GEC Missouri vs Scout

Pokerface

Pokerface

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Hey guys...I received my new Queen Trapper #19 and Missouri #42 this weekend and I think that I might need to return the 42 for something smaller. I already EDC a Benchmade Barrage and don't want something as big. I was set on a #73, but I'm afraid that it'll be the same size as the Missouri, just a bit shorter. Is this the case? Or, is it also slimmer?

Also, the Missouri, although I've been playing with it to loosen it a bit, already broke my nail. For anyone with a newer 73 and/or 42...is the 73 easier to open? According to one youtube video that I managed to find, it is easier, but I still wanted to check with the connoisseurs ;)

Comparison pics between the 73 and 42 would be greatly appreciated.

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The 73 is about 1/2" shorter. Same thickness, at least in the two blade knives. The single blade is a lot slimmer. And yeah, my Missouri was really tight at first, but seems to have loosened up some, or I've gotten used to it.
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This is exactly what I was looking for...thank you!

Is the single blade really that much slimmer?
 
now the OP is worrying me. i'm planning on ordering the papa bear among them, the pioneer. i'm still debating between and end-capped partial jig bone and an open-end bone with full jigging. but i'm dead set on the #23. are they really that hard to open? i'm a little guy but i like em big (military and endura as EDC.) i plan to gift myself on my five-0 birthday so i'm not exactly at my athletic peak. it might end up as a desk/bench knife since it's too big for my pocket.
 
Hank...the video on youtube that I found reviews the Pioneer, Missouri, and Scout. I couldn't get a good feel for the sizes from watching the video (that's why I'm here looking for comparison shots), but the guy reviewing them did say that of the three, the Pioneer was the toughest to open. I'm not an expert on GEC's and as far as traditionals go, I'm moving up from a Buck 371, so by no means am I implying that I know something that I don't...just passing along what I found.
 
Here's a single blade Northfield, and a two-blade Tidioute. I can dig up my calipers if you want :) but I'd say the single is about 2/3's the width of the two-blade.
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I have a liner-lock 23, and it's not difficult to open at all. The 73's are no issue for me either. As I mentioned, the two-blade trapper was tough at first, but it's become one of my favorite knives. I wish they'd make a saddle trapper in the size of the 42's... The Northfield lockback is really easy to open. The Pioneer's are big knives, but I still carry mine occasionally. But of the three, the 42 is the perfect size for me...
 
Ah man...by looking at the pictures, I might just keep the 42 and get a 73 later...thanks roseskunk
 
the strength of the pull varies not just according to the model, but also to the year it was made, I don't own enough GECs to say in detail, but as a rough rule of thumb - they have lightened the pull on their knives over the last few years.
 
My sample consists of one of each so take this with a grain of salt :) , but my #73 opens easiest, then #23, with the #42 being toughest of all. My #42 is probably the hardest to open of all my GECs, and it has eased a little with use. I will say this though, for me personally the #42 is probably at the upper limit of what I consider comfortable to carry and use. The #23 is REALLY big, so much so that I even find the handle to be a bit awkward in use, and I wear size large gloves. As you can probably guess, that one sits in the drawer a lot :)
 
The lock back models are much easier to open. You may want to consider a 42 Trader instead of the 42 Trapper. Or a 72 Hunter instead of a 73 Scout.
 
All of my 73's are easy on the fingernails, and the single blades are definitely pinch opens. I have two 23's, one 2 blade trapper and one single blade. Both have bear trap springs, and I still haven't gotten around to sending them back to GEC. I was told to send them back in to have the pull lessened. Only had to pay return shipping. Not bad in my book, I just have to get up off my keister and send them in. My first 73 had bear trap springs too, but it has gone down the road to another home.

I have two 72's and one Missouri Trader, and they are some of the smoothest lockbacks I've ever carried. I would really like to see a 23 Pioneer lockback, I think it would sell like gang busters for GEC. The 23 single blade I have outshines the Queen Mountain Man, Camillus made Remington R1303 and Missouri Trader I have.

Some of my Great Easterns have been nail breakers, but most of the patterns I have acquired over the past few years have been almost perfect in my book. Great walk and talk and pull. They have really gotten away from the bear trap springs that grin whenever bare fingers are near, and away from some of the old timer on steroids patterns I've seen.

Another pattern to look at is the 48 pattern. I have three of those, one two blade Beaver Tail, and two single blade UNXLD's. I've been carrying a used UNXLD I just got, the other UNXLD is stag. The Beaver Tail 48 sees time off and on, but I like it so much, can't bear to get rid of it.
 
My stupid new "TOE" takes a pair of Pliers to open either Blade.! My 3 older ones all open fairly good but this one broke my "Thumbnail" and then some.!! ""OUCH""
 
The newer #23 and #73s with lanyard tubes will be easier to open than those without, at least for single blade models. I don't have a 2 blade #73T(ube) to confirm on that. In my experience, the newer 2 blade #73ECs in 440c are also easier than other 1095 models, except the "T" ones.

Don't have a #42 so can't comment on that one.
 
Oh, IMO the single blade 42s are thin. Very thin to my hands. The blade opens easy, but the lock was a little stiff when I first got it. It has loosened some after some use.
 
I oiled up the 42 and let it sit open over night. It definitely feels easier on the thumbnail in comparison to when I received it, but since these aren't stainless, I will probably always have it with some trace of baby oil and I get the feeling that it's an accident waiting to happen. I really wanted to go with a 2-blade knife, but reading your comments, I think I'll have to go to a lockback 73 or 42.

Also, since the bottom end of the 73 is nearly the size of the 42, I'm wondering if I should just stick with a Lockback Missouri...
 
Thanks - that's a very useful comparison. Been considering a 73 vs. a 42 as well. Anyone have experience with the Queen Mountain Man, and how that compares?
 
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