other blade is partly blocking the nick, is kind of silly. If prototypes were made and really tested, dropped in a pocket and really used for a week, it would become very obvious very fast that the kick needs to be a bit higher on the main blade.

I know from my own life as a machinist, somethings look good on paper, but when they go to the assembly, you hear the word "Oops" sometimes. Then you modify the drawings, and make another couple test pieces.

Carl.
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Totally agree. I think gec really messed up that particular model
 
The real pros chime in! I was unaware the nick sat so low on the pen blade, after looking at pictures it doesn't look to be an option. I really like the shim idea, it might make the point of the knife stick up past the liners a bit though.

It's really an unfortunate design flaw and a rare flub up on GEC's part. I hope you find a solution that works for you Jone.



Jack Black said:
I had a similiar problem, and I didn't think filing the kick on the pen was an option as the nick sat low anyway. Carl suggested a slight easy-open notch, which might have worked (had I not already returned it). You may also be able to raise the main blade slightly with a shim such as a sliver of balsa wood.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks guys. It does seem to a flub up. I can open it so it's not a total disaster but I am somewhat disapponted. Maybe I'll talk to GEC and see what they can do.
 
Jack Black said:
I had a similiar problem, and I didn't think filing the kick on the pen was an option as the nick sat low anyway. Carl suggested a slight easy open notch might have worked (had I not already returned it). You may also be able to raise the main blade slightly with a shim such as a sliver of balsa wood.
Click to expand...

This is what I did to one of my Boy's Knives. I used a sanding wheel and a dremel tool to slowly make an easy open notch. A word of caution, the pen blade is fairly long and you don't have a lot of extra room between the bottom bolster and tip of the pen blade. If you decide to go this route, make sure your notch is far enough back that it doesn't expose the tip of the pen blade.
 
Over/under said:
This is what I did to one of my Boy's Knives. I used a sanding wheel and a dremel tool to slowly make an easy open notch. A word of caution, the pen blade is fairly long and you don't have a lot of extra room between the bottom bolster and tip of the pen blade. If you decide to go this route, make sure your notch is far enough back that it doesn't expose the tip of the pen blade.
Click to expand...

Photo of the EO notch would be great addition to your post :)

Mike
 
Over/under said:
This is what I did to one of my Boy's Knives. I used a sanding wheel and a dremel tool to slowly make an easy open notch. A word of caution, the pen blade is fairly long and you don't have a lot of extra room between the bottom bolster and tip of the pen blade. If you decide to go this route, make sure your notch is far enough back that it doesn't expose the tip of the pen blade.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a logical fix but a person shouldn't need to go to that extreme to make their brand spanking new knife comfortable to use.

jackknife makes an excellent point but I'm thinking the Boys Knife design was based on a person outside of GEC.

Anyway, a picture of your EO notch would be nice as Mike said.
 
Thanks for the idea. Not sure I would try it but I sure would like to see a pic.
Thanks
 
The trick to opening a Spearpoint main on a GEC 15 is to press down on the pen blade, sort of leveraging against the nail pull of the main. The pen blades have a large amount of downward give, more than 1/8", plenty to fully access the main's long pull, once you hook your nail on it.

Do not file the kick unless you are OK with a sunken backspring afterwards.

This problem is why the second run TC Barlows were Pen behind Spear Main, which completely solves the problem. On the first run, the pen blade had an extra swedge cut on the pile side, to increase clearance. GEC could maybe do a swedge mod to your Boys knife pen blade, or even cut you an EO notch, or If you are not happy reworking the knife, return it.
 
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jon_slider said:
The trick to opening a Spearpoint main on a GEC 15 is to press down on the pen blade, sort of leveraging against the nail pull of the main. The pen blades have a large amount of downward give, more than 1/8", plenty to fully access the main's long pull, once you hook your nail on it.

Do not file the kick unless you are OK with a sunken backspring afterwards.

This problem is why the second run TC Barlows were Pen behind Spear Main, which completely solves the problem. On the first run, the pen blade had an extra swedge cut on the pile side, to increase clearance. GEC could maybe do that mod to your Boys knife, or If you are not happy, return the knife.
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You are correct about the pen blade. Does have a lot of give. I can open it easier by pressing the pen blade down, but still not what I expected. No big deal - I can live with it if I have to and I will contact GEC. Just a little disappointed. It will make me think twice before making a purchase next time.
 
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